The Adventures of Kampfgruppe Klink

[bigjackmac]

As always, thanks guys.  And I do have my fun 

But don't be daunted, you can too!  I'm telling you, I'm really loving these rules for this scale of battle, and they're really quick.  If only typing up the reports was as quick.  I've been out of town all week, but I've got two more fights already played, just need to be typed up.

Cheers!

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1700, 8 Sept 1939.  After a brief rest and reorg following the brutal fighting at Mokra, the kamfgruppe (as part of 4th Panzer Division) resumed its lightning advance east.  As the sun goes down and the light begins to fail, reconnaissance elements of Kampfgruppe Klink reach the western suburbs of Warsaw.  Neither side was truly prepared for what came next; the Poles were dismayed when their pickets reported German columns approaching Warsaw.  Caught out, they rushed ill equipped but very motivated elements of their National Guard to hold off the invaders until a formal defense could be mounted.

Similarly, the Germans wanted to force the door into Warsaw, but had only lightly-equipped troops available.  However, 1st Lt Unger (Recon Company Commander), being aggressive and exercising his initiative, decided to push ahead to force that door.


The opposing forces: Polish National Guard vs German Recon.
The Poles: CO, two MGs, and ten rifle teams (four with attached anti-tank rifles).
The Germans: CO is 1Lt Unger, Commander of the Recon Company; then there is 2Lt Wehner's Armored Car Plt, 2Lt Weider and three squads of his 1st Motorcycle Platoon, and 2Lt Wendt and all four squads of his 2nd Motorcyle Platoon.


Overview, north is up, showing German starting positions on left (west), Poles on right (east) on blinds.  At top left, Lt Weider's 1st M/C Plt has already dismounted, the CO and Lt Wehner's A/C Plt is at center, and Lt Wendt's 2nd M/C Plt is entering at bottom left, still mounted.


I won't tell you what happened, but I'll just say that things got a little crazy (see all the casualty figures from each side intermingled, and the burning armored car).

To witness the carnage, check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/01/kg-klink-poland-game-7.html

I've got another one waiting around to be written, then I've played another two games this weekend (so far), so stand by for more reports.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Yowch!

Mein gott dat stung!

[bigjackmac]

Yeah, another tough one Lemmey (in a string of tough ones), but it was a lot of fun.  The Recon Company commander pushed and almost carried the day, but ultimately he paid with his little, lead life 

Somehow the Kampfgruppe must carry on.  I've played games 9 and 10, have it set up for 11 tomorrow morning (it's a holiday in the States).  I've got it planned for fights up to number 15 for the Battle of Kutno, then another two fights on the outskirts of Warsaw.  At that point I believe I will put a wrap on the campaign in Poland, and begin training for the Battle of France (I just received a Matilda II to go with my Matilda Is, Vickers light tanks, and Cruiser I already have, and I also need to do up a command stand for the Brits, and maybe the French, too).

V/R,
Jack 

[Techno]

Good stuff again, Jack.
Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0600, 9 Sept 1939.  Following the reversal seen yesterday as the Reconnaissance Company tried to push into Warsaw which saw the death of its commander, the unit fell back and awaited the rest of the kampgruppe to catch up and consolidate.  Colonel Klink consulted with his commanders and decided on a dawn attack; he's also received a Warning Order from 4th Panzer Division, which iterated a threat to the west (the beginning rumblings of what would become the Battle of Kutno), necessitating Klink hold his armor out of the upcoming fight, so the morning assault once again saw Lt Freitag's Landser at the forefront.


An all infantry fight, but for Sgt Pichler's Sdkfz 221 (he and his crew refused to be left behind after the previous day's manhandling).  The Polish National Guard did their job the previous day, buying time for reinforcements, and so today's foe is composed of regulars from the Polish 31st Infantry Division.

The Poles: CO, 2 x 37mm ATG, 1 x 82mm mortar, 2 x .30 cal. MG, and 7 x rifle squad (4 of which have attached anti-tank rifles).

The Germans: commanded by the Schutzen Company commander, 1st Lt Freitag, Sgt Pichler's armored car, 2nd Lt Klugmann (an Iron Cross holder) and his 2nd Platoon HQ section, along with his 1st Squad (Sgt Aust), 2nd Squad (Sgt Haas, also an Iron Cross holder), and 3rd Squad (Cpl Arndt), 2nd Lt Tausch and his 3rd Platoon HQ section, along with his 1st Squad (Sgt Schlessinger) and 2nd Squad (Cpl Nader).  In support from the Schwere Platoon are Cpl Creuzburg and LCpl Steinkamp's MG-34 MGs, Cpl Osswald's 80mm mortar, and Sgt Oberlander's 75mm field gun.


Overview, north is up, Germans on left (west) and Poles (on blinds, for now) on right (east).  The CO, 3rd Plt, and Sgt Pichler's vehicle are in the north, 2nd Plt, plus one MG, is in the south, minus one squad covering the mortar, an MG, and the field gun in the center.

There are still casualties and burning German armored cars on the battlefield from yesterday's fighting.


Having defeated the Polish left flank, Lt Klugmann and Sgt Haas, both wearers of the Iron Cross, move their squads forward on the enemy's center, occupied by the two ATGs, their mortar, and their CO.  Easy pickings...

As always, plenty of drama, but this was the closest to an easy day as I've had with these rules.

For the whole fight, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/01/kg-klink-poland-game-8.html

What stands out to me about these rules are the swings in momentum.  This may drive some folks crazy, but it's a big part of the attraction for me.  Between the activation rolls ("man, I really need a scurry," but roll a firefight, and "I hope he rolls anything but a firefight," but there it is) and the random events (the enemy getting lulls to recover/rally their troops, or reinforcements, etc..., and me getting confused or panicked, etc...), you never know what's going to happen.  It has enough chaos to never let you know what's going to happen, to never have a fight seem like a sure thing, but it never makes me feel like I can't control anything.  You're constantly making decisions; it's almost always the between two or three crappy choices, but you're always making decisions.

The campaign is moving right along.  KG Klink secured a toe-hold in the outskirts of western Warsaw, only to be immediately recalled to combat the threat to the west (yes, behind them!).  The Polish army opposite Guderian's troops coming down from the north have linked up with the Polish army pushed aside by the German 10th Army (which entered from the west).  They fought their way together, but ended up in caught in the junction of two major rivers.  Now there is much confused fighting, with German forces entering the area from all points of the compass, and the Poles counterattacking to the north, east, and south, seeking to push the Germans back, secure river crossings, and consolidate their combat power.  KG Klink is hastily thrown into the fray.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Reads like another goody Jack!

[Techno]

Ditto.
Cheers - Phil.

[Maenoferren]

Ouch, that was brutal

[ronan]

 
(I like the vehicles)

[bigjackmac]

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen, and Ronan, you'll really like my French vehicles for the next campaign then

Maenoferran - Brutal!?  This was one of the easy ones!!! 

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1500, 12 Sept 1939, and KG Klink has rushed west from the Wola suburb of Warsaw, back to the juncture of the Vistula and Bzura rivers, where the Polish Pomorze and Poznan Armies have fought from north (through Guderian's troops) and west (through Von Kluge's troops) to reach each other, then counterattack northeast to relieve Warsaw, while simultaneously fighting southeast to reach the Romanian corridor.  With a mix of two German armies and two Polish armies fighting into and out of the pocket at the juncture of the two rivers, and arriving from all points of the compass, the fighting is necessarily confused, and, as the Poles are fighting for their very survival, necessarily fierce.

The situation is such: KG Klink is on the east bank of the Bzura river, where elements of various Polish units are seeking crossings to attack and breakthrough the tightening German noose.  2nd Lt Weider's 1st Motorcycle Platoon was dispatched west along the river, where it found the enemy; a call for reinforcements was immediately made, and 2nd Lt Wehner, the acting Reconnaissance Company Commander  led 2nd Lt Wendt's 2nd Motorcycle Platoon to reinforce them, and several tanks of 2nd Lt Gerhart's 3rd Panzer Platoon were dispatched from KG positions further south.  The Poles are moving directly towards Lt Weider's 1st M/C Plt, and Lt Wendt's 2nd M/C Plt has just arrived as we pick up the action.


The opposing forces: The Germans have two understrength Motorcycle Platoons, and an understrength Panzer Platoon, and the Poles have six rifle squads, a .30 cal. MG, and two medium tanks.


Overview, north is up, Poles are on the left (west) and Germans on the right (east).  The Poles have one MG and some infantry in the woods at top left (that MG would cause serious problems throughout the entire fight), several squads south of the ford, and two tanks coming across the ford presently.  1st M/C Plt is in the buildings at top right, and 2nd M/C Plt is just pulling in, still mounted.  The German 3rd Panzer Plt has just entered the area at bottom right.  The German infantry has no heavy weapons and no means for dealing with the enemy tanks, save close combat.


The tank fight was quick and violent, with Sgt Friessler's crew distinguishing itself with two kills, though both of his panzer brethren were knocked out...


And the enemy MG at top left frustrated my every effort in the north, thoroughly dominating that sector.


Which combined with a Polish smokescreen set the stage for the climactic and decisive scrum in the center.

What a fight!!!  To see the rest of the report, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/01/kg-klink-poland-game-9.html

I've got the write-up for Fight 10 almost completed, need to do the write-up for Fight 11, and Fight 12 is set up on the tabletop for Saturday morning, so stay tuned folks.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I await them with baited breath!
Another good write up Jack!

[bigjackmac]

Breathe, Lemmey, breathe!!!

The next write-up is not gonna happen tonight, the wife and kids want to watch a movie, I'm sure it's something with princesses and cuddly animals...  I've tried in the past to get away with typing, or even prepping minis, but it didn't go over very well.

I hope to get two or three games in this weekend, we'll see how it works out, and I'll post as soon as I can.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Feel your pain dude! Movie time is rules reading time, soap operas are painting time.