AAR - Lasting Valor (American)

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Lasting Valor

Turn 1 - US Pre Game Setup Segment

The small map and few units do not allow for much tactical finesse such as flanking moves or lengthy approaches.

Basically, I plan to use the high firepower of US units to break the German trenches one at a time. I placed the few units available at start in woods: this could be a disadvantage if the German MTR listed in the scenario description can fire at them, but I trust the AI to place it in the most useless position.

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Turn 1/American - American Administrative Segment

Here come the Germans: since they are 2nd Line units (range = 4), I will be able to fire them at full effect from 5 or 6 hexes without worrying about squad firepower.

The German MTR can see both wood hexes: It is not nearly as dangerous as the HMG on the hilltop, but I wouldn't have missed it if the AI set it on the other side of the hill.

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Turn 1/American - US Fire Segment

The MMG-armed squad with the A** leader fires at the German HMG on the hilltop, breaking the leader and pinning the squad.

The MMG-armed squad with the D** leader also fires at the German HMG on the hilltop, breaking the squad, which is also CR'd and fails its Experience check. The MG retains its ROF and fires at the MMG without effect and without keeping its ROF.

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Turn 1/American - US Movement Segment

The American HS Assault Moves 1 hex to draw fire from Germans (and to lessen the firepower directed at the MMG-armed squads) and the MMG takes the bait, but its fire causes no damage.

Turn 1/American - German Defensive Fire Segment

The light mortar fires at the D* leader stack in the woods, breaking the leader and the squad, which is also CR'd. It keeps its ROF, but the second round thankfully causes no damage.

The LMG-armed HS also fires at the D* leader stack with no effect

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Turn 1/American - US Advancing Fire Segment

The American HS Assault fires at the MMG just for the sake of it (1 FP at +2 DRM means a "2" roll is required for a NMC)

Turn 1/American - US Rout Segment

The US broken unit rout to the hex containing the A** leader: they should be quicker to recover, even though some mortar fire is certain to fall there.

Turn 1/American - German Rout Segment

No German unit routs.

Turn 1/American - US Advance Segment

The HS goes back to the hex it started from.

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Note: the Game Segments in which nothing happened are not reported

Turn 1/German - German Administrative Segment

Both German broken units fail to rally.

Turn 1/German - US Administrative Segment

Both US broken units fail to rally.

Turn 1/German - German Fire Segment

Disaster strikes! The German Lt MTR, as expected, fires on the US stack with the A** leader, with devastating consequences: the D* leader and the HS that routed here are eliminated, and the A** leader and its squad are broken. The MTR keeps its ROF but the second shot does no damage.

The MMG and the LMG also fire at the same hex, but they cause no additional damage.

Turn 1/German - US Defensive Fire Segment

The HS fires at the broken German HMG squad and leader to keep them DM

Turn 1/German - US Rout Segment

The A** and its squad rout in open terrain, out of sight from all Germans.

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Turn 2/American

Turn 2/American - Reinforcements Segment

A C* leader (which I would have placed with the 60mm mortar) and a 1st line squad fail to deploy. The reinforcements consist of a C leader and five squads, with a MMG and a BAZ45 (I hope there are no German AFVs around!).

Turn 2/American - US Administrative Segment

Both US broken units fail to rally.

Turn 2/American - German Administrative Segment

Both German broken units fail to rally.

Turn 2/American - US Fire Segment

The HS continues firing at the HMG squad and leader to keep them at B+ status.
One of the newly arrived stack (C leader, 3 1st line squads and MMG = 22 FP) fires at the MMG squad, which breaks and fails its experience check.
The 60mm mortar fires at the German Lt Mortar and breaks its squad; the squad with the mortare also fires at the LMG HS and pins it.

Turn 2/American - US Movement Segment

A squad moves to recover the abandoned MMG in the woods; the LMG-armed HS fires but causes no damage and the LMG malfunctions.

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Turn 2/American - US Advancing Fire Segment

The US squad that recovered the abandoned MMG fires at the LMG-armed HS with no effect

Turn 2/American - German Rout Segment

The HS that manned the Lt MTR routs away and disappears

Turn 2/American - US Advance Segment

US squads advance towards the German units, taking care to remain within 2 hexes of the lone unbroken leader (to avoid become OCC) and outside the normal range of the surviving German HS

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Turn 2/German - German Administrative Segment

All visible German broken units fail to rally

Turn 2/German - US Administrative Segment

The A** leader and the Elite squad rally

Turn 2/German - US Defensive Fire Segment

The C leader and its stack fire on the remaining German HS and break it
The 60mm mortar firea on the HMG squad on the hilltop, causing no damage but keeping it at Broken+ status
The HS and the lone MMG squad fire at the broken German MMG squad and CR'd it.

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Turn 3/American - German Administrative Segment

All visible German broken units fail to rally

Turn 3/American - US Fire Segment

The 60mm mortar firea on the HMG squad on the hilltop, causing no damage but keeping it at Broken+ status

Turn 3/American - US Movement Segment

All the US units move - with a squad moving double time moving first to scout for any possible dangers - towards the German trenches, now occupied by broken units only, and come adjacent to them.

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Turn 3/American - US Advancing Fire

The advancing US units fire at the three visibile German units and eliminate the HS manning the MMG.

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Turn 3/American - German Rout Segment

The LMG-armed HS routs through the hilltop and then disappears.

Turn 3/American - US Advance Segment

The US units advance in the German trenches, take 2 VP hexes and discover some other German units, including a second Lt Mortar (which is much less effective against trenches than against wood hexes).

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Turn 3/German - German Administrative Segment

The LMG-armed HS routs through the hilltop and then disappears.

Turn 3/German - German Fire Segment

The LMG-armed squad and the Lt Mortar fire at the C leader stack with no effect

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Turn 3/German - US Defensive Fire Segment

The 60mm Lt MTR and the MMG armed squad fire at the broken Germans on the hilltop: the latter eliminates the HS, wounds the leader and keeps the MG ROF but causes no additional damage.
The HS fires at the Lt MTR with no effect.
The C leader stack, even though tired for the uphill advance, fires at the LMG-armed German squad and breaks it.

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Turn 3/German - German Rout Segment

The previously routed German LMG HS reappears and routs in plain sight of the US units, which are all tired and cannot interdict it.

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Turn 4/American - US Reinforcements Segments

The C* leader and the squad finally appear and enter in the hex containing the 60mm mortar.

Turn 4/American - German Administrative Segment

None of the broken German units rallies

Turn 4/American - US Fire Segment

The C leader stack fires at the German Lt MTR and pins it

Turn 4/American - US Movement Segment

The HS moves towards the Lt Mtr and is fired by the mortar and by the HS in the first hex; final fire from the HS pins it adjacent to the mortar-armed HS
The MMG-armed squad also advances and surrounds the broken LMG squad, which will be eliminated for Failure to Rout. This squad will also force the German wounded and broken leader on the hilltop to rout away.
The A** leader with its MMG squad and the C* leader with its squads and the 60mm mortar move forward to contact.

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Turn 4/American - US Advancing Fire Segment

The US units that arrived adjacent to German units fire but cause no harm.

Turn 4/American - German Rout Segment

The wounded leaders routs away from the hilltop in Low Crawl mode to avoid interdiction
The surrounded HS is eliminated for Failure to Rout

Turn 4/American - American Advance Segment

The MMG-armed squad enters CC with the German leader and squad near the mortars
The C leader stack advances and comes adjacent to the wounded leader and to the LMG-armed HS_ both of them are broken and will be forced to rout next turn.
The A** leader and its squad advance in a German trench and the C* leader starts climibing the hill

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Turn 4/American - Close Combat Segment

The pinned German HS wins the CC with the US squad and kills it (and to add insult to injury, it did so without even ambusing it!)

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Turn 4/German - German Administrative Segment

None of the broken German units rallies

Turn 4/German - German Fire Segment

The German Lt MTR fires at the A** leader stack with no effect

Turn 4/German - US Defensive Fire Segment

The A** leader squad fires at the Lt MTR and pins it
The C leader stack fires at the adjacent LMG-armed HS and eliminates it; the MMG keeps its ROF and fires to the wounded broken leader with no effect

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Turn 4/German - German Advancing Fire Segment

The HS near the mortars, after having slept for a couple turns has a sudden flash of awareness, realizes that they are in the middle of a war, that those long objects they have been issued are rifles and fires to the OOC US HS, with no effect.

Turn 4/German - German Rout Segment

The wounded broken leader routs away in Low Crawl mode.