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 14:

Thought Processes:

1.                  Bil has pulled back his force on my right flank and I don’t see any sign of the second reinforcing company filtering forward in that area. This leads me to conclude that the 2^nd company is NOT being committed to my right flank. If it was being committed I’d have seen more than a single PIAT team moving forward. I don’t know quite where it is but my bet is that he is trying to push forward in the middle of the map while my attention is focused on both flanks.

2.                  Since my right flank isn’t threatened by a major attack it is necessary to weaken it and bring forces into position to defend against Bil’s main thrusts. I’m going to withdraw Duve’s platoon from the ridgeline and run it to the Sunken Lane where it will provide some semblance of a barrier against Bil should he decide to advance up the woods on either side of the Sunken Lane.  From this position it will also be available as a reserve ready to bolster my left flank should it collapse.

3.                  Bertram is to maintain position. I haven’t given up hope that the British 2^nd reinforcing company will show up on my right flank and am going to keep Bertram here for another turn at least just in case.. Even if the Brits don’t show up on my right flank Bertram is ideally placed to launch an attack into their flank or rear if they advance up the Sunken Lane. This is serendipitous to be sure but still welcome.

4.                  Giesey’s men are ordered to fall back towards the 2 HMG42s behind them as quickly as possible. I don’t expect any or many of them to make it though. Bil has just swamped their line with his numerical superiority and, no doubt, they’ll be shot down like dogs as they try to escape.

5.                  Since Giesey’s resistance has now ceased I feel it is time for me to commit Wittenberg to the fight. Giesey has caused at least a platoon’s worth of casualties to this thrust. Wittenberg should be able to take care of another platoon and that will put an end to any major thrust from the 1^st reinforcing company. I’ll only have to worry about the 2^nd reinforcing company then. ONLY ? * sigh * When you talk about ONLY having to worry about an enemy component which outnumbers your entire complement of infantry Panzergrenadiers then you know you’re in trouble ;).

Order Phase:

My orders comply with the reasoning's and decisions outlined above.

Action Phase:

Hmm, troubles in battalions come.. or in this case, human wave attacks.

Let’s start with Giesey… Good old Giesey’s platoon ( or at least the 11 survivors) took about 5 seconds to turn around and start running. In that time 8 of them were killed. Eventually these survivors were fired on while running across the wheat field and panicked and are at present, running away in a senseless panic. Scratch one more platoon from my OOB. This is the 2^nd total loss in this game.

As the turn ends Wittenberg’s platoon is approaching the area where Wittenberg fought his last fight. I want to keep the Brits pinned where they are since I have a little artillery coming in next turn which ought to rattle their cages a little. Once that hits I’ll probably attack them and try to wipe them out… Unfortunately for me Wittenberg’s men are spotted by a British platoon crossing the road and their supporting tank. Wittenberg’s men are in good cover and, although they suffer 2 casualties to tank fire, they cause at least 13 to the British force. This company of Bil’s is now approaching 60 casualties out of a total infantry force of 100 + supporting weapons and company HQ. It is being effectively attrited in this vicious fighting. After my arty falls I’ll be able to pull Wittenberg back into reserve and create a reaction force centred on Wittenberg’s and Duve’s platoons with which I can counter the 2^nd company wherever it turns up.

By the end of the 14^th turn 21 men of Sehmel’s platoon lie behind the ridgeline ready to defend it. Unfortunately it seems that Bil spotted the movement of Duve’s platoon and perhaps he thinks I’m evacuating the ridgeline. This may encourage him to attack it. I can’t really decide whether I want him to attack or not.. If he does attack I’ll slaughter his infantry but he’ll tie down Bertram’s platoon for 3 or 4 crucial turns and both Sehmel and Bertram will, undoubtedly suffer casualties.

This shot from the editor shows the rough locations of the 4 combat-capable platoons I have left ( although Duve and Sehmel have, at best, only the combat power of half-platoons any more.)

Well, as you can see I’ve lost the initiative totally now. Bil has uncommitted forces and until these are committed I dare not  bring my full forces to bear on any particular fight since I need to be able to respond almost immediately to whatever the 2^nd company does. Thank God I butchered his first two companies… If he still had those I’d have no option but to withdraw to my MLR now and rely on my mortars and HMGs to even the odds. As it is, even if my line breaks, I have a good chance of holding my MLR since his infantry platoons will be very weakened by my infantry platoons’ resistance and I doubt they’ll be able to advance into the teeth of concentrated MG and mortar fire.