"KG Klink, Poland, Game 5" Topic

All,

It's 1100, 1 Sept 1939, and the counterattack by the Polish 21st Armored and 12th Uhlan Regiments has been spectacularly successful, except for two issues: 1) they didn't really have a plan for success, so after breaking beating back 4th Panzer Division (and KG Klink) they drove about another kilometer, then lost their forward impetus, and just sort of milled about until 4th Panzer could mount a counterattack of its own to drive them back; and 2) the armor and cavalry pushed through with great speed and no coordination with the 12th Mounted Regiment, who found itself alone while following in trace of the Polish armor.

So, we find ourselves in the time after successful Polish armored counterattack, but before 4th Panzer's counterattack, where (mostly) dismounted portions of the Polish 12th Mounted Regiment runs smack into infantry elements of KG Klink, who were moving southeast (to where their armor had just been punished) when enemy activity was spotted to the east. The two forces met on the fly, neither expecting the enemy to be where they found him.

The opposing forces: The Poles, with their CO, three squads of cavalry, and nine rifle squads. As the 21st Armored had left them behind, in their haste to move forward they have left their heavy weapons struggling to catch up.

The German force, with their CO (again in action is the Schutzen Company Commander, 1st Lt Freitag, recipient of the Iron Cross 2nd Class for his actions at the frontier), portions of his Weapons Platoon (two x MG34 and 1 x 80mm mortar), and the better parts of two infantry platoons. Both have 1 x HQ section and 2 x rifle squad, being 1st Platoon under Cadet Hinkle (with his 1st and 2nd Squads, the 2nd under Sgt Haas, also an Iron Cross 2nd Class recipient from the frontier), and the 3rd Platoon under 2nd Lt Tausch (with his 1st and 4th Squads).

Overview, north is up, Germans on the left (west) and Poles on the right (east). Both sides are starting on their baseline. The hill and the ville are the same from the KG's mechanized attack a few hours ago. You can still see two Panzers burning on the hill, and a number of casualties from both sides lying about.

Things started well, then got a little crazy on the hill. For the whole batrep, please visit the blog:

link

I won, but it was much more difficult than it should have been. Another thing that's funny is about heroes; I really was trying to get Lt Freitag and Sgt Haas (the guys that already won the Iron Cross) into positions to further demonstrate their personal bravery, but it just didn't work out that way, though Sgt Haas' 'hero' ability allowed him to rally his troops without activation, which probably saved them from being overrun on the hill. They subsequently got pinned, but stopped the enemy charge with snap fire, which they wouldn't have been able to do if they were still 'man down.'

More to follow.

V/R,
Jack

I am really enjoying your posts on this project – it has inspired me to get some WW2 gaming in.

The write ups are very well done.

Thank you for sharing these.

VCR,

Thanks man, I appreciate the comments, and look forward to seeing some WWII batreps from you!

Glad to know someone out there is reading them ;)

Should have the next one up tomorrow.

V/R,
Jack

What rule system are you using that you can zoom on on specific characters like that?

At the risk of speaking for Jack, he's using FiveCore Company Commander, probably with a few tweaks of his own.

I am indeed using FiveCore Company Commander, and I can't help but tweak ; )

The leaders aren't really zoomed in, it's just that each stand is a squad, wpns team, or vehicle, and I've drawn up an order of battle and 'named' the leader of each stand ( link ) .

Then, when one of those leaders does something cool, he may get an award for valor ( the rules have die rolls for this, though I'm a little more liberal with awards than Ivan's stingy ass ; ) ) , and if they do there's a mechanism in the rules to have 'heroic' leader ( or something like that, I'm probably using the wrong terminology ) which gives certain bonuses in the game.

I don't know much about FoW, but from what I understand it's the same scale, so I don't see why you couldn't do the same thing ( though I'd recommend using Company Commander ; ) ) . It is a lot of work though, to set it all up and track heroes and casualties, but for me personally, it really makes the game/campaign worthwhile.

If you have any questions let me know.

V/R,
Jack

V/R,
Jack

What happened to number 4 Jack? Did I miss something?

Tgunner,

It's here: TMP link

or (direct): link

I accidentally posted to the WWII Aviation Battle Reports board, vice the WWII Battle Reports board.

V/R,
Jack