10mm 1944 US vs Germans Battle Report

[bigjackmac]

All,

Sorry folks, my gaming pause has been brought to you by REAL LIFE.  So it's been awhile, and I'm sorry but I've had some stuff going on.  On a positive note, I've received a huge order from Pendraken, and have gotten it prepped and primed.  The same goes for a small order from Minifigs, and I've got some coastal stuff still in the bag from Dave at PT Dockyard.

In any case, I finally got back to the game table!  If you recall, I'd come up with this idea about coming up with a map, set forces for US and Germans, and a scheme of maneuver for a four-fight, battalion-sized operation, and I played the first fight a couple (few?) weeks ago.  I actually set the table up last weekend, then finally got a chance to fight it out this weekend. 


This was my original scheme of maneuver.  I previously played the 1st first fight (box 1), in which the US 'A' Company, with tank support, fought onto the map, taking heavy casualties but overcoming a series of German strongpoints in order to gain a jump-off point for crossing the river.

The plan sketched out above is still roughly the plan, although the crossing operation itself has changed.  The battalion conducted reconnaissance and found two fords (in addition to the roadbridge), one to the east and one to the west.  While neither ford (due to steep, muddy banks) is suitable for vehicle crossing, they are suitable for infantry, and the US Battalion Commander is determined to use them.  So, as opposed to a single axis of attack the battalion has changed to two-pronged attack, with one sweeping to the west (as shown above), and one sweeping to the east (not shown).

The big difference, for those following the original concept, is that I'm not going to play battles 2, 3, and 4 out separately, this batrep is me playing all three of them at the same time.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


As M4 Shermans moves towards the bridge (top center), a PaK-40 ATG unmasks to engage.


Sneaky Americans of Baker Company's 2nd Platoon (center) are hugging the river bank, moving towards the ford (at left), when out pop two German rifle platoons (top center and top right).


Then things got a little crazy; at top left is an abandoned PzJgr IV, being kept company by Charlie Company's 1st Platoon.  At right is a slew of broken, burning, and abandoned US armor with Baker's 3rd Platoon, opposite a 'live' PzJgr IV.

For the full write up and a whole lot more pics, please visit my blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/01/fights-2-4-combined-in-nw-europe.html

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great report Jack. Thank you.

[Techno]

Yep....Good work, Jack.
Cheers - Phil.

[Womble67]

Really nice report

take care

Andy

[ronan]

Thank you Jack !
( I didn't have time to read it before today)

[nikharwood]

Thank you Jack !
( I didn't have time to read it before today)

Ditto - nicely done 

[bigjackmac]

What are you guys thanking me for!?  I post here because I need attention, so thank you for taking the time to comment! 

I wasn't very excited about the fights the way I had them planned, but combining them was a lot of fun and has convinced me to do a campaign (assuming I have time).  I'm going to create a mechanized infantry battalion task force/combat team with the following:
Bn Cmdr
Bn XO
Three Rifle Companies, each of:
-Three Rifle Platoons and a Weapons Plt (Plt Cmdr, one MG and one 60mm mortar stand)
One Weapons Company consisting of:
-Co Cmdr
-MG Plt
-81mm Mortar Plt
-57mm Anti-Tank Gun Plt

Plus Attachments:
1 Tank Company of M4 Shermans
1 Anti-Tank Plt of 4 M10 GMCs
1 Battery of 4 M7 Self-Propelled Guns
1 Engineer Plt

My plan is to flesh it out with characters, then fight them in a campaign in France 1944, probably starting around Falaise/breakout, fight them as long as I can take it (hopefully up to the Bulge).

I've already decided Captain Ronan will be one of my rifle company commanders 
I've got another couple company commander positions open if anyone's interested. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous you can be a rifle platoon commander, though I can't guarantee you'll last long   

V/R,
Jack

[Ithoriel]

What are you guys thanking me for!?  I post here because I need attention, so thank you for taking the time to comment! 

Can't speak for the rest but I'm thanking you for the entertainment! Nice batrep. Look forward to more in future.

As to the attention thing, as one attention-w***e to another, nice crowd in here aren't they. Very appreciative and all of the criticism constructive. If only the rest of the Net were like this!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Glad to hear Ronan getting the recognition and rank he deserves, nice touch!

[nikharwood]

I've already decided Captain Ronan will be one of my rifle company commanders 
I've got another couple company commander positions open if anyone's interested. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous you can be a rifle platoon commander, though I can't guarantee you'll last long   

Sign me up - although, be warned: I have the stay-still-and-let-the-enemy-come-to-you ability of a 3 yr-old on M&Ms and meth. Charging from cover is fun 

[bigjackmac]

Lemmey - This is like Fight Club; the first rule of Fight Club is, you don't talk about Fight Club.  So, just for merely mentioning it, you're drafted and you now serve as a rifle platoon commander for Captain Ronan's Charlie Company (1st Plt).

Nik - Welcome aboard, you now command Baker Company's 1st Platoon.  And don't worry about being aggressive, you'll fit right in.  Your battalion commander is fond of close assault! 

Any other takers?  I've still got six rifle platoon slots open, all three weapons platoon slots, the battalion forward observer, the Weapons Company Commander, three tank platoon slots, an anti-tank platoon (M10 Wolverines), Armored Recon platoon (2 Stuarts and 3 armored cars), Self-Propelled Gun section (M7 Priests, will be used on table, not as off-table support), and an engineer platoon slot I need to fill.

For all of you rifle platoon types that want to complain about not being armor, I'll tell you that the armored fellas tend to last even less than the infantry.  It's gonna be bloody, and I'm not going to promise all of you(r 10mm miniature representations) will make it home 

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

If I make it past the first contact, I'll be lucky. Honoured to serve sir, now pass me an extra mag for my Thompson and I'll have two more grenades too. 

[bigjackmac]

It's funny as I didn't intend on putting myself in this, but I figure as 1) I'll be making all the (terrible) table top decisions and 2) I'm 'drafting' folks from three different forums, I suppose the least I could do was put myself in as well.

So, with that being said, I hereby solemnly swear to do my best, that is, to do everything in my power, everything humanly possible, to keep all of you alive and not embarrass anyone via my ridiculous tactical decisions.  But I will laugh at the first one of your characters that runs in the face of the enemy due to a poor morale roll  

Thanks to all the good sports out there.  I'm thinking Techno, Ithoriel, and Womble, due to having made the mistake of commenting on my batreps, are fair game and have just joined the infantry.  

I just posted the order of battle on my blog! Gentlemen, take your places, please. If you have a 'different' user name on a forum, and you're looking at one of the names on the OOB and you're thinking, 'I wonder if that's me?' it is.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Thanks to all the good sports out there.  I'm thinking Techno, Ithoriel, and Womble, due to having made the mistake of commenting on my batreps, are fair game and have just joined the infantry. 
V/R,Jack

.......I AM a Lieutenant General you know !!
(Can I have my own fox-hole or trench ?) 
Cheers - Phil

[ronan]

I'm very proud of this Jack !

( I don't have much time these days, too much work )

Poor men under my command...