Iron Mike USMC
Member
I just finished my first round in the Sand Box. My opponent John (screen name unknown) and I played Finns vs Soviets, in an all infantry scenario. I crafted a small map in Central Russia, with a dirt road crossing the northeast corner. Just east of the road, there is a small rise, with a cluster of buildings, which acted as a Soviet HQ. Due west of it, at a bend in the road, that swung down into a small depression, and flanked by trees was a second objective. Along the north edge of the map, a small objective was set at the road's exit point, as well as where it exited the map along the east edge.
The purpose of the scenario was to examine small unit probing. John wanted to try something with Finns. My motti map did not pan, and neither did his, so we went with this scenario. The timeframe was set in '44, 800 pt probe.
I was abel to assemble 4 companies of infantry, plus a company of peioneers. Each was accompanied by a Lahti ATG, a Lahti LMG, a 3 man PZ team (9 rds vs 5 rds), and a 81mm FO team. I thought pretty formidable. My restrictions were infantry only, while the Soviet defenders could outift any way they chose. The pointto try to cretae a light, fast moving, and hard hitting infantry unit. The ATs slowed me down abit, but not too bad.
I sent one platoon along the north flank, toward the northern exit, while another platoon flanked south toward the eastern exit flag. The two other infantry platoons headed up the middle. The pioneers went between the most southern two platoons, to move where most needed.
Along the norhtern and central routes I had to maneuver through some thick woods. About halfway to where i expected to find the main line of resistance, my lead squads encountered some light resistance. SO it seemed, at first. John had one squad that just would not go away, despite the maount of firepower I laid down. He successfully broke one squad, reduced another, and pinned an HQ and LMG. We were both imperssed by the unit's grit. As a result, I had to commit my pioneers to support the right flank of this pair of platoons.
I actually split the platoon, and sent half of it south, to cover the left flank of the far right platoon. That platoon had to navigate marsh and soft ground to approach the east exit, as well as the southern approaches to the main objective, the HQ. ALong that front I did not encounter any resistance until I was right on top of the objective. There was little cover close to the objective, so John had is troops behind it. I was very cautious after my initial encounter with his troops in the center. I could nto be sure whetehr he would advance to meet me, and hope to forestall my advance by throwing out speed bumps.
On my left flank, I hugged the map edge, as the best cover was there. I leapfrogged my units in classic fire and maneuver. Two squads would provie overwatch, while the other two moved forward. I continued this until my units hit the treeline overlooking the objective. During this I kept the ATG, the LMG, and the FO well back, as well as the HQ. The HQ and LMG would occassionally offer supporting fire, if their positioning permitted.
With the OB arty and LMG, I was able to push his units away from the bjective, and occupy the small woods there. His counterattack proved to be fierce, but my units held.
My forces facing his center were slowly being eroded away. It worked out, as I was able to draw his attantion while my units to my right of center were able to slowly sweep to the road. Once in position, I called in smoke on the road line and opposite trees, to aid my advance. Unfortunately, my fire was not that good, so the smoke was not as effective as I had hoped, though I did gain the far side of the road, but at higher casualties than anticipated.
To bolster this move, my far right forces were able to consolidate, and swing the gate closed on my opponent's left flank. My units were able to advance fairly unopposed, until within view of the HQ. By that time, my central line had all but disappeared, allowing his forces to swing left, and block me.
As this was developing, two squads which broke early, finally came around, but were slow to respond. By the time I was able to get them back into the battle, it was too little too late.
It was a bit disconcerting to look at the line of grey uniformed bodies clearly outlining my front lines, as well as dotting the landscape behind. I was unable to find too many enemy bodies. As I was to surmise later, it is because I did not appear to have eleiminated too many units, though I reduced many.
I was able to take and hold the two exit flags, but was unable to do anything but contest the two central ones. I hoped I might eke out a minimal victory, but I knew I had taken many casualties. With Extreme FOW it was impossible to accurately guage my opponent's loses. However, judging by my ability to continually move his line back, along my main line of approach, I knew i must have done some damage.
When the bugle called, I had a slight edge in a draw, at 51% Axis to 49% Allied. I could not have hoped for a better result. It was only one playing of a brand new scenario, but this particular playing indicated a near perfect match of opponents for the given parameters.
Several goals were achieved here. To focus on play, I was able to experiment with maneuver, smoke, and some support weapons without risk to ladder positioning. I made some mistakes, and made some good moves. Along the broad map, I did very well in maneuvering my forces as a whole. However, when hard pressed, I was unable to master my opponent in a head to head fire fight. The body covered battle field will attest to that.
The purpose of the scenario was to examine small unit probing. John wanted to try something with Finns. My motti map did not pan, and neither did his, so we went with this scenario. The timeframe was set in '44, 800 pt probe.
I was abel to assemble 4 companies of infantry, plus a company of peioneers. Each was accompanied by a Lahti ATG, a Lahti LMG, a 3 man PZ team (9 rds vs 5 rds), and a 81mm FO team. I thought pretty formidable. My restrictions were infantry only, while the Soviet defenders could outift any way they chose. The pointto try to cretae a light, fast moving, and hard hitting infantry unit. The ATs slowed me down abit, but not too bad.
I sent one platoon along the north flank, toward the northern exit, while another platoon flanked south toward the eastern exit flag. The two other infantry platoons headed up the middle. The pioneers went between the most southern two platoons, to move where most needed.
Along the norhtern and central routes I had to maneuver through some thick woods. About halfway to where i expected to find the main line of resistance, my lead squads encountered some light resistance. SO it seemed, at first. John had one squad that just would not go away, despite the maount of firepower I laid down. He successfully broke one squad, reduced another, and pinned an HQ and LMG. We were both imperssed by the unit's grit. As a result, I had to commit my pioneers to support the right flank of this pair of platoons.
I actually split the platoon, and sent half of it south, to cover the left flank of the far right platoon. That platoon had to navigate marsh and soft ground to approach the east exit, as well as the southern approaches to the main objective, the HQ. ALong that front I did not encounter any resistance until I was right on top of the objective. There was little cover close to the objective, so John had is troops behind it. I was very cautious after my initial encounter with his troops in the center. I could nto be sure whetehr he would advance to meet me, and hope to forestall my advance by throwing out speed bumps.
On my left flank, I hugged the map edge, as the best cover was there. I leapfrogged my units in classic fire and maneuver. Two squads would provie overwatch, while the other two moved forward. I continued this until my units hit the treeline overlooking the objective. During this I kept the ATG, the LMG, and the FO well back, as well as the HQ. The HQ and LMG would occassionally offer supporting fire, if their positioning permitted.
With the OB arty and LMG, I was able to push his units away from the bjective, and occupy the small woods there. His counterattack proved to be fierce, but my units held.
My forces facing his center were slowly being eroded away. It worked out, as I was able to draw his attantion while my units to my right of center were able to slowly sweep to the road. Once in position, I called in smoke on the road line and opposite trees, to aid my advance. Unfortunately, my fire was not that good, so the smoke was not as effective as I had hoped, though I did gain the far side of the road, but at higher casualties than anticipated.
To bolster this move, my far right forces were able to consolidate, and swing the gate closed on my opponent's left flank. My units were able to advance fairly unopposed, until within view of the HQ. By that time, my central line had all but disappeared, allowing his forces to swing left, and block me.
As this was developing, two squads which broke early, finally came around, but were slow to respond. By the time I was able to get them back into the battle, it was too little too late.
It was a bit disconcerting to look at the line of grey uniformed bodies clearly outlining my front lines, as well as dotting the landscape behind. I was unable to find too many enemy bodies. As I was to surmise later, it is because I did not appear to have eleiminated too many units, though I reduced many.
I was able to take and hold the two exit flags, but was unable to do anything but contest the two central ones. I hoped I might eke out a minimal victory, but I knew I had taken many casualties. With Extreme FOW it was impossible to accurately guage my opponent's loses. However, judging by my ability to continually move his line back, along my main line of approach, I knew i must have done some damage.
When the bugle called, I had a slight edge in a draw, at 51% Axis to 49% Allied. I could not have hoped for a better result. It was only one playing of a brand new scenario, but this particular playing indicated a near perfect match of opponents for the given parameters.
Several goals were achieved here. To focus on play, I was able to experiment with maneuver, smoke, and some support weapons without risk to ladder positioning. I made some mistakes, and made some good moves. Along the broad map, I did very well in maneuvering my forces as a whole. However, when hard pressed, I was unable to master my opponent in a head to head fire fight. The body covered battle field will attest to that.
aperbag: