C/7/5 Para - GTotH Combat Campaign - Operation Tonga

[DoubleDeuce]

COMMANDER C/7/5 Para (UP844)! As noted in the main game thread your company will be spread out aboard 3x C-47 Dakotas. This means you will be selecting 3 'drop points' on your planning map for each plane and the points must be at least 5 hexes apart (planes cannot fly on top of each other ). I will allow you to designate which leader/squad will be in each plane. You will also need to designate which squad will carry which support weapon.

Here is the starting load and unit ID# for each of your 3 planes;

C-47 Dakota #1
ID# 3: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 4: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 5: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 6: SQUAD: Airborne

C-47 Dakota #2
ID# 7: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 8: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 9: SQUAD: Airborne

C-47 Dakota #3
ID# 10: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 11: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 12: SQUAD: Airborne

Among the above units you will be able to assign the following Support Weapons (1 per squad);
2x SW: LIGHT MG
2x SW: MTR 51 Airborne
2x SW: PIAT

I will also need to know which plane each of the following leaders will be in
ID# 0: LEADER: Captain A** (UP844)
ID# 1: LEADER: Lieutenant B*
ID# 2: LEADER: Sergeant C

NOTE: The 1x CREW w/3in MTR from Battalion, will be in the same plane as the Company Commander (you).

[UP844]

Here is the load plan for C/7/5 Para:

C-47 Dakota #1
ID# 1: LEADER: Captain B*
ID# 3: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 4: SQUAD: Airborne (LMG)
ID# 5: SQUAD: Airborne (MTR 51 Airborne)
ID# 6: SQUAD: Airborne

C-47 Dakota #2
ID# 0: LEADER: Captain A** (UP844)
ID# 7: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 8: SQUAD: Airborne (LMG)
ID# 9: SQUAD: Airborne (PIAT)
1x CREW w/3in MTR

C-47 Dakota #3
ID# 2: LEADER: Captain C
ID# 10: SQUAD: Airborne
ID# 11: SQUAD: Airborne (MTR 51 Airborne)
ID# 12: SQUAD: Airborne (PIAT)

[DoubleDeuce]

Oops, had the LEADER ranks noted wrong in the 1st post. These have been updated to;

ID# 0: LEADER: Captain A** (UP844)
ID# 1: LEADER: Lieutenant B*
ID# 2: LEADER: Sergeant C

[DoubleDeuce]

COMMANDER C/7/5 Para (UP844), here is your dropzone map.

WEATHER: There is no wind atm however, it is the early morning of June 6 at 00:50AM. There is a Full Moon but Overcast. Night Visibility Range is 120 meters (3 hexes).

You need to pick 3 points anywhere on the map, 1 for each of the C-47 Dakotas. These points will be the center point for each Dakota to 'drop' your men and need to be at least 5 hexes apart from each other. You also need to pick the plane flight direction across the map as this will determine the 'line' that each stick will drop along as they exit the plane.

OBJECTIVES: Your objectives are the large 'V''s on the map. There are 3 of them. (Hopefully the map is large enough for you to see them, if not please let me know).

Once you repost the noted map, I can begin building the actual Scenario for you.

[center]Removed drop map to speed thread load time since its in the next post.[/center]

[UP844]

Silly question #1: the 3 points I pick will be the "Initial points" where the first unit of a stick will be dropped? The following units will be dropped one per hex along the Dakota flight path?

Silly question #2: how many turns will the scenario last?

The objectives are well visible. Now, it's time to make a plan [:D].

[DoubleDeuce]

ORIGINAL: UP844

Silly question #1: the 3 points I pick will be the "Initial points" where the first unit of a stick will be dropped? The following units will be dropped one per hex along the Dakota flight path?

Correct, although ASL uses that 'point' as the center of the stick, I will use it as the start point as that is easier to process and, imho, less confusing to everyone. Also, I had to edit my previous post with this but make sure that the 'drop points' are each at least 5 hexes apart from each other.

Silly question #2: how many turns will the scenario last?

At the end of Game Turn 9, and at the end of each Game Turn thereafter, TotH will perform a 'dr'. If the 'dr' is <=2, the Mission ends immediately. If the 'dr' trigger is not met, the game will end at the conclusion of Game Turn 12. So 9-12 Turns.

[UP844]

Has the "variable end" feature been fixed?

Here is the drop plan for Company C/7th Para:

[DoubleDeuce]

ORIGINAL: UP844

Has the "variable end" feature been fixed?

I will have to recheck the Support thread but IIRC that specific ? have never been addressed.

[DoubleDeuce]

I just need to finish up the briefing text and set the victory conditions in the editor and we can get started.

[DoubleDeuce]

For reference purposes I will be posting each commander's mission (scenario) text file BUT the actual files will be sent via PM.

[DoubleDeuce]

TO THE BRITISH COMMANDER: C Coy/7 BN/5 Para RGT

MISSION: Airlanding
DATE: Day, June 6, 1944

BRIEFING: Your unit is to land behind German lines at Drop Zone 'N', East/Northeast of Ranville and seize certain
key positions to disrupt enemy communications and block his lines of supply. Enemy strength is unknown and the
chance of support for you and your men is highly unlikely. You are basically on your own. Good Luck!

CORE FORCE: The following is your core force;
1x LEADER: Lieutenant A**
1x LEADER: Lieutenant B*
1x LEADER: Sergeant C
12x SQUAD: Airborne
2x SW: LIGHT MG
2x SW: MTR 51 AIRBORNE
2x SW: PIAT

VICTORY POINTS: Victory Points will be awared as follows;
* - Each side gains VP for control of VPO (as indicated on the map).

DIRECTLY ATTACHED: Battalion has attached the following units to your command for this Mission;
1x CREW w/3in MTR (from the BN MTR Company)

REINFORCEMENTS: Shorty after you land stragglers from other units may show up to join your unit so be sure
to check for reinforments each turn!

MISSION END: At the end of Game Turn 9, and at the end of each Game Turn thereafter, TotH will perform a 'dr'. If
the 'dr' is <=2, the Mission ends immediately. If the 'dr' trigger is not met, the game will end at the conclusion of
Game Turn 12.

HOW TO BEGIN:

1. - Launch TotH, locate and select your Mission Scenario file, Select New Game.

2. - Set the following in the Scenario Configuration Dialog screen;
> SIDE A: COMPUTER PLAYER
> SIDE B: HUMAN PLAYER
> DIFFICULTY: HARD
> Fog of War: ENABLED
> Path Quality: HIGH
> Do NOT check “If a SIDE loses all units, a Scenario/CG ends”
> Click OK

3. - BEFORE deploying any units please review in detail each of the following under the Menu tab;
> Scenario Attributes (be sure to check the 'Visibility' setting)
> Scenario Victory
> Scenario Description

4. - Play the Mission to completion (Do NOT replay any turns).
5. - On the End Game screen, save the game file (and update this AAR Form) and attach them to a PM to Double Deuce
on the Matrix Forums. The detail level of the AAR is up to you.

Any questions PLEASE feel free to hit me up on the Matrix forums.

[UP844]

Here we go!

[UP844]

The good news: my casualties were light.
The bad news: I suffered a minor defeat , even though it was a very close call.

P.S. Wasn't the 716th Infantry Division a third-rate unit, filled with Polish and Russian volunteers???

[DoubleDeuce]

ORIGINAL: UP844
P.S. Wasn't the 716th Infantry Division a third-rate unit, filled with Polish and Russian volunteers???

It's the 346th Infantry Division that is in the immediate vicinity. 21st Panzer is also nearby. Depending which way your units move after landing and how I have the Germans react it could be a number of different units you encounter.

[UP844]

Well, at least I didn't meet the 22nd Panzer Regiment [:D] (not that I missed them), especially since my PIATs are with the 2 missing squads (not really a worry: what's CC for? [:D]).

A question about the AAR: how should I "credit" a CC kill if more than one of my units is involved? Should I mark the kill to all the units?

[UP844]

British Setup
nice, all my units are spread across the map: oh, well i didn’t expect anything different. Sgt. C lands adjacent to a German HS (with a PF, no less).
Cpt. A will join the squad near objective #1 from the east and – hopefully - take it
Lt. B will probe towards objective #2
Sgt. C will regroup the squads that drifted north-west and then will move south to support either group.
The 3” mortar, which landed well to the north, will try to join the main force as soon as possible.

Turn 1-UK
Cpt.A, with two squads, moves towards objective #1
A squad scouting objective #1 discovers it is occupied by a German platoon.
Lt. B, with two squads moves towards objective #2, and finds a HMG and a full platoon of Germans sitting on objective #2. This is too much for 2 squads, so this group will momentarily retire and gather some other stragglers.
Sgt. C moves away from the German HS and spots two other German squads, which don’t notice him, so he continues moving towards the men he saw drifting west of his position.

Turn 1-GE
ALL British units are OOC, no DF.

Turn 2-3
Cpt. A’s group fires on objective #1 with some effect, but advancing in the orchard would mean taking fire from 2 squads and a LMG from the adjacent hex with very little cover, so they stay in their stone building.

Turn 4
Cpt’A’s group and the Germans in objective #1 continue exchanging fire.
Sgt. C has gathered all the stragglers and moves south to support Cpt. A.
Lt. B attempts another probe towards the German HMG

Turn 5-UK
Cpt.A’s group covering fire pins some Germans and Sgt. C’s group assault moves to come into range, but fire from the remaining Germans breaks them all. Squad #8, with a LMG assault moves adjacent to objective #1 and survives German DF. Squad #7 advances adjacent to objective #1.
Lt. B’s whole group is broken by HMG fire and retreats to the woods.

Turn 5-GE
British defensive fire finally breaks the leader and 2 of the 3 German squads, who run away.

[UP844]

Turn 6-UK
Objective #1 is finally taken after the last German squad is eliminated in CC.

Turn 6-GE
The mortar crew spots some German squads moving south. The mortar cannot fire, and the crew small arms fire has no effect.
Lt.B’s group fires on a German leader and a squad moving towards objective #1, breaking them.

Turn 7-UK
Sgt. C and 2 squads remain at objective #1
Cpt. A and 4 squads, start moving towards objective #3; from there, they will attack objective #2 from the rear.
Lt. B keeps the German in the stone building at bay and waits for Cpt. A’s force coming from the south.

Turn 7-German
Lt.B’s group stops other Germans attacking westward; the mortar crew fires on another German squad moving south (and pins it!!)

Turn 8
Cpt. A continues moving SE; Group B exchanges fire with Germans in the stone building
Germans start attacking Objective 1 from West but are repulsed

[UP844]

Turn 9
Cpt. A’s force is blocked by some Germans in a stone building on the reverse slope of the small hill SE of objective 1
Lt. B’s group breaks all Germans in front of it
Sgt. C holds the building against an increasing number of Germans.

Turn 10
Cpt. A’s moves north to prevent the Germans on the hill from attacking Sgt. C’s group.
Lt. B’s surrounds the Germans, eliminates 2 leader and 2 squads (1 L and 1 squad in CC) and moves towards objective #2.
Sgt. C and his group kill a German squad that entered CC.

Turn 11
Cpt.A’s group moves toward objective #3; a LMG-armed squad is sent to Sgt. C’s group.
Fire from a squad broke one of the Germans sitting on objective #2 and pinned the other. Time is running out, so Lt. B and the other squad take their chances: unfortunately, German fire from the pinned squad kills Lt. B and breaks the squad.
Sgt. C’s remains under siege, but most of the Germans are now broken.

Turn 12
Objective #2 is out of question: I only have a single squad there, against two German 1st line. Even if I manage to break them with fire, I would be unable to move into the objective hex. I could try a mad dash, but even if I survive the German defensive fire, I will have to win the CC at 1-2 odds to take the objective. The only possibility to avoid defeat is taking objective #3 and getting a draw, even tough this means another charge in the open; on the other hand, the German only has a single squad and I have two, plus Cpt. A. Unfortunately, this attempt also fails: Cpt. A and both squads break, but take no further losses.
Sqt. C breaks another German counterattack, and it’s over, ending in a British minor defeat.