Aftermath

I’m going out of my usual routine providing the aftermath and thoughts first. Also, I didn’t see much point for pictures for this one…

Ok. Once I set this one up I already knew it would be a flop. The problem I saw was the victory conditions, which basically read “Get the lock, or inflict casualties” and “Defend the lock, or inflict casualties”. Now, this is a bit harder for the Germans with their low numbers, but with the huge number of American troops, I didn’t see how they could lose. If they didn’t get the lock, they could just go “big time attack” and regardless of casualties force a draw. Which is exactly what sort of ended up happening. Maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Basically, the Americans must try to advance with great finesse to avoid taking casualties and then take the village where the lock is located. One might view the casualty allowance as “fine-tined”. I just found it all futile.

So, here’s the quick synopsis of how the battle played out.

THE BATTLE

The Americans had 10 hours (40 turns), to advance down the map!

The scenario starts at dawn, with visibility of one hex in a map full of hedgerows. The Germans were protected in their villages in the north. So, what did the Americans do? Ignore them! I read one session report where the Germans won by the Americans getting too caught up in fighting in the northern villages. I didn’t see the point.

So the Americans began to skirt around either edge of the map through the hedgerows. On turn 6, they took a step loss from small arm opportunity fire. But for the most part stayed away from most of it.

By turn 12, they flanked around the north villages and were able to eliminate the German IG and mortars but did take another couple losses. Losses tied at 3 each.

The glider infantry led the charge and the engineer and M5s pushed to the lock after the Americans took another couple steps from point blank defensive fire. I wonder if they could have avoided this by just moving with their M5s and wait until they suppressed the defenders? With 24 turns to go, I reckon they could have eventually gotten lucky?

The main assault began with an M5, Inf and ENG moving into a crap shoot assault on the 24 vs. 18 columns. The next roll could determine the victor (on turn 16). The German GREN lost and casualties were back to even at 6-6. Both sides reinforced a bit and soon were both on the 24 column!! Big losses for both sides and the lock fell, but the casualties were now 8-10. Both sides exceeded their target and the battle was a Draw on turn 18.

Did I use too little finesse? Were the victory levels so finely tuned that both sides exceeded their expectation? Or was this whole scenario just futile and destined for a draw.

Scenario Rating: 2/5 – I think the third one. Had the American assault not gone well enough, they had another 12 or so platoons waiting in the marsh ready to follow it up. I can’t see how the Americans could fail to take out 9 German steps.