| Fun but flawed scenario. |
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This is a pretty good scenario despite lack of balance. I can't see how the Polish side can win. There are few good options available to the Poles. The victory conditions requires the German player to control the bridge by the end of play. That takes some interpretation, but since I am an Army officer I interpreted it using the doctrinal definition of the tactical task control - a task that requires the commander to maintain physical influence over a specified area to prevent its use by an enemy or to create conditions necessary for successful friendly operations. Basically, I interpreted it to mean that in order for the Germans to win, they had to be able to not only cross the bridge (own it) , but had to be able to advance freely beyond the adjacent hexes on the opposite shore; in other words the Germans have to clear the Poles from any hex adjacent to the Bridge. Set-up options are limited. The scenario requires the Poles to defend on the bridge or immediately to the east of it (recommend hexes 0808 and 0809). Either way their four cyclists must dig in almost immediately. With a little luck or they can be dug in before being assaulted by armor or prevented by direct fire or indirect fire from completing the task. But it takes luck... While doing this they have to have their 37mm anti-tank gun platoon in overwatch position. Perhaps the best is in Hex 0610 (a town hex that provides the best balance of protection and fields of fire for the AT platoon, but gives up any ability to observe or fire on the southern segments of the river) or hex 0606 (which commands the approaches from the south and from the west but leave the guns vulnerable to indirect fire). The Poles have limited tactical options. Turns 1 and 2 are limited to digging in for the cyclist platoons, and opportunity fire or direct fire for the AT Guns. If, and I say if, the poles can get dug in by the end of turn 2 with at least 3 but preferably all 4 cyclist units it will make make an assault on their position almost suicidal; with the Poles able to mass direct or opportunity fires against Germans in the adjacent bridge hex. A German attempt a frontal assault in order to secure the bridge and punch a hole through Polish defenses will likely force the Germans through a meat grinder, at least until they can get at least one platoon to assault each dug in position (hexes 0808 and 0809). Then the first fire capability will bloody them further still, before the Germans can get effects. Once the Germans survive the first fires they will tie down the Poles long enough to build combat power and eventually wear down the poles through strong assaults. The risk associated with a frontal assault forces the Germans to consider a flanking move using their engineer to try to cross the river and maneuver against the Bridge from either north or south. A commander not wishing to assault this position frontally should keep his armor behind the northern forest. Push infantry and mortars to the edge of the wood-line or just to the east and conduct strong long range fires against the Poles. This will force the Poles to remain in place, and discourage them from repositioning so that the Germans can attack across the open ground to the north, use the engineer to effect a river crossing and pour a minimum of an Infantry company and the panzer company across the river. Most likely this will be conducted in the face of anti-tank fire from the repositioned AT platoon. The problem I have with the scenario is that, unless either the Poles rolls incredibly well, or the Germans roll poorly (especially when crossingthe river), the Germans will win. It just takes time. The Poles have absolutely no ability to conduct a fighting withdraw. If they lose the bridge they lose, it doesn't matter that their is a town that they could fall back to and still prevent the establishment of an effective bridgehead by the Germans. I believe that the Poles hands are too tied in this scenario. They can't give up the bridge and defend further back, because the German's win. They are facing overwhelming combat power, but start the scenario without any defensive positions, and are forced to dig or die, without effectively responding to direct or indirect fire. They don't begin the scenario dug in, so any German Commander worth his salt will be on top, and unless the Poles secure the initiative in the third turn will assault him prior to receiving an effective direct fire. Finally, it doesn't take into effect the superb defensive terrain provided by the town or the forest hexes just east of the Bridge. From both positions the Poles could control harass or destroy traffic coming across the bridge with both small arms and AT fire.The germans routinely seem to win this fight by the ninth or tenth turn if they play cautiously. Two recommendations to make it more challenging: 1) Expand the scenario to 16 turns, and force the Germans to clear to the the Poles out of all town Hexes up that could range the Bridge (0610,0509, and 0510) as well as forest hexes (0508, 0607, and 0606). 2) Allow the cyclists to play dug in. I think it would be realistic to secure both the bridge and any terrain from which the Poles could prevent a practicable bridgehead. |
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