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 13:

Thought Processes:

1.                  Oh crap! Basically I’ve looked at the various strength returns of my platoons and figure I’m down to under a company of “effectives”. They really are stretched too thinly to withstand a careful attack.

2.                  For the moment there’s nothing much more I can do except use Bertram’s platoon to hit Bil’s flank and whittle his forces down as much as possible. If Giesey’s platoon continues acquitting itself well and Bertram’s counter-attack claims a platoon ( as I think it should). I should be able to whittle Bil’s reinforcing company on my left flank down to roughly a platoon or so of effectives. At that point I can simply leave them alone and move Bertram back into a reserve role since there'’ no way that a weakened platoon is going to break through my MLR of HMG42s and mortar teams.

Orders Phase:

I reshuffle Giesey’s men a little so that the squad with the most ammunition is in the middle of his line and the squads with the least are on the edges.

Wittenberg’s men are ordered to lie in hiding.. I want to wait for the situation to clarify before committing them.

Bertram and his men are ordered to begin moving to my right flank. They are now behind the enemy’s supporting weapons and once I see Bil’s tanks beginning to sortie forwards I’ll know that his main attack is going in and it’ll be time for Bertram’s men to rush the British supporting weapons so as to try to divert Bil’s attention and resources from his attack.

Duve and Sehmel are just ordered to sit in place and await the British attack. There’s no point moving them around until I have a better place to move them to.

Action Phase:

Well, this turn was definitely unlucky for some.. Principally it was extremely unlucky for Giesey’s platoon. Giesey’s platoon faced an assault with all the tactical subtlety of a first World War “walk slowly towards the enemy” advance. It also broke Giesey’s ability to hold his position and as all good military leaders will tell you, “If it works it isn’t stupid.” It worked and worked well but it worked at a great cost.

The British charged across the open road and into the scattered trees opposite with the guts of two platoons. I noted half-squads on each flank of this charge though which leads me to believe that Bil has learnt to split his squads up into half-squads and use these for flank security. This is an important point to bear in mind for my counter-attacks as the possible presence of flank security elements will require me to be a little more crafty as to ordering these counter-attacks.

Bil sends 6 squads, a company HQ and two platoon HQs across the road at Giesey’s platoon. Fortunately Giesey already caused 20 casualties to this force so he is only outnumbered three to one but still his casualties are heavy. Giesey loses 10 men to the British attack but manages to kill or wound AT LEAST 21 British troops. I’m still keeping my 2:1 exchange rate but next turn, with the British all over Giesey’s 11 survivors I expect them to wipe him out for no further losses. I’ll only break even over these two turns. However, when you factor in that Giesey’s men have killed another 40 Brits and a tank it is good to note that overall this platoon killed twice as many men as it had AND took out one tank. You will note that this was my minimum requirement from every platoon in my force.

Well, well, well. Bil is pulling his men back from their little bridgehead on the other side of the ridge. I have no idea why he is doing this as it is the action of someone who believes that he can’t break through my position there. With an entire company less than a minute away I simply can’t imagine that he thinks he can’t break through… Perhaps he has decided to divert the 2^nd reinforcement company to my left flank after the mauling I have given his first reinforcing company ( it is now down to roughly 70% strength).

The game now hinges on that second company. Where will it turn up and what is Bil planning for it? Is he trying to sneak it up the Sunken Lane? I simply don’t know.. I should spot it if he tries though.. All I can do now is sit and wait and deal with the current crop of problems presented by his first reinforcing company.. Any move I make is as likely to take me farther away from where he will commit his 2^nd company as it is to bring me closer to the location.