CoC Bloody Bucket campaign (completed)

[TacticalPainter]

Thanks. Yes, all that German firepower was intimidating but in the end I think the Americans had the advantage - better quality troops, less brittle squads (ie bigger) and hard cover really helped. They may not have assault rifles but their semi-automatics are not without their uses (re-rolling ones makes a surprising difference). I'm not sure things will remain this easy - there are Panthers waiting to cross the river!

[jon_1066]

Hope you have some bazookas stockpiled!

[vodkafan]

That was great!

[TacticalPainter]

The campaign rolls on and the German pioneers struggle to bridge the River Our so that heavier support can assist the Volksgrenadiers dislodge the Americans. After two bloody repulses in the previous games, can the Germans start to drive the Americans from Skyline Drive? Full AAR of the next game here: https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/03/bloody-bucket-campaign-turns-4-5.html

[Marine0846]

Another excellent AAR.
I will hold comments for a later post.
Really love the photos,
story well told.

[vodkafan]

Phew! The Americans kept their nerve. All those double phases you couldn't use! Dice are so weird sometimes.... but that's what makes it fun.  

[gamer Mac]

Another nice report 

[TacticalPainter]

Phew! The Americans kept their nerve. All those double phases you couldn't use! Dice are so weird sometimes.... but that's what makes it fun.

Yes, I could have wept seeing all those double phases and letting them pass. Of course with hindsight I can say my patience paid off in the end, but it wasn't quite so obvious at the time.

[TacticalPainter]

The Americans have put up a determined resistance so far and the Germans are still looking for their first victory of the campaign. The clock is ticking against them but now that they have armour available that might just give them the edge they need to dislodge the Americans. We get to Campaign Turn 6 and the Germans continue to ramp up the pressure. You can find out what happens next in this AAR: http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/03/bloody-bucket-campaign-turn-6-scenario.html

[jon_1066]

Another great read.

Quick question.  Why didn't you deploy the 50 cal behind the building?  It could have shot down the flanking platoon without taking fire from the hedge line.

[TacticalPainter]

Another great read.

Quick question.  Why didn't you deploy the 50 cal behind the building?  It could have shot down the flanking platoon without taking fire from the hedge line.

I gave that one some thought. The problem was how the 50cal would deal with the other Germans coming out of the woods. In hindsight behind the barn, as part of a very rearward defence might have worked. My main concern was less the squad on the flank as I was fairly certain I could stop them, but more about the full platoon advancing out of the woods to the hedge line and then the two farm buildings. I didn’t feel being behind the barn was the best overall tactical position at the time.

[gamer Mac]

Very nice report as usual

[Marine0846]

Interesting AAR.
Tough going for the US.
A question if I may ask.
The maps look like they have a lot of open space.
Which means to me, lots of base of fire and support and open ground to move over.
Are the maps all like that and do you have any photos of the real areas fought over?
Of course being war gamers we have to make concessions to game play.
Thanks again for another great battle report.

[TacticalPainter]

Yes, the area is very open. While the Ardennes is noted for its forests nearly all the settlements are on the ridges which are the only areas of flat ground. Wherever practical these have been cleared for agricultural, which is dominated by dairy farming.

Skyline Drive got its name for this reason, it runs along a ridge line with a good open view across fields.

Here’s a modern colour picture taken on a stretch of the old road that was the here in 1944 and a contemporary one showing the small villages surrounded by open fields.





Historical accounts from Americans talk about the Volksgrenadiers crossing open ground in the open (and suffering as a result).

The picture below is of American dead in the area and again you see the flat open fields behind.



Even in the valleys any level ground is cleared for agriculture and the settlements are surrounded by fields.



Google Earth will show similar.

[vodkafan]

You have really done some homework!