One of the easier scenarios is 'Breakthrough' where the attacker has to capture two of four American objectives while holding one of their own so we went for that with the Germans attacking and the Americans defending.
Jerry didn't do that well on the terrain rolls resulting in a fairly open battlefield with two German objectives on either flank:
The German plan was fairly obvious, two Panzer Kampfgroups to rush the American objectives on the right while the Volksgrenadier Division, supported by some Tigers, held the German objective and defended their supply line. The American deployment suggested a heavy attack on the German objective by a strong Armoured Combat Command while an Infantry Regimental Combat Team lurked in the woods by the American objectives the Germans were aiming for.
Given that this was Jerry's first game it looked an impressive plan if that was indeed what he was going to do!
Feeling rather uneasy the Germans commit to their own plan and quickly take control of the two American objectives they need:
It quickly becomes apparent that the Americans are indeed launching a strong attack on the German objective, the powerful Armoured CC pressing on and attacking the Volksgrenadiers as well as threatening the German supply line:
The Germans manage to take down some of the attackers but have themselves been badly damaged with the supply line in danger of falling:
On the right the American Infantry RCT has begun to attack the Germans holding the American objectives. Under pressure in the town the Germans have been forced to withdraw some forces from the right flank to bolster the troops around the town:
The Volksgrenadiers hold their own in the town but the German armour around it is almost spent. The Tigers and StuG's have put up a good fight but won't be able to hold on much longer:
The battle rages on and the Germans commit their surviving armour around the town to defend the supply line:
The American attacks are too strong though and the German supply line falls! The Germans hold on to the objective though so all is not lost. Elements of the Panzer Kamfgruppe which were withdrawn from the right flank are also in position to launch a counter-attack soon:
The Volksgrenadiers are still well in control of the town. Many units on both sides have been destroyed:
Panthers and Panzer Grenadiers from the Panzer Kampfgruppe retake the German supply line. The German objective now looks secure:
Realising that their attack on the town isn't going to succeed the Americans quickly redeploy the survivors of their Armoured CC to join the attack on the Germans holding the American objectives. Weakened by the withdrawal of some elements to the city the Germans grimly hold on as nightfall approaches:
The Germans manage to hold on and win a very hard fought battle:
Well I must admit that was unexpected. Most people I've played in their first game of Rommel find it difficult as things can go wrong very badly very quickly.
As I expected I'd managed to place the American objectives in hard to defend places. I'd then anticipated Jerry would then try to defend all of them dispersing his force and allowing me to overwhelm them quickly.
Doubts began to creep in at the deployment stage. Two of the American objectives were totally undefended and the Armoured CC looked ideally placed to put a strong attack in on the German objective. It dawned on me that perhaps I had underestimated Jerry!
The battle was really hard fought going back and forth with Jerry keeping the pressure on me right to the end. The loss of the German supply line was a blow and Jerry's redeployment towards the end when he realised he wasn't going to take the German objective was sensible and a good effort.
I'm sure Jerry enjoyed the game and hopefully he will be keen to play more Rommel. It was a nice change for me to play the Germans and they should be making another outing against Andy's British on Monday.
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