We decided to play Scenario 1 'Going with a bang' from the 1940 book. I opted for the Grossdeutschland Motorised Infantry Platoon and, with 10 support points, chose an Sdkfz222 armoured car, a pre-game barrage, the infamous 'red dice', a demolition team and a 'Shabby Nazi Trick' collaborating sniper! Gary chose a French Reserve Platoon and had 8 support points available.
The table had a road running lengthwise. a few buildings and some enclosures. The two culverts the French need to blow up were both at the far end of the table from the German start line making them harder to get to but taking longer to prepare the demolition charges:
Initial moves went well for the Germans with one squad and the mortar deploying with the Feldwebel behind a stone wall and another squad racing forward to the stone enclosure on the right. The French deployed a Groupe in the demolished part of forward building but their fire was ineffective:
The French Lieutenant deployed and ordered the demolition teams to start setting the charges on the culverts:
The first French Groupe in the house started to take losses from the Germans behind the wall:
The second German squad moved into the enclosure with no losses so far:
The French deployed a second Groupe in the rest of the house, their fire was far more effective and the Germans started to lose men:
With the German squad in the enclosure failing to make further progress and the French rapidly setting their demolition charges it was time for the Sdkfz222 to appear and give the Germans some mobility and extra firepower:
At this point the Germans had a large stroke of luck- a stray mortar round set the central building on fire! As they had a CoC die to play the Germans used it to end the turn forcing the two French Groupes to exit the building and giving them two shock per section:
One of the French Groupes forced out of the building breaks under fire:
The other French Groupe starts to head for the enclosure but mills about in confusion:
The French bring on an R35 to take on the German armoured car:
One culvert has been blown up but only damaged so the charges have to be reset. The second has the demolition charge laid but the French need a CoC die to set them off and don't have one. The French Groupe continues towards the enclosure:
The final German Squad dashes forward to contest the enclosure with the French:
Another French Groupe deploys in the ruined buildings towards the rear of the French position:
The French reach the wall first:
The Sdkfz222 moves forward and mops up the remaining men of the broken French Groupe:
The second French Groupe forced out from the house is now in trouble with a number of losses and several shock. French morale is near breaking:
The Germans pour more fire in and the French Groupe breaks ending French resistance:
Initially things went very well for the French, the demo charges were set quickly and they built up a CoC die to explode the first charge. The French infantry in the houses was holding the Germans back successfully.
The random event really changed the course of the game though, forcing the French out of their stronghold and allowing the Germans to wipe out two French Groupes. The French also had no luck with generating another CoC die.
I continue to think that the 'red dice' is a big advantage, activating units is the hardest part of CoC and having 20% more activations is very useful. Add in the two LMG squads and you have an even bigger advantage.....
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