All American- Turns 6 and 7

For those who would like to know more.

Last week was quite busy, I got in 2 games of Black Seas and the final 2 games of the All American campaign for Chain of Command. We had played 5 games and we were at the last table, the Germans now have 2 chance to win the campaign so I had my back against the wall. We played game 6 Thursday evening and game 7 on Saturday morning (I suppose I have given it away that the Americans won game 6)!

After 5th turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: 6 dead, 4 wounded (1 SL 6"CR w/2CI) 
American Platoon 3: intact

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion +3 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion -1

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Sociable (+1FM)

Americans

Commander's Opinion +5 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Thoughtful

TURN 6

Setup

82nd Airborne 3 Platoon

Core (Regular 5+1)

SLx2 (carbine and SMG)
Bazooka Team

Rifle Squad 1
Rifle Squad 2
60cm Mortar Squad

Supports 4
Bipod LMG Team
1 Entrenchment
Wild Card-Bazooka Forward

Grenadier Platoon

Core (Regular 5)

SL/SMG
Panzerschreck Team 

Squads x 3 (JL/SMG, LMG Team/3Crew, Rifle Team/6 men)
Supports (6) 
Adjutant

FO w/ 8cm OTM

Patrol Markers, P-Y had 6 free moves

JOP's

 

 

This was a very close game, Pierre Yves controlled his advance with the Mortar barrage. He advanced his troops far up the table and my morale started to fall. I was, however, able to bring his morale down to 0 with successive sucessful hits on his leaders thus making it impossible for him to win the game. My FM was 3 at the end of the game. It was a very bloody affair with 17 US dead and 16 Germans dead. As you can see below the post game process did not go well for the Germans.

Post-game Campaign Process

After 6th turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: 6 dead, 4 wounded (1 SL 6"CR w/2CI) 
American Platoon 3: 9 dead, 4 wounded

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion 0

Men's Opinion -6 (-2FM, CR 6")

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Secure

Americans

Commander's Opinion +6 (+2 Support)

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Thoughtful

I made an error in this game forgetting that my paratroopers although regular had some elite characteristics with a +2FM roll, 9" CR, and aggressive in combat. I felt things looked good going into Turn 7, what is it they say about best laid plans!


TURN 7

Setup

82nd Airborne 1 Platoon (FM 11)

Core (Regular 5+1)

SLx2 (carbine and SMG)
Bazooka Team

Rifle Squad 1 (-2 men)
Rifle Squad 2 (-1 man)
60cm Mortar Squad

Supports 6
Bipod LMG Team
2 Entrenchments

Grenadier Platoon (FM 8)

Core (Regular 5)

SL/SMG
Panzerschreck Team 

Squads x 3 (JL/SMG, LMG Team/3Crew, Rifle Team/6 men)
Supports (6) 
Adjutant 
FO w/ 8cm OTM
Wild Card-Panzer Marsch!

Patrol Markers

JOP's, here is where I made a critical mistake. I placed 2 JOP's quite close together. I was concerned about placing a JOP further up my left flank, but I should of realised that the German Mortar barrage would take these immediately out of play. Even worse was placing my right flank JOP more than 9" from the road.

The inevitable barrage

 

Despite having an enormous advantage in FM at the beginning of the game, 2 of my JOP's immediately got locked down, and the Germans rapidily advanced 3 rifle squads up the table with myself having no ability to counter them. I did have some bad dice; I did not accumulate 1 CoC dice in the game, had no double phases and every time I tested for a leader hit, I got a 1. My FM plunged rapidily, I tried to move a squad up the open field and the Germans got a double phase so were able to advance to lose range and destroy the Americans. I should also say that P-Y played a very careful and clever game, I really had no chance. My FM dropped to 1, a German Victory in the campaign.

This was a lot of fun and I suppose the best part was that we were able to finish a 7 turn campaign in 5 months, with me living 350 miles away. Incroyable!

Congratulations to Pierre Yves, his first CoC camapign with a victory and many thank for hosting all 7 games at his home and supplying food and drink for each game.

All American-Turn 5

After 4th turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: 6 dead, 4 wounded (1 SL 6"CR w/2CI) 
American Platoon 3: intact

We got our 5th game in last Friday night. We again played on table 3, probably the toughest table for the German attackers. I had won the last game so I knew that Pierre Yves was determined to win. For the Germans to win they have to capture table 4 in 7 campaign turns. I decided to go with my 2nd platoon, the Germans have a fresh platoon each turn. I was +1 on supports and P-Y was +1 on the FM roll.

Setup

82nd Airborne 3 Platoon (FM 9)

Core (Elite 5+1)

SLx2 (carbine and SMG)
Bazooka Team

Squads 1 (JL/SMG, M1919 LMG Team/3 crew, Rifle Team/8 men)
Squads 2 (JL/SMG, M1919 LMG Team/3 crew, Rifle Team/5 men)

Supports (7)
Adjutant
MMG Team
2 Entrenchments

Grenadier Platoon (FM 10)

Core (Regular 5)

SL/SMG
Panzerschreck Team 

Squads x 3 (JL/SMG, LMG Team/3Crew, Rifle Team/6 men)
Supports (13) 
Hotchkiss H35
Renault R35
FO w/ 8cm OTM
Wild Card-Armoured Fist-Panzer IIIG

Game

I think P-Y won the Patrol Phase as you can see from the below JOP placements.

American JOP's

German JOP's, the one on their left flank looks ominous!

I ambushed the PzIII from behind and missed!

An inventive method to lay down a barrage.

I got the PzIII but played it wrong forgetting that there should be no infantry within 6"

So what happened. The Germans started their advance with 2 AFV's with 2 infantry squads  following them, They swung  the 3rd squad off to their left flank, crossing the flooded fields. They then laid down their barrage. To counter this I placed 1 squad behind the above stone wall with their 5cm mortar team and a SL. I had placed squad 2 in the house ready to strafe the road if the Germans got over the bridge. At the same time I accumulated CoC die in order to ambush the AFV's thus blocking the bridge. I was able to cause considerable damage on the 2 German squads behind the tanks with very little resulting damage to myself. I got the German FM down to 5 while I was still at 8. I think I had killed 5-6 Germans without any loss to myself. By now however the barrage was creeping to the German right. My men in the house started to take some hits, but no damage. The Germans were very close to taking my right flank JOP. As you can see the barrage was about to come down on my troops in the open. I felt the table was lost, but I was in a good position for the post game process so I withdrew. A German victory, on to table 4.

Post-game Campaign Process

After 5th turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: 6 dead, 4 wounded (1 SL 6"CR w/2CI) 
American Platoon 3: intact

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion +3 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion -1

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Sociable (+1FM)

Americans

Commander's Opinion +5 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Thoughtful

A well earned German victory. On to table 4, it is going to be tricky. I have to win both games, we have both used our best Wild Cards. There is minimal support for each side on table 4. We are both +1 on support rolls.  Thankfully, I will have 2 largely intact platoons. Let us hope for the best. We should be able to get both games (if indeed there are 2) in within the next 3 weeks as I am in Montreal on the 3rd week of November.

All American-Turn 4

Last Saturday, we played our 4th game in our All American campaign at Pierre-Yves in Lachine. P-Y had won the last 2 games, so I had to be on my toes for this one. This was scenario 3 from the campaign booklet where the Germans have to attack across a causeway into the outskirts of La Fière. This is played as the Attack on an Objective scenario from the main rulebook. There were some special rules, the Americans get a free ambush point underneath the bridge crossing the river and start with a loaded CoC die. It did look pretty tough for the Germans. As you can see from the photos below, P-Y laid out an absolutely stunning terrain.

After 3 turns

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: 6 dead, 4 wounded, SL1 6"CR, 2CI
American Platoon 3: Intact

Setup

82nd Airborne 3 Platoon (FM 11)

Core (Elite 5+1)

SLx2 (carbine and SMG)
Bazooka Team

Squads x 2 (JL/SMG, M1919 LMG Team/3 crew, Rifle Team/8 men)

Supports (6)
MMG Team
2 Entrenchments
Wild Card: Heavy Hitter (M1 ATG)

Grenadier Platoon (FM 10)

Core (Regular 5)

SL/SMG
Panzerschreck Team 

Squads x 3 (JL/SMG, LMG Team/3Crew, Rifle Team/6 men)
Supports (13) 
Panzer IIIG
Renault R35
FO w/ 8cm OTM

Germans are attacking from left

German Approach

P-Y constructed this bridge-terrific job

American Side

Patrol Phase and JOP's

We used 3 Patrol Markers each, P-Y only got 2 free moves

German JOP's

America JOP's, the 4th is in the house to the bottom right

Game

As usual I forgot to take photos, I had thought I had taken more but all I could find was 3. It was a pretty even game in respect to double phases and luck with the dice. I think the Germans have a quite a tough time of it is in this game. P-y's plan was a good one. He had taken a off-table mortar which he quickly laid down just on the American side of the bridge. Before that he had put one squad in the road on overwatch with the FO as well as the Renault tanklet. I could not resist putting down my MMG team on my left flank behind a stone wall in heavy cover, they were at close range and firing 10d6. I did cause a couple of kills but the overwatch fire back was devastating as I had 3 men killed and I ended up pinned. Down came the Mortar Barrage and they broke. One FM point down! More below.....

The unlucky or maybe foolhardy MMG team....

.....who broke

I will continue the story here. P-Y placed 2 squads on the road with a plan to advance. I decided to wait until I got a good chance to end the Barrage, I did start with a CoC dice and was able to fairly quickly get a 2nd one but not before the Germans had acquired one. P-Y had laid down the barrage to the right of the road on the far side of the river. This allowed me to put a LMG team in an entrenchment on the road with the rifle team behind the hedge. I was also able to put down a SL and the 60mm Mortar team on my right flank next to the rifle team. Timing was everything here as I had to get the Mortar lifted before it could start to creep to the German left. I got my 2nd CoC dice and then got a double phase. I ended the barrage, P-Y kept it going but on the next phase I ended the turn and caught the German squad at close range. They broke falling back and at the same time interpenetrated the squad behind them causing 6 shock. The Germans gamely fought back but by now their FM was down to 4. It was clear that their attack had failed and they withdrew.

Post-game Campaign Process

After 4th turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: 6 dead, 4 wounded (1 SL 6"CR w/2CI) 
American Platoon 3: intact

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion +1 

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Sociable (+1FM)

Americans

Commander's Opinion +4 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion -2

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Content

It was a good game, we are playing turn 5 on the 25th of October (need to get out of Salem for Halloween  it is getting crazy here). I am curious to see what P-Y's plan is for his 2nd assault attempt.

All American-Turn 3

We had our 3rd turn in the All American campaign last night in Lachine. We played 2 games in our last outing, Pierre-Yves won the first and I won the second. I decided to re-defend table 2 rather than attack table 1.

After 2 turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: Intact

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion 0

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Affable (+1FM)

Americans

Commander's Opinion +3 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Content

82nd Airborne 2 Platoon (FM 11)

Core (Elite 5+1)

SLx2 (carbine and SMG)
Bazooka Team

Squads x 2 (JL/SMG, M1919 LMG Team/3 crew, Rifle Team/8 men)

Supports (6)
M1 ATG w/JL
Entrenchment

Grenadier Platoon (FM 9)

Core (Regular 5)

SL/SMG
Panzerschreck Team

Squads x 3 (JL/SMG, LMG Team/3Crew, Rifle Team/6 men)
Supports (10)
Panzer IIIG 
FO w/ 8cm OTM

So on we go to some photos.

American POV

German POV

JOP's

PanzerIII

  

German Advance

More Germans

M1 ATG- got a CD roll of 3d6 so put down the gun. It took 3 phases to take it out but was able to drive the crew out.

PY shocked me by laying down a barrage. Luckily I had only 1 squad down in the field in hard cover so they withstood it quite well. By now PY had 2 squads advancing behind the barrage on my right flank.

 

So I place my 2nd squad on my left flank to advance up the road. There was an unguarded JOP in the field with no Germans to respond aside from those in the walled farmyard. They were able to take a pot shot at me as I passed the gate and wounded my SL. But another double phase came up and I was able to drag him up the road.

JOP captured, turn ended, Barrage lifted. I was now in good shape but then made a fatal mistake. I ran back down the road and entered the farmyard, I had another double phase (I probably had 10 double phases to PY's 4). I fired at the Germans in the yard, lots of targets including a SL, JL and FO with the squad. Did not cause a whole lot of damage and foolishly charged. I lost 9 men to PY's 6. FM down to 4 with the German FM at 6. I withdrew. German victory!

Well it was a fun game, I blew it at the end and now have a pretty torn up platoon 2. We will have to see how the next game goes. Great game by PY!

After 3rd turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: 6 dead, 4 wounded (1 SL 6"CR w/2CI)

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion +1

Men's Opinion+2

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Sociable (+1FM)

Americans

Commander's Opinion +3 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion -3(-1 Support)

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Thoughtful

 

All American-The Battle for Fière 1944

 

I started another concurrent campaign on Saturday in Lachine, QC. As detailed in previous posts, I had been contacted by a gamer in Montreal who was quite interested in playing Chain of Command. We have had a couple of one off games which were a lot of fun, but Pierre-Yves was quite keen to move onto a campaign which as we all know is the best part of the of the ruleset. This is my 4th ongoing campaign and they are all going well except for Bloody Bucket because myself and Tom are having quite a hard time getting together to play. Too bad as it is the most intricate campaign I have seen.

I was quite keen to visit P-Y, as from looking at his twitter stream he had quite a gaming setup. I was not let down, it was like a factory of wargaming with 3d printing, an airbrush station and just tons of terrain stuff, it was like walking into a terrain shop! Unfortunately my photos do no justice to his terrain but I should say that almost all of what you see has been self made.

Anyway onto gaming, P-Y had painted up both a German and American paratrooper force so a search about for a suitable campaign revealed a fan written campaign: All American-The Battle for Fière 1944. This campaign details the exploits of the 82nd US Airborne on D-Day, if interested find out more here on a PBS special.

Campaign Summary
The 82nd Airborne has dropped in France as a part of Operation Neptune. They encounter a combined force of German infantry and Armour. The paratroopers have secured a vital crossing necessary for the American landings at Utah Beach to succeed. The Germans counterattack.

Game 1-Probe along the Road
The German initial assault towards Cauquigny is played as scenario 2 from the main rulebook.

82nd Airborne 1 Platoon (FM 11)

Core (Elite 5+1)

SLx2 (carbine and SMG)
Bazooka Team

Squads x 2 (JL/SMG, M1919 LMG Team/3 crew, Rifle Team/8 men)

Supports (3)
M1919 bipod mounted LMG/3 crew

Grenadier Platoon (FM 11)

Core (Regular 5)

SL/SMG
Panzerschreck Team

Squads x 3 (JL/SMG, LMG Team/3Crew, Rifle Team/6 men)
Supports (6)
SL
Hotchkiss H35


As usual my photos are all muddled and really do not tell the story but do illustrate what a beautiful setup P-Y has.

The table

The Patrol Markers

JOP's, 3 aside

The German edge

Advancing grenadiers

Ending Position at time of US withdrawal

Game Summary

Very brief indeed...The Germans advanced initially down the road and in the triangular forested area in the middle of the table. I placed one force in the walled farmand another on the road on my right centre. I was able to cause some attrition on the advancing German squad in the forest. I had also placed my 3 man LMG support team to cover any German approach on their right flank. The Germans jumped into the road as well as the fields on their left flank. They also advanced a squad towards my LMG support team and engaged in an assault, the 3men of course all died. The right flank German squad now advanced  down my left flank, I had all my forces in the centre and right. Victory would go to the Germans if they could get one team to my table edge. My troops on the road covering the German advance were being chopped up the squad on the road.I took one last shot at the squad on the road but knew it was time to move them to cover my left flank. The Germans rolled a double phase, time to withdraw.

I believe the dice gods slightly favoured P-Y in this game as he got multiple double phases but otherewise things were about equal.

The ending force morale was 10 for the Germans and 10 for the Americans. The Germans lost 4 dead while the Americans lost 7 riflemen. So once we apply the post campaign process, we have the following:

After 1 turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion+1

Men's Opinion +2

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Affable

Americans

Commander's Opinion +2

Men's Opinion -2

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Thoughtful

Hmm.....Piere-Yves has now won his first three games of CoC! A lunch was had and we proceed to game 2 of the campaign.

Game 2-Holding the Line at Cauquigny
The German assault is now in the town and almost at the bridge, the scenario  is played as scenario 4 from the main rulebook.

82nd Airborne 2 Platoon (FM 11)

Core (Elite 5+1)

SLx2 (carbine and SMG)
Bazooka Team

Squads x 2 (JL/SMG, M1919 LMG Team/3 crew, Rifle Team/8 men)

Supports (5)
M1919 tripod mounted LMG/5 crew
Entrenchment

Grenadier Platoon (FM 9)

Core (Regular 5)

SL/SMG
Panzerschreck Team

Squads x 3 (JL/SMG, LMG Team/3Crew, Rifle Team/6 men)
Supports (10)
Pregame Barrage
Sniper
Panzer IIIG 

On to some photos....

Patrol Markers and JOP's looking from the German edge of the table

Very nice terrain again

 

P-Y placed 2 of his squads in the walled farmhouse enclosure...I wish I had

Advancing Germans

The Panzer III, I had a unit in a house covering my right flank but experience has told me that HE reducing cover can be deleterious to one's health so after my Bazooka Team failed twice to take out the tank and got blown to bits in the process, I said time to leave, fortunately there was a back door!

Cowering hehind the house...I was getting a little tired now so photos stopped....

Game Summary

Again brief...As you can see the Germans placed all 3 squads in the  I placed one force in the walled farm complex. I placed a squad in the house on my right flank and a squad behind the hedge on my left flank. As discussed above the squad in the house got out beacuse of the Panzer,  the Germans jumped into the road, I think on a double phase and went on overwatch, then unfortunately for P-Y and I got 4 double phases in a row, the first on a triple 6. Overwatch lifted, the MMG team was placed on the road in an entrenchement and I was able to destroy

Clearly dice gods favoured myself in this game as a quadruple phase is nothing to laugh at, and this is a tough scenario to win for the attacker, I was well entrenched and was able to cause the squad in the road to rout and then ended the turn with a CoC dice. German FM was down to 4 while I was still at 10, a German withdrawal.

The ending force morale was 4 for the Germans and 10 for the Americans. The Germans lost 5 dead while the Americans lost none. So once we apply the post campaign process, we have the following:

After 2 turn

German Platoon: Unlimited platoons so not tracked

American Platoon 1: 3 dead.
American Platoon 2: Intact

Campaign Tracker

Germans

Commander's Opinion 0

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Affable

Americans

Commander's Opinion +3 (+1 Support)

Men's Opinion 0

Platoon Leaders's Outlook: Content

I had a great time and P-Y is surely a dedicated gamer with a great set up. I look forward to our next game which we hope to be in the last week of August.