Rommel’s Recon run rampant!
Thursday night at Camp Cromwell Battle report. 13th April 1943
1500pt DAK Recon Chris vs. 1500pt Death or Glory force Mark in a free for all.
While scouting ahead of the main army Rommel’s Recon Company ran headlong into a Death or Glory tank army.
Deployment: The Brats deployed an infantry platoon & 3 Lees on their right hand objective on top of a hill.
The brat left was 3 valentine platoons, 1x Crusader 3, Valentine command, portees and a trucked infantry platoon below an opposing hill..
Opposing the Brat centre and right was a 25pder battery Recon armoured car platoon and an Auflak platoon on BMWs. The DAK centre had a mortar platoon. The DAK right had a Carri platoon, Dianna’s (on a flat top hill) and 8 rad armoured cars. With 3x Pak 38’s on the objective.
The brat armour attacked over the hill on the left catching the DAK by surprise with the speed of the advance. The inevitable happened with the loss of 1 valentine, 3 crusaders & the portees, 7 Valentines survived after destroying the Carri & Dianna’s.
The 25pounders got a lucky hit killing the infantry platoon commander on the brats right pinning the platoon for the rest of the game as it turned out. The Lees were bailed or bogged (while trying to go down the steep hill) for most of the game.
While this was happening the armoured cars & motorbike platoon swept up the left and around the back. They machine gunned the trucks and broke the infantry on the Brats right.
The bike platoon assaulted the Lees killing the platoon commander.
The DAK armoured cars dashed for the objective under a hail of ATR shots and Lee’s 37mm guns. The recon captured the objective just in time!
The valentines meanwhile pushed on overrunning the pak38’s and taking the objective a turn to late.
A close run game 4-3 win to Chris with the DAK Recon.
Hillcrest HQ Friday Night 14th April 1943
After their narrow escape the night before Rommel’s Recon Company (Chris) encountered US infantry led by General Nick (runner up in our club Tournament).
1500pt DAK Recon vs. 1500pt US infantry Meeting Engagement Scenario
Deployment
Nick deployed his 105’s on the right, Stuarts behind a hill in front of the 105’s, infantry platoon behind the right hand objective AT guns split in half 2 protecting each objective and an HMG platoon helping cover Nicks left objective.
Rommel’s recon heavy armoured cars opposite the USA’s right, 25ponders in the centre, 8 rads in front of 25pdrs and 222’s to the right.
Chris’s plan take out the AT on Nicks left then send the recon to take the objective under cover of a hill which prevented Nicks centre supporting his left flank.
What actually happened!
Nick was the attacker and advanced his Stuarts to engage the heavy armoured cars his infantry displaced the 8 rads and dug in on the right objective. No reinforcements for the DAK until turn 3. The heavy armoured cars hung on and the Dianna’s finished off the Stuarts. Nick double moved infantry reserve up the right side of the table which was killed by a DAK reserve which came on..
The following turn Chris made the same mistake doubling up the USA right flank to be almost destroyed surviving a morale check.
By turn 5 the AT guns had been cleared off the USA’s left so the Diannas and Recon zoomed off and took the objective with little resistance. 6-1 win to the DAK.
Post mortem: Nick committed the Stuarts to decide the battle and things would have been tight if they had prevailed. Nicks left was always looking weak but the AT guns prevented the Recon getting their until turn 6.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
Camp Cromwell 13/04/06
Present: Nick, Jim, Peter, SteveJ, MarkO, MarkW.
Mahrajah 2005 Grand Final
Nick's 2000 pts US Infantry: HQ, 2 inf, weapons, mortars, a/tank, 105s, TDs, Shermans, Honeys.
Jim's 2000 pts Carri: HQ M14, 3 5M14, 6L6, 90/53, 75s, 105s, Guastatori.
Breakthrough scenario in Tunisian terrain (K&C recipe using Nick's program), Ities attacking.
The Itie 105s tried to take out the US 105s, but after about 8 turns they had disabled just 2 guns before giving up & trying (unsuccessfully) to find better targets. Their 75s were severely hampered by the terrain blocking line of sight & the loss of their observer to a/tank guns. Eventually they got their hq into a good spot & did some moderately effective pinning & smoking. The US 105s took out a couple of 75s. All up, not an impressive day for the drop-shorts.
The 90/53's had nowhere with a decent field of fire to deploy so had to move up to do so. They were caught by a mortar battery as they deployed and destroyed - much to the chagrine of the Itie command who had overlooked the mortars (next turn they smashed them with massed tank fire, but too late).
But that was all secondary to the main action. Covered by the terrain, the Itie's impressive (in numbers anyway) armoured column moved across the table, around the US right flank and towards the rear objective. The US moved their armour & TDs to meet the threat while GIs & a/tank covered the forward objective.
The Guastatori were the Itie flanking force and although available early were held back to attack in concert with the tanks. When the Shermans advanced to meet the Carri, they rushed forward and attacked under cover of smoke, but their flame throwers failed, good mg dice stopped the attack (to the usual cries of doom from the Ities). The Honeys then finished them off with more mg fire. But the Guastatori did not die in vain, their attack bought time for the Carri to close in.
The Itie armoured column split around the village hill. The L6s turned right towards the forward objective as a diversion while the 3 Carri platoons pressed on against the US armour. Now the dice gods changed their tune. The Carri platoons took losses but always passed morale and kept on coming. They got behind the Shermans and Ronsoned the lot. They picked off 3 Honeys & the others failed morale. The TDs fell mainly to the L6s which had swept the GIs aside to round the hill.With the US armour destroyed the Ities only had to mop up. The Carri took the far objective and secured it by pinning down the GIs supposed to defend it. Not only that, but the L6s somehow survived the a/tank fire, beat off the GI's counterattack and also held the other objective. More medals for those guys - another MVP job.
Pic M2005 1: The new Mahrajah receives the trophy from the umpire.
Pic M2005 2: The loser contemplates what might have been.
Chris' DAK Recon v. MarkW's DOGs in a 1500 pt FFA
Chris won a close battle.
More info on the blog if someone writes it up.
Fort Floriet 11/04/06
Game 1: 1500 pts FFF Chris's DAK d. James' Brat Light Tank .
Game 2: 1500 pts FFF Jame's Brat Light Tank d. Agro's DAK Recon.
More info when Chris remembers to add his attachment.
Game 2: 1500 pts FFF Jame's Brat Light Tank d. Agro's DAK Recon.
More info when Chris remembers to add his attachment.
Acton Armoury 09/04/06
Jim's Carri v. Barrie's US Infantry. 2000 pts Hold the LIne, Italians attacking on Tunisian terrain.
A shameless practice battle for the Mahrajah 2005 GF.
The tin swarm rushed forward. The a/tank guns came out of ambush & knocked out some, but not enough.
The massed firepower of the armour mudered one a/tank platoon, the Itie artillery smoked & blasted the other.
The swarm over-ran the GIs on the objective.
The Shermans came up, smashed a lot of tin cans, but to retake the objective had to move in range of the 90/53's and expose their rears to Itie pop guns - lots of Ronsons & game over.
A shameless practice battle for the Mahrajah 2005 GF.
The tin swarm rushed forward. The a/tank guns came out of ambush & knocked out some, but not enough.
The massed firepower of the armour mudered one a/tank platoon, the Itie artillery smoked & blasted the other.
The swarm over-ran the GIs on the objective.
The Shermans came up, smashed a lot of tin cans, but to retake the objective had to move in range of the 90/53's and expose their rears to Itie pop guns - lots of Ronsons & game over.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Camp Cromwell 06/04/06
SteveJ's Falshirmjager v. Barrie's US Inf in a 2000 Death from Above on the big table (decided by the Mission dice).
Barrie suffered from a deployment mistake leaving on objective rather isolated & defended by just one small GI platoon. But the Huns made heavy work of it. The GIs repelled the first attack & US reserves kept coming on at the right end of the table & kept the pressure on. The Henshells came often - but not on the two turns when the US presented the best targets - they inflicted annoying but not decisive damage. Steve took the objective but Barrie killed everyone before they could claim victory as the Shermans came on in just the right spot. The Shermans stormed to the objective and won the battle.
Barrie spent almost the whole battle convinced he was doomed, but in the end he was saved by the fact that his reserves came on reasonably soon and always in the right spot.
Barrie suffered from a deployment mistake leaving on objective rather isolated & defended by just one small GI platoon. But the Huns made heavy work of it. The GIs repelled the first attack & US reserves kept coming on at the right end of the table & kept the pressure on. The Henshells came often - but not on the two turns when the US presented the best targets - they inflicted annoying but not decisive damage. Steve took the objective but Barrie killed everyone before they could claim victory as the Shermans came on in just the right spot. The Shermans stormed to the objective and won the battle.
Barrie spent almost the whole battle convinced he was doomed, but in the end he was saved by the fact that his reserves came on reasonably soon and always in the right spot.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Fort Floriet 04/04/06
Last week was a panzer refitting nigh this week 4 players arrived keen to play!
Table 1.
Newbies Free for all was diced and, aggro’s non-historical German grenadiers, with 3 tigers??? fighting against a British light armour force of 1500pts.
Both players had fun the inevitable German win but some British tanks almost captured the left hand objective before conceding the game.
Table 2
King of the hill was diced 1500pts Chris DAK Armour vs. Doug Free French Armour.
Chris started with Recon, and Medium tank command on the table. 3 Panzer platoons had to come on as reserves.
Doug started with 5 Stuart lend lease platoons and a platoon of M10’s an awesome and imposing sight.
Turn 1: Chris decided not to attack waiting for reinforcements armoured cars advanced.
Doug advanced the horde of Stuarts (French?) sprung M 10’s out of ambush early but was unlucky only bailing Rommel and an F1 which both stayed bailed for another 3 turns. No air support this turn for the frogs.
Turn 2: Chris got lucky 2 medium tank platoons arrived on the Frogs right flank and took out 4 Stuarts. The armoured cars shot up a jeep, brave lads! And Rettimier got a shot off before the M10’s ducked for cover.
Doug consolidated his position on the hill and chased off the armoured cars, which ducked for cover.
Turn 3: A shooting between F2 & F1 vs. 2 M 10’s.
Turn 4: Panzer 3’s and 4’s finished off the rest of 1 Stuart platoon and destroyed a second. Rettimier picked off a Stuart, which had accidentally been left in full view.
Chris’s Honey platoon came on and killed 1 Stuart.
Doug got air power, which attacked his troops, and 2 platoons spent the turn waving at their own planes.
Turn 5: The panzers picked off 2 more Stuarts and an M10. The honeys finished off a Stuart platoon. The panzers took the objective and the French failed their morale check. 6:1 win to the DAK which surprisingly only lost 1 Honey.
Dice gods were in the Germans favour tonight!!!
Table 1.
Newbies Free for all was diced and, aggro’s non-historical German grenadiers, with 3 tigers??? fighting against a British light armour force of 1500pts.
Both players had fun the inevitable German win but some British tanks almost captured the left hand objective before conceding the game.
Table 2
King of the hill was diced 1500pts Chris DAK Armour vs. Doug Free French Armour.
Chris started with Recon, and Medium tank command on the table. 3 Panzer platoons had to come on as reserves.
Doug started with 5 Stuart lend lease platoons and a platoon of M10’s an awesome and imposing sight.
Turn 1: Chris decided not to attack waiting for reinforcements armoured cars advanced.
Doug advanced the horde of Stuarts (French?) sprung M 10’s out of ambush early but was unlucky only bailing Rommel and an F1 which both stayed bailed for another 3 turns. No air support this turn for the frogs.
Turn 2: Chris got lucky 2 medium tank platoons arrived on the Frogs right flank and took out 4 Stuarts. The armoured cars shot up a jeep, brave lads! And Rettimier got a shot off before the M10’s ducked for cover.
Doug consolidated his position on the hill and chased off the armoured cars, which ducked for cover.
Turn 3: A shooting between F2 & F1 vs. 2 M 10’s.
Turn 4: Panzer 3’s and 4’s finished off the rest of 1 Stuart platoon and destroyed a second. Rettimier picked off a Stuart, which had accidentally been left in full view.
Chris’s Honey platoon came on and killed 1 Stuart.
Doug got air power, which attacked his troops, and 2 platoons spent the turn waving at their own planes.
Turn 5: The panzers picked off 2 more Stuarts and an M10. The honeys finished off a Stuart platoon. The panzers took the objective and the French failed their morale check. 6:1 win to the DAK which surprisingly only lost 1 Honey.
Dice gods were in the Germans favour tonight!!!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Camp Cromwell 30/03/06
Jim's Kiwi's (750 pts) + Mark & Dillon's US (1750 pts)
v.
Barrie + 2xSteve's Falschirmjager (2500 pts)
Free for all on the big table with Tunisian terrain diced for per K&C.
The Germans dug in with 3 infantry, 3 a/tank, 2 mortars & Itie Semos.
The Kiwis with 2 infantry attacked on the right under cover of their 25pdrs.
The US with 2 infantry, 105's, 37mm a/tank, HMG, TDs, Shermans & Honeys advanced on their left.
After the US infantry advance ground to a halt under accurate mortar fire the US took note of the Kiwi's wingeing & moved their armour towards the centre to support the Kiwi attack. The Kiwis used hills to cover their advance. The main US armour (Shermans) took forever to arrive where it was needed (what's new) so the Kiwis went in with just the Honeys to help. Their first platoon was reduced to 1 but it & the Honeys made a mess of the defending platoon on the objective. The 2nd Kiwis all but finished off the platoon, beat off the Semos then holed up in some ruins giving fire support waiting for the Shermans to show up. Finally the Shermans arrived took the objective and resisted the counterattack from the German reserves to win the battle.
A tough battle, won in the end because once Oakie had gone home the US armour did their stuff - braving the Henschels, passing almost every morale test & throwing shirtloads of good MG dice.
The Henschels came often & scared the hell out of the Yanks, but really didn't do that much against some pretty antsy AAMG fire. (2 hits from 5 aamg, 2 6's for firepower, & 2 more for the re-roll was an extreme example).
The Allied artillery looked fearsome, but like the Henschles couldn't hit anything vital (hard to hit these Germans if they don't move).
Strangely neither side lost a platoon, though plenty on both sides were reduced to 1 or 2 survivors.
v.
Barrie + 2xSteve's Falschirmjager (2500 pts)
Free for all on the big table with Tunisian terrain diced for per K&C.
The Germans dug in with 3 infantry, 3 a/tank, 2 mortars & Itie Semos.
The Kiwis with 2 infantry attacked on the right under cover of their 25pdrs.
The US with 2 infantry, 105's, 37mm a/tank, HMG, TDs, Shermans & Honeys advanced on their left.
After the US infantry advance ground to a halt under accurate mortar fire the US took note of the Kiwi's wingeing & moved their armour towards the centre to support the Kiwi attack. The Kiwis used hills to cover their advance. The main US armour (Shermans) took forever to arrive where it was needed (what's new) so the Kiwis went in with just the Honeys to help. Their first platoon was reduced to 1 but it & the Honeys made a mess of the defending platoon on the objective. The 2nd Kiwis all but finished off the platoon, beat off the Semos then holed up in some ruins giving fire support waiting for the Shermans to show up. Finally the Shermans arrived took the objective and resisted the counterattack from the German reserves to win the battle.
A tough battle, won in the end because once Oakie had gone home the US armour did their stuff - braving the Henschels, passing almost every morale test & throwing shirtloads of good MG dice.
The Henschels came often & scared the hell out of the Yanks, but really didn't do that much against some pretty antsy AAMG fire. (2 hits from 5 aamg, 2 6's for firepower, & 2 more for the re-roll was an extreme example).
The Allied artillery looked fearsome, but like the Henschles couldn't hit anything vital (hard to hit these Germans if they don't move).
Strangely neither side lost a platoon, though plenty on both sides were reduced to 1 or 2 survivors.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Pottery Rd 25/03/06
Pottery Rd on Saturday Night
Jim's Grenadiers v. SteveP's Russian Guards.
1500 pts Envelopment Mission (diced for on the CC Mission List). Germans chose to defend.
Both sides had infantry armies - not only no armour - there wasn't even a truck to be seen.
The Envelopment Mission is a modified Hold the Line. The defenders get some fortifications while the attacker gets to make flank/rear attacks with at least 1 & up to 1/2 of his platoons (start dicing for these on turn3).
The Germans used their fortification points to put a minefield across the left half of the front. The unmined half of the front was in front of the forward objective, but was an open plain - perfect field of fire. The Russians made an advance with 1st guards & sappers on the minefield on their right flank while their artillery & Sturmos were to soften the enemy up for a flank attack by 2nd guards. The Germans dropped their HMGs out of ambush on their left behind the minefield & enagaged in counterbattery fire with their 105s. 1st Grenadiers were dug in on the forward objective. 88s were tucked out of sight of observers behind woods near the rear objective to provide AA cover. 2nd Grenadiers, Pioneers, Pak 40's & 2ic with mortars in reserve.
The German reserves came on 1 a turn which allowed them to put an Infantry platoon to guard both rear flanks, but the Russian Reserve/Flank force also came early. It came on and attacked Pioneers before they could be dug in. The smgs killed most & the assault finished them off. For a short time it looked bad for the Germans with just 1st Grenadiers & the small 105 battery between the flanking platoon & the objectives. But finishing off the 105s delayed them & the 1st Grenadier's dug in were a tougher nut than the Pioneers - plus their firing was deadly. The 2nd Guards attack ground to a halt & the 2nd Grenadiers came over from the other flank to finish them off. Meanwhile the attack on the HMGs petered out under a hail of HMG fire. Delayed by the minefield the 1st Guards & Pioneers were mown down. The Sturmos came often, but the 88s stopped some, some didn't find targets & most hits were saved anyway. The Russian artillery was cut down to 2 pieces before the 105s were forced to defend themselves so their fire was pretty ineffective.
We liked the scenario & it seems well balanced (though luck with reserves dice is pretty critical). The attackers flanking force is hard to deal with, but the minefields are a great advantage also. Steve erred in taking on the minefield direct - the open ground looked scary, but was probably a better bet. There was a critical turn when the 2nd Guards assaulted the 1st Grenadiers and were pinned by defensive fire. If that attack had succeeded, the objective would have been taken with no one else able to dispute it. Airpower again proved to be nerve wracking, but actually not very effective.
Jim's Grenadiers v. SteveP's Russian Guards.
1500 pts Envelopment Mission (diced for on the CC Mission List). Germans chose to defend.
Both sides had infantry armies - not only no armour - there wasn't even a truck to be seen.
The Envelopment Mission is a modified Hold the Line. The defenders get some fortifications while the attacker gets to make flank/rear attacks with at least 1 & up to 1/2 of his platoons (start dicing for these on turn3).
The Germans used their fortification points to put a minefield across the left half of the front. The unmined half of the front was in front of the forward objective, but was an open plain - perfect field of fire. The Russians made an advance with 1st guards & sappers on the minefield on their right flank while their artillery & Sturmos were to soften the enemy up for a flank attack by 2nd guards. The Germans dropped their HMGs out of ambush on their left behind the minefield & enagaged in counterbattery fire with their 105s. 1st Grenadiers were dug in on the forward objective. 88s were tucked out of sight of observers behind woods near the rear objective to provide AA cover. 2nd Grenadiers, Pioneers, Pak 40's & 2ic with mortars in reserve.
The German reserves came on 1 a turn which allowed them to put an Infantry platoon to guard both rear flanks, but the Russian Reserve/Flank force also came early. It came on and attacked Pioneers before they could be dug in. The smgs killed most & the assault finished them off. For a short time it looked bad for the Germans with just 1st Grenadiers & the small 105 battery between the flanking platoon & the objectives. But finishing off the 105s delayed them & the 1st Grenadier's dug in were a tougher nut than the Pioneers - plus their firing was deadly. The 2nd Guards attack ground to a halt & the 2nd Grenadiers came over from the other flank to finish them off. Meanwhile the attack on the HMGs petered out under a hail of HMG fire. Delayed by the minefield the 1st Guards & Pioneers were mown down. The Sturmos came often, but the 88s stopped some, some didn't find targets & most hits were saved anyway. The Russian artillery was cut down to 2 pieces before the 105s were forced to defend themselves so their fire was pretty ineffective.
We liked the scenario & it seems well balanced (though luck with reserves dice is pretty critical). The attackers flanking force is hard to deal with, but the minefields are a great advantage also. Steve erred in taking on the minefield direct - the open ground looked scary, but was probably a better bet. There was a critical turn when the 2nd Guards assaulted the 1st Grenadiers and were pinned by defensive fire. If that attack had succeeded, the objective would have been taken with no one else able to dispute it. Airpower again proved to be nerve wracking, but actually not very effective.
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