Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	cjsiam (AAR)
Play Date	2022-10-18
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF045

This was a 6-session play-through with the tenacious, yet flexible, cjsiam, as the defending French Commander tasked with holding a number of bridges on a major canal as long as possible. I played the infantry-heavy, attacking German side that was assigned to push the French back and get off the north map edge as quickly as possible. We played without the defense-favoring FOW, and with the smoke, consolidation and excess initiative optional rules.

The first session (game turn 1 and most of 2) featured the extended, broad-front German movement-to-contact from south of Map 30. This resulted in the hoped for scuttling re-deployment of all the mobile French units to the west during the first turn. This process continued the next turn as the German recon element moved into town hex 0705 to observe the redeploying French DRG units dismounting to begin digging in as ESC units. Only a single combat 7-die roll was recorded by the French side before a power outage struck, and we had to end the session prematurely, close to the end of the 2nd game turn.

The delayed 2nd session (balance of game turn 2 & turn 3) consisted of continuing German left & right flank movements-to-contact and an utterly futile Luftwaffe air strike that only slightly annoyed the French garrison. Both sides exchanged ineffective small arms fire across the river as a higher proportion of the forces of both sides’ troops became observable. Corpoarl Laszlo, the German Commander’s pet snail and mascot, became visibly excited at the prospect of crossing the river and left a triumphant slime trail one of the contested bridges. Only TWO combat 7-die rolls were thrown by the French in this session – and remarkably for this Author – none were thrown by the Germans.

The 3rd session (game turns 4-5) was characterized by left & right flank Germans close assaults across 3 bridge hexes (0816, 0713 and 0906), ineffective OBA bombardments by both sides, marginal direct & opportunity fires, as well as a combined total of SEVEN combat 7-die rolls – with the French side throwing, a near-record four consecutive 7s. Step losses for this session totaled one each for both side. Ironically, the Boche left flank attack – accompanied by their pet snail, Laszlo – was making the most progress and was locked in fierce fighting in town hex 0907.

The fourth session (game turns 6-8) was a slightly grim one for the French defenders with 4 additional step losses that mostly occurred in close assaults. A fierce German close assault in the fields of hex 1006 was successful, causing Laszlo to become so excited that he left an extra think slime trail on a window sill in the still-hotly-contested town. Unexpectedly accurate Boche OBA finally managed to eliminate the sole French AT gun platoon in town hex 0809 during game turn 7. A combined total of EIGHT combat 7-die rolls were thrown by both sides. The victory point total was 1 for the French and 15 for the attacking Germans at the end of this session.

The delayed by covid, 5th session (game turns 9-12) was characterized by a string of mostly excellent French morale check & recovery rolls throughout the entire series of urban close assaults on the north side of the canal. Both sides parted with an additional 3 steps of poor, bloody infantry. There was a brief French incursion across the canal that was thrown back at the last minute by heavy direct fire. In all, we managed to throw a combined EIGHT combat 7-die rolls (5 German, 3 French). At the end of game turn 11, the victory point totals were: 18 for the Germans and 4 for the French. Laszlo the snail, with his eyes on stalks, nearly leapt with joy on receipt of these splendid tidings.

The sixth and final session (game turns 13-16 ) was sadly anticlimactic and featured continued suffering for the hapless, but brave French infantry defenders that were still locked in a series of decisive, urban engagements. German OBA was remarkably ineffective, and their close assaults were only successful in one of the hotly-contested close assaults hexes north on the major canal. A pair of Boche infantry platoons managed to exit the north edge of the battle map. All the German units were able to secure positions north of the canal. A combined total of EIGHT combat 7-die rolls were thrown – four apiece in this unbalanced encounter.

The final step losses were: 11 for the French and 7 for the Germans. The final victory points were: 23 for the Germans and 7 for the French, resulting in a German Major Victory in this scenario. Laszlo was thrilled at the final result and nearly danced out of his shell to the Horst Wessel song as sung lustily by his triumphant 2-legged comrades!

As written, this scenario is probably best played in solitaire mode. I gave this one a 3, mostly because of my opponent’s rare wit and hilarious commentary.

Suggestions for better shared play:

1) Reduce the length of the scenario to 13 or 14 turns, 2) The Germans should be able to draw only a single aircraft, on any 2 turns, instead of 2 aircraft on only one turn, 3) All French DRG units should begin the game as dismounted ESC platoons, and 4) The French should receive 1 victory point for each bridge hex that is still contested at the end of the scenario.