Author	treadasaurusrex (Poland)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Poland
Participants	Grognard Gunny (AAR)
Play Date	2025-01-17
Language	English
Scenario	DelP004

This was a 4-session play-through (24 game turns) with the resolute & undaunted, Grognard Gunny, leading reinforced SS elements of attacking German Panzer Division Kempf. I led dug-in elements of the Polish 20th Infantry Division. Both sides drew middling sets of leaders, though the Polish draw was a bit better.

We used the FOW, consolidation, excess initiative, smoke/Illum, hidden units (the bulk of the Polish defenders) and strategic movement optional rules, along with the following two house rules: 1) Road Movement for Mechanized & Foot Units - All FOOT & MECHANIZED units may move on roads at the rate of 1/2 Movement Point (MP) per road hex, just like MOTORIZED units, and 2) Standardized Movement for Mechanized Units - All mechanized units may move through clear hexes at a movement cost of only 1 movement point (MP) per hex, instead of 1 1/2. Add one to this cost if moving up, across, or down slopes hexes.

The initial session (game turns 1-2) featured a well-staged, movement to contact by the Germans in 3 columns, with the largest (central) force of SS militia coming straight south on the major road. Exchanges of opfire, OBA and adjacent-hex fire fights in the northeast town resulted in a handful of disruptions & demoralizations. The first blood was drawn by the Poles when a step of Pz-II light tanks was hit by an armor-piercing shot from the swamp.

Our second session (game turns 3-7) featured all three German pincers making closer contact, while receiving a hail of incoming opfire, AT and OBA, which resulted in a further loss of 2 SS steps. Probing German combined-arms spearheads moved south on either side of the forest on Map 1, while their left flank attack was stalemated in the northeast town. The Poles came away from this session without casualties, but managed to throw FIVE combat 7-die rolls.

The third session (game turns 8-11) was a bloody one, especially for the attacking German side. Step losses this session totaled: 11 for the struggling Germans – including 2 platoons of Pz-I light tanks – and an additional 4 steps of Polish infantry lost. A pair of SS advances in the center of the map were repulsed with heavy losses, but a third (right flank) pincer drew into range during the 9th game turn. German initiative fell 2 levels and they also lost a combat leader. This one may yet turn into a very close German victory, as it approaches the half way mark.

Our fourth session (game turns 12-15) featured a large-scale, combined-arms German right flank move that suffered 12 step losses as they quickly advanced diagonally across the map. By mutual agreement the Poles were conceded the victory as there was no possibility of the Germans achieving their 3 victory objectives. The final step loss tally was: 31 for the Germans, and 5 for the Polish defenders.

We agreed that this one deserves a marginal 3, since the German victory conditions are likely beyond reach without a great deal of luck, in this nonplaytested scenario that needs a rewrite. This one is better suited to solitaire play only.