Our first experiment with running a Big Chain of Command game, at the Lost Ark shop in Stevenage. This enabled up to set-up an 8’x6’ table, pitting a US paratrooper platoon, a British Tank Platoon & a British Infantry platoon against two German infantry platoons (with support).
The British tank platoon would enter via the road in the
South East corner and needed to exit at least one AFV, over the bridge, on the
eastern edge of the table, while keeping the Germans at least 12” from the
road. The US paratroopers started on the bridge, while the German entry point was
on the track at the centre of the Northern table edge. If the Germans could
prevent this, while at the same time gaining 2 Chain of Command dice, they
would win (time running out!).
The patrol phase went well for the US & German contingents. The US managed to get a Jump Off Point (JOP) behind the house just to the East of the bridge & in the woods overlooking the road, SE of the bridge. The Germans managed to get a JOP right down the bordered field, adjacent to the road, as well as JOPs near the farm and behind the fields overlooking the bridge.
The British infantry only managed to get their JOPs, one up
into the field overlooking the farmhouse & the other in the woods just
South of the road.
Turn 1 saw the British tanks roar onto the table, while a British infantry section deployed into the fields, just to the North of the road, to cover their advance. The US paras modestly only deploying an LMG and sniper, into the house.
The Germans responded aggressively, by deploying a section behind the low walls to the South of the farmhouse, while simultaneously deploying the FAO, with an LMG team, in the bordered field, right down next to the road.
The US paras then revealed an entrenched section, in the woods, to the SE of the bridge. These opened up with murderous long range fire on the FAO & supporting LMG team, eventually resulting the loss of both the FAO & LMG team.
On the East of the table, the German section was suffering from fire from the Brits in the field, but also the US sniper, in the house near the bridge. However, the German platoon leader deployed here and started to restore some order. So much so, that casualties in the British infantry caused them to deploy a further section here.
But the continued focus of the British infantry on the farm area, was leaving their tanks exposed. Panzershrek teams were sneaking down and ambushing the tanks on the road. One was soon burning, while another had somehow survived two ambushes!
The US paras decided it was time to help out. They threatened an advance toward the German JOP in the South, while deploying a rifle team & bazooka, in the North, to try to flank the German positions. The advance of the rifle team in the North was rapidly checked by the deployment of first a Stug IIIG, which opened fire on the house, while an infantry section deployed across the advance line of the US paras, forcing them to deploy smoke & retire.
Further South, to counter the threat to their Southern-most JOP, the Germans deployed a Section into the bordered field next to the road. However, this rapidly started to lose the long range firefight with the entrenched US paras in the wood. Soon these were broken & running.
Seeing that the British infantry appeared too distracted to
cover his tanks, the British Tank platoon leader decided to press on with his
two remaining tanks. However, time was running out. The Germans were rolling
more 5s and soon had further Chain of Command dice, enabling them to launch
further ambushes on the exposed British armour, but also end the game.
A classic case on not maintaining focus on the objective, but all agreed it was a great venue & we would be returning.
No comments:
Post a Comment