Marcin Woźniak
Poland
Bydgoszcz
-
I first have to admit I made no photos. I played Poles, Lukash took Germans. When I analysed this firefight, I had no idea what bloody mess it would turn to, so I never expected that armored train would become such a factor.
My battle plan was easy.
On my right wing (which was Map 12) Germans would attack with overwhelming infantry force with 2 additional wheeled powerful scout cars. Map 12 is rather messy, with a long and curved road leading through potato field, impassable for wheeled movement, which makes it a perfect spot for mines and ambush.
On my left wing (Map 7) there is a corn field. Corn is high enough in December to hide a man, but not enough to drive a car unnoticed. There is also a village in the middle of this map which is well protected by Polish rifles platoon supported by a HMG (and a small minefield and ATR guarding the central village road).
In the middle (Map 9) there is really powerful Polish position. Two field 75mm guns are well entrenched in gun pits, one of them is supported by second Polish HMG. I placed an ambush for German tanks out there, 3-5 hexes from German tank platoon (Two ATGs in row 13, one in M half field separating MAP 7 and 9 and the other in the woods). One ATR was right between these two. My hope was to start pounding against German tanks there and with Gods help to destroy most of what Lukash would throw against me with flank fire.
I hoped to destroy center, slow down both wings and throw powerful counterattack (3 tankettes and 2 scout cars) against one of my enemy's weakened wings. What did I know?
Lukash opened perfectly. He did not do what I expected and started pouring his infantry into Map 12. Had I not reacted there, he would have destroyed everything I had there with minimal losses. By the end of the onslaught that resulted there on turn one, I had lost one LMG, mortar and 2 Uhlan units, but one of his cars was stopped by a mine the other was damaged by infantry grenade, and several of his infantry units were bogged down. This would have been a great win, but to achieve this 'bogged down efect' I had to use one Action card and 6 out of my 10 initial CAP's. My ATR there was still unnoticed.
Because of my heavy investment in slowing down his defense, he started moving his tanks out of my trap (I overinvested earlier and did not want to make him notice and destroy my ATGuns too early withot proper lossess). Not firing this trap was a mistake. Before I started to see he was going to bypass me, he moved his two tanks out of my reach. I could have fired (with CAPs that would even make one 7+ shot) but this trap seemed too inefficient agains to spring it too early.
Before I noticed, he moved All his AFVs on Map 9 towards 12 using covering behind heavy woods.
Fortunately, His 3 goal (village on map 7) turned to be too well protected and combination of a valor of Polish Rifles, Mines and ATR resulted in another AFVs detroyed and one tank immobilized n CC.
Round 2 brought more losses to the Poles than to the Germans, who took decisive advantage in the middle and quite easily (nearly no losses) destroyed Polish ambush and field guns (only 2 AFVs damaged).
After Rd 2 Poles lost 11 units and Germans only 6. This might have been a result of mine not so perfect allocation of resources.
Anyway, Round 3 came. When I rolled for Armored Train's APs and noticed 3 (times 6's). That was incredibly nice, as my opponent put most of his infantry from 2nd Round auxilia).
Train alone in third round thus accounted 6 confirmed kills. Not so good performance, one would think. But this result poured some hope into minds and hearts of Polish soldiers, who started to fight against other Germsnd with increased bravery. Polish 'Panzer' counterattack
helped to secure VP locations for next two rounds.
Playing so far took us more than 4 hours. By this time we both were too tired to continue and simply agreead on the DRAW.
-
Lukasz Biernat
Poland
Dabrowa Gornicza
-
This one looks really cumbersome, we skipped it right away.
And I'm pretty sure I wont find another 2 players for a 2 vs 2 match... too bad. Mokra is my favourite battle ever.
-
Marcin Woźniak
Poland
Bydgoszcz
-
The DRAW game call was at 1.30am, and we were both to go to work next (same?) day.
My initial battle plan (and resulting Anti-tank equipment placement) was wrong how I see it. But game was fun and bloody. which means FUN.
Train was a real havoc. I did not see it coming, but 3*6 was nothing to be expected. I could even divide my relief force in order to secure TWO not one Control Markers.
-
Brian Sherry
Vienna
Virginia
-
Thanks so much for the report, Marcin. I have wanted to hear how this scenario played out. How could you say 6 confirmed kills in one round is not a good performance??
What was the VP score at the end, if you recall?
"Smialy" did well in the real battle, and it seems is useful in this one as well. I hope to get it on the table sometime.
-
Marcin Woźniak
Poland
Bydgoszcz
-
we were to tired to count VP's. After Śmiały's performance we agreed that right now it was a massacre and not battle.
Next time my ambushes will be more subtle and 1) more able to cooperate with other troops OR 2) even closer to enemy in order to score more hits
-
|
|
