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.

German Turn 9:

Thought Processes:

1.                  An immobilized tank is a vulnerable tank. It is time to destroy the immobilized Sherman. I can’t really afford to leave it in action since it could then be used to form a “firm base” from which Bil could hurl his reinforcements forward. The Sherman has the capability of dominating the area from the crossroads to the left map edge. Since this is also the same area in which I have to destroy an entire company of British reinforcements which will arrive next turn I can’t afford to let the tank live.

2.                  Bil is no longer rushing headlong into my forces. He is halting, laying down suppressive fire, organizing his forces so as to be able to launch joint assaults at my line. Since there is no point exposing Duve or Sehmel’s platoons to direct HE fire or MG fire I pull them back onto the reverse slope of the ridge. I’m going to let Bil’s infantry cross the open ground uncontested. I’m going to try to catch them by luring them into a “gap” in between Duve and Sehmel’s platoons and then pouring fire into them from both sides.

3.                  Bertram’s platoon is to hold in place… It is to basically observe where Bil’s reinforcements head and, if the situation warrants, they are to launch an attack into the flank of his reinforcements so as to throw him off balance.

4.                  Wittenberg’s platoon is still in reserve at a point roughly equidistant from each flank. Once I know which flank Bil’s main assault is hitting I’ll commit Wittenberg’s platoon.

Orders Phase:

Giesey’s platoon is ordered to pull back to the extreme left of the map. I don’t want to ambush Bil’s men as they enter the map as that would be unsporting but I do want to interpose Giesey in between Bil and my MLR. I have also ordered two HMG 42 teams to set up on a little hillock on the extreme left of my line from where they can bring the wheat field behind Giesey under concentrated fire. My hope is that if Giesey is overrun these HMG42 teams will delay Bil enough for Wittenberg’s platoon to arrive and stabilize the situation.

I order the single surviving squad from Teichert’s platoon ( the one which ambushed that entire company at the Sunken Lane) to race to a little hedge across the road from the Sherman and engage it. The 6-man squad has a single Panzerfaust 100 left but that should be enough.

Bertram’s platoon is ordered to spread out a little and kill the 5 or 6 British soldiers which seem to have escaped the crossroads ambush.

Duve and Sehmel are ordered to withdraw to the reverse slope of the ridge and await the British infantry from out of sight and reach of Bil’s tank cannon.

Action Phase:

19 seconds into the turn and the third British Sherman is eliminated. These tanks just haven’t done very well in this close terrain have they? ( Not when they outstrip their infantry support in any case.) Teichert’s squad also takes the opportunity to kill a 2 inch mortar team hiding behind the tank.

Bertram’s platoon backed up by one squad from Wittenberg spread out and engage the Brits who hid from the initial ambush. Another 3 or 4 British soldiers are dispatched at no loss. I think that, at this stage, only 1 British soldier is still alive and unhurt out of the entire force Bil sent against my left flank. My losses amount to roughly one and a half platoons in total on this flank but I’ve absolutely scythed through his formations like some sort of biblical holocaust.

This picture shows Duve and Sehmel’s platoons in hiding on the reverse slope of the ridgeline safe from Bil’s tank main guns. If I know Bil he’ll rush to attack me next turn right into the gap in between Duve and Sehmel’s platoons. I’ll let him advance a little and then hit him from the flank and wipe out his attackers. This flank is nice and secure.. The only thing I’m worried about is where Bil will commit his two fresh companies of reinforcements which are arriving next turn. I’ve done extremely well but once these forces arrive I will be outnumbered by roughly 3 to 1 and he’ll have a further three tanks to use against me while my infantry will be short of anti-tank weapons after using so many against his initial sorties.