Recently finished
Hazmo4 Kids These Days from the inaugural Hazardous Movement scenario pack. Hazardous Movement is a new ASL startup led by veteran designers Chad Cummins and Chuck Hammond. The scenarios in this pack offer good variety and look quite interesting. Rich Domovic and I decided to give this one a try. It pits the Brits versus SS in a unique design that lets both sides attack and defend, with a VP mix of location control for both sides AND EVP for the SS. A total of 40 VP are needed for German victory.
The Germans start with a small ALL HIP 6x658 holding force with a 75L to prevent the capture of two fortified village stone locations by the end of British player turn 6. The reward for their defensive success is 15 VP. Brits started on board with 3xShermans, 15x 7/8ML squads. Reinforcements also add a few squads, 57L and the OBA radioman.
The British advanced en masse with zero stacking knowing some careless early losses could hurt the chances of denying the German those 15 mid-game VPs. Overall, the Brits did a nice job of avoiding losses, but did lose a Sherman on a 75L ACPR shot. A stubborn 658+MMG made itself a pain, but was finally eliminated in CC. Both fortified locations were found and one location contained a 348 so was able to engage it (and win) in CC. The other location contained an encircled 658 who broke in British turn 6 on a 12+2 freeing up the ability to advance in to deny those oh-so-important mid-game VP.
The next phase of the scenario sees a gaggle of hard-core SS enter as reinforcements. Notable assets included: 3x Tigers, 1xStuG, 3xhalftracks (HTs), 81mtr, 10x658, 80mm OBA. The bulk of the infantry were tasked with the game-end goal of recapturing both fortified locations seeking to gain the game-end 15 VP. The Tigers, StuG and HTs would provide the EVP fist. Three HTs each with a 658 entered on the German right flank. A Sherman KO’d one on an IF, though the 658 survived. The Sherman then took a projectile from a Tiger which scored a turret hit (Sherman was behind bocage).
German OBA smartly placed smoke in the village to cover the infantry advance. Meanwhile, two Brit MMGs tried to KO the two other HTs from behind the tangled bocage with no success. However, what those MMGs couldn’t do, the OBA did for them. Accuracy dr was…accurate and landed on the two HTs. Results were an immob and a Shock (next rally turned to an UK). By this time, possibly all 15 HT VPs + 4 VP of passenger infantry could well be out of the EVP festivities. In light of the OBA impact AND the fact that four GO tubes (3xM4 + 57L) were lubed and trained on the probable axis of exit -- plus 2x247/PIATs had a solid bead on the board edge exit channels. As a result, the German commander called off its attack in order to regroup for a renewed attack the next morning.
We had a good discussion about this scenario afterward. One reflection from the German side was keeping the bulk of the initial defense near the village with a few well-placed pickets. Also, consider keeping the fortified stone locations as far away from each other in the village as you can. It stretches the attacker who will lose some squads getting to the village. Finally, keeping the HTs out of leading edge of the attack is key. If they are carrying passengers each one lost could be up to 7 EVP not exiting the board. Their mobility to exit is huge. On the British side, making sure tubes (and manned PIATs) stay alive and are well-placed is critical to always have an opportunity to zing a tank trying to exit. Too, remember deliberate immob as an option against a stationary Tiger. A DI is as good as a KO in this one.
We both really liked this scenario a lot. Even as an 11-turn scenario, both sides had to be assertive to achieve the mid- and end-game objectives, but there were multiple options on how this can be accomplished. This was another plus, which we saw providing high replayability. For me, this scenario felt very Fortenberry-like. A tricky puzzle that is as much fun to suss out as it is to play. Very, very enjoyable. A huge thank you to Rich for another great game!
Final board