Section Leaders:
Fionn Kelly & Madmatt

The Sunken Lane

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German Commander - Fionn Kelly

NOTE: SPOILER INFORMATION. This After Action Report contains detailed information regarding units and  terrain disposition to a scenario that may be included in the release version of Combat Mission. If you wish to play this game Blind or partake in a Double Blind match then READ NO FURTHER!!!!

Graphics Note: While the events in this AAR were played on a very recent Beta Build of Combat Mission. The graphics, at that time, were not finalized. For Final Graphics please view the POTD Feature which runs daily here and various features on the CMHQ-Annex site.

Turn 12:

Thought Processes:

Tonight I remembered that I had intended to give you all an overview of casualties caused and suffered as of the end of Turn 9 since I wanted to show how well ( or poorly) my forces had performed against Bil’s attackers. I forgot to do that at time so I will rectify that by giving a full update as of this turn. Note: This info was NOT available to me in-game. I’m merely providing it now since it gives a good measure of affairs at the end of the first phase of the battle ( that portion which occurred before Bil’s reinforcements entered the fray in full force.)

As you can see I’ve managed a 2.6 : 1 exchange rate in terms of infantry and managed to knock out 3 tanks as well. Given that roughly 90 of my infantry are manning HMG42s, mortars etc my actual front-line infantry strength is only 140 ( 3.5 platoons) vs at least twice that many fresh infantry ( Bil has just received 6 platoons of fresh reinforcements.).

Basically my force comprises three platoons which are roughly down to half strength and low on ammunition and two platoons ( in a central reserve position) which are being held in readiness to counter-attack. Only the two platoons which I’ve been holding in reserve are in any way capable of standing up to the sort of concentrated attack Bil seems intent on delivering. The weakened half-platoons, low on ammo, bloodied and beating will be destroyed if they face these fresh forces.

1.                  My duty is clear. I MUST use Wittenberg’s platoon to immediately launch an attack into the side of the British advance towards Giesey. Once Wittenberg is in contact the Brits will orient towards him and this might just buy Giesey’s men the time they need to retreat back across the wheat field and take up positions behind the bocage where the two HMG42s I’ve positioned on my extreme left can help bolster their defensive fire.

2.                  I’m still waiting to see where Bil commits his other reinforcing company.

3.                  I’m going to pull the guy I had do the reverse slope ambush on my right back into cover. I’m hoping to lure Bil into another almighty bloodbath/ambush there.

Orders Phase:

I order Giesey’s platoon to pull back roughly 20 metres or so so as to gain a little protection from Bil’s onrushing company. This will also force Bil’s forces to cross the road to come to me and should allow me to get the drop on anyone who sends across after me. With a little luck I can repulse his first attack across the road and then run away before he can launch a second attack. When he does launch the second attack I’ll hit him in the flanks with Wittenberg and the result will be the destruction of this entire company. I’ve already killed half a platoon. With a little luck Giesey will get another half-platoon if Bil launches a weak attack and then Wittenberg will only face 2:1 odds and he should rip the Brits apart in short order since they have no tanks or MGs nearby in support yet.

Wittenberg’s platoon is ordered to run leftwards into position to attack into the flank of anyone who follows Giesey when Giesey abandons the positions he is taking up this turn.

Bertram’s platoon is ordered forward to the other side of the crossroads in order NOT to be where Bil thinks he is. It will also give me an opportunity to recon a little bit.

Duve and Sehmel just sit tight.. I’ve ordered the squad which I had spring the ambush last turn to pull back in order to lure Bil forward. With just a little luck I’ll be able to kill the last twenty infantry on this flank and that will then allow me to use either Duve or Sehmel as my new reserve force.. Given that I am anticipating committing Wittenberg and Bertram to the fight within two turns I very much want to create a reserve to replace them. Even half a platoon in reserve is better than nothing.

This picture shows, graphically, roughly the locations and movement orders I have issued to my men.

Action Phase:

Giesey’s men pull back quickly and cleanly from the advance British forces and set themselves up nicely at the edge of the woods. Out of a total initial force of 40 men (including the Company Commander I attached to Giesey’s platoon) only 21 are now left and the ammunition situation is dire. My units have an average of about 10 bursts left. This will be enough to stop one British platoon but after that Giesey’s men will be butchered under the weight of unopposed British fire. It seems that my instincts were right to tell me that Giesey only had enough in him to stop one more probe.

Bertram’s platoon spies an anti-tank team ( a PIAT team in otherwords) walking towards my right flank. This can only be a PIAT team from Bil’s second reinforcing company. I must have just missed spotting his infantry etc since they must have run towards my right flank while the PIAT and mortar teams must be following behind at a walking pace. This is good news since I was getting a little rattled at the non-appearance of this company. It also explains why Bil’s infantry havent pushed the attack on the ridgeline aggressively yet. They must simply be setting up a “firebase” to allow the new company to reach assault positions unmolested. It is a good plan and something I might consider doing myself if the situations were reversed. I’ll hold Bertram here for a turn or maybe two and then launch an attack on the men to my right just as Bil begins his assault on the ridgeline. That way Bil will have to choose between letting his support teams be massacred or detaching men from his main assault in order to run back and rescue them. Either choice weakens his main assault and lessens his numerical superiority at the Schwerpunkt.

On my extreme right the half-squad which I had ambush Bil’s men before they reached their positions is panicked by the volume of incoming fire and runs away from the British soldiers. It only loses one man to their fire and takes cover in a location behind Sehmel’s platoon ( which I ordered to move up about 5 metres). That this squad panicked is bad but that it took minimal casualties and is now safely recovering its composure behind the impenetrable buttress provided by the bodies and weapons of its comrades is good.

Apart from the half-squad panicking and Bil moving a Firefly forward nothing happens. I lose sight of his infantry when the half-squad retreats and they don’t seem to be advancing. Hello? I’m waiting to kill you here please have the good manners to advance slowly towards me with your weapons slung ;).

All’s going well so far. I am, again, outnumbered two to one over the entire front but more like 3 to 4 to one at the various Schwerpunkts and so any attempt to stop Bil will suffer heavy losses but I’m confident I can stop him. I have a feeling that overall I will get roughly a 2.5: 1 exchange rate PLUS 5 or 6 tanks.. All in all this is looking like a pretty major victory for my forces… Of course, all Bil needs to do is smash through at any point of my line using his local numerical superiority and then all bets will be off and I might still lose this one. I need to concentrate on conserving my force and hitting and running faster than Bil can react.