A BRIDGE TOO FAR
CGIII
JP playing German
18AM
BUYS
I was lucky and rolled a 9 on my re-enforcement DR – I had 24 wonderful points to spend.
I originally thought of buying a “throw-away” platoon for 3 points at KG Harder, allowing me to buy more than one infantry platoon for KGs Brinkman and Knaust, but decided I needed as much as I could get to hold my ground and still have troops in block N at games end. With this in mind I bought an SS Rifle Platoon, a SPG platoon (2x StuG 3L) and an AT Gun Section from KG Brinkman as well as a PG HW Section from KG Knaust. I also bought one module each of 80mm and 120mm MTR OBA and one off-board observer.
SET UP
Having been left with only seven squads spread across blocks U, V and W and with me being in desperate need to hold all three as well as exert an influence in block N to keep it uncontrolled my setup was more a case of having men ready to jump into block N at earliest convenience, however, some would stay and play in their blocks, these were:
– Block U at BB0 a 75L AT gun and a 548 with LMG.
– Block V I had the 50L AT gun, which would start in HH4 but be moved into EE6 as soon as possible, while the 3 squad equivalents in that block would move into block N.
– Block W I had an 8-1 with field phone at level 2 II6 (HIP) a 75LAT gun in JJ11 with a 6 factor AP mine field in JJ12 (there was also 2 dummy counters in level 1 of JJ11) whilst the two remaining squads in that block would move into block N in turn 1.
– I also had an off-board observer at level 2 JJ17.
THE PLAN
The off board observer and his 80mm mortars will fire at his re-enforcements as they try to get to block N in order to delay them. Meanwhile my 8-1 with the field phone will use the 120mm mortars in the centre of block N to break his attack into two distinct flanking attacks. I will probably make it harassing fire centred on AA7 in order to make the centre of the block a concern for him and hopefully, make him go around the FFE.
Meanwhile the rest of my plan revolves around the use of white phosphorous shells fired by the 75L AT guns, the two StuG and the 81mm mortar halftrack in order to start fires in buildings along his avenue of attack, if I can set the big factory (FF7 etc.) into a blaze than I will have a good chance to hold the rest of the block.
This is a bit of an “off the wall” plan but if it succeeds I should not only be able to deny him block N but also keep my losses to a minimum, I am not strong enough to take block “N” but I definitely want it to remain uncontrolled as it will be easier later in the game to take it knowing that there will be no HIP.
TURN 1
As expected he moved a lot of troops on board and started to move into block “N” as well as taking block “O”. I set up my two spotting rounds (after a bit of a hassle as I haven’t mastered the OBA rules yet – Legion was most kind and patient through all of this) I fired my AT gun at Y2 with WP but did not create a flame.
During my turn I fired the 75 at Z1 with smoke to cover the entrance of my Knaust re-enforcements and I moved my troops into their positions; disaster struck when one of my StuG got bogged in FF7 (it was where I wanted it to be but you don’t like losing mobility first turn). Disaster struck again during Advance Fire Phase when the MA on my bogged StuG broke down whilst rolling for acquisition. (These guys are having “one of those days”).
TURN 2
He lucked out and scored civilian info which put my Ldr and phone on the map still concealed but otherwise he kept moving his men up and I did no defensive fire. The StuG repaired its gun in rally (the day is getting better) so my defence is ready to go.
During my Prep fire my 50L AT gun got multiple rate of fire and broke a concealed glider squad in AA7 unfortunately he scored a sniper and it killed my newly exposed arty leader, NOT HAPPY!!! The rest of my troops got into position with two of my squads trying for WP grenades in the FF8 factory with the intent of starting fires but, although one got a grenade it did not catch fire. My defence is as follows:
BB0: 548 LMG, 75L CREW –2 Aqr on AA2
BB1: HW HT
BB2: 447
BB3: 548 LMG
CC3: 348, 658 HMG
CC5: 548 LMG
CC6: 658 HMG
EE6: 658 PSK, 50L CREW
FF5: 8-1 LDR
FF7: 238 PSK, 548 PSK, StuG3 (FF8 –2Aqr)
GG8/HH8: Stopped in Bypass, StuG3 (GG9 -2Aqr)
HH8: 658, 658 LMG
II9: 81mm MTR HT (II19 -1Aqr)
HH9: HW HT
JJ11: 75L AT GUN (still HIP)
I am of the opinion that my defence of the factory is too heavy, and I will move the StuG stopped in bypass up to the top of the board in order to bolster that defence. All my PSK are in factories and thus are able to fire from the safety of the building with out any back blast penalties (sneaky). The FF7 group can only be seen by FF8 and so are able to cause a bottleneck in the factory if he tries to move north through it. While the HMG in CC6 covers the open ground on the left of the factory to ensure he can’t outflank my FF7 group. Meanwhile my 81 mm MTR HT has LOS down the road II9 to II19 thus making a flanking attempt up the right side a long walk for him. I have deliberately left the open area south of the factory out of my LOS as:
A) I don’t want my CE HT where he can get easy shots and,
B) So he will try to run across it and take a shot from my still HIP 75L AT gun.
I feel that Legion has made a vital error as he does not seem to be sending too many men to block “N” his off board re-enforcements do not seem to be in a hurry to get there either, he made a cryptic comment about waiting to slaughter my KG Harder troops so he will be disappointed when he realizes that I did not buy any. (I consider myself to be a fair player and a good sport but if I told him there were no KG Harder troops this early in the game the entire ASL community would call me a moron).
TURN 3
Once again the phoney-war continued, with neither side wanting to get into a firefight with the other, I got a tad annoyed with the arty rules and took the opportunity to go FFE with my remaining 80mm OBA on a concealed squad in the open and was able to break it. My original plan has been forgotten, as he does not seem to be in an offensive mood (quite rare for Legion – he’s usually good at being offensive!)
In prep I moved the FFE onto a MMC in a building (took the black chit option) but did no damage. In my movement I ran my last officer upstairs to II17 and wrenched the field phone from the dead observers hand but will probably not use the arty as I can save it for the next turn. I also moved my level 1 JJ11 dummy stack away to entice him to cross the wide road at AA16, I straightened out my line and also moved my HW HT from BB1 to CC4 to give me a line of troops/HT from CC2 to CC6, DD5 and EE6 allowing me to pour a lot of fire on any Brit foolhardy enough to do a frontal assault.
TURN 4
Legion started moving his men away from the FFE so a minor victory for me, nice to see him scared of arty – it is something to remember for later games. He also took the bait and moved a 648 FT and 8-0 LDR in to AA16, I exposed my HIP 75L AT gun and fired with a –3 (-4 VS FT MMC) I scored a critical (be surprised if I didn’t!!!) but it only resulted in a 2mc which the leader failed and the MMC became pinned, I have ROF on that gun so will fire again in Def. Fire. The rest of his movement was a non-event and during my defensive fire I cancelled my 80mm FFE as it is not being effective where it is. I also finished firing my AT gun at AA16 and, although I fired three more times (once was intensive fire) I was only able to break the MMC, which annoyed the hell out of me; 2 hits on the 12 column and 2 hits on the 24 column!!!.
TURN 5
We just keep our troops 3-4 hexes apart and out of each others LOS; if this was Christmas we would be meeting in no-mans land and singing carols together. I am very surprised that he did not try to take N and I feel that he will pay the price later. Legion has never been the Brits in this CG and I don’t think he realizes just how important the block is. He keeps digging foxholes and MY town is starting to look like a potato patch I think his plan is to dig so many holes that my troops will suffer massive losses when entire platoons fall into them and break their legs.
TURN 6
We are both withdrawing at an alarming rate and the game ends with each of us having a minimal presence in N.
Yellow – No Control Points
Blue – Water
Black – German Controlled
Red – British Controlled
Purple – Uncontrolled
AFTERMATH
Surprised and pleased, he finished the 17N turn with a major advantage in territory and German losses and his inactivity this game has allowed me to regain some parity. My losses were an 8-1 and a crew, a small price to pay for surviving what is essentially the Brits last chance to be on the offensive for the CG. I don’t know what his plan is, but it has also fitted in well with my plan, so no complaining from me.