WN-73

[UP844]

American Pre-Game Setup

I have to set up first, so I can only suppose there will be at least some Germans in every VP hex; the scenario is pretty short, however, so I should not waste time.

This is the basic plan for the first turn:

The C* stack should neutralise the Germans in 7,3 (the closest objective)
The B* stack should assault move adjacent to 7,3 and enter close combat.

I will have to improvise once I know more about the German forces.

[UP844]

American Turn #1 - American Administrative Segment

Here come the Germans! These are mostly solid regulars, not the static troops they briefed us about back in England. They also have a lot of MGs.

On the other hand, my squads have high inherent firepower: if I manage to heavily suppress - preferably, by breaking them all [:D] - the units in 7,3 I might be able to follow my plan.

[UP844]

American Turn #1 - End of Advance segment

The C* stack fires at the units in 7,3 with no effect at all.
Moving the B* stack adjacent to the units in 7,3 would be suicidal (36 FP @ 0 DRM) so they fire and manage to break both squads in 7,3.

No units are eligible to move.

German Defensive Fire from 4,4 first breaks the American squad with the MMG, then breaks the C* leader and Casualty Reduces two squads (one of them is the one with the MMG).

In the Advance segment, the B* stack moves adjacent to the VP Hex in 7.3 and the single intact squad from the C* stack also moves forward.

[UP844]

German Turn #1 - End of Advance segment

No units - neither American, nor German - rally.

The German units in 4,4 fire on the broken American units with no effect except leaving them in Broken+ status

There are no German units moving.

In the American Defensive Fire, a single squad fires at 7,3 from the adjacent hex, pinning the leader and Casualty Reducing the two broken squads.
The two remaining squads in the same hex fire at 4,4 with no effect.
The lone leaderless squad also fires at 4,4, breaking the 2nd Line squad with the MMG.

In the Rout segment, the two broken HS move away and disappear.

(Continues... it's 2:30 AM here [>:])

[Paullus]

As Always, your AARs are a treat to read. Great work!

[Peter Fisla]

yeah, enjoy reading your AARs UP844!

[UP844]

Thank you [&o] for the Normandy scenarios.

Let's continue with the Rangers' assault on WN-73.

American Turn #2 - Start of Fire Segment

In 7,3 there is a single German leader; a single squad and the B* leader should be enough to advance there and to kill it in CC.

In 4.4 the MMG is neutralised and there is only a single 1st line squad: I think at least one of the two US squads should be able to reach the trench adjacent to 4,4 using Double Time and enter CC, so I won't fire and go straight to the Movement Segment.

(NOTE: I should have fired on 4,4 with the B* leader and the squad tasked with taking 7,3: they had nothing else to do, after all, and might somewhat reduce any fire coming from 4,4. Big Mistake [:(])

[UP844]

American Turn #2 - End of Movement Segment

The supposed dash forward to 4,4 is stopped cold by accurate German fire. I should consider myself lucky I only suffered two breaks and no CR/KIAs.

[UP844]

American Turn #2 - End of Advance Segment

The B* and his squad fire on 4,4 in the Advancing Fire Segment and pin the unbroken German squad. I should have done this in the Fire Segment.

The two broken squads rout and join the other broken units

The B* and the squad advance into 7,3 and discover a bunch of German heavy weapons on the beach: a 50mm and a 81mm mortar and a 75mm gun [X(].

The German leader is killed in CC and the Americans gain control of their first VP hex.

[UP844]

German Turn #2 - End of American Rout Segment

The broken C* leader and the HS carrying the MMG rally.

In the German Fire Segment, hex 7,3 is subject to a shower of mortar bombs (4 81mm and 3 50mm rounds) that, however, fail to cause any damage. The 75mm gun crew decided to fire a Smoke round (thanks for the extra cover).

No German movements

In the American Defensive Fire, the MMG-armed HS fires in 4,4 to keep the MMG-armed squad at Broken+ status at least, and this is just what it accomplished (breaking down the MMG in the process).
The B* and the squad in 7,7 fire to the crew of the 81mm mortar (the most dangerous German weapon) but failed to harm it.

[UP844]

American Turn 3 - End of Advance Segment

American reinforcements (1 x C* leader, 3 x Elite squads) arrive

The HS repairs the MMG; the broken squads do not rally.

The German MMG squad in 4,4 rallies.

In the American Fire Segment, all units fire in 4,4: unfortunately, only the last fire is effective (breaking both all units in the hex), but this means there are no US units eligible to move this turn.

No American moves.

In the German Defensive fire all the German guns fire on 7,3 and the 81mm mortar breaks the B* and a squad and pins another.

[UP844]

German Turn 3 - End of Close Combat Segment (image taken at the start of Turn 4)

German reinforcements (2 x D* leader, 4 x 2nd Line squads) arrive.

All American broken units but one rally.

In the German Fire Segment, all the German guns fire on 7,3 with no effect.

In the Movement segment, the newly arrived German reinforcements move towards the front lines. Since they are still too far away to represent a threat and there are a lot of brush hexes providing hindrance, no Americans fire on them.

In the American Defensive all the units fire on 4,4 but the only result achieved is the Casualty Reduction of the 2nd Line squad with the MMG.

[UP844]

American Turn 4 - End of Movement Segment

I still control only one VP hex and I only have three turns left to take the other two. I cannot trade fire with the Germans until they break, so I will have to manoeuver.

The Germans occupying 4,4 are all broken, so I will again to run for it. Other squads near the shore will attack towards the last VP Hex.

In the American Fire segment, the MMG-armed HS and a squad manage to pin the 50mm crew.

In the Movement segment, a couple squads move towards 4,4 through light but continuous German defensive fire (see the number of Residual Fire markers). One is broken but the other is only pinned, and its leader could advance in 4,4.
Near the shore, another couple squads Assault Move adjacent to the 50mm mortar: since most German units already fired on the squads attacking 4,4, they take very little defensive fire.

[UP844]

American Turn 4 - End of Advancing Fire Segment

John Wayne would be proud of these Rangers: they fire after moving and break the German counterattack

[UP844]

American Turn 4 - End of Advance Segment

After the Germans (including the unbroken leader) vacated 4,4, the American C* leader advances into the VP hex. Another squad enters CC with the 50mm mortar crew and a third advances in the trench adjacent to the 81mm mortar (that cannot fire at 1 hex range).

[UP844]

American Turn 4 - End of Close Combat Segment

The 50mm mortar crew is eliminated in Close Combat. Hard times ahead for the 81mm mortar crew.

[UP844]

German Turn 4 - End of American Rout Segment

Much ado about nothing: both sides fire wildly each other but with no effect at all.

[UP844]

American Turn 5 - End of Fire Segment

Command crisis: Most American units failed their C&C check.

The sole active American units are a single squad in 7,6, which was able to fire (with no effect) and the B* leader with two squads. Rather than wasting a turn firing with slim chances of success, I'll have them run for the last VP hex.

[UP844]

American Turn 5 - End of Movement Segment

The lone squad is broken and stopped in 7,8 by German fire, but the B* leader and the other squad manage to survive the sparse German defensive fire and arrive adjacent to the last VP Hex still in German hands.

[UP844]

American Turn 5 - End of Close Combat Segment

The German broken units in 7,7 rout away and the B* leader and his squad kill the crew of the 75mm gun, gaining control of the last VP Hex.

Most German units near the southern edge of the map are broken, and I hope C&C improves on the next turn (the two squads adjacent to the 81mm mortar now are within 2 hexes and in LOS of the highest-ranking leader).