Played
WO33 One-eyed Jacques as the defending French against Paul Shaeffer’s attacking horde of Germans in a VASL League match-up. I was happy when selecting scenario options that Paul had not played this one. Most everyone I had previously asked had played it before. The French have a lot to defend. The Germans are strong, but they only have five turns to accomplish their objectives. Dual VCs: instant win if the German controls the factory (it’s a casino) OR more squad-equivalents than the French in/adjacent to the back building (mobile/functioning MA counts as a squad).
I was excited to see I had 120 OBA harassing fire. My enthusiasm was cooled when I looked at the board and realized LOS was very limited from level two of the back building. My setup was probably quite pedestrian: 25LL defending French right; 37* to the right of the factory and the 75ART in the factory/casino. The two fortified locations were in the casino (maybe the cash vaults!). I avoided an upfront set-up and designed in fall back routes to more defensible positions.
French Defense
The Germans came on and focused on the casino seeking out the gun positions wherever possible to avoid tank losses. I held off as long as I could, but in turn 3 all three guns (includes the 37* support weapon) were out. The 37* burned the AC. A PzIV and some 8ML infantry entered a corner of the casino in Turn 3, but were rebuffed and the tank destroyed.
The casino was held in strength, though I ceded a few forward casino hexes knowing I could avoid enemy fire and potentially hit them inside with +1 TEM. As things progressed, I was able to hold it. At this point Paul, started to eye the other building to meet his other VC option. As it turned out, I was able to double time 3 x squads/9-1 to bolster the squad count there. In the end, the Germans made a desperate sprint through some open ground taking -2 shots to the back building. A 9-2 and a couple 468s broke or pinned and would not be able to reach the back VC building. At this point, the Germans cashed in their chips and called off the attack.
Game end positions
Outstanding scenario. Every turn seemed to have important decisions for each side. French: Should I run a squad to the back building? Maybe two…more? How many can I afford to move? Will doing so cause the instant victory casino to fall? Should I fire at that AFV now…or wait? Should I hold my OBA until I better see targets? Etc.? German: How best to utilize my AFVs? Pin squads? How risky should I be with them? Should I risk bog? Should I sprint to the back building? How best should I interdict troops moving to the back building? At the end of our playing, this scenario goes to 38 - 35 for the French.
All in all, an excellent scenario with many decisions and challenges. Many thanks to Paul for a great game. I had to be on my toes as he played very well. The turn 3 factory rebuff disrupted the delicate German timetable. He adjusted well by pivoting to the back building making it a tightrope for both of us. It was my first time playing Paul and it reminded me of what great people we have in the glorious ASL hobby. Thank you, Paul!