All,
A couple days later and it's October 6, 1943, with the regiment having just forced the Villa Literno river. On its march towards the (fictional) village of Alfredo Ravioli, the regiment once again finds itself squaring off against a dug-in German defensive line. 1st Battalion is thrown at the first of a series of hills, Hill 125. Able Company is again in the lead, following Baker Company's unsuccessful attempt at cracking the German line. More air and artillery is called up, and once again the paratroopers prepare to cross the line of departure.
Once again, heavy fire pours into the company almost from the start of its advance, and platoon movement quickly breaks down into squad rushes urged on by battle-wise officers and NCOs. As the moment for the final push arises, we find Lt Shepherd at the head of Sgt Bettis' 1st Squad.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hv4NUj-LQyU/U8LVqwyS2XI/AAAAAAAAGIQ/tjZG3GbHVHU/s1600/P1150599.JPG)
The board, 2' x 2', German position atop Hill 125 at top center, Americans coming on the table from the bottom. North is up. Once again there are craters from arty and air strikes.
The opposing forces: US, from right to left: Lt Shepherd (with only a pistol after being chastised by his battalion commander for acting too much like a 'damned rifleman'), Sgt Bettis, Cpl Fox (with BAR), Pvt Ivers, Pvt Chisholm, Pvt Calhoun, and Pvt Swenson. Germans have a Lieutenant (I rolled up a German officer for all three games), a MMG gunner and A-gunner, and a LMG gunner and A-gunner (interesting, eh? But that's what I rolled up).
Setup. Tripod MG-42 is in dug-in position with German Lt, LMG is to the left, though it will displace once spotted. The US force is split into a base of fire element, led by Sgt Bettis on right, and a maneuver element, led by Lt Shepherd, on left.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XFOgYlYdwiA/U8LWKBRqFvI/AAAAAAAAGIc/b9PHCCBn_UA/s1600/P1150600.JPG)
German MG position, the objective, with the German Lieutenant having a cup of Joe and smoke, 'supervising' the machine gun crew.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cQnae-7CXnc/U8LW1aiq_7I/AAAAAAAAGI0/ekd2LHVEkCs/s1600/P1150604.JPG)
On US left, Lt Shepherd leading, followed by Calhoun, Chisholm, and Swenson. That's the Lt with the white vertical stripe painted on the back of his helmet.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQh-7Vu2Fxg/U8LW-JtbSMI/AAAAAAAAGJE/0NcvT32Lw6Q/s1600/P1150605.JPG)
The fight starts off great, with the BAR (off camera to right) firing on the German machine gun position, pinning the gunner (I forgot to apply extra dice to the A-gunner and Lt!), then Pvt Chisholm (bottom center) moving up and firing, causing the MG gunner to flee! I had the German A-gunner move over and handle the gun, though it would be less capable without an A-gunner (and the German Lt wasn't going to lower himself to do that).
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UzZSSTRYVxE/U8LXrkbpYzI/AAAAAAAAGJY/MIXISOs-1I4/s1600/P1150609.JPG)
Fire is exchanged between the two sides to little effect, while Lt Shepherd charged past the knoll, screaming like a demon and firing his .45 pistol, to no effect.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbOvKiduJhs/U8LYVRNU6iI/AAAAAAAAGJs/3V12m6gTavs/s1600/P1150611.JPG)
Swenson (bottom left) rushed forward and fired, killing the LMG gunner. While the A-gunner was moving over to take over the gun, Lt Shepherd rushed forward, still blasting away with his pistol, causing the A-gunner to run! The German MG position is off camera at top right.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iePf_dtWU9U/U8LYxu6nfBI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/aJNDYxi5hY0/s1600/P1150614.JPG)
The German Lieutenant moves over and exchanges fire with Lt Shepherd. A good, old-fashioned pistol duel!
To see the rest, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/07/all-americans-part-11-near-naples-6.html
Such a tease, I know ;) Hope you enjoyed it, it was a quick bit of fun (probably took about 45 minutes to set up, play through, and tear down).
I've got another write-up coming some time this week, and hope to pop out another two or three games this weekend.
V/R,
Jack
Another great report Jack, good to see you back in the grove! 8)
8)
Cheers - Phil
"while Lt Shepherd was recommended for the Bronze Star for personally leading the attack into the German MG position."
And now his pistol confiscated and his pockets searched for any grenades before he's allowed back into command and told to behave like a goddamn officer, not a hero!
That was short and sweet and went well :D
That German roll up looks right to me - lots of MGs, it feels like an impossible amount of fire, but actually is a brittle fence with not enough men to actually hold...
Thanks guys.
TP - Yes, the defense was rather brittle, which was really surprising. Part of it was just pure luck in the die rolls for the Americans: I think the first shot of the game sent the German MG-42 gunner scooting off the board, and the gun is much less effective without a two-man crew (you could argue that I could have had the German Lt take over the gun, or even serve as the A-gunner, but that didn't really seem to 'fit'). Then the LMG gunner went down, so they were really fragile without riflemen to screen them.
V/R,
Jack