"10mm 1944 US vs Germans Battle Report" Topic

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:
link

V/R,
Jack

I thought you were MIA for sure…but your back with a bang!!! I believe that's my favorite AAR…brilliantly thought out scenario, very exciting stuff all round…worth the wait!

BTW love the new minis and terrain!

This is great stuff Jack. I'm very interested in the 10mm stuff and wondering if its for me (as opposed to the usual 28mm and 15mm) your AAR has me really thinking about it.

(I am looking at the table size and really like the manageable sizes of it all and its actual platoons working not little units of ones and twos as well.

Plus the 'cute' factor is in play here with me looking at those tanks,it all look just brilliant. Cheers to you

Thanks fellas, I really appreciate it. I'm back, and it felt great! I need more hours in the day, as this got me excited about campaigning with a reinforced infantry battalion; probably have a couple company commanders named Dillon and Keepers ;)

I think I've finally got my Black Powder mods finished, and so I believe my next game will be some French and Brits in the Napoleonic era. I'm also working on some rules for individual skirmishing (WWII and Modern) using, get this: some Pulp rules. It's probaly sounds funny, but it's really interesting and I think I can make it work.

This is to say nothing of the WWII USMC vs. IJA, my 'Cuba Libre' project, and Indochina French vs. Vietminh I need to get to, and the 'All Americans' and Perplakistan/Tumoria I need to get back to… Plus all the stuff I need to get painted: Afrika Korps and early war French are the two big ones, with a whole bunch of odds and ends.

Zargon – As you see, I'm a big believer in 10mm. To me it's great for size (big enough to see, not so big as to give you hub to hub battles), the ranges look right, the cost is right, just love it. This fight was the first one I've done on a 6' x 4' in a long time; usually I play on a 3' x 3' or 4' x 4', and I use 10mm for individually-based skirmish up to element-based (stand is a squad) battalion level.

V/R,
Jack

Yes I always knew I was destined for greatness; I just didn't realize how great!!!

(Don't be too excited kyotebluer…officers don't last too long under his command)

You two simmer down, you'll be fine, trust me ;)

You've got it all wrong anyways; you're senior officers, or what we used to call 'strap-hangers,' 'cake-eaters,' etc… The worst your miniature 10mm representatives will have to deal with is a paper cut or being scalded by hot coffee! Or maybe an arty barrage, or if the command post gets overrun. Okay, so a little dangerous…

I need more time! Not sure when I'll get to this, but I figure I need a battalion commander, three rifle company commanders, a weapons company commander, a tank company commander, and about 20 platoon commanders… You guys are two of my loyal, vocal (in terms of posting) readers, so you're guaranteed spots, and there are two more worthy of command (Shaun Travers here, and Mr. Ronan from another forum, are the other two).

We'll see what happens, hope all's well.

V/R,
Jack

Keepers, I have a gut feeling we'll do just fine…especially with a title of "cake-eater"…frankly my gut tells me I'm over-qualified!

If you're worried about seeming unmanly, I could make you the 'lead from the front type,' and you could head up a couple close assaults. No guarantees you'll be around for the next game though, or maybe your legend grows: now one of you sports an eye-patch, the other an empty sleeve, but still leading your forces to victory! You never know.

Panda-John – Saw your posts about Bolt Action and Chain of Command. You can see now that my activation system for 'All Americans' was pulled (largely) from Bolt Action, but with my own, simplified combat rules.

And I forgot Joe Legan! He'll be the Battalion Commander!

Take care guys.

V/R,
Jack

Done! Sorry Panda-John, eyepatches are on a 'first-come, first-serve' basis.

Oh, and from here on out Panda-John will be referred to as Captain Old Bean ;)

V/R,
Jack

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

Jack,

Congrats on another great report.

And I look forward to being in command of something in the future.

Sorry John, don't know what happened, should be fixed now.

V/R,
Jack

Well, yeah man, it hasn't happened… YET.

But the way I play, I hope I don't end up photoshopping everything but a torso ;)

Jack

Looking good everybody…this is a great idea Jack; we won't let you down :)

Meat in the sandwich Keepers…they'll be meat in the sandwich …and that's not baloney!

For the record, I'm not worried about any of you letting me down, quite the opposite really.

I'm hoping to find you some sandwich meat/baloney tomorrow morning! Tally Hoooooooooooooooooooooooo!

V/R,
Jack