Section Leaders:
Fionn Kelly & Madmatt

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Allied Commander - "Claymore"

TURN 3

LEFT FLANK - the advance continues with some minor reorganization of the DECOY platoon. Since they didn't tempt Fionn into dropping arty on them the majority of them now become the RECON platoon for ALPHA Company. ALPHA needs to clear the far side of the Bocage before attempting to breach it, otherwise a piecemeal slaughter will ensue.

RIGHT FLANK - the advance continues with 1st Platoon splitting to either side of the mortar barrage. On the far right a RECON platoon continues its creep up the wooded hillside.

The real news is in the CENTER where....Yegads! Fionn has sprung an ambush on 1st Platoon BRAVO company just as they approached the woods. Immediate casualties are the HQ and 9 additional men. The ambush also caught a squad of the decoy platoon as they attempted to run past the woods on the right side. That's a total of 25 men which are down in the span of 10 sec of firefight! Ok...that's what were here for guys!...gotta expect some casualties...it's all part of the plan...response by the numbers now...remember your training.

1. All squads who are under fire STOP and return fire. They are in fairly good cover, have good remaining firepower at this distance and need to put the ambush troop's heads down and allow the covering squads to advance. Since they appear to be facing split squads this is an acceptable strategy. Note: Historically the Americans were pummeled in the bocage by freezing under fire and then getting pasted by MGs and mortars. 

2. The HW platoon will engage the two squads immediately to their front. 

3. The elements remaining of the decoy squad will maneuver to take the right flank of the ambush troops under fire.

4. The 105M4s will start pumping shells into the Krauts

5. The troops on either flank of the ambush will maneuver aggressively to seal off the backside of the woods. If retreating or reinforcing enemy troops cannot be interdicted then LOS must be established to at least answer the questions: Who are they? How many are there? and Where they are going? I don't want my reaction force to head into another ambush!

6. I need to get my arty spotters to OBJ INDIAN as soon as safely possible! They can drop the real punishment on the ambush squad as well as any reinforcements Fionn may try and sneak in. That means you CHARLIE company! Time to beat feet!

Just a note to all youse CM guys reading this AAR. I'm not really all that concerned about the ambush and the casualties Fionn has caused. First blood has a way of sharpening the senses and making you think smarter in your successive turns I find. It was really Fionn's poor luck that he didn't have the opportunity to get in a real hard first punch since I don't think that this ambush is larger than a platoon at most. A platoon is not sufficient to drive my forces backwards or even upset my timetable my more than 2 turns. The fact I'm facing split squads are my best indication that I am analyzing Fionn's moves correctly. If it is larger than a platoon then what I should do is put those spotters on OBJ INDIAN and get anti-armour zook squads into the woodline near the road...good idea Number One...make it so...If you look at the firepower that the ambush team has triggered you might even feel a little sorry for the poor slobs. Fionn has two choices: One, stand and get slaughtered. Two, turn tail and attempt to slip out the back way. I am hoping for the former but planning on the latter.