Well...it's been a little while since I put out an AAR. Combination of work, ASL games and an ongoing miniatures project have taken over much of the time slot dedicated to AAR's. My miniatures project is actually two projects 1) 15mm US Civil War and 2) 28mm Battle of Hastings. My 15mm Civil War figures have been largely stored away for the past 30 years. In fact, this project is about painting about 100 union infantry that I purchased in 1994...yeah....that's pretty darn sad. My son was born that year and of course my life changed big time. My Battle of Hastings project started last year. Currently, trying to speed paint 120 Saxons and 120 Vikings. My Normans were all completed last year. I'm making good progress, but I imagine it will be July before I'm ready to put figures onto the table.
This is likely the last miniatures project I engage in for a bit. It's truly exhausting.
Listed above are all the games that Dan and I have played since our last AAR in March. April passed without an AAR. Sorry about that. Certainly some of the games above deserved one.
Hollis would land on Gold Beach and move forward off the beach towards the German Battery at Mont Fluery. Discovering that naval shelling had already done the job, Hollis and D Company advanced towards Crepon. A German infantry gun was situated there and wounded two of the company's Bren Gunners. Hollis, despite a facial wound, successfully rescued his wounded mates and would earn the only Victoria Cross awarded for actions on D-Day.
As the attacking British, Dan would command the men of D Company, 6th Battalion of the Green Howards, 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division. His force would consist of 11 x 4-5-8's, led by a 9-2, 8-1 and 8-0 with 1-4-9 Hollis, 2 x MMG's, 2 x LMG's, 2 x 50 MTR's, a Piat, a DC and a Centaur IV 95* Tank.
As the defending Germans, I would command elements of the 736th Infantry Regiment, 756th Infantry Division-on the scenario card, but incorrect. The correct division designation is the 716th. No doubt a typo. My force would consist of 7 x 4-4-7's, a 2-2-8, and a 1-2-7 led by an 8-1 and an 8-0 with 2 x MMG's, an LMG, a 50 MTR and 75* INF Gun and 3 x 4-4-7's entering singly on Turns 3, 5 and 6 (too late to be of any use...just say'n.)
The British can enter from the North, East and West Edges. The Germans can set up anywhere. The British win immediately by destroying or possessing the German gun and if there are no good order German MMC's in any 4 of the 5 stone buildings. The Row Houses are considered 1 building. Scenario card should have spelled that out in the SSR's.
With the British able to hit me from three sides...I was a bit perplexed as to how to set up. I placed my MMG's where I felt they could control theirs side of the battlefield. I put the wire where I felt the British infantry would likely attack. I would be incorrect. (Not the first time.)
Dan would Schwerpunkt through the north edge with his two mortars supporting from the east edge.
Turn 1 British - Dan begins his attack. The mortar teams assault move on and remain concealed. A 2-4-8 charging into the sights of my left flank MMG and are KIA'd. Dan's 8-0 stack armor assaults with the Centaur and are hit hard by my right flank MMG. A 1 KIA result kills a 4-5-8 and breaks the 8-0 and two squads. My dice had been very good...but these early great rolls would be replaced by mediocre rolls for the remainder of the game.
Turn 2 British - my 8-1 would be wounded and his squad eliminated by the Centaur in Turn 1 British defensive fire. At the start of Turn 2 - Dan's Centaur would smoke my LMG squad in the other right side trench location. His mortars both failed to have smoke. As an aside, the British are equipped with 3 smoke making assets. Smoke is a pain in the backside in this game and has an outsized impact on the game when successfully placed. On Turn 2 my right side was already in deep trouble.
Sgt. Major Stanley Hollis would lead the British advance and survive my left side MMG's fire lane. My boys were rushing from the perimeter to meet the threat.
By Turn 3 the British had taken control of my right side trench locations and Hollis was moving into the village. My left side MMG was still making life dangerous by laying fire lanes down the road.
It was actually nice to see a Hero perform as expected. This is so often difficult to replicate in ASL.
By this stage in the game, Dan had captured 1-1/2 of my squads. Hollis and a 2-4-8 went into CC with a 4-4-7. Neither side would win and Melee would be the result. Dan's 9-2 had successfully moved up and his 16 factors were making me worry.
Turn 5 British - Dan's 8-1 stack had been broken earlier in the orchard, but they had recovered and were moving back into the fight. The 9-2 was breaking me up, but the Melee with Hollis had gone bad for the British. The German sniper would hit the location and wound Hollis and break the 2-4-8 (Dan yahtzee'd the roll and I would roll a 1 on the second roll.) In the ensuing Melee, Hollis would be killed.
Dan's efforts on Turn 5 would spell my doom.
The final picture taken after Dan's Turn 5 Defensive fire. His Centaur would blast my 8-0 and MMG, killing my 8-0 and breaking/casualty reducing my 4-4-7. With that position eliminated, it was pretty much game over for me. I only had 2 good order 4-4-7's still in the game and one of those has just arrived as my Turn 5 reinforcement. I only had a half-squad still fighting in the melee and the 9-2 stack was preparing to take out my INF Gun. So, I gave the concession and congratulated Dan on a good win. Dan kept his head and personal ELR after the turn 1 losses. The Centaur and Hollis are largely responsible for the British victory. They managed to unhinge my MLR on the center right. This is a fun scenario and one that I would certainly recommend that you give a shot if you have not already. Great fun!!
My boys prepare to cross the channel...they will survive the Second World War.
That's a wrap on East Side Gamer's #100.
Dan I will be back...soon...for some more tasty ASL treats!!!
We will see you then!!
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