Flames of war - Big battle - Normandy - v4

 Big battle of Normandy 1944

German Panzer division (300 pts)
Formation 1 Pnz Company (mixed)
Formation 2 Pnz Company (mixed)
Formation 3 Pnz Company (french)
Support, Artillery, inf, AT-guns, AA-guns
Dug in on at the village: Beach defence company

American armoured Division (300 pts)
Formation 1 Sherman Company
Formation 2 Sherman Company
Formation 3 Armored rifle company
Support: Tank destroyers, Artillery, AA-guns, Air-support
Forward position: Airborne 101 dug in at the beach-heads.

Objectives:

On the battlefield is seven strategic locations, including 3 bridges, 2 hills, and the town. The side holding most objectives at the end of their turns respectively will consider the battle a strategic victory.

Each side will begin with a platoon and HQ from each formation while the remaining forces are arriving from reserve. The Germans will also start with artillery and AT-guns, as well as a poorly trained company of infantry holding the frontlines. 

Americans have paradropped two platoons of Airborne dug in at the beach-heads, delaying the German reserves. Allies gets the first turn after a German artillery strike.

Turn 1
The Allies push ahead and encounter resistance in the fields ahead of the village. A few defenders are killled but the mayority holds the line. German armored reserves are arriving along the roads.

Turn 2

With all core companies on the battlefield, both sides struggle to reach the town. Not many causalities are inflicted, but a few defenders as well as a few tanks are destroyed.

Turn 3

Divisional support arrives on both sides. The tigers reinforce the battle, but one is lost to the Sherman 76s. The town is now occupied by the German panzer company, while the armored rifles struggle to cross the HMG nests deployed in the village. The Germans break one of the airborne platoons holding one of the bridges, opening up a road to reinforce.

Turn 4

with both armies approaching the center, the faster moving Germans has the upper hand. However, continued fire from the massed Sherman's on the American left flank takes its toll of the panzers. On the US left flank, the Sherman takes a few shots over the river, destroying a few French tanks, while the armored rifles in the center find themselves pinned by fire.

Turn 5

At the beginning of turn five, one of the Airborne platoons are still holding the bridge against the French tank company. But massed fire and the oncoming assault finally push the paras back.

 The wooden bridge is held by the Americans, but a reckless blitz move takes a panzer close enough to contest it.

Final scoring

To even out the odds in a big battle, we decided to count the points in each of the sides last turn. Most objectives where contested, but each side held two objectives.

Another turn would have been more decisive, as the assault was stalled for a few turns due to the dug in infantry on both sides. But as long as it lasted, it felt like a good simulation of historical events that could have been.

Break-Out Mini-campaign, String of pearls - Fow v4

This AAR is based on historical events and taken from the 3ed Flames of war Cobra book. 

Americans 66th Dog company armoured

1st platoon Dog company (3 HQ tanks + 5 M4 sherman) @ A

1st platoon Easy company Armoured rifle @ A

 2nd platoon Dog company (5 M4 sherman) @ B

2nd platoon Easy company Armoured rifle @ A

3rd platoon Dog company (5 M4 76mm sherman) in reserve

German Kampfgruppe Maitré 4. "Der Fuhrer" pnz.gren regiment

5. "Der Fuhrer" Panz.Gren platoon + Pak40 + HQ @ C

One panzer IV from "Das Reich" @ C

6. "Der Fuhrer" Panz.Gren platoon + Pak40 @ D

7. "Der Fuhrer" Panz.Gren platoon + Pak40 @ E

16. "Der Fuhrer" Panz.pioneer platoon @ F

Two panzer IV from "Das Reich" in reserve

The American offensive must destroy the convoy of five overloaded trucks starting at the road position "1", before they can escape along any of the roads at position "2" or "3". The outcome will be decided by the number of trucks destroyed before escaping. To achieve a Victory, the Americans must destroy more trucks than can flee along the road. The German force are reduced to understrength platoons, only capable of delaying actions. However, the Fearless veterans of the SS-regiment will offer fierce resistance. The five trained trucks can move 15cm per turn, plus attempt an extra 10cm blitz with a skill test.

Turn 1 

The American force start by moving all forces up the fields, not realizing the enemy ahead. They open up on the German positions in the village and at "E". Each unit focusing fire on the Pak40s, but with no result.

The Germans answer the oncoming American treat, easily picking off two tanks with the Pak40 guns and with the panzer IV, bailing another.

Turn 2

The Americans dismount the infantry to offer more firepower and boots on the ground. Focused fire destroy two of the Pak40s, in the village and at position "E". 

The German return fire proves weak, but the Panzer IV picks off a Sherman in the field at "B", however failing its "shoot and scoot" puts it in a bad position for return fire.

Turn 3

Now the five 76s Sherman's arrive from reserve. The American infantry at position "B" arrange  themselves for an assault at "E". Massed rifle fire pins the SS down, while the force at "A" opens up at the Germans in the field at "D", however, with no success of inflicting causalities. The remaining Sherman's destroy the single exposed Panzer IV. The armored rifle assault the SS infantry at "E", but gets pinned down in defensive fire, losing a few teams.

The two panzers waiting in reserve arrive from the road at position "3". The German trucks now reach the crossroads in their attempt to escape. Return fire is limited to two killed infantry and two bailed Sherman's. 

Turn 4

The American Sherman's at field "D" charge ahead to position themselves for an assault, and succeeding in destroying the last Pak40 with heavy tank gun fire. The infantry at "E" unpin for a new attempt to assault the German position. With assaults at both "E" and "D" successful, the German positions are almost overrun.

With the frontline collapsing, the Panzerpioneers withdraw to a better position, while the Panzer IVs take up an ambush position in the bocage. The trucks now move past the crossroads, leaving them in a slightly more hidden position.

Turn 5

Racing against the clock, the Americans makes most out of blitz-moving their forces ahead, but the Sherman 76mm are blocked off by a single Panzerschreck team holding the entrance to the village. The Sherman's at "D" attempts to kill the Panzer IVs but fail to hit their target.

The SS now gather their last units at the crossroads opening up with all remaining anti tank weapons on the Sherman's at "D". The panzers and the infantry destroy two Sherman's, while the Panzerschreck in the village picks off a 76mm Sherman, further stalling the American reinforcements.

Turn 6

The Americans moves further down the fields and the roads, taking better positions on both flanks. Having lost one of their tanks, the Sherman 76s revaluate their strategy and move around the village. Now with trucks in exposed position through a gap in the bocage, two Sherman's makes a run for it and open up on the trucks. The panzer IVs, taken by surprise, cannot respond before two of the trucks are burning.

With two trucks lost, two almost at the end of the road, and a single truck lagging behind, the Germans are in a tricky spot to save the majority of the cargo. The infantry reposition to make the best out of the situation. Exposed on the open field, the Sherman platoon is finally destroyed by the Panzer IVs. 

Turn 7

With only the objective in mind, the troops on the American left flank recklessly moves just close enough to take a handful of shots at the closest truck from the crossroads. Seemingly enough firepower to set the truck on fire!

With two trucks escaping and three destroyed, the battle ends in a minor strategic victory for the Americans. While the German Casualties were large in proportions, the American losses of nine tanks (half of the starting number) and half an armored infantry platoon, would probably be considered a larger loss.

A fun and objective orientated game!