AARs - CoC on Sicily 1943

[Utgaard]

Thank you guys 

Not familiar with this idea of "Big CoC"?
As it is a Platoon level game with supports I didn't think you could have a whole tank Platoon. Can you explain it a bit for me?

There is a free supplement available with the Lardies to expand CoC to multi platoon level, mostly intended for multiplayer games.
So you can play with additional infantry platoons per side but field a tank troop too instead - the supplement provides the math to calculate different tank troops/platoons ranging from 3 to 5 tanks, like their historical counterparts.

[vodkafan]

Thank you guys 

There is a free supplement available with the Lardies to expand CoC to multi platoon level, mostly intended for multiplayer games.
So you can play with additional infantry platoons per side but field a tank troop too instead - the supplement provides the math to calculate different tank troops/platoons ranging from 3 to 5 tanks, like their historical counterparts.

That's cool

[Utgaard]

Last Saturday was not only another game of Big Chain of Command with Bernhard and Max, but it was also the last big test for TaToCon to see if our line-ups including the fixed support work and if the terrain fits.

Max and me will be presenting CoC on 28 September at TaToCon, a nice smaller convention in Puchheim (near Munich), and of course hope to encourage people to play along with us.

A platoon of US Airborne, supported by a squad of three M5 Stuarts against a platoon of Bersaglieri in combination with a squad of 3 M13/40 tanks, setting Sicily 1943.

The Italian Bersaglieri were able to skilfully outmanoeuvre the Americans and isolate one of the two Airborne squads, which could not withstand the concentrated fire of three enemy squads for long.
Its remaining remnants finally had to flee and after the supporting HMG team was also eliminated, the morale of the paratroopers finally collapsed.

More details and a complete AAR can be found on my Blog at:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/09/bcoc-batrep-advance-on-niscemi-sicily.html

And some random shots from the game:

[CapnJim]

Bummer for the US Airborne guys.  It all looks good, though!

[MaleGriffin]

Fantastic-looking game! Thank you for sharing!

[Utgaard]

Many thanks guys, really appreciate that! 

[Utgaard]

Our monthly CoC game happened on last Saturday, again a Big CoC with 4 players.

Two Italian platoons (one of Fucileri played by me and one of Bersaglieri played by Max) were ordered to probe (Scenario "The Probe") forward to test the defences manned by a mixture of US Paras (commanded by Dodo) and supported by US Armored (commanded by Bernhard).

The patrols of both sides fought to get the best positions with the Italians trying to avoid the orchards on their left flank because of the increased effect the US 60mm mortars would have there and instead attack with force on the right flank while securing the village located on the dominating hill as a strongpoint.

The US boys ended up holding both flanks with the idea of creating a killing zone in the center but overlooked the problem of only being able to support each other with great difficulty as the killing zone would apply to the as well in this case as soon as the Italians occpied the village.
The Italians instead hat the advantage of the "Inner Line" as Napoleon would have called it 😎

Even though it looked like a clear victory for the Italians in the end, it was a hard-fought game that could easily have gone in the Allies' favour with only a few different dice results - typical CoC, you should never be too sure that you have victory in the bag.

A complete BatRep can be found on my Blog:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/11/big-coc-batrep-probe-towards-gela.html


A few random shots:

[CapnJim]

Sounds like the Americans need to get their s**t together...

[bluewillow]

Fantastic looking table and nice report

Cheers
Matt

[Utgaard]

Our last game for 2024; of course Big CoC in 15mm again and on this occasion we wanted to test a first draft of a home grown scenario.

A centrally located object must be conquered and secured by an advancing infantry platoon, which is supported by a troop tank.
Both sides secretly declare teams and/or squads in advance, which are allowed to operate directly on the table for a pre-determined number of phases after the patrol phase, until the remaining troops are allowed to join the battle.

On one side was a US Armoured platoon, which was supported by an M3A1, a squad of Goumiers and a troop of Shermans.

Opposite them was a platoon of Fucileri, reinforced by a scout squad, a Canona da 47/32, a squad of M35 Brixia mortars and a troop of Semovente 75/18.

As usual, it was a close game, but the decisive factor was that the US boys ran out of time, as the Italians were credited with 2 victory points for each round (3 sixes were rolled twice, and the round was ended once by a CoC dice) in which they were able to hold the crossroads.
We have made some changes/amandments to the scenario, which we will then test in the new year.

More pics and a more detailed BatRep can be found on my Blog as usual:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/12/big-coc-batrep-battle-for-crossroad.html

[BillK]

Really like your terrain layout.
Thanks for the AAR.

[CapnJim]

The terrain does indeed look grand.  Good report, in spite of the outcome.  Maybe the US boys will win one eventually....

[Utgaard]

Thank you very much, guys 

Regarding the US Boys:
I should have lost this game in the Scout Phase already as I had only 1 squad chosen for this phase and my mate had a squad of Goumiers and 1 squad Armored mounted on their M3A1.

Their bad luck rolling dices was really astonishing 

[Utgaard]

Saturday was the time again: Max, Daniel and me had another game of Big Chain of Command - the scenario was ‘Attack on an Objective’.

Max took over a US Armoured platoon, which was supported by a troop of 3 Shermans.
Opposite them was a platoon of the Italian ‘Livorno’ and a troop of 3 Semovente 75/18 - Daniel led the infantry and I tried to support him with the assault guns.

The US Armoured had orders to hold the village at Piano Lupo, but the Livorno had to take the village at all costs as it protected access to the landing zone at Gela.

Luck swung back and forth - a Sherman managed to take out the artillery observer right at the start of the game, but went up in flames shortly afterwards.

It was another very exciting match in which Daniel was able to bring the Italian infantry forwards in an excellently coordinated manner and put the US Boys under pressure time and again.
We also had the luck on our side: while the Shermans could only ‘knock on the door’ of the Semoventi, we had ‘the pope in our pocket’ when it came to rolling the dice: his Shermans burst like their hopes of victory.


The battlefield - the village was the target for both sides.


For now, you can still enjoy what the cellar and plantations have to offer, but that is about to change.


Burning Shermans ...


Supported by the farmstead, the Italians begin their advance in the classic combined arms.


The village is surrounded, the US Boys have to break off the battle and the surviving troops retreat.


More pictures and a detailed report can be found on my blog as usual:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/01/chain-of-command-aar-counterattack-on.html

[CapnJim]

It's all rigged against the US. I'm sure of it...

Once again, a great report and lovely terrain!