Section Leaders:
Fionn Kelly & Madmatt

Riesberg

American – Reisberg
Turn 17

For the purposes of this AAR, I have assumed the personality of Capt. Turner, unit A-0.

PASSWORD FOR MOVIES = fo4

Save this link for turn 17 movie file

Orders - Turn 17

My only significant action this turn is to try and get Victor-2 around behind the infantry in the woods.  I can’t believe he will anticipate this and it’s usually good to keep the enemy on his toes.  It’s slightly risky if he still has some AT capability (I don’t think he does) but the risk is justified because I don’t have the assets to deal with him. 

I’m also asking Victor-1 to close with the enemy squad by the church.  If successful, Dog Platoon can walk into the church unscathed and remain a significant reserve force.  The I’m going to try to preserve Fox Platoon as best I can but I’m not going to count on them for much. 

I’m not sure where that submachine gun platoon went but I know they are out there some where and I’m not going to go looking for them.

In what I think is a bold move, I’m ordering Victor-2 to come around behind the infantry in the woods.

Action – Turn 17  

HOLD YOUR FIRE!!  The enemy has raised a white flag.  Could it be a trick?  I decide to meet with the enemy commander and see what he wants.  Hpt. Lensing, is asking for our terms!  Can you believe it?  YES!

He cannot know how badly he has mauled us and how little offensive force we have left.  If it were not for the two tanks, we would surely have to stop where we were.  That must be it.  He has no AT guns or panzerschrecks left and my tanks will eventually slaughter him.  I keep all this to myself though as Hpt. Lensing asks what will happen to his men.  I assure him that if he surrenders now, I pledge to escort he and his safely back to battalion.  What will happen to them after that, I cannot tell.  Since he is obviously a veteran of many battles, I do not remind him that quarter is not automatic if troops continue fighting beyond the point where resistance is futile. 

Thankfully, he agrees to these terms.  I fully intend to do my utmost to see that they are treated well.  Not only did they fight well and honorably, but if we treat our POWs well, they will be more likely to surrender in the future.  It’s no wonder they fight to the last man on the Eastern Front.  If you know you are going to die, you might as well take as many with you as possible. 

So as we gather up our prisoners for the march to the rear, I contemplate what I could have done better.  Hindsight being 20/20 I try to see what I did wrong and where I can improve. 

The stars and stripes now fly over the battlefield.

The final tally is not very impressive.  I was far too wasteful.  54 good men gave their lives today.  How many more are going to have to die before this war is over?  How many more will die because of my mistakes?

Hpt. Lensing asks for our terms of surrender.

FINAL “Butcher’s” Bill

LESSONS LEARNED  

I have learned several and my mistakes made this battle a lot closer than it should have been.  I said before this began that the Americans have the advantage in this scenario and I’m still convinced that this is the case.  It’s theirs to lose.

My most glaring mistake was throwing away George Platoon.  There was no good reason to move them when I did.  I will remember this: never try to close with submachine gun squads when you can hold them off at longer ranges.

I also kept Baker in the fight longer than I should have.  I knew they were low on ammo but kept them on offense in the firing line when the prudent call would have been to pull them back into a defensive mode.

The thing I’m most pleased with was my initial positioning of my troops.  I would gladly do it again that way if I was to replay this scenario.  I suppose it can be countered if the enemy knows it’s coming but “student-body right” is an effective plan against conventional setups.   The soldiers I’m most proud of were the guys in Baker Platoon.  They dished it out a lot harder than they took it in.  I would gladly lead them into battle again too.

Overall, I guess I still get a little careless.  I need to learn when it is better to sit tight and when being aggressive is really the safer course.  Also, I still have to learn how the “rock, paper, scissors” of combined arms need to work together.   It’s hard for me to stay concentrated (even in an AAR game) and put more time into the beta demo scenarios because I know so many changes have been made to CM.   I just agreed to do this AAR to make the time until we get the real thing in our hands go faster.  I’m glad I did but I don’t want to do it again any time soon.   Feel free to write me (giesey@gtw.net) with any comments and I’ll try to answer any questions you might have.

Glenn Giesey

“fatherof4”