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.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AD-mxqZMLjQ/Ut2-oPG_XyI/AAAAAAAADB8/qgGAiP0NNrY/s1600/Sceme+of+Maneuver.jpg)
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.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mYUbkUQ5Ac/Ut2d-zy2R6I/AAAAAAAAC_A/Je3Engr-pfU/s1600/P1130968.JPG)
As M4 Shermans moves towards the bridge (top center), a PaK-40 ATG unmasks to engage.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl_dyatiOA0/Ut2eBIrq4-I/AAAAAAAAC_Q/pLOoa2sbKcM/s1600/P1130970.JPG)
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).
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmxuI1ZW_f4/Ut2e-bg1AdI/AAAAAAAADAw/Tk6GEwYZxA0/s1600/P1130982.JPG)
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
Great report Jack. Thank you. 8)
Yep....Good work, Jack. :)
Cheers - Phil.
Really nice report
take care
Andy
Thank you Jack !
( I didn't have time to read it before today)
Quote from: ronan on 22 January 2014, 05:39:23 PM
Thank you Jack !
( I didn't have time to read it before today)
Ditto - nicely done 8)
What are you guys thanking me for!? I post here because I need attention, so thank you for taking the time to comment! :D
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 :d
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 23 January 2014, 01:33:46 AM
What are you guys thanking me for!? I post here because I need attention, so thank you for taking the time to comment! :D
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!
Glad to hear Ronan getting the recognition and rank he deserves, nice touch! 8)
Quote from: bigjackmac on 23 January 2014, 01:33:46 AM
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 :d
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 ;) :d ;D
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! ;D
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 :P
V/R,
Jack
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. 8)
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 ;D
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. :P
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
Quote from: bigjackmac on 24 January 2014, 03:19:46 AM
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. :P
V/R,Jack
:o :o :o :o.......I AM a Lieutenant General you know !! ;)
(Can I have my own fox-hole or trench ?) ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil
I'm very proud of this Jack !
( I don't have much time these days, too much work )
Poor men under my command...
:D
Tecno - Sorry, there's been a screw up with your paperwork. This best I can do is call you Lieutenant (General), and you'll be sharing your hole with about 30 other guys. But you won't have to dig it, and they'll call you Sir! ;D
Ronan - Don't be too proud, we haven't seen anyone in action yet! I heard the battalion commander doesn't know what he's doing :P
Thanks to everyone for being such good sports, we'll see how it goes, hopefully this weekend.
V/R,
Jack
Requesting a transfer to the AT Platoon, sir.
Gotta love those M10's
*chews gum contenedly*
Listen to that boys, someone is aiming for a purple heart, a soft hospital bed an all the nurses he can get his paws on! How do you keep your head down in an open box?
Pass another magazine Weinberg, and make sure that rifle is sighted right. Whatever the brass decideds gets thrown to us next, lets make sure we get the job done and get out safely.
(Aiming for North East Coasy, Maryland veteran, gruff and cautious, with the side trait of looking after his men- hope you don't mind some character development)
If the krauts hit a "Ronson" you're trapped in a box, trying to get the lid open before you fry.
M10 buys it, you roll over the side and hug the dirt.
Besides, we need to be able to hang over the side and point out targets to you dumb f***s :P
You keep the enemy grenadiers and mortar crews off our backs and we'll keep the kraut panzers off yours!
Quote from: bigjackmac on 25 January 2014, 04:15:13 AM
Techno -... you'll be sharing your hole with about 30 other guys.
Ooooh! Nasty!
Yeah, and it will still be us PBI who get sent in to clear up the mess your big guns make.
We'll hunt your mortars, you keep them panzers off our backs.
You all leave lt Techno's hole alone.
"Grabowski.....Have you fixed that ****ing radio yet ?......We need to know what the others are planning."
"Hello Yankee. Ve are vaiting for you here. Ve haf lots of machine guns and mortars and haf to send some Panthers away because ve haf so many.!"
(Apologies to all Germans out there.)
Quote from: bigjackmac on 24 January 2014, 03:19:46 AM
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.
Battalion Commander: LtCol "Black Jack" Mac
(http://static.hometheaterforum.com/imgrepo/b/bc/htf_imgcache_31681.png)
Holy sh!t you guys are killing me! I just shot coffee all over my living room; this is going to be even better than I thought! ;D ;D
Well, since he's the only one that asked, I've swapped Lt Ithoriel with Lt Drakenganer, so that Ithoriel now commands his beloved M10 Wolverines. But no more griping, and no more transfers until we have vacancies due to casualties, and it will be on a first-come, first serve basis, with the caveat that humor/creativity as to the purpose of the transfer wins you extra points as well.
Nik - What most folks don't realize is that the good Gunny there is an amalgamation of characters, which is why they only had one Drill Instructor. In real life he would be the Senior Drill Instructor (wears a shiny black belt), and have three or four 'green belts' under him.
Tecno - Having a working radio is no more likely to give you a clue as to what's happening than reading tea leaves. And I'm sure your hole will be fine ;)
Lemmey's getting into it, I dig it. And for that, Lemmey becomes the first lieutenant to get a picture (just updated on the blog).
And FSN looks to be volunteering to be the leader of the dastardly Hun, and you are now my counterpart, Oberstleutnant... How do I 'German up' FSN??? Fischneckt? Fitzensump? Flectschnizzle? Fasignuggen? Have to work on that.
Well, this certainly brightened my morning, thanks fellas, and hopefully I get this kicked off tomorrow morning!
V/R,
Jack
BRILLIANT !! :-bd :-bd :-bd
You mean we'll all be going after fsn !! ;)
Don't worry about the humour. I think you can rely on us for that....
Looking forward to seeing how it goes.
Cheers - Phil.
Sir,
I wish to report the louses at HQ have lost my i.d. photo. The MPs keep demanding to see it, they won't buy an '403 access forbidden' notice!
Quote from: bigjackmac on 25 January 2014, 02:59:58 PM
And FSN looks to be volunteering to be the leader of the dastardly Hun, and you are now my counterpart, Oberstleutnant... How do I 'German up' FSN??? Fischneckt? Fitzensump? Flectschnizzle? Fasignuggen? Have to work on that.
I would think Oberstleutnant Franz Sophia Nikolaus Hundertmann has a nice ring to it, and it would do the trick. FSN might even like it. ;)
Seer Gut. I shall go and polish my jackboots, the better to stamp upon your overfed American dog-faces.
(Apologies again. I read far too many "Commando" comics as a child)
*lights another Lucky Strike with his battered old Zippo*
Well, boys - time to get our sh!t together again. I want everything saddled up & ready for the off in ten. Wazowski, make sure you've got enough belts for the .30cal. Jones, will you get rid of that f*ck!n dog? I do not want a repeat of the chicken episode.
On me...
<)
Remember guys, Harwood got transferred from the cavalry...
"Germaning up" fsn - Oberstleutnant Fritz Sonder Niemand - translates as Lieutenant Colonel Fritz (because in Commando comics all Germans are "Fritz") Nobody Special :P :) :d
The German counterpart of Lieutenant Kije perhaps?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Kij%C3%A9
Me and my boys are ready !
Just waiting for the signal !
Cheers - Phil.
Dammit, another beverage shooter!
"I shall go and polish my jackboots, the better to stamp upon your overfed American dog-faces."
No apologies necessary, but what did you do, find a (current) picture of me?
And Amen, another tip of the hat to the comics of our youth: Oberstleutnant Fritz it is!
I'm glad you've got your boys standing by, it looks like we're crossing the line of departure early tomorrow morning. Not sure when I'll have it written up though, I just finished a 5 and 1/2 hour solo game of Black Powder (modified). Thanks for everything guys, this has already been a hoot!
V/R,
Jack