Continuing on the left flank my SU85 moved up as the fascists ran like the true dogs they are. German artillery pounded into the position but Al's poor dice showing meant they came out unscathed.
While to the south on the right flank, the German Medium Armoured Unit was down to two tracks after a successful bombing run by the IL-2. Jerry remains pinned.
Facing them my troops get Al's luck and the Company is pinned.
A duel developed between the remaining Panzer IV and my right flank ZIS-3. The ZIS won much to Al's disgust.
The offending ZIS, even a stonk of Ivan artillery did not amount to anything more worrying than a scattering of leaves.
Al moves up his AA Pl up in the centre to put pressure on my indestructible Red hoard. Its hard to imagine that he will see much through the clouds of smoke from his destroyed armour.
My air support comes in for another strafe, is Fritz aim on...
Yes, my flight gets two hits. Good dice from Al! A IL-2 limps home.
Another turn and on the southern flank another pinned card for Al. These guys are not going anywhere soon.
On the left flank, Jerry continues to run...
The luckiest Pl of the whole game was my Southern flank MMG boys. Despite hitting everything in the area, Al's troops and armour could not spot em!
This is where Al called it. I own the left, centre flanks, I could give chase but using the initiative is not part of my glorious troops vocab. The southern flank has the Germans holding (Well pinned) but outnumbered with Soviet forces in the area able to outflank them without worry.
Al looks on as his attack falters. A bad and disappointing day for the Reich.
We had much fun with this game and it was pleasing that we got it finished that night. Al had practically zero luck with his dice, and I think hedging his bets on a extended front was a mistake. In these games I think Al tends to think like Monty while I am more like Patton.
Cheers for the enjoyable game Al, and the pressure to get those pieces ready to battle.
Model on!
It did sound like you had fun. It was fun to see and read. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWe did indeed Irqan, its much better playing with them rather than just looking at them on a shelf.
DeleteExcellent report Paul. Sounds like a great game and looks it too.
ReplyDeleteHi Rodger the best think was starting late and wrapping it up in about 2 hours. With all the prep work done it was a breeze.
DeleteRegards Paul
Thanks for the report great game. I've probably asked this before, but, what rules do you use?
ReplyDeleteCheers Guidowg. Al and I use Command Decision 3 (CD3).
DeleteAbout a 1:3 Breakdown in Vehicles, Each Stand is a Platoon and 1 inch to 50 yrds or so.
Regards Paul
I like the picture of the SU85. They are a very modern looking tank. The one of the fighter spraying the advancing Germans on the road with MG fire is great too. Nice game.
ReplyDeleteThe SU85 is by Fujimi and a nice build. My flyboys are posers really.
DeleteGood report
ReplyDeleteI felt it for Al after he lost his MkIV's
Fritz was very shot of infantry
Good defensive "stand and hold" Paul
The IL2 pilot gets "Hero of Soviet Union" for my vote ;)
Hi Geordie. Al will be in trouble with the High Command about his losses in Armour. The mission brief told him to try and husband it and save for another day if losses were too high.
DeleteHe was short of Infantry because he did not concentrate it on one point. We each had the same amount of Infantry stands, but my generic support Company made it look as though there were more.
My Infantry because they were just standing and holding faired better due to their extra shooting in opportunely fire phase of the game.
Al on the move missed out.
The IL-2 added a little more interest than normal.
Cheers Paul
Sounds like you both had fun , which makes it a good game in my view.
ReplyDeleteConsidering Al has given up smoking it was a most surprising!
DeleteNo anger at all, just cold dice.
I almost felt sorry for him...No thats a fib.
A fine looking game. Command decsion - in whatever incarnation - has a good look to it, I find.
ReplyDeleteOn the 1:3 vehicle scale. I've always understood that CD operated under 1:5 vehicle and stands represented about 50 guys - an overstrength platoon, say. Has that changed with later incarnations, or have you just chosen the 1:3 thing?
It seems also that your infantry stands are rather larger than the 'official' sixe of 7/8" x 5/8". I've done the same, mainly to fit prone figures and teams, but also in several cases to accomodate PTRD teams in which two fellows are carrying the weapon in tandem (to which stands I've added a third figure). It has always seemed to me the infantry stands per the rules were (a) too small and (b) could have used a third figure.
Your views?
Cheers,
Ion
Hi again Ion, yes and no its about generally 1:3 when you break it down, and the Command vehicle acts as the third sub unit.
DeleteSome nationalities had understrength as there full strength TOE.
Soviet Coys were 10 tracks all up including the Command track. At 1:5 they would have 15 Tanks (way over strength), whether in CD terms they have 9 or so which is about right.
Mid to late war German Companies work the same. The modifiers are put in place to help things along.
It probably is 1:5 in the book or the first version (We work on CD3).
Honestly just going by the web site pdf TOE and the book TOE will give you totally different accounts and I find it a little confusing at times getting the balance just right.
Platoons of infantry work the same. British Pl's had 26-36 pers, while US Platoons were well over 50 in some cases (about a Soviet Coy!). Again modifiers work this out over true TOE's.
Al might chip in too get things better explained as he is the teacher and I alas am the student!
On basing terms I am on the same page as you, and I note a number of other people. The official size just seems to small and I try and get a little bit more out of them.
I have started to cut down the size a bit in some formations but not these units as yet.
Al reckons you can put as many figures on a crew stand as you like, they are after all crewing...
Hope that helps. Take what I say with a pinch of salt, as some rivet counter out there will no doubt prove me wrong and I will have to delete their comment to make myself feel better.
Regards Paul
You are pretty much spot on with your answer Paul, it varies from nation to nation and, I suspect, player to player; many 'split the difference' and go 1:4
ReplyDelete