South of Sword - British Side

[UP844]

On the first turn, the advancing British wiped out a couple German patrols armed with ATW and an artillery observer (this seems to have shocked the German artillery, which never once fired during the whole scenario)

The Daimler armoured car and the Stuart scouted the terrain before the main force and met their German equivalent; both vehicles took cover and stopped to fire on the German recon units as soon as they become visible. On turn 2, the Germans advance and lose a couple armored cars, but some Panzer IVs are also spotted.

The British tank and tank destroyers deploy in a line, waiting for the incoming Germans (see image)

[UP844]

A couple turns later, the plain looks like the Valley of Tears in the Golan Heights, with the wrecks of 12 German AFVs (their whole armored force). The British only lost the Daimler, which has been destroyed as it attempted withdrawing (this will be the only British AFV destroyed during the whole game).

The German infantry now tries to push its attack toward the southernmost VP hexes, but it slaughtered by tank, SP gun and infantry fire.

[UP844]

After the German infantry is repulsed, the British infantry advances to take out the German AT guns and succeeds. Once the 88 is neutralised, the British tanks surge forward and chase the broken infantry squads in the orchards, eliminating scores of them for failure to route.

[UP844]

And this is the final outcome: please note the 11:1 loss ratio in infantry (not counting 8 German leaders and 3 crews) and the 12:1 loss ration in AFVs. In my opinion, there are two possible explanations: first, I am the greatest TOTH player ever born (highly unlikely) or some tuning is still required (both to the scenario and to the game itself).

The British AT gun crews spent the whole scenario brewing tea [:)]; the mortar attempted to move north to support the British attack, but it didn't manage to fire a shot.

I only once attempted to call the British OBA on the 88mm, but no contact was made: it didn't matter, since the crew was broken by heavy MG, light mortar and infantry fire on the same turn.

[rico21]

You spoiled my prefered scenario on CMBO, you're wicked. [:D]

[UP844]

I'm not wicked, I play to destroy the opponent [:D]. Playing this scenario with the Germans is not so easy.

I planned to withdraw the two outposts as soon as possible, but the British overran them in the first turn [:(].

I set up just like I did with the British (see image). British artillery, however, destroyed a Panzer IV J before I ever saw anyone [:@]. I then had to redeploy to avoid getting another shower of 200mm shells (I had been lucky, and British OBA disappeared for the rest of the scenario [;)]).

When the British finally appeared, I had the confirmation that Pz IVs are quite fragile and Shermans - even 75mm versions - have no trouble destroying them. I got a series of "Immobilized", "Shocked" results and lost two of the remaining Pz IV. StuG's fared better, thanks to their low silhouette and APCR rounds. I tried an infantry assault through the orchard-covered hill, but it failed, even though I managed to kill a Firefly.

The British lost much time milling around before surging forward (and falling into my carefully prepared trap [:D]), and when I finally managed to stop them I was down to 2 working AFVs (a Panzer IV and a Stug III) and I reckoned I had no chances to take the last VP, which is protected by a 6pdr and a 17 pdr. On the last turn, the lone Pz IV dashed forward an took the fourth VP hex required to get a Minor Victory.

[UP844]

This is the final outcome: the loss ratio is much more balanced than when I played with the British; I have the impression that the Germans are a too weak (or, conversely, the British are too strong).

[rico21]

In CMBO, German tanks are more deadly.
200mm represents P-47 and Co.
Maybe one day we'll have a really air support.
English side is easier because they have the first turn like chess.