A couple weeks ago, my ASL opponent for the past decade said we should play the scenarios from Purple Heart Draw. Dan has never played any of the scenarios or the CG itself. I had the honor of playing the CG against Chris Brackney aka Big Kanas in 2015. Can it really be ten years ago already!?! Good grief my life is evaporating at a fast rate. I have so many fond memories our epic playing. My Germans held their ground for the first two turns and left seven Shermans burning and knocked out. But then Turn 3 and Big Kansas' Americans punched through my left flank and sent my surviving Fallschirmjaeger hustling to the rear. Turn 4 would bring an end to my suffering as the overwhelming American force quite literally crushed my final defense. I never made it to CG Turn 5. The reinforcement schedule was a little bit off kilter as the Americans grew exponentially more powerful each turn. Those seven knocked out Shermans were replaced by the end of the game. I had a single STUG, that was easily knocked out by a BAZ 44 on its first movement. Once the Americans turned my flank, the game was over. If memory serves, George Kelln is already hard at work on a revised version of PHD, which should be epic.
The attack that broke my back and secured the CG win for Big Kansas.
A look at the remaining US forces vs German forces tells a tale of the disparity in force. The remaining Germans are upper right with the Americans and their captured Germans squads and support weapons. It was David vs Goliath at the end and I didn't have a sling...
But after ten years...it's time to return to St-Georges-d'Elle.
2015...a different time...my last overseas travel...Montreal, Canada, Munich, Germany and Austria. Haven't been across the Atlantic for 10 years now. I'm back in Tulsa again after spending a glorious four years back in Quincy, Illinois. Still processing that I'm back in Tulsa again. It's hard...a blue dot in a sea of red...but Tulsa is a great place with great people and still greater opportunities and the #1 cost of living in the USA per the Wall Street Journal this very week. So, I'm on my second tour in Oklahoma and ASL is is going strong. Tulsa is after all the spiritual home of the Grumble Jones Blog.
In 2016, Dan and I decided to start playing over SKYPE and here we are 700+ games later.
My ASL life was changed forever. Next year will mark the 10th Anniversary of our Cardboard via SKYPE/Teams odyssey. What an amazing journey.
I could never have imagined the quantity, variety and quality of the games we would play. I hate to think what might have become of my ASL world had Dan Best not been a part of it.
If you have not picked up a copy of PHD, let me encourage you to do so, but you may wish to wait until the Second Edition is released. George's site shows some limited stock available of the current version for those who simply cannot wait. And who would blame you after you read this AAR!!!
George's site shows that 2nd Edition is currently in playtest. So, the wait might not be too long!
Dan and I will be playing the scenarios in order PHD-1 through PHD-4. I will be the Americans and Dan the Germans. It will be a nice change for me to see this module through American eyes after playing the CG as the Germans. For Dan, this will be his first taste of this excellent historical module. I think he will enjoy it!
Our first game, played on Thursday would be PHD-1 Refuse to Retire. Dan's German force would consist of 5 x 5-4-8's, a 2-3-8 and 2-2-8 led by an 8-1 and 8-0 with an MMG, 2 x LMG's, a Panzerschreck, some mines, an 81 MORTAR, wire and foxholes. My force would consist of 7 x 6-6-6's and 3 x 5-4-6's led by a 9-1, 8-0 and 7-0 with 2 x MMG's and 4 x Shermans.
This scenario would only play on Rows K-U in hexes numbered 1-13. To win the Americans must avoid the 22 CVP cap and exit at least 7 Infantry EVP on the south side of the draw. To date there are no recorded American wins. ROAR has it with 11 German to 0 American.This scenario is not for the faint of heart if you are the attacker. Defeat is a given....so do your best and see if the fates will be kind...but this is Purple Heart Draw and ain't no kindness here.
I had no illusions of winning this scenario. ROAR and the ASL Archive have zero American wins for a reason. The Americans only one way into the gully unless scaling is in your bag of tricks. I really believed that I would lose all four Shermans relatively quickly and hit the CVP cap. But ASL and dice are rarely ever predictable. And fate would tease me...hard...
Turn 1 had cost me a half-squad KIA'd on Dan's first roll, which was of course Snake Eyes. But otherwise, my infantry had done well. I was in position to begin searching for mines. This of course slows you down...but it's a must. My Shermans were going to VBM freeze the German 8-1 and anyone else that became available. This was risky...but what the heck, I had no plans for a long game.
Turn 2 American went wonky and my boys did the totally unexpected. Dan would roll three 6's in a row and get no Panzerfausts and often PIN. I successfully VBM freezed both of his LMG squads and the 8-1. And I managed to discover the minefields in front of me. I would pivot my attack to head for the village and go around that way. In retrospect it was the probably the wrong choice...but I committed to the flank.
"Sir...we won't have enough time to exit the draw if we go around the left..."
One of the LMG squads would get away and bedevil me later in the game. The 8-1 and 5-4-8 with LMG would break and be killed during withdrawal from Melee. On the far left, the 2-3-8 would roll boxcars on a 1 Check and be eliminated. Though I didn't know it at the time...the middle was open...but I still went to the left.
I would a Sherman to the Panzerschreck and the second to ATMM from a 5-4-8 with the MMG.
My journey around the left flank was successful but of course burned valuable time. Dan's 2-2-8 with the Mortar would abandon the mortar and go after abandoned Panzerschreck. Dan also shifted his remaining force towards the middle. The only exit into the gulley was in the middle. I would have to go there and face the German defense.
The German 2-2-8 would survive 21 and 18 factor shots, because my damn dice wouldn't roll less a stinking 9!!!! This of course had serious consequences. I couldn't take the 1 and 2 factor resid -2....just couldn't do it. My dice were so cold during this game. Only Dan's bad luck was keeping me in this game.
"SOOOO MUCH!!!"
On Turn 6, I made my final push. My remining tanks went hell for leather over the bocage...but a boxcars would bog one of them. My infantry made their run for the exit. My 7-0 and two 6-6-6's would make it and give me 5 of the needed 7 EVP. The rest of my boys had no chance. The brush covered hexes cost 4 each and there was just no way to get to the exit. It was really gutting to be stopped at the very end because the scenario was literally scripted to keep the Americans from exiting. And hence we understand why the scenario is 11 German and 0 American wins. This scenario gets a bad rap and unfortunately deserves it. But it's ASL and Dan and I both enjoyed the game.
Our second of the four scenarios would be PHD-2 Trying the Right Flank. Dan's Germans would have 4 x 5-4-8's, a 2-3-8 and a 2-2-8 led by an 8-1 and 8-0 with an HMG, 2 x LMG's a Panzerschreck, 24 AP Mines, Wire and a 75L AT Gun.
My Americans would have 2 x 7-4-7's, 7 x 6-6-6's and 3 x 5-4-6's led by a 9-1, 8-1, and 8-0 with 2 x MMG's, 2 x DC's and 2 x Sherman Tanks.
ROAR has this scenario 10 German to 2 American wins. So...I'm mentally prepared for yet another defeat. I definitely want to play all the scenarios in PHD...but I sure hate the futility of playing scenarios that you have almost no chance of winning. It stresses me out, because I want to play my best and have a fair chance to achieve the objectives. This is my second playing of this scenario. I lost it ten years ago as the Americans attacking Chris Brackney's Fallschirmjaeger. It's a tough scenario that just grinds you down.
It does seem to be in the forecast...EC are moderate with PAIN...
One of the touch aspects of this part of the battlefield is the level 1 of Building M14. This location is generally the best place for the HMG as it has a great field of fire. Dan would have his up there.
Turn 1 American - Only a single 5-4-8 with an LMG was up front. The rest were dummies. But that one squad would knock out a Sherman with a faust, KIA a half-squad and hold me up through Turn 3.
I was searching and finding minefields and eliminating dummy's but that was the extent of my success.
I would send a single squad into the draw. The rest of my force would turn the right flank.
Turn 3 I would finally break the 5-4-8 with the LMG. The way forward was open...but I was too late. The game was already over.
I was finally on the move towards the victory buildings. But again...I was running out of time...
Around this time, I was sitting at 16 CVP...4 more and it would be game over. But really...who cared...I didn't have the time to get the rear two buildings...so the game was already over.
Despite the realization that the Americans couldn't win, Dan and I played the game until the very end.
But...just like my beloved Cowboys...my boys were mission-killed.
I succeeded in breaking the German 9-1 and half-squad with the HMG. I was moving towards control of 2 of the 5 victory buildings.
Dan's 7-0/5-4-8 and LMG would race over from the right flank to help defend the village.
As we neared game end, Dan was in firm control of the battle. I was working hard to take two buildings, but the other 3 were going to remain in German control.
Game end. I had control of two of the 5 victory locations and was locked in MELEE in a third. Dan's single 5-4-8 in Turns 1-3 won the game for the Germans. That squad's heroics impacted my CVP cap and demolished my timeline. In spite of my early turn difficulties, I was within striking distance of every victory location. Not too shabby. Dan would win his second PHD scenario in a row.
Our third scenario, played on Saturday would be PHD-3 Diversionary Attack. This was the most balanced of the scenarios with the Germans having a slight edge. The real difference from my perspective was the reasonableness of the victory conditions. The VC in the previous two scenarios were impossible and very difficult respectively. The Americans have a real chance to win this one.
The Americans have to get at least 14 VP adjacent to or inside the draw. Final analysis...this can be achieved.
Thus far in Purple Heart Draw...the Fallschirmjaeger have dominated. Despite being outnumbered, Dan's boys have controlled the battlefield...but this scenario would flip the equation and give the doughboys their first victory...and my first ever win in Purple Heart Draw.
Going into this scenario...I was mentally taxed. PHD is tough and executing an attack three days in a row really wore me out. I had come close in both previous scenarios. I could taste victory in the first one and thought I was close to finally getting a win for the Americans...but fell 2 points shy. Then last night...I was in control of 2 victory locations, in MELEE in a third and adjacent to the 4th and 5th victory location. Both scenarios had gone to the final turn. So far, PHD had been some awesome hard hitting ASL action.
PHD-3 was going to test the Fallschirmjaeger!!
Turn 1 American - I moved up to engage the German MLR. Dan's 9-1 had the HMG at Level 1, so I had to respect his LOS. A couple of my boys would broken in the initial move.
All in all, I was happy with my turn 1 advance.
Turn 2 American - My 9-2's overwhelming firepower broke the 8-1 and 5-4-8 w/LMG in the fortified location. This was huge and would give my 9-2 the location from which to put the hurt on the Fallschirmjaeger.
My Shermans were also supporting my attack well, by putting pressure on Dan's 9-1 with the HMG.
Dan would rally the 5-4-8 with the LMG and send them to attack a 6-6-6 caught in a minefield. It was a solid move and Dan smelled blood in the water and a chance to finish off a broken squad. But my 8-1 and another 6-6-6 were waiting. They rolled snakes...2-KIA. It was the decisive moment in the game. The Germans only have 4 full squads. One was now KIA and the Americans were pressing along the entire German MLR.
Turn 3 American - American firepower, up close and personal would break the Fallschirmjaeger.
Only the 9-1 and squad with the HMG were still in the fight.
Turn 5 American - With all the Germans broken, my boys surged forward to the victory location. For the first time in three days, I felt confident that victory would be achieved. The German 40LL AT Gun would reveal and fire at my first Sherman. Thus far in this game, I had done a good job of keeping them in the game.
At the end of Turn 5, all the German Fallschirmjaeger were eliminated except for the AT Gun crew.
A final look at the battle. The German AT Gun would successfully shock a Sherman, which went unknown kill to destroyed at the end of Turn 6. My 9-2 would KIA the AT Gun Crew. The Fallschirmjaeger had been wiped out to a man. For the first time in PHD, American firepower had completely overwhelmed the Fallschirmjaeger. As the clock ran out, the Americans would have 30 VP in the victory zone. The Americans had finally notched a victory.
One final scenario remains. Sunday will complete our playing of the four PHD scenarios!
The final game has now arrived and would be PHD-4 Counterattack. Dan would be the attacking Germans with 2 x 8-3-8's, and 9 x 4-4-7's led by 9-2, 8-1, and 7-0 with 3 x LMG's, 2 x DC's, a flamethrower, and 2 x STUGS with an 8-1 Armor Leader. My defending Americans would have 5 x 6-6-6's, 2 x 5-4-6's, and 2 x 3-4-7's led by a 9-1, 8-0 and 7-0 with 2 x MMG's, 2 x BAZ 44's and a Radio with 80mm OBA.
Dan would settle on an attack up the middle through the orchard.
My 9-1 would lay a fire lane down the road. Dan would move to either side of it and move forward.
Turn 1 had not been terrible for the Germans, but the advance had not gone as far as hoped and a few squads were broken and a half-squad KIA'd.
Turn 2 German - the American OBA was hitting and had broken the German 8-1 and a squad. The rest were stuck under the 75L STUG. The German grenadiers moved up to engage my boys in the MLR.
One of my 6-6-6's would go Berserk. The would survive the fire thrown at them and eliminated a broken German 4-4-7 and then hopped back over to safety in the Bocage. My 80mm OBA was also keeping the Germans pinned in that area.
Three turns in and the American MLR was still holding strong. A bazooka had shocked the 75L STUG. It would go to unconfirmed kill...but then recover and come at me again.
Turn 4 Germans - The STUG's and several Grenadiers would rush my 9-1 MMG position. I would final protective fire and roll a 9...broken both squads and pinned my 9-1. UGH!! The Germans would suffer from my sniper. The sniper would hit and KIA the German 9-2 and the German 7-0 would break and ELR to a 6+1. Sniper strikes again.
This was the back breaker for Dan's Germans. All of his officers were KIA'd except for a 6+1.
With my center cracking under the pressure, my 7-0 got back on the radio and called in more OBA.
The 75L STUG would be immobilized by my second Bazooka and was stuck in the OBA. The 105 STUG went through a gap in the Bocage and moved to force my broken 9-1 group back.
With the conclusion of Turn and the final German movement phase, Dan would give the concession. His infantry had been bled white and he had only a single mobile STUG. My OBA was still pounding the center of the battlefield and my boys were dug in and concealed beside the road. Dan did the math, and didn't see a viable path to victory. With that my Americans had held the line and our Purple Heart Draw weekend had reached its conclusion.
Dan and I would finish 2-2 and had an absolute blast playing through Lone Canuck's PHD Gem. Are there some rough spots? Yes, there are and especially with PHD-1. It really does appear to be unwinnable for the Americans. Is that a reason not to jump in and enjoy this historical module? No...get it out and give it a playing. It's a unique ASL offering and honestly a lot of fun.
It was fantastic for me personally to revisit this module after ten years and find myself enjoying the experience of Purple Heart Draw one more time. Thanks to George Kelln for this excellent module and we look forward to seeing the revised version when it completes play testing.
Thanks for joining Dan and I as we played through Purple Heart Draw.
That's a wrap from the Land of Bocage!
We will see you again soon at Grumble Jones!!
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