*
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 05:48:42 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Donate

We Appreciate Your Support

Recent

Author Topic: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC  (Read 1810 times)

Offline Digits

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3774
Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« on: September 26, 2020, 06:44:21 PM »
Today’s game was to be an encounter in Africa and there were do be 5 of us...but due to the increasing uncertainty and fears of another Covid lockdown and increases in the number contracting it, understandably, it was put on ice.  As myself and Jamie have started collecting for Chain of Command, we decided to not let the day be a complete bust, but making good of the fine (though a little cold!) weather, and play a straight forward game Using whatever scenery we could muster.  I had some bocage pieces from a former life which just used as hedgerows became useful. 

Link to my painting thread

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=126468.0


Covid Shelter



Peaceful countryside....things were going to change....





I’ve only briefly played one game at HasBeen’s house, and Jamie played a few games years ago, so we had much to learn.

I play with a panzergrenadier platoon, taking a pak 40 and a sniper team for my supports.

Jamie with a few extra support points available took an M4 tank, 30cal machine gun and a 60mm mortar team.

The deployment phase is going to take a lot to master....

Playing across the table, both of us rolled to use the centre section.  Seeing freezing opportunity when Jamie placed two counters on the same point, I moved to freeze it, only for Jamie to deliberately freeze his last counter whilst I too had doubled up thus bringing it all to an end... thus neither of us really gaining much of an advantage with our resulting deployment positions.




More to follow...
« Last Edit: September 27, 2020, 08:14:38 AM by Digits »

Offline has.been

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 8235
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2020, 07:57:48 PM »
I will follow with interest.

Offline Digits

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3774
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2020, 08:08:43 PM »
Good man!

So I’m not listing a blow by blow account but here is a sequence of events and pics.

I deployed my first squad into a field.



 The Americans immediately brought their tank onto the table, a squad that spent a few phases hunkered up behind a house on their left flank and a flanking squad to the right which probed along the hedge row.  These guys would prove a thorn for a number of phases.



The flanking squad took the first casualties.



The tank fired into the field, inflicting a little shock onto the forward squad.

In my next phase, I deployed my freshly camouflaged pak into the road and with a limited view of the M4, knocked it out with my first shot!  See, it pays to paint......if the M4 had had paint....it may have shrugged off the armour piercing round!





Of course it always helps to have lucky dice!



The Americans deployed a mortar team, firing indirectly managing to help put sufficient shock and damage onto my leading squad, pinning them and injuring the nco in the process.  The mortar was also supported with a 30cal deployed into the top floor of the house opposite the field.



In my next phase, I was able to deploy my final assets, a squad to my right flank that immediately went into overwatch and my sniper team.  The sniper team went on to fire a few times at the American third squad, effectively holding them in place and making them doubt their advance.




With no armour to contend with, the German panzerschreck and American bazooka took to firing he at targets of opportunity.  The bazooka hit the pak crew, killing one  and injuring the nco.  The Germans putting their fire into the top floor of the house where the 30cal was hiding.



Looking to outflank through the woods, the left most American squad had to dash across a little open ground, only to be riddled with spandau by the squad on overwatch.



Bringing up my third squad into the hedge line of the ploughed field, combined fire with the now pinned leading squad was finally enough to dislodge the right flanking Americans, first breaking them, them with the tactical use of a Command dice, sending them scuttling off the table edge.  These two events both resulted in a reduction in morale. 



Getting my leader into an advantageous position where he could control the pak gun , panzershreck and the effectively leaderless leading squad proved quite useful.



He orchestrated the final demise of the 30cal that hightailed it out the back window.


Turning the pak to the now pinned left flanking squad, the writing was on the wall and the Americans beat a tactical retreat.



Very enjoyable.  This was however a learning game.  There was a little ebb and flow and it’s easy to see how it could have easily swung the other way had the German leading squad been wiped out, hence why Jamie concentrated so much on them.

Can’t wait for the next one......lots of scenery to be made and painted, and a few remaining minis.

Jamie is painting both his and my AFV’s so there will be a few options in the future.

Rules are straight forward...but mastering the command dice will be an art form I imagine!

Thanks Jamie, great day.




« Last Edit: September 27, 2020, 08:20:09 AM by Digits »

Offline flatpack

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1381
  • Hiding in the shed
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2020, 09:14:49 PM »
Well done, looks fun.
Flatpack

Offline Splod

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 676
  • Flittering from one project to another
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2020, 11:59:41 PM »
Great looking game!  :)

Offline Shahbahraz

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1425
    • A Lead Odyssey
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2020, 12:11:35 AM »
i confess that CoC has entirely revitalised my WW2 gaming. Every game is a fantastic experience, and the pint sized campaigns are just brilliant.
Wargaming since the dark ages...

---https://aleadodyssey.blogspot.com/---

Offline Digits

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3774
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2020, 06:42:10 AM »
Yup, once we have played another game or so, our intent is to play Bloody Bucket.

As for the game revitalising, I agree.  I used to play Rapid Fire and had a large 20mm collection.  Enjoyed it at first but became predictable.


Offline PrivateBuzz

  • Assistant
  • Posts: 36
  • Too Fat Lardies fan.
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2020, 07:23:19 AM »
    Great write up Dave! Thank you for being such a great host.

    The ebb and flow was a great thing in this game as your first squad came under my concentrated fire and I was piling on the pressure. I have read from a few blogs about never engaging in an exchange of fire, squad to squad with the Germans as they can bring so much fire to bear. I am surprised just how long my squad probing on the flank lasted.

    Sadly they were whittled away with the key turning point being the move across the battlefield of your Senior Leader to help control that flank.

    As you say, this was a (re-)learning game and we will get much slicker over the next couple of games.

    Key points to take away:-

    • We have a much better idea on what extra terrain needs making/buying
    • We know that cover is everything
    • Mutual support is also everything
    • Snipers are a pain in the butt
    • Tanks are fragile
    • Distributing shock, understanding who can shoot and be shot at, is where our main area of rules reading and learning is required so as to be a bit slicker
    • Print some QRS's whilst we learn


    When we get a bit better, we also spoke about the campaign and even getting 'the boys' (Flatpack, Has.Been et al.) to fight one of the campaign turns or potentially a game of Big CoC!
All the best!

Jamie.

Offline Digits

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3774
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2020, 08:27:17 AM »
Yup that squad on the flank were tough nuts to crack.....especially when your leader joined them to rally their morale!   

The other key take away for me is trying to get a handle on that bloody deployment phase!  I can see how a bad five minutes there can have a big impact on the rest of the game.

Offline vodkafan

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3510
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2020, 11:44:23 AM »
Great looking game! You two are going to to be my go-to sources for all advice on CoC.
I am going to build a wargames army, a big beautiful wargames army, and Mexico is going to pay for it.

2019 Painting Challenge :
figures bought: 500+
figures painted: 57
9 vehicles painted
4 terrain pieces scratchbuilt

Offline Westbury

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 743
  • Gaming from Gondolin
    • Westbury Wargamers
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2020, 08:23:21 PM »
Looks good Dave and glad you were able to salvage something from the day.

Offline Digits

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3774
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #11 on: September 27, 2020, 09:11:44 PM »
Thanks Ian, yup, was a good day in the end as if brought forward the learning curve.

Was looking forward to having a go at the WW1 East African game though......hopefully soon enough!

James, you are best asking Jamie....he’s the one who’s read it properly! 😉

Offline BeneathALeadMountain

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 681
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #12 on: September 27, 2020, 09:50:21 PM »
Great stuff Digits. Very brave to have armour present in one of your first games as it can be hard to use effectively and often feels like a waste of support points. The patrol phase is an excellent feature but it is entirely possible to lose a game before it begins (see my devious use of a SdKfz 250 here https://beneathaleadmountain.blogspot.com/2015/03/pictures-from-our-games-of-chain-of.html). My opponent had the choice of what table edge to defend but he just went with the one he was standing by (I would have chosen a short one  :)), he then got distracted with his own plans for his patrol markers rather than mine and - boom - the shortest and most disappointing game of CoC he’s ever played - but for me vitally important as it was a campaign game and I didn’t risk one of my little metal chaps.

Your scenery is looking great, in my experience CoC really appreciates good, layered scenery to allow you to make the most out of your chaps - that said I’m working on Tunisia and not looking forwards to trying to get my infantry across the much more open terrain than my usual Normandy clutter (I love Normandy as the terrain density means the infantry are vital and they have to work hard to protect any armour). Keep up the good work.

BALM
« Last Edit: September 27, 2020, 10:06:41 PM by BeneathALeadMountain »
Beneath A Lead Mountain - my blog of hobby procrastination and sometimes even some progress
https://beneathaleadmountain.blogspot.com/

Offline Digits

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3774
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2020, 10:49:38 PM »
Cheers fella.

I don’t envy you getting chaps across the Tunisian desert.....we were discussing how near impossible it was to cover open ground.

I will be sure to checkout your blog too....much to scrutinise!  ;)

Offline BeneathALeadMountain

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 681
Re: Battle Report - Patrol Engagement Ardennes - CoC
« Reply #14 on: September 27, 2020, 11:24:15 PM »
Maybe not scrutinise  :) it’s mainly nonsense and I’ve previously never tried to publicise it (until I joined LAF and on a whim put the link in my signature) as it’s a way to try and motivate myself and get some idea of progress (if any). My lack of computer and motivation to wrestle with blogger on my tablet means I’ve achieved a lot more than I’ve blogged about but I’m trying to correct it.

Operation Torch is going to be brutal, Tunisia isn’t even as sparse as the earlier fighting but it’s still going to be drastically different to what I’m used to. Presumably smoke and suppression will be key (coupled with blind optimism). I’m quite looking forward to it but then I’m also excited about Italians in sun helmets   :D

I really enjoy Battlegroup and Chain of Command so it’s good to see someone managing to play whilst I’m stuck sheltering and using LAF as a means to get a hobby fix.

Are you going to do specific winter terrain? I love the aesthetic appeal of a snowbound battlefield but it will have to wait until I’ve finished the terrain for Normandy or Tunisia (and everything else I’d like to do...). Keep up the good work I will follow with interest,

Stay safe and well,
BALM
« Last Edit: September 27, 2020, 11:31:55 PM by BeneathALeadMountain »

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
0 Replies
1331 Views
Last post September 25, 2012, 10:02:28 PM
by Eric the Shed
26 Replies
9048 Views
Last post December 01, 2015, 03:36:05 PM
by Eric the Shed
3 Replies
2266 Views
Last post October 09, 2015, 09:06:38 AM
by Rob_bresnen
8 Replies
2948 Views
Last post December 16, 2015, 11:02:13 PM
by Rob_bresnen
14 Replies
1779 Views
Last post July 30, 2020, 01:52:34 AM
by juergen c. olk