CapnJim's WW2 Stuff: Spring '45 Scenario #1 AAR...Page 17...27 Jul 25).

[CapnJim]

Well, I lied.  Sort of.  We are indeed going to play the 3 WW2 scenarios included in Wargames, Soldiers, & Strategy Issue 128, but not necessarily with Fistful or Lead: Bigger Battles.  We're gonna do the 3 scenarios, but I'm thinking of using different rules for each one (haven't really decided yet... ).

First up is the 1st of the 3 scenarios, scheduled for 25 July.  I've adapted it to Xenos Rampant, and made a couple other tweaks (mostly to suit my 28mm WW2 collection).

Here is the Scenario Sheet:



Here is the US Unit Sheet:



And here is the German Unit Sheet:



As you can see, this ain't an even fight.    But even with a 2 to 1 troop ratio (given how I've rated the troops using Xenos Rampant's estimates of combat power), it's gonna be a trick for the Americans, as they have to negotiate a bunch of open ground in their assault.  Conversely, the Germans don't have it easy either.  They ain't got the best troops, and they have to balance fighting and withdrawing at the same time.

Should be interesting... 

[CapnJim]

This game is on schedule for this Friday (25 July).  I got it pretty much ready to go earlier today.  So let's familiarize ourselves with the field of battle.

Here is the field from above...



Here's a lower view looking south.



And looking east.



Looking north.



And finally, looking west.



As for the combatants, here are the Germans.  The left column, from top to bottom, is the Zug HQ, 1. Gruppe (MG42 team and rifle team), and 2. Gruppe (MG42 team and rifle team).  The right column is (again, top to bottom) the MG42 MMG team and the Panzerschreck team.



Here are the US boys.  The left column, from top to bottom, is the Platoon HQ, 1st Squad (BAR team and rifle team), 2nd Squad (BAR team and rifle team), and 3rd Squad (BAR team and rifle team).  The right column is (again, top to bottom) the M1919 MMG team, the 60mm mortar team, and the M4(75mm) tank.



Hostilities commence at 1100 hrs. Friday.  AAR to follow.

[Utgaard]

Looks great, looking forward to the AAR 

[CapnJim]

All in good time.    Hopefully I can get to the AAR this weekend.

I'm looking forward to this fight.  Both sides have some tactical challenges, but I think the Volksgrenadiers will have their work cut out for them...

And thanks!

[CapnJim]

We did indeed play this scenario this Friday past (25 July).  After randomly determining who played what, Gene and I took the Germans, while Dave and Ted took the GIs.  This was intentionally designed to be a tough nut for the Germans.  And boy was it...

Our poor depleted Volksgrenadier platoon deployed.  One squad north of the road, with the MG team forward and dug in, their rifle team behind them.  Another squad south of the road, again with their MG team dug in forward and their rifle team behind.  The tripod MG42 team was dug in in the copse of trees by the road intersection.  The Panzerschreck team was in the east end of the north woods, and the Platoon HQ in the copse of trees behind the MG42 team.

The GIs then deployed with their Platoon HQ, 1st Squad, and the M1919 team in the south woods, while 2nd and 3rd Squads were in the north woods.  The infantry would work the flanks, while the M4 and the 60mm mortar team deployed just north of the road at the west board edge.  They would be the base of fire support.  And they would do a grand job of it...

The GIs went first, as the attacker.

First blood went to the Sherman.  A 75mm HE round took out a tripod MG42 crewman, suppressing the team.



The GIs advanced.  The Sherman was careful not to get ahead of the infantry.





Then, a Panzerschreck rocket streaked toward the Sherman, hitting it.  But it only did some light damage to it.  The tank returned fire, suppressing the Panzerschreck team.





The Americans kept up their advance, as well as the pressure on the poor Germans.  The 2 German rifle teams began their withdrawal, their MG teams trying to cover their movement.  The MG teams paid a price for their bravery, however.













Even the withdrawing rifleman were getting shot down.  The US 60mm mortar and tank were providing very effective covering fire.



The Americans kept coming, methodically moving through cover.  Their lightly damaged Sherman was careful not to outdistance the infantry.  It wasn't without cost for the GIs, though.  They'd lost 3 men so far, 2 from the M1919 team and 1 from the 60mm mortar team.  And the Sherman took a close call from panzerfaust fire.



The Germans were taking a beating.  The MG and Panzerschreck teams were, for all intents and purposes, out of the fight.  Now, the Platoon HQ began to withdraw as well.



And the GIs kept advancing.  There wasn't much left in their way, and they began moving out of the cover of the woods.





What few Germans were left, kept up their withdrawal.  They took casualties as they did, and the retreat had turned into a rout.





The Americans didn't let up.





And just to put salt on the Germans' wounds, a barrage of 81mm mortars fell on the remnants of the German Platoon HQ



And that was that.  Only a handful of Volksgrenadiers escaped the American attack.  The GIs won: 8 pts. to 2.

The way was open to begin the assault on the next German town.  Scenario #2 will see the Americans attack the outskirts of that town.  That game will likely be played in September, and may be played with a different set of rules.  We haven't decided that yet.

This fight was brutal for the Germans.  Between the US tactics and their die-rolling (as bad as Ted rolled in last week's Vietnam game, he rolled that good in this game...), and the poor quality of the German troops and their (our...) shitty die-rolling, it was rough day to be a Volksgrenadier.  But take heed, their resistance should stiffen in Scenario #2.

We think Xenos Rampant handled the game (and period) very well.  This was our 2nd WW2 game using these rules (we've also played 2 modernish games using them, as well), and so far they work well.

We did make these tweaks, however:

1.  Failing an Activation Test did not end that side's turn.  All units had the opportunity to activate.

2.  The Armor-Piercing Unit Rule (for Panzerfausts and the Panzerschreck) only applied to anti-vehicle fire, and the Heavy Weapons Unit Rule for MGs only applied to anti-personnel fire.

3.  I added a smoke grenade Xenos Rule for the US Platoon HQ, although it never got used.

Other than those, we played the rules pretty straight.  We'll keep them in our rotation...


 

[CapnJim]

One thing I'll add is this.

Before the game, I inquired with Google Gemini about its thoughts on the situation facing both the GIs and the Volksgrenadiers.  I explained the tactical situation, the terrain, and the troops available from each side's perspective.  I did not inform Gemini about the rules we were using.  In fact, I didn't even tell it that this was a wargame.  In both cases, it summarized the situation, and provided what I thought were well-reasoned and relevant thoughts and recommendations on tactical considerations and the tactics themselves.  It was an interesting exercise...in fact, my brother and I discussed the scenario the Sunday prior, and Gemini's thoughts pretty much mirrored our discussion.  Just food for thought...and I only mention my stab at using AI (my first time), as it relates to a wargame scenario and game.

[Utgaard]

Nice pictures and AAR, thanks for sharing with us! 

[CapnJim]

Thanks.  Appreciate that.

I'm working on Scenario #2 (the Americans hit the outskirts of the German town).  Methinks we'll be doing it with Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles.