Author	goosebrown
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2022-04-09
Language	English
Scenario	AAAD004

Seriously, these Stuarts were the Ford Pintos of the Second World War.

The Germans moved straight down the middle, the Panzer IIIj and IVh in the lead of the column of motorized paratroopers. Their idea was to move fast and exit the south board with the strongest units to bash their way through since American armor had proven to be notional at best. They put a platoon of IIs and IIIhs on each flank to hold off any Americans that got fancy notions to try and turn a flank.

The Americans knew that they only really had a chance if they could block the infantry from exiting the southern edge, but not even really that. It was grim.

The Americans put the "tank destroyer" and all but two of the Stuart platoons on their left and went hell for leather to try and turn the German flank. The other two platoons of Stuarts and the morter trak headed into town to hold there in the protected position.

On the left, the good news is that by the second turn 4 platoons of Stuarts had successfully turned the German right, and were set up for enfilade on the panzers there to cover the flank.

On the left, the BAD news is that by the second turn 4 platoons of Stuarts had successfully turned the German right, and were set up for enfilade on the panzers there to cover the flank.... And burned like bonfire before the big game as the IVh and IIIj savaged them, taking three three steps of the Stuarts about 4 seconds after they achieved their enfilade position. The rest, demoralized struggled with moral for the remaining turns of the game. VERY occasionally getting of an enfilade shot while the Stuarts in FRONT of the German right, were served a portion of the same stew as the flankers.

Over four turns the American left disintegrated and burned. However they did keep the Germans occupied and cost the Reich at least RM75 worth of ammunition...

They collapsed by turn 9, the final two steps routing off the battlefield.

In the center the Falschrimjagers advanced dismounted from their trucks till the morter track got a lucky shot and killed the Capitan and forced a moral check which the FJs failed putting their easy advance to a stop.

On the American right, the Stuarts in the town were somewhat more resilient than the lot on the left. The German flanking platoons there were not able to really get at the tanks, but were able to get into a solid back and forth which delayed the German dash to the southern board edge.

As the American Left crumbled like they would in the 1972 general elections, burying their cause into a pyre of misplaced optimism and fantasies, the Falschrimjagers pivoted to their left and attacked the Stuarts in the town where the left flank had them pinned. Through a daring and costly assault against the unsupported American armor, they were able to bring more units into the fray, and in bitter street fighting they were able to push the Stuarts out until one platoon broke for the rear, the second and last platoon following them minutes later.

The Germans were left in complete control of the board at the cost of half a platoon of IIIhs and half a platoon of Falschrimjagers.

Although it lured me in with the promise of an armor romp, I should have known Stuarts were just a fancy dressed decoy to get me to cry as the panzers crushed me... Maybe I should have stayed in bed and watched Lost In Space... sigh.

Enjoyed the scenario very much and it play so dang fast. Recommended,