Panzer Grenadier Battles on April 19th:
Conquest of Ethiopia #29 - Second Ogaden: Battle of Bircut Road to Berlin #68 - Batteries of the Dead
New Zealand Division #7 - Night Action at Takrouna Road to Berlin #69 - Dutch Treat
Swept
Author Matt W
Method Solo
Victor Draw
Play Date 2012-03-02
Language English
Scenario GofB013

In this scenario the Luftwaffe troops get to hide as long as they are in limiting terrain. They have also gotten some improved morale (one expects this is just getting used to fighting at all, as in the previous scenarios they have had lower morale in general). They also have a widely varied but powerful artillery park. That is the end of the good news. The bad news is that they are still fighting the Nisei.

The Americans, knowing that they want to end up in the northwest corner of the field in order to continue their advance, enter the field to the east and sweep north. The goal is to find and eliminate any Germans hiding in that sector so as to avoid surprises later. They do send one company onto the southern end of the hill to the west and they are quickly surprised by some heavy weapons and rifle fire and retreat to await the rest of the force.

The sweep takes two hours and nothing is found. Apparently the Germans have massed on the hilltop and are awaiting the Americans there. Meanwhile artillery strikes in both directions are causing casualties.

With the southern German force identified, much of the American force heads in that direction and after another hour this force is completely dispatched. In that hour scouting forces have also located the northern (and more significant) German force. By 3 1/2 hours into the fight, the southern German force has been eliminated, their artillery park has been located and savaged and their northern line has been pierced. The Germans have managed to eliminate 9 steps of Nisei but cannot hold and cannot muster sufficient firepower anymore. They decide to leave the field in order to fight another day.

The results appear lopsided but are the result of a very odd leader draw for both sides. The Americans recieved monstrously good leaders (a 1-11-2 Lt. Col. to top it off), whereas the Germans received NO morale modifiers at all. As this is highly unlikely I rate this higher than for just the play alone. The ability of the Germans to be hidden completely (any unit in limiting terrain can begin hidden) is a tremendous assist and led to a tense early battle. The Germans inability to recover without the additiional morale support of a leader led to a much quicker resolution than would be expected. I give it a "4" for those who follow as I would expect a much more even leader situation.

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