Ruckzug France 1944 CoC campaign (updated 5 May)

[BeneathALeadMountain]

I really love that bus - that sort of minutiae/world building detail really makes an amazing table beautiful for me. What an exciting campaign (even when just reading about it), I think your decision not to wrestle the croc was the right one although it’s a shame you lost the kubel and opel for the withdrawal. Let’s hope all those remaining 34’s/42’s really are the true power in the German squads and can do enough to slow the Brits in the next game.

Thank you for posting,

Balm

[blacksoilbill]

Another great report. A frustrating game for the British!

[Marine0846]

Great to see the bus.
Very cool.
Too bad the tank could not get into the battle.
It had a long way to go.
May I ask, what was the average speed per turn?
I would really like to see the game with the figures starting across the table on the long side.
I think the tank would have come into action.
Maybe a different outcome.
Thank you for the post.

[TacticalPainter]

Great to see the bus.
Very cool.
Too bad the tank could not get into the battle.
It had a long way to go.
May I ask, what was the average speed per turn?
I would really like to see the game with the figures starting across the table on the long side.
I think the tank would have come into action.
Maybe a different outcome.
Thank you for the post.

Thanks. It wasn't so much that the tank moved slowly, it was that the British infantry moved quickly. Dave had six free moves at the start of the patrol phase and played very aggressively. That put his jump-off-points quite far forward. He started with a double phase and having laid down a pre-game barrage I suspect he wanted to rush the German jump-off-points while he had the chance. That put his infantry quite far forward early on and as the tank had to enter from the road edge it was always going to take some time to catch up with the infantry. The only other option would have been for the infantry to proceed more slowly but that would have risked wasting the advantages of the pre-game barrage.

A second double phase a little later in the game was also something he wanted to exploit and that saw him push forward one of his jump-off-points and once again deploy his infantry well ahead of the tank. So it wasn't so much a case of the tank moving slowly as the infantry moving fast and outstripping the tank. I suspect given the closed nature of the terrain with all the woods he also wanted to try and flush out any German AT weapons before the tank got too close. In short his tactic to rush the German defence with his infantry always meant the tank would be lagging behind.

[.:Gunslinger:.]

Another Nail-baiter! The mechanics of Chain of Command are really interesting, its a mix of luck put really also making the right decisions at the right time.

Once again a stunning table, the mix between "aerial" shots and low on the ground just work so well to sell the atmosphere. These are amongst my favourite things to read wargames-wise!

[vodkafan]

 The British are certainly not messing about in this campaign! Although you probably did the right thing, your withdrawal cost you a lot of men which I think will have a weakening effect pretty soon.
However, it's probably quite faithful to what does happen in these situations. I am itching for you to get a tank, maybe a Panzer III or even an old French one!

[TacticalPainter]

Almost a month since the last game due to Easter and work commitments but we're back with the fourth game in the campaign. Can the Germans continue to see keep the British at bay? The full AAR of game four is here: http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/05/ruckzug-campaign-scenario-4-another-day.html

[has.been]

Another thrilling game, nip & tuck right up to the end. Well done you two.

[blacksoilbill]

That was a tough day at the office for sure, with an interesting result.

[mluther]

I like how this campaign concluded.  It seems a lot more realistic than some others.  That Croc and flamethrower team seem a bit out of place for a rapidly advancing force, but overall I really like the feel of this mini campaign and hope to give it a try soon.  Thanks for another excellent AAR.
Mar'

[TacticalPainter]

Another thrilling game, nip & tuck right up to the end. Well done you two.

Thanks, it was quite a cagey game and I really thought my Germans were in for a beating.

[TacticalPainter]

I like how this campaign concluded.  It seems a lot more realistic than some others.  That Croc and flamethrower team seem a bit out of place for a rapidly advancing force, but overall I really like the feel of this mini campaign and hope to give it a try soon.  Thanks for another excellent AAR.
Mar'

Thanks Mark. I tend to agree about the flamethrowers. If I was to play again I'd consider a few changes.

The British motor platoon is small and quite brittle. Given it's intended as part of an armoured brigade I would compensate by making armour more readily available, although I'd restrict what's available to only armour from armoured brigades which would mean excluding things like Churchills. Cromwells and Shermans on the other hand would be plentiful. Perhaps give the core platoon one of these for 'free' and allow a number of replacements at no cost; alternatively, if that seems too powerful. make the first one a cheaper support (3/4 points?) and the others at normal cost, or, make them all cheaper (5 points?). I'd give similar thought to the way you might cost armoured cars, carriers, recce sections and/or half tracks. After all this is the mobile tip of the spear of the British advance.

[Poiter50]

Given that the Crocodiles were a very specialist unit and not part of "normal" Divisions, either Infantry or Armoured, they were quite appropriate to be allocated to either style of formation. Foot FTs were integral as part of the Infantry orgs and there are histories of Crocs being brought in to support assaults on heavily fortified areas which BUA became as the Germans withdrew. Did you use Truscott Trotter's amendments for FTs?

Thanks Mark. I tend to agree about the flamethrowers. If I was to play again I'd consider a few changes.

The British motor platoon is small and quite brittle. Given it's intended as part of an armoured brigade I would compensate by making armour more readily available, although I'd restrict what's available to only armour from armoured brigades which would mean excluding things like Churchills. Cromwells and Shermans on the other hand would be plentiful. Perhaps give the core platoon one of these for 'free' and allow a number of replacements at no cost; alternatively, if that seems too powerful. make the first one a cheaper support (3/4 points?) and the others at normal cost, or, make them all cheaper (5 points?). I'd give similar thought to the way you might cost armoured cars, carriers, recce sections and/or half tracks. After all this is the mobile tip of the spear of the British advance.

[TacticalPainter]

Given that the Crocodiles were a very specialist unit and not part of "normal" Divisions, either Infantry or Armoured, they were quite appropriate to be allocated to either style of formation. Foot FTs were integral as part of the Infantry orgs and there are histories of Crocs being brought in to support assaults on heavily fortified areas which BUA became as the Germans withdrew. Did you use Truscott Trotter's amendments for FTs?

While that's true I think the intention of the campaign is to reflect the headlong dash by British armoured units in pursuit of the retreating Germans. Given there is even a penalty for pausing to bring in a fresh infantry platoon I suspect the units represented are at the very forefront of any advance. In that sense I get the argument that the Crocodile probably wouldn't be there. It would more likely be called up once resistance stiffened and the front line became a little more static. However the campaign is more like a tool kit and so players are free to adapt it how they wish. As for the flamethrowers, we just played them as per the rule book.

[Poiter50]

 

While that's true I think the intention of the campaign is to reflect the headlong dash by British armoured units in pursuit of the retreating Germans. Given there is even a penalty for pausing to bring in a fresh infantry platoon I suspect the units represented are at the very forefront of any advance. In that sense I get the argument that the Crocodile probably wouldn't be there. It would more likely be called up once resistance stiffened and the front line became a little more static. However the campaign is more like a tool kit and so players are free to adapt it how they wish. As for the flamethrowers, we just played them as per the rule book.