Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Draw
Participants	Blackcloud6 (AAR)
Play Date	2021-10-05
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF004

My experienced and gracious opponent, led the defending French side. WeI played this 18-turn scenario during 2 separate online sessions. The initial German Grossdeutschland (GD) Regiment’s uncontested movement-to-contact was east-to-west mostly via the main road across Map 31. French dismounted cavalry appeared as the leading edge, GD elements approached the eastern border of Map 29. The French initial setup was well-deployed to take advantage of the north-south ridge line on Map 29, and thereby contest and delay German units approaching in the vicinity of the of the primary high speed avenue of approach. Wisely, during the very first turn, French combat engineers successfully dynamited the crucial bridge across the Vierre River at the Village of Suxy in Hex 0604. This left only the ford immediately east of Suxy at Hex 0709 as a possible river crossing site. Dismounted French cavalry units slowly gave ground before the Teutonic onslaught and had only lost a single step of cavalry by the end of the 3rd turn (0700). A lengthy series of close assaults ensued in which one of the two, German Captains leading an infantry attack became panicked and deserted on Turn 6 (0745)! A methodical withdrawal by the mounted French from the southernmost village to the 1-hex hamlet in Hex 0507 was closely followed by the advancing German infantry, who were under near-continuous fire for multiple turns with repeated morale checks. The Germans placed company of, nearly useless, 75mm infantry guns atop the long ridge at Hex 0205 to support this attack, but as is usually the case with these towed, direct fire weapons, they proved themselves ineffective for the balance of the scenario.

By 0830, fierce assaults were occurring along the road adjacent to the central wooded ridge. Here, a valiant set of dismounted French cavalry and leaders in the woods were able to stymie and delay the majority of GD infantry for the balance of the game. Periodic French AT crossfire on the StuGIIIA assault gun platoon located in the hamlet in Hex 0510 finally ended when the Germans were able to get both AT gun units within sighting range for German OBA.

As others have mentioned in several AARs, the French side must decisively delay the German river crossing as long as possible and also eliminate more German steps than they lose. This is not an easy task as the GD units are quite strong and most of the serious fighting will be in Map 29's eastern town and wooded ridge hexes. My opponent's French troops proved themselves steadfast, and lost 11 steps holding the Germans on the east side of the river. Final German losses totaled 3 steps.

Fortunately, we did not use the infamous Fog of War rule, so German assault sequencing was not disrupted in what turned out to be a well-balanced scenario with little room for error by either side. The French were successful in keeping all German units on the east side of the river and they did not lose the town of Suxy. The final score was: Germans 11 victory points, to 10 VPs for the French: a hard-fought, but ultimately anticlimactic draw. All in all, a fine learning experience for a PG rookie like me!