70th Annivesary of D-Day...Remembering the Sacrifice and the Heroism

ASL is a bit of unique game. It's not Monopoly, Chess, Stratego, Battleship, Backgammon, or some other family boadgame. It's a game that recreates real tactical situations drawn from the fires of WWII combat. And often, the actual participants are represented on the playing pieces. Our game of ASL depicts combat and people die in these games. Yes, it all very abstract...but there are those game moments when a sniper shot takes out Cpt. Stahl or Sgt. Steiner or a similar game personage is killed by a tank overrun or horrifying flamethrower shot. So sometimes it does us well to reflect on the real human cost associated with the historical events depicted in ASL.

The 70th Anniversary of D-Day is nearly upon us and this may well be the final time that surviving participants of that momentous day will be on hand to commemorate that event. 

As an ASL player, I am pleased to be playing the Pegasus Bridge Campaign Game at this time and I expect that my opponent and I will come close to completing it very near the 70th Anniversary of the battle. So in advance of that I would like to submit this post to remember those who fought for the liberty of Western Europe in those dark days of Nazi Occupation. Our world will never be completely free of those who would try to take away our liberty...but thankfully, there will always be those who will stand up and defend it. So I tip my hat to those heroes of Pegasus Bridge and remember also their opponent, whose cause was so completely unworthy of his personal valor.

Hail Britannia and Vive le France!

The face of Heroism given a moment to reflect on that great purpose to which he dedicated a portion of his life. To all Veterans...thank you.

 Lt. Col. Pine-Coffin

Major Howard. 

 Colonel Hans von Luck.

Major Howard and Colonel Hans von Luck with Stephen Ambrose at Pegasus Bridge. Enemies no more.

Pegasus Campaign Game - The Conclusion of Day 1 - Vorwärts marsch !!!

 Day 1 finally concluded after three gaming sessions (nearly 10 hours of game play) and nearly 7 complete turns. So far Day 1 has been the longest and hardest fought part of our Pegasus Bridge Campaign. Prior to Day 1, the Germans has been pushed completely off the map and out of both Le Port and Benouville. By the end of Day 1 -- the German Landsers would have secured a large zone of control both east and south of Benouville.

 The Germans continued their efforts to dig in and create zones of control to connect the Chateau with Benouville. The goal was to ensure that no German units would be isolated at game end and to give the Germans the ability to move forces all along the zone of control for Day II's activities.

 The British fought back hard and held fast to a line along the K Row.

 Despite the best efforts of  my 4-6-7's and 4-6-8's...we couldn't dislodge the British from their Row K positions.

 I extended my Germans all the way to the Canal in an effort to dig a foxhole at the edge of the canal. I wasn't able to complete it before we rolled out of the game.

 The British massed their forces in preparation for a counter-attack in the southeast area.  The Germans massed behind the stone wall bordering the Chateau and prepared to repel the expected counter-attack.

 Col. Pine-Coffin retained control of his HQ in Row K and continued to anchor the British line in Benouville.

 Pine-Coffin's boys managed to destroy the last of the French Tankettes and then dashed across the street to engage the Germans in close combat. But the Germans won the ambush, ran upstairs and in the next Prep-Fire, point blank fire from the 9-2 Kill Stack and the MKIV, put an end to their valiant attack.

 The Germans also made good progress along the western edge and managed to secure a house, and two British foxholes.

 My Germans spent a lot of the game digging foxholes and barely managed to get two of the most important ones dug. And at one point...my diggers rolled a "12"...which begged the question...Did they break their shovels!?!?

 Through much of the game, my Landsers kept secure in their foxholes.

 The board at game end. The Germans have created a crescent shaped zone of control with Col. Pine-Coffins boys squarely in the middle.

 The Germans lost 1-1/2 squads total in Day I....and all were lost due to Boxcar induced casualty reduction. The British also lost a full squad to the same thing.

 The Elimination Box at the end of the game.

 Let's listen in to 21st Panzer Division HG..."Ja, I see...so Grumble Jones has made some progress in retaking the the Bridge. Continue to press the attack...see that 33 more Reinforcement Points are spent properly...do not stop until the British are swept from Benouville and Le Port. And then I might consider not having Grumble Jones shot! Wiederhoeren...."

A few Iron Crosses given out to the Landsers for their efforts on Day I.

 Meanwhile...Lord Lovat prepares his Commandos for Day II and the most crucial battle of this CG Yet!!!

Forward Commandos...Howard's boys are waiting for us!

Conclusion of AP 41 The Meat Grinder or "Don't mess with the Russian Big Dog!!!"

 After a three week hiatus, my regular Wednesday night opponent and I were able to finish AP41, The Meat Grinder. This game saw a lot of maneuvering by the Germans as they tried to flank my Russians on the Northern Flank. But by game end, the long flanking maneuver took too much time to develop.

 My Russians were able to secure control of 8 buildings total at the game's end. At one time, I had 10, but the Germans were able to gobble up the three northernmost buildings. My BT-7's didn't do very much except absorb German tank shells. All three were destroyed along with my AA Truck. My infantry did a good job of controlling the center and channeling from there to buildings up and down the north-south road. My KV2's anchored the defense and controlled the road for the most part.

 The German flanking move resulted in destroyed Russian tanks, but it also separated them from supporting the German infantry attack.

 These fellows gave a good account of themselves.

 In the South, the three German MKIII's tried to create havoc, but two were knocked out by a KV2. But to their credit, they did manage to immobilize one of my KV2's.

 The Russian positions near the end. I did lose the northernmost building as the Germans infantry and armor began to coordinate their attacks.

At the end of the game, The Germans managed to obtain 17 Victory Points. The Russians managed to get 26 Victory Points and secured the win.

Pegasus Bridge CG - Day 1 continues..."Let Loose the Dogs of War and the Berserk Germans!!!"

 The struggle on Day 1 continued as the Germans and British grappled on the south edge of Benouville. The Germans advanced steadily through the south woods and under the cover of tanks and smoke entered the outlying buildings. Fierce fighting would characterize the battle as we continued this outstanding CG.

 My German Panzer Grenadier Company made good progress in the woods.

 The British fell back into Benouville from the woods and the Chateau as it became clear the Germans were going to isolate the Chateau. A nod to my opponent. He rarely allows his forces to be cut-off. In all the games we have played, I have yet to really corner him. He has an uncanny sense of when it's time to withdraw.

 As the British fell back, a lucky morale check succeeded in making a 4-6-7 with a MMG go berserk. Not really what I had been hoping for. There's nothing like watching your badly needed MMG go with a crazed squad into the open street with British Paras filling the air with lead.

 Back at the Chateau, the British slowed my advance and then bugged out.

 The Germans quickly took control of the Chateau's upper floors and moved one squad towards the Canal. It seems years ago now that I was once by the canal. If you have never tried a CG...I would like to recommend you grab a copy of Pegasus Bridge (and get it from ASL Battleschool). This CG has been some truly memorable ASL.

 The British on the North edge of Benouville did not remain idle. Once they were satisfied that no more German RG's were coming on to the board, they began moving quickly towards the fighting.

 And there was no stopping them as they CX'd their way to shore up the line.

 They are going to be a formidable obstacle as we head into Turns 6 and 7.

 Now let's consider the tale of Col. Pine Coffin...Major Howard's other 10-2 partner in Red Devil Crime!

 With 2 x 6-4-8's and a bloody Piat (I hate them!), he is a formidable Kill Stack, which my Germans have not been able to phase at all. Even my rolled "3's" only forced a Pin Check...which just caused ol' Pine Coffin to set down his tea, so he didn't waste any of his fine Earl Grey.

 While Pine Coffin anchored the West edge of town, the boys moving from the North have created a new line on the East edge.

 

Let's listen in..."Now Reginald...that MKIV out there is disturbing my tea time...would you care to blast it with that fine Piat of your's? I would be terribly appreciative."

 Reginald...a master ASL Piat Man...sets up...takes aim...at my MKIV, shrouded by the smoke it discharged in a futile attempt to hide itself..., fires his shot...rolls a 5...which of course hits the turret and ...well see below for the effect...

 

Yep...one MKIV all brewed up...English Tea style...dang...I wanted to preserve all of my MKIV's for Day II's activities...

 That's OK...My 9-2 is starting to get mad!!!

 

Ok...the Berserk Germans with the MMG make their death rush towards the British. And unbelievably they survive every shot and jump into battle with a British 6-4-8. 

 "We're gonna die...we're gonna die...we're gonna die...Holy Buckets of Lead...we didn't die!!!"

 In the ensuing melee, my Berserk squad took out the British Paras and have given the Germans some hope in the East Wood.

Meanwhile..."This is Big Kansas calling Lord Lovat...come in Lord Lovat..." and so the CG continues...is it Friday yet?!?!