Purple Heart Draw CG - 0600 HOURS - Turns 3 and 4

We picked up our PHD CG game with the start of Turn 3. The Americans having made good progress in the first two turns were poised to strike hard against the right flank and begin turning the German line. But in ASL...nothing is ever certain...

Turn 3 overall was a pretty good turn for Big Kansas and his Americans. He rumbled two Shermans up the road to add weight to the infantry assault on the right flank.  A third Sherman, the one that bogged on Turn 2 gave up trying to breach the hedgerow and trundled up the road to get back in the action.

I was obviously concerned about the US armor. My 105 recoilless  rifle has proven to be fairly ineffective...so I had it firing at the oncoming infantry.

It fired once and did nothing...so I went for an Intensive Fire shot...and yes...I malf'd the gun so bad that it was removed from play. Drats! Self-inflicted wound #1 for the day...

 The Germans weren't the only folks to get hurt by self-inflicted wounds. Big Kansas went for the ESB roll with one of the Shermans. Generally speaking...a pretty easy roll to make for the US...but a "12" popped up and the Sherman was immobilized. So on the one hand that was good for my Germans...but on the other hand it was sitting point blank in front of me....so not so good.

So now we come to the case of additional self-inflicted wounds. As the Shermans roared down the road, my boys in the E8 house went for their Panzerfausts and succeeded in breaking themselves...Wound #2...then my boys in B8 went for Final Protective Fire against the oncoming khaki horde and yes...DM'd themselves as well. Wound #3...

It was at this point that things looked very good for the US.

 Back to the NE, the US forces were still playing cat and mouse with my 2-3-8.

Back to the west and right flank...things went from good to horrible for the US. My boys managed to destroy both Shermans with their Panzerschreck and an LMG managed to DM the US 8-1, and 7-4-7 with the flamethrower. They would be eliminated for failure to rout leaving the flamethrower beside a burning Sherman tank.

ASL...fortune turns on a dime...

Private Damon tried to warn the Shermans about the Panzerschreck...but it was too late...

I must say that the Bocage is the perfect terrain for using Panzerschrecks...

 After many failures...Big Kansas finally made Radio Contact with his 105 Battery.

The first Spotting Round signaled trouble for my Landsers.

 Naturally, my 10-2 was the magnet for the artillery. But before the artillery could fall...that dang Sniper with the unpronounceable name wounded by 10-2. Talk about bad luck...

My forces only have three officers..and the only two good ones are both wounded...my 6+1 is still on assignment deep in the forest.

Rolling snake eyes is supposed to feel good...but when I do...this fella makes me regret I ever picked up the dice.

 Things remained very tight in the center. I had two rows of wire, which I hoped would significantly slow down the Americans. Big Kansas rolled a bunch of "1's" though and he men moved quickly through some of the wire in the first row.

 Back to the NE my 2-3-8 was finding himself in a bit of trouble as the Americans moved to encircle him.

 My forces in the B9 foxhole managed to extricate themselves, but not before my 9-1 was wounded and ELR'd...rolling "12's"...never a good thing...

 Back at M14...my wounded 10-2 had had enough...and decided to move towards the right flank and center action.

 I also moved the boys out of the K10 foxhole to help hold the center, which was becoming an American USO show...

 Big Kansas had his boys moving straight at me and some of their fire group Advancing Fires were downright evil...18 factor Advancing Fire Shots...YIKES!!!

Somebody throw me a shovel...we need to dig in!!!

 As we entered the German phase of Turn 4, the routine Wind Change DR became another source of agony for my Germans. Wind Change...really!?!

Yes...really... I rolled interrogation in a hostile country and then proceeded to roll a "6" which caused me to receive mis-information and the TI'ing of a random unit. Fortunately for me it fell on my wounded 9-1 officer. But still...wind change !!!!

 I suppose some interrogations are better than others...and if you gotta be TI'd...well...

 What's that sound....yeah... that would be 105 TOT rounds falling on my hapless, wounded 10-2 and HMG. And of course they DM...but they are alive...so it could have been worse.

 Roger that observer...we'll blanket that German 10-2 for you!

 My 10-2 is starting to think the ASL fates are against him!!!

 So as my wounded 10-2 routs back towards the M14 house...the rest of my forces make tactical moves to get out of the line of US Defensive Fire and position themselves to resist the US Turn 5 Advance.

 Back in the NE...my 2-3-8 was nearly cut-off, but decided to hop the hedgerow beside the US 2-3-6. It was DM'd, but managed to rout to the stone house by the bridge. Hopefully...he'll get a chance to rally.

The completed German realignment.

The US forces moving into the center have a Sherman for support. But the woods are bristling with Panzerschrecks and Panzerfausts...

 Oh...the agony...my HMG left lying in the dust instead of chattering a death song...drats....

My 2-3-8 escaped certain death...but he may not get a chance to rally. We'll see...

Back on the road, the US 8-0 managed to pick up the abandoned flame thrower. Yeah...not a big fan bratwurst cooked that way....

I definitely don't like flamethrowers...these things can be a game changer in the Bocage.

My boys are gearing up...the fight for the center begins on Turn 5....

Wednesday Night Game - A24 - Regalbuto Ridge

My regular Wednesday night opponent finally returned to the battlefield and we selected A24 Regalbuto Ridge to start the gaming year. This scenario appears to be a straight up slugfest as German 8-3-8's, 4-6-8's go toe to toe against British 4-5-8's in the Italian hills. We managed to complete one turn before wrapping up and as expected..there were already a pile of dead counters.

 My opponent drew the Gemans and set up in a long line with the 81mm Mortar and MMG on the hills to provide fire support. The German 9-2 settled in with the MMG and would rain pain down on my boys. There are no woods on the map, as all woods are brush. I struggled to remember this initially and missed some shots because I thought woods were blocking me.

I drew the British and set up a defense in depth on the hills. SSR required that all of my units set up on hill hexes. I have the advantage initially as my forces occupy the victory location hill hexes. So my game plan is to slow the German advance as much as possible and hang on to the hill hexes. Not too complicated...

I had not played my regular opponent since last September. And I immediately noticed some real play differences. My games against Big Kansas, my Friday opponent are played very quickly. My regular Friday opponent does not move quickly and almost painfully slow at times. I thought we would never get through his opening move, which consumed an hour and a half, which left me only 30 minutes for my turn 1.  

The Germans managed to place one smoke that really blocked some of my better fire power, but my other units managed to lay down a lot of fire, which stung the Germans as they advanced in the open and brush covered ground.

 The Germans have an off-board 75* IeIG gun that went to work early on my forces, but without much effect.

 The Germans did manage to wipe out a 4-5-8 in E7 in their close combat, but in my Prep Fire, I pinned the 9-1 and DM'd the squads back to D6.

The situation at the end of Turn 1. The Germans made good progress and remained relatively intact. Turn 2 will be a challenge for us both.

Grumble Jones January 2015 Scenario - FIREBALL

Remember to open in a new window to maximize the view. 

And always remember, these monthly scenarios are presented for fun only and as a thank you to the readers of my blog.

 

 

Fireball as pictured on the internet.

The bogged Tiger that took out Fireball.

 Another shot of the Tiger 1 named "Hummel".

PURPLE HEART DRAW CAMPAIGN GAME begins with Turns 1 and 2 of 0600 Hours

For our second CG, Big Kansas selected Purple Heart Draw by Lone Canuck. He recommended that I take on the German Defense, which I was more than happy to do. I'm one of those players who loves to be the Germans whenever possible. 

Here we see my 10-2 and 8-1 getting ready to hold off the Amis and stop the Allied breakout from the Bocage. 

I also rolled a 6+1...but he's off the woods by himself...gave him a super secret mission...seemed to make him happy...

Lt. Hill is leading the American effort...he will be one tough hombre!

Let the games begin!!!

My Paras get busy spending 120 Fortification Points to create a nightmare of obstacles for the Amis.

Let's just say my Pioneers spent a lot of time at the WAREHOUSE OF WIRE!!!!

Now one note about the photo record for this AAR. To maintain the fog of war, unseen fortifications won't be pictured until the Americans gain LOS to them. This is to maintain as much enjoyment of playing the GC as possible. So my blog readers won't see a lot of my fortifications in this initial post...but trust me...my wire is like the Spider Webs of Mirkwood Forest!!!

 The Americans begin the game and surge onto the battlefield. The Germans hold their fire with only a single 2-4-8 in the east firing at a moving US 2-3-6.

Finding the Germans is the first order of business...without getting filled with MG-42 lead.

As the Americans advance, fortifications come into view as well as my foxhole position on the road at the west edge. My 8-1 and MMG are positioned to turn the road into a killing ground.

Watching and waiting...soon enough the Amis will come...

 My 10-2 is at home in his fortified M14 Stone House with my single HMG. Unfortunately, the American armor is plastering the location.

 

Hang tough boys!

 The action in St. Georges-d'Elle is fairly mundane as the GI's scurry to secure control of locations that will be important in the succeeding turns.

With 4 Shermans, the Americans have the armor edge!

My effort to make the bridge over the draw uninviting... and this is just what you can see... who knows what Teutonic Terror lies in the dark woods...

A overview showing the action heading into Turn 2. One of the Shermans attempted to breach the Bocage and bogs. 

The German sniper activated and by pure chance DM's the US 7-4-7 carrying a Flamethrower.

Nice shooting Uwe!!!

Wow was I lucky...I had completely forgotten about the possibility of flamethrowers...YIKES!!!

Remember kids...flamethrowers aren't toys!

              The US Attack hugs the west board edge as they make the move to turn the right flank.

I did manage to surprise Big Kansas when I revealed the German 105 Recoilless rifle, which boomed a couple shots after intensive firing. But for all its bluster...I only managed to DM a 6-6-6.

Fun weapon to have and the first time I have ever used it in a game...scratch if off the counters to use bucket list...woohooo!!!

After all 4 Shermans roll NO SMOKE, one of them finally lands a WP shell in front of my 10-2 HMG nest of doom...drats!!!

In addition to the WP, the US Sniper managed to DM my HMG crew...doggone it!!! What a shot dude!!

Our intelligence services were unable to pronounce the name of this nefarious American Sniper.

 

In the area in front of the bridge...a game of cat and mouse is ongoing as my 2-4-8 attempts to sneak up on the Sherman and let fly a Panzerfaust or two...

Game end as we survey the situation at the end of Turn 2. The Americans are nearly in position to begin a serious attack on the right flank. My hopes hinge on the ability of my wire to slow them down.

The Americans in the center concern me as I fear they may make a move to enter the draw. But as I understand it...Purple Hearts await all who enter the draw...muhahahahahaa...

A final look at the bridge. I am certain that this sector of the battlefield won't be quiet for long...

A smoke break before Turn 3 begins....

                                                         My Fallschirmjaegers will be waiting...