waltermcwilliam
Senior Member
Al Salzman and I have known each other for decades, but we've only enjoyed the opportunity to sit down FTF and swap ole Paratrooper stories and throw dice a handful of times. Neither of us were attending WO19, so we decided to play our on Saturday "One and Done" mini at the Gamer's Armory. Al selected two scenarios for us to choose from, and we chose well, this offering from designer extraordinaire Pete Shelling is masterful.
Al selected the Germans and I was happy to be on the attack with the Russians, it was January of 44, the tide had turned and the Red Army and their Partisan allies where out for revenge.
Al's set up was pretty straight forward. He defended the train station a little heavier then I would have but, as he pointed out, it's an instant win for the Russians if it falls. The German defenders have clear fields of fire and are facing off against a company size element of vengeful partisans. Al occupied all the buildings adjacent to the railroad tracks and put a 1/2 squad with the Mtr on the hill. in Oredezh proper all placed all the machine-guns and the remainder of his squads, he weighted his set-up to the right two most victory buildings and the center building.
The first star of this scenario is the German OB. The German defender is given command of a security company of mostly second rate soldiers, and two objectives to defend. He must make the economy-of-force decisions to accomplish his mission. I prefer this style of design vs pre-designated deployment of forces.
The duel objectives is the second star of this scenario. From the start, this scenario was fought as two separate actions with both of us trying to gain enough of an upper-hand in one fight so we could dispatch forces to the other. The attackers two forces are pre-designated and for the most so are their objectives. The partisan band is going to make a rush for the train station. As previously stated, if they take it it's an automatic victory for the Russians. Failing this (my guys did), they must demonstrate a sufficient enough threat to syphon off some the counterattacking German forces from their comrades attacking Oredezh (my guys did this).
With these goals in mind, my vengeful band of killers moved stealthily through the woods, emerging into the adjacent orchard. Two squads with LMG's and the 8-1 leader for a support by fire group; while the half the remaining squads continued through the woods so as to make a rush on the Mtr, I guessed was on the hill top, while the other half scattered out with DC's hoping for the opportunity to make a rush on the station buildings. By turn two the firebase had managed to clear out the eastern most building, the mortar used up its ROF and three squads with a leader and DC safely reached in recently abandoned building. This was far more than I thought the partisans would accomplish, Al must have felt the same way too, as he dispatched a panzer with squad, MG and 8-0 to reinforce the defense. Turn three saw the platoon on the objective and the firebase again raked the train station to force more German's from the front row of buildings. However, the one remaining squad held on and defeated a rush of partisans coming out of the orchard and across the tracks. The 1/2 squad on the hill also stood tall, successfully facing down an entire platoon of partisans rushing from the woods with three FPF shots. The partisans retreated to lick their wounds leaving the platoon on the objective isolated and unsupported. The PzIV unloaded his riders safely behind the rear most station building and moved into a firing position to begin pounding the isolated platoon, while the rest of the German forces made ready to retake the occupied building. By the end of turn 4 the Partisan threat was eliminated. With two thirds of the force broken in the woods and the lone 8-1 trying to rally them Al sent the 1/2 squad and panzer 4 in to clear them out while his squads cleared the isolated platoon from the train station. On turn 5, he sent everything he could west.
The 7th rifle corps skulked into Oredezh. Two and 1/2 squads moved to take the buildings north of the stream which they found mostly unoccupied. A support by fire position consisting of three squads, MMG and 2xLMG captured the unoccupied stone building closest to the road, while three more squads moved up the stream, frozen dry by the ground snow. A squad w/ LMG and 7-0 set up place a fire lane prohibiting reinforcement of the southern block of buildings while the balance of the squads under the 8-0 advanced on to the board directly threatening the two southern most buildings.
The VC penalize the Russian for over aggressive play with his armor. Every two AFV destroyed/immobilized/recalled count as a building captured for the German. This is big in this scenario, the SU76 are particularly vulnerable and the Russian commander should take care. Both of mine moved into fire support positions with limited fields of fire, but LOS to the intersection in the town center and several hexes on the road leading into town down which the German would want to counterattack. Al did use this road, and was forced to dismount further outside of town than he desired. This coupled with the other SU76 breaking the MMG toting squad along with the arrival of the T34/85's to attack and secure the two southern buildings.
The 12 Pnzr Div troops and tanks finally arrived, and along with the exhausted defenders of the train station made one last push to secure the required buildings. It all came down to 3-2 CC in the two-hex stone building on the Russian far right. We both held our breath and Al, who was playing with my dice (who comes to a squad leader game with out their dice) dropped the dice into the tower rolling a 9 for the loss.
Overall this was a great day of squad leader with a great opponent, friend and fellow paratrooper with dramatic highs (I had the same squad create two leaders with snakes in back-to-back CC's!) and lows ( I ambushed squad 5-times in CC and only one 1 of the 5!)
Take the time play this gem!
Al selected the Germans and I was happy to be on the attack with the Russians, it was January of 44, the tide had turned and the Red Army and their Partisan allies where out for revenge.
Al's set up was pretty straight forward. He defended the train station a little heavier then I would have but, as he pointed out, it's an instant win for the Russians if it falls. The German defenders have clear fields of fire and are facing off against a company size element of vengeful partisans. Al occupied all the buildings adjacent to the railroad tracks and put a 1/2 squad with the Mtr on the hill. in Oredezh proper all placed all the machine-guns and the remainder of his squads, he weighted his set-up to the right two most victory buildings and the center building.
The first star of this scenario is the German OB. The German defender is given command of a security company of mostly second rate soldiers, and two objectives to defend. He must make the economy-of-force decisions to accomplish his mission. I prefer this style of design vs pre-designated deployment of forces.
The duel objectives is the second star of this scenario. From the start, this scenario was fought as two separate actions with both of us trying to gain enough of an upper-hand in one fight so we could dispatch forces to the other. The attackers two forces are pre-designated and for the most so are their objectives. The partisan band is going to make a rush for the train station. As previously stated, if they take it it's an automatic victory for the Russians. Failing this (my guys did), they must demonstrate a sufficient enough threat to syphon off some the counterattacking German forces from their comrades attacking Oredezh (my guys did this).
With these goals in mind, my vengeful band of killers moved stealthily through the woods, emerging into the adjacent orchard. Two squads with LMG's and the 8-1 leader for a support by fire group; while the half the remaining squads continued through the woods so as to make a rush on the Mtr, I guessed was on the hill top, while the other half scattered out with DC's hoping for the opportunity to make a rush on the station buildings. By turn two the firebase had managed to clear out the eastern most building, the mortar used up its ROF and three squads with a leader and DC safely reached in recently abandoned building. This was far more than I thought the partisans would accomplish, Al must have felt the same way too, as he dispatched a panzer with squad, MG and 8-0 to reinforce the defense. Turn three saw the platoon on the objective and the firebase again raked the train station to force more German's from the front row of buildings. However, the one remaining squad held on and defeated a rush of partisans coming out of the orchard and across the tracks. The 1/2 squad on the hill also stood tall, successfully facing down an entire platoon of partisans rushing from the woods with three FPF shots. The partisans retreated to lick their wounds leaving the platoon on the objective isolated and unsupported. The PzIV unloaded his riders safely behind the rear most station building and moved into a firing position to begin pounding the isolated platoon, while the rest of the German forces made ready to retake the occupied building. By the end of turn 4 the Partisan threat was eliminated. With two thirds of the force broken in the woods and the lone 8-1 trying to rally them Al sent the 1/2 squad and panzer 4 in to clear them out while his squads cleared the isolated platoon from the train station. On turn 5, he sent everything he could west.
The 7th rifle corps skulked into Oredezh. Two and 1/2 squads moved to take the buildings north of the stream which they found mostly unoccupied. A support by fire position consisting of three squads, MMG and 2xLMG captured the unoccupied stone building closest to the road, while three more squads moved up the stream, frozen dry by the ground snow. A squad w/ LMG and 7-0 set up place a fire lane prohibiting reinforcement of the southern block of buildings while the balance of the squads under the 8-0 advanced on to the board directly threatening the two southern most buildings.
The VC penalize the Russian for over aggressive play with his armor. Every two AFV destroyed/immobilized/recalled count as a building captured for the German. This is big in this scenario, the SU76 are particularly vulnerable and the Russian commander should take care. Both of mine moved into fire support positions with limited fields of fire, but LOS to the intersection in the town center and several hexes on the road leading into town down which the German would want to counterattack. Al did use this road, and was forced to dismount further outside of town than he desired. This coupled with the other SU76 breaking the MMG toting squad along with the arrival of the T34/85's to attack and secure the two southern buildings.
The 12 Pnzr Div troops and tanks finally arrived, and along with the exhausted defenders of the train station made one last push to secure the required buildings. It all came down to 3-2 CC in the two-hex stone building on the Russian far right. We both held our breath and Al, who was playing with my dice (who comes to a squad leader game with out their dice) dropped the dice into the tower rolling a 9 for the loss.
Overall this was a great day of squad leader with a great opponent, friend and fellow paratrooper with dramatic highs (I had the same squad create two leaders with snakes in back-to-back CC's!) and lows ( I ambushed squad 5-times in CC and only one 1 of the 5!)
Take the time play this gem!
