StW 4.3 Knock them Down!

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.32 Knock them Down! playtest vs. Ernie Cameron; completed 2 of 11.5 turns

For the first two turns the British advance toward the Steelworks factory is going to plan and thus far have suffered 2x Sherman tanks destroyed (one to a A-T Mine and the other to a PaK 40).

Turn 3 British reinforcements will be coming on along the north edge, while the Germans start rolling for reinforcements.

More to follow on Wednesday morning

15678

15679 15680
 

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.3 Knock them Down! playtest v. Ernie Cameron; start of Turn 5 of 11.5.

The force have joined up and the battle has begun in earnest. After the trio of German Tiger Tanks rumbled on map from the west edge the fur started to fly. First British Sherman Deliberately Immobilizes (DI) the first one. The other two Tigers move into position with one crossing the Orne River via a railroad bridge. The second Tiger fires to range in on a Sherman and rolls a 12! The Canadian fire Smoke at the DI Tiger trying to save the Sherman by the bridge, but no use the Tiger knocks it out. Meanwhile a 6 pdr crew has ranged in the Tiger with the Malf'd MA and when it attempts to withdraw, the order for Sabot is answered and hits the Tiger in the hull and knocks it out.

The British manoeuvre about a bit and managed to get a Sherman Firefly in position to engage a HMG Bunker, the Gunner drops a round straight through the firing slit and (Snake-eyes, resulting in a CH) with 76LL AP (2FP x 2 -3DRM) 1-2-7 crew and HMG knocked out. The Brits not stopping there, a 9-2 directs 2x 4-5-7 + LMG and against a 75mm Pak 40, getting 2MC, the crew rolls a 12 and suddenly the German left flanks is look very sparse.

Meanwhile on the left, British have called for and received a 25-pdr Smoke Barrage to assist them to advance between a HMG Bunker on the right and a 75mm Pak 40 on the left. the British have pushed through a platoon supported by a troop of Shermans. The German countered with a 75mm OBA fire mission.

In the centre, the Brits have closed up and getting their MG Platoon into position start to clear out any Germans in the middle. The Germans are starting to get overwhelmed. 2 of the 3 German AA Guns have been knocked out, but there are still 4x 81mm Mortars lurking out their getting ready to lay a stonk on the Brits. All of the German reinforcements have entered by Turn 4 and are moving towards the fight.

15731 15732
 

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.3 Knock them Down! playtest v. Ernie Cameron End of Turn 5

A long turn, which saw the elimination of one more Tiger on the left side of the map (see Burning Wreck), it was the victim of trap concocted between a Firefly (killing shot) and PIAT toting squad (diversion).

In the right centre, the HMG nest was neutralized, with 1-2-7 crew abandoning its HMG and routing (via its tunnel) to an awaiting 8-0 - whom prompt shot (DR 12) them in the ensuing RPh.

British first Smoked out and closed with the 75mm Pak 40. In its haste to shoot a closing squad with PIAT, the gun then malfunctioned. Not long after the 20mm Flak gun shot up a squad with MMG (DR2+1, result K/3), in the ensuing Sniper Check (dr1) the sniper zeroed in on the 75mm Pak crew and broken them - forcing them to surrender.

On the Right side, a bit of a tank duel between 2x Pz IVH v. 2x Sherman Vs + Sherman Firefly supported by a platoon of infantry. A Melee between a German 2-2-8 AA crew and a British 4-5-7 squad went on for the turn resulting the AA crew eliminating the squad (probably the only positive thing for Germans that turn). The German 75mm artillery went silent as the battery access was lost; as did the British 25-pdr.

While British have put the Germans on their heels, it is far from over. With 6 turns remaining, the British will have to continue to press the advance opening themselves to German fire. The German infantry reinforcements are about 1 turn from the factory, these will help to strength the Germans' defence.

15775 15776
 

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.3 Knock them Down! playtest v. Ernie Cameron; six turns completed and the battle continues.

On the left side of map, German 81mm Mortars have made an appearance, albeit somewhat ineffective (one crew is broken and the abandoned its mortar to face off against a Sherman). The immobilized Tiger still commands the Bridge to its front and the surround ground, but the British are making efforts to eliminate it.

In the centre, the crew of the 20mm AA gun under threat of 25-pdr OBA has abandoned its gun and the 9-1 German leader and LFW Squad + LMG have moved to reinforce the left side of the factory. On the right side the British are pushing into the factory, clear the Germans to their front.

On the right side of the map, the British are moving into the factory grounds and advancing towards the factory; meanwhile the tanks in tank duel have disengaged, with the British sending a Sherman to the right in effort to outflank the 81mm Mortars; the Firefly moved into the factory ground in attempt out flank the Pz IVs to the left. In response to these manoeuvres, one of the German Pz IVs withdrew back towards the train garages, while the other moved into the thick of the battle in the factory grounds. The 75mm OBA had landed amongst a British platoon, but proved ineffective.

In the German rear area, reinforcements have taken up positions around the southern Smokestack to await the advancing British. German loses are moderate with 2x Tigers, 2x 20mm AA guns, destroyed and 5x 2-3-7 HS, 3x 2-2-8, & 3x 1-2-7 killed or captured.

In the British rear area, leaders and Pipers are moving to rally broken units and then regroup them into a reserve to help reinforcement advance. British loses are 4x Sherman tanks, 2x 4-5-7, and 6x HS killed (or roughly a tank troop and an 2x infantry platoons).

This scenario looks like it will go down to the last turn, the two British Hayrick DCs (52-1) are 9 and 12 hexes from a smokestack with 5 turns to go; these will be the British best better to knock them down.


1580715808

1580915810
 
Last edited:

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.3 “Knock Them Down!” playtest v. Ernie Cameron; end of Turn 7; the game is moving into the end game phase with the Germans attempting to hold back the British long enough to prevent them from reaching the smokestacks; meanwhile the British advance is pressing the attack into the factory area.

Left Side: The pesky immobilize Tiger had first been Shocked by the British HS manning the captured 75mm Pak 40 and then after surviving two PIAT attacks (one hit in Turret no effect and the other one missed), the PIAT team made up for their failed earlier attempts and knocked out the Tiger. Once it was eliminated, the British infantry hastily footed up the river towards the railroad bridges, while the Firefly raced forward to lend support to the infantry dealing with the crew of the 81mm Mortar. A Sherman with Malf’d MA has outflanked the left side of the German defence and looks to get into the Germans’ rear near the southern smokestacks.

Centre: The British infantry advanced into, forcing the Germans to withdraw, the northern factory. On the right centre, the British press forward pushing the Germans back; follow up troops (rallied by the Pipers) are hustling their way forward slowed by the German 75mm artillery. The Germans’ artillery has for the most part been ineffective causing few casualties, but has managed to slow up the British advance.

Right Side: The main advance has been up the paved road with a flanking platoon moving up the right side of the map clearing out pockets of German resistance (pair of 81mm Mortars remain). A counterattack by a German Panzer IV into the left flank of the British platoon attacking into the factory was quickly dealt with by a 2-4-8 placing a DC on the back deck of the Panzer IV. There is an ongoing duel between a Panzer IV and a Firefly with each side maneuvering forward and backwards in an attempt to get a clear shot. Just off the map to the south is a Sherman tank that has outflanked the Germans and looks to cause mischief in the Germans’ rear area.

At the current pace, the British advance is going as planned, with each of the smokestacks 2-3 MPh of an Engineer Team armed with a Hayrick DC or a DC. The Germans defence is solidified in the southern factory also as expected, this position will most likely have to be dealt in Close Combat.

More to follow on Wednesday.

15843 15844

15845 15846
 

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.3 Knock Them Down! Playtest v. Ernie Cameron; the start of Turn 9. The British continue their push towards their objective of the Smokestacks in the face of stiffening German resistance. The German sniper has finally awoken and is starting to make its presence know (SAN: 5). During this turn the British have rolled at least 7 “5’s” with the Germans rolling 2x 1s and 2x 2s on the activation dr.

British have cleared the left side of map and are now hastily moving a platoon plus forward. The fighting around the southern railroad bridge had ended with the German mortar team blowing themselves up with a Panzerfaust (PF). The elimination of the mortar had freed up the platoon and supporting Firefly to turn and advance towards the southern smokestack. A cheer went up from the 2-2-8 mortar when a PF was found to be in position to attack the Firefly with; but this cheer abruptly ended when the PF missed and the backblast (TH DR 3,6) resulted in a 1MC and a 12 being rolled - D’OH! So, the British will have 2.5 platoons to attack the southern smokestack.

In the centre, the Germans have huddled in the southern factor defending it and the northern smokestack. The British are manoeuvring to bring its firepower to bear and deal with this knot of Germans. Along the road east of the factory the British have been advancing, the tank duel between the Panzer IV, the Firefly and reinforcing Sherman V end with the destruction of the Firefly and the Sherman V; the Panzer IV even managed to force back the Engineer HS toting a Hayrick DC. Meanwhile the German Fusilier platoons have solidified their defence of the southern smokestack and wait for the British to arrive.

On the right side of the map those pesky German 81mm mortars are proving a bit harder to deal with; a Sherman tank has moved out of the German artillery to lend its support to the rifle platoon attacking the mortars, but thus far the Germans are still hanging on. Follow up troops are moving forward to lend support where needed.

With 3.5 turns left the British continue to press the attack; the norther factory has been captured and cleared of Germans, while the British are gathering their troops to clear the southern factory. The northern smokestack is within 7 hexes of an Engineer toting a Hayrick DC while the southern stack is 11 hexes but the 8-0 leader will have to first rally the broken Engineer HS toting the Hayrick DC. Time is quickly running out for both the British to achieve victory by knocking down the smokestacks and the Germans to hang on for a draw by remaining in the factory area.

1588115884

1588215883
 

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.3 Knock Them Down! Playtest v. Ernie Cameron; End of Turn 9 of 11.5 Turns. The British are closing in on the smokestacks and nearly cleared the factory area of good order Germans.

On the left side of the map, the British have cleared the area and all units are hastily making their way forward along the L’Orne River. Once across the river, they are moving on the southern smokestack encircling the position. The Germans, hoping to move units northward to reinforce the southern factory, were cut off and now must try to hold out in area around the southern factory. All the Good Order German units remaining are: 8-1, 5-4-7, 2-2-7, & 1-4-9 Hero.

In the middle, the British are pressing forward and clearing out the southern factory in Close Combat (CC). the British managed to win 2 of 3 CC; the third CC, a German 2-2-8 crew managed to ambush a 2-4-8 HS and withdraw and slip behind the British line to reoccupy the northern factory. The German pocket now consists of an unbroken 5-4-7, 7-0, and 2-2-8 while 2x broken 2-3-7 HS have retreat to the upper floor to wait out their doom. The British 2-4-8 Engineer toting the Hayrick DC is now 3 hexes from the northern smokestack with a 2-4-8 toting a DC as back up also 3 hexes away.

On the right of the map, the German defence had collapsed, the pair of 81mm mortars crews have been eliminated or are tied in Melee. The Panzer IV that had been the thorn in the British side was finally eliminated by last Sherman tank of the platoon but not before it forced back the broken 2-4-8 Engineer HS toting the Hayrick DC back another hex. The German 75mm OBA has been amazingly consistent: consistent that Ernie continued to draw a Black chit despite the chit count being 4x Black and 4x Red, consistent that is has been landing on groups of British units (averaging 3-4 units in the blast radius), and finally consistent that is has been relatively ineffective (average DR of 10 on hexes with British units in it). The British need to rally the 2-4-8 HS toting the Hayrick DC (needs an 8) and once rallied it will take two turn to reach and place the Hayrick on the southern smokestack and then a DR of 8 or less to rubble the smokestack.

The British have 3 Movement Phase remaining and sufficient units to clear the remaining German units out of the way, allowing for the Hayrick DC toting units to get to the smokestacks. So, the British are move playing for the win, while the Germans are playing for the draw.

15900 15901

15902 15903
 

Honza

The Art Of Wargames
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Messages
13,868
Reaction score
2,631
Location
Oxfordshire
First name
Jan
Country
llCzechia
George I noticed a anomaly in the AAR. If you get a CH with AP HE equivalent then you do not reverse the TEM for the effects DR. This is because the TEM does not apply to the TH DR and therefore does not apply as reversed TEM to the effects DR. TEM is only reversed in a CH if it would NORMALLY apply to the shot. Since TEM is not a factor in a AP HE equivalent shot it does not apply at all to a CH.
 

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
George I noticed a anomaly in the AAR. If you get a CH with AP HE equivalent then you do not reverse the TEM for the effects DR. This is because the TEM does not apply to the TH DR and therefore does not apply as reversed TEM to the effects DR. TEM is only reversed in a CH if it would NORMALLY apply to the shot. Since TEM is not a factor in a AP HE equivalent shot it does not apply at all to a CH.
It was pointed out, in the end it didn't matter, correct result was (CH 2FP x2 = 4FP) effects DR 5 resulting in a 1MC; German rerolled and the DR was a 12 - D'Oh!
 

Eagle4ty

Forum Guru
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Messages
6,913
Reaction score
5,094
Location
Eau Claire, Wi
Country
llUnited States
George I noticed a anomaly in the AAR. If you get a CH with AP HE equivalent then you do not reverse the TEM for the effects DR. This is because the TEM does not apply to the TH DR and therefore does not apply as reversed TEM to the effects DR. TEM is only reversed in a CH if it would NORMALLY apply to the shot. Since TEM is not a factor in a AP HE equivalent shot it does not apply at all to a CH.
This is not correct. Only units using AP/APCR/APDS against a PB is TEM not taken into consideration (B30.35) for a CH. With other types of HE equivalency such as HEAT or even AP vs a unit in woods/building/etc. a TH DRM must include the TEM TH DRM and is thus reversed for a CH as per C3.71 "Furthermore, any positive TEM [EXC: higher-building-level TEM (B23.32), pillbox NCA TEM (B30.113), SMOKE, and Hindrance] which that target would normally be entitled to for TH or IFT purposes is reversed (before any movement modifications) and applies as a negative DRM to the IFT DR."
 

fanatic+1

Ryan Kent
Joined
Sep 14, 2006
Messages
441
Reaction score
100
Location
San Rafael, CA
Country
llUnited States
I had it correct. AP HE equivalent and reverse the TEM that would normally apply. You just expanded on what I said.
I think what he was saying is that per B30.35 there is no TEM for a 76L AP shot so the crit would have no mods.
 

George Kelln

Elder Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
1,595
Location
Victoria, BC, Canada
Country
llCanada
StW 4.3 Knock Them Down! Playtest v. Ernie Cameron; End Game. The British raid with the mission to knock down the two smokestacks located in the Steelworks Factory south of Colombelles was successful with the British able to complete the mission on the Turn 12 AFPh.

Turn 10: the British eliminated all resistance in the factory area guaranteeing at least a Draw, while in the south the Germans launch a last “going down fighting CC attack on a Sherman tank by an 8-1 & 5-4-7. The result was, Germans get Ambush and get an ATMM; the CCV = 6 (5 Squad + 1 SMC) with a -5 DRM (-1 Ambush, -1 Leadership, -3 ATMM) CC DR = 11 and result was the Sherman Immobilized (D’Oh!); the Sherman then attacks back CMG 4FP vs. 5 (1:2) = 4 or less and the CCDR = 3 (Double D’Oh!); meanwhile the Melee involving the German 2-2-8 mortar crew and the British 8-1 & 2-3-7 HS ended with German eliminating the British; leaving them and a wounded German Hero at the base of the southern smokestack all the unbroken/dead Germans on the map.

Turn 11: In the PFPh, the Wounded German Hero was abruptly eliminated by the adjacent British 9-2, 2x 4-5-7, and LMG (20FP -2) resulting in 2 KIA. Next, in the MPh the British 2-4-8 AE set a DC at the base of the northern smokestack while another 2-4-8 HS toting a Hayrick watched from an adjacent hex. In the south, the British moved up an 8-0, 2-4-8 AE toting a Hayrick and a 2-4-8 AE toting a DC to the base of the southern smokestack with the Hayrick being placed at the base of the smokestack during the MPh. In the AFPh, the southern smokestack the Hayrick DC was detonated, with a resulting DR being 4, needed a 6 or less to rubble (36FP -2 Heavy Payload +1 for TEM requires a 6 or less to rubble smokestack). Meanwhile the British move away from the northern smokestack. The German 2-2-8 crew makes a half-hearted sprint to the factory, knowing that they wouldn’t make it in time.

Turn 12: It all came down to the northern smokestack, the setting 2-4-8 AE moves 1 hex so as to be 2 hexes from the Set DC, while the other 2-4-8 AE placed the Hayrick DC at the base of the smokestack and moved away. In the AFPh, the Set DC (36FP -3 DRM = 9 or less to rubble) goes off resulting in a DR of 7 -3 = 4 and TIM-BERRR! And with its collapse Victory for the British.

As this mission was raid, the British would now withdraw back north and toast their success.

The casualties: the Germans were nearly wiped out, all that was left was 2-2-8 crew. The British had lost 6 of their 11 tanks with 3 of the 5 left on map sporting Malfunctioning MA; as for infantry they had lost 9.5 squads of their 33 squads and an 8-1 leader; but had another 5-6 squads broken left on the map.

Both Ernie and I enjoyed the game, challenges for each of us.

15954 15955
 
Top