On the Road to Stalingrad with Hauptman Zoller

 Been wanting to play some Stalingrad battles to refine my system.  Once the system is refined I can work on the AI for the OPFOR.  I have the rudiments down but have to fine tune it for the various situations. 

So I rolled up a German company circa 1942.  After all my harping last post about differentiating leaders these guys are all pretty average.  That's okay; with my guiding hand with can change that.  Then I rolled up on a new company table for the scenario and got "exploitation."  Now how am I going to do a exploitation in Stalingrad?  Well lets see... The company becomes a panzer grenadier company (motorized) and the german army is still approaching Stalingrad.  The Cast:

Hauptman Zoller            Avg

1st Platoon   Lt  Auer     Avg

1st squad UnterOff Dietz   Avg    squad veteran

2nd,3rd squads all avg

2nd Platoon  Lt Friedschaffe   Poor   [ just arrived as a replacement ]

1st squad Unter Off Kaufmann Good [ ran plt until Friedschaffe arrived ]

all squads avg.

3rd Platoon Lt Steinman  Avg

1st, 2nd squad avg.  3rd squad poor as they are replacements. 

 

The mission:  Flank and neutralize an industrial/railroad complex that sits along battalions route of advance. Opposition should be light but training and morale of enemy troops is improving.  There is a stream astride your avenue of approach but there are one or two bridges across and the stream is fordable.

 

Ground

German company will enter from the left.  Russian forces are expecting the attack from the top of the picture.  [ I rolled up a very different board today!]

Avenue of approach for the company.  No artillery but we do get 2 ACs and 2 tanks.  

 The area is lightly defended as this is a rear area.  The OPFOR rolls 2D6.  This is the number of blinds that will enter around turn 4 as reinforcements.  I roll a 10.  This area is very lightly defended but the russians will be sending a lot of stuff in.  

 The on board blinds are placed.  Most of the infantry are holding a line up front.  There are 3 markers in the station.  

 And so it begins...

What would your plan be?

 Hpt Zoller decides to send the ACs right into the complex to see what he is dealing with.  He will send the 2 tanks up to the river for fire support.  He has 1st and 2nd platoon debuss.  First platoon will lead a direct assault across the river in a coup de main while 2nd platoon [with the new LT] will deploy to the right a provide covering fire.  He will personally do up to the river to ensure it is fordable.  3rd platoon will be in reserve.  As always plans can change based on the enemy strength and disposition.

The Armored cars fail to spot anything. 

 The russians see the new threat and shift two squads from the front lines back towards the station.  Unfortunately the russian Lt in the station is above avg. It will be hard to get a jump on these guys.  

 The ATR quietly sets up in the station.  He wants the AC to get as close as possible.  

 Zoller starts to execute his plan.

 As first platoon reaches the stream a light mortar fires with devastating effect. 2nd squad is now ineffective.   An ATR opens up the an AC but shots bounce off.  Zoller realizes this will not be a walk in the park today.

 End of turn 2.  1st platoon roughed up.  2nd platoon moving so slowly they aren't in the picture.  Russian MMG opens up from the town.  German tanks now have targets!

 As mortar fire continues to pound the near bank, Zoller moves the survivors back.  He has his light mortar and tanks concentrate on the station.  Either the mortar or spotter must be in there. 

 2nd platoon, slowed by the woods makes their way up.

 The german fire on the station begins to have an effect.  The mortar is silenced.  

 End of turn 3.  Zoller brings up his ATG.  

 Turn 4 starts and look who shows up from the top of the board!

 He has brought some friends.  

 The german tanks shift their fire.  They are outnumbered but fire faster.  Meanwhile, medics clear the wounded.  Zoller orders 2nd platoon to cross over and attack.  1st platoon will cover.

 2nd platoon, with Unter OFF Kaufmann in the lead crosses.  

 End of turn 4.  Lt Friedschaffe in the bottom corner is picking up a lagging squad.  

 50mm ATG set up.  Readies the first shot...

a long way across the table...

and hits!!!!!!!  Dumb german tankers

 2nd platoon crossing.  Hauptman Zoller now arrives to speed things up.  He orders UnterOf Dietz [ blue marker 1st platoon] to join in the assault.  

 Kaufman 80 yards from the station; engages the enemy.  Panzer grenadier squads have 2LMGs.  

 At this point the original russian platoon, down to 2 stands [ 6 men] breaks and leaves the field!  [ PBI rules, I rolled and they they still broke]   The station is actually empty!  The russian reinforcements have an average leader but poor troops who don't move fast.  They are in the upper left of the photo.  Now a race to get into the station!  

 End of turn 5.   You can see 2nd platoon strung out trying to reach the station.  The russians too are trying to occupy the station.  Zoller has ordered 3rd platoon to reinforce 2nd platoon and they are making tier way up.  

 As both sides start to advance Lt Friedschaffe orders a halt.  Unterof Kaufman can't believe it!  He was about to advance to the brown railroad car while 2nd squad advanced into the station.  The Lt doesn't want the platoon moving into a trap.  He will personally bring up 3rd squad to the locomotive and they will all lay down superior fire! [ You can see the command confusion card that came up just at the wrong time.  That means any poor leader can't perform the next action; in this case move.  The Lt was close enough to keep the platoon stationary.  : )  ]        Fortunately, Dietz from 1st platoon didn't hear the order and moved into the station.  

 End of turn 6    2nd platoons fire has pinned some russians who now are in the station.  UnterOf Dietz occupies the left corner of the station.  3rd platoon is crossing the stream.  

 

Lt Friedschaffe finally orders the platoon forward. 

2nd platoon  moves up into the railroad station.  
 

UnterOf Dietz decides to take matters into his own hands and closes with the russians in the station proper.  Though outnumbered they win the day!

 

The remaining russians flee the station.  

At this point I called a fantastic game!   The russians had 2 poor quality squads left in town and 1 tank while the Germans had 2 platoons plus a tank.  Chalk up a win for team Zoller.

 

Post game several things happen as usual.  First Unterofficer Dietz makes his leadership roll and becomes an above average leader.  Second, since Zoller personally saw Dietz charge into the station and clear it out he is awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class.  

Second, Kaufmann is furious with Friedschaffe but he is a professional NCO.  As he is taking it up through the enlisted chain he is surprised when he is called to meet with Hauptman Zoller.  Zoller wants to know why the attack on the station seemed to move slowly.  Kaufmann manages not to swear but gives him an earful.  Zoller thanks him for his observations and leadership.  He reminds him that this was Lt Friedschaffe's first action.  He is then dismissed and left to wonder about officers.  

Zoller then talks to Friedschaffe and congratulates him on the victory.  Tells him he needs to get faster and that will come with experience.  He reminds him that Kaufmann ran the platoon until Friedschaffe got there and is a good leader with combat experience.  

Third, the event that the company got was 1 squad is not replaced.  Since 1st platoon was the only one that really took casualties they will be down to 2 squads next battle.  

Great stuff!

The system worked well.  I still think I can streamline it a bit next time.

 

Enjoy

 

Joe 

 

 

 

Villiage Sweep PBIish. FFL 1952

 Busy summer.  Not much gaming but lots of travel.  Even a stay at the Italian Air Force club in Rome-- The Casa Avatorie.  Most of my gaming time has been spent with History Maker Baseball and my 42 greatest team tournament.  But......

I have continued to tinker with my ideal ruleset for company combat. [ If you scroll back a couple of posts I talked about it.]  I need to stop talking with Jack as after I do I try new things.  I am still set with PBI as my base tactical engine with a couple modifications.  But the activation is too predictable for me and I can't really differentiate stars from duds. [ To be fair PBI does make some differentiation but still not enough for me. ]  I was reflecting that that is the biggest difference from small level to larger level command.  The need to rely on other leaders to accomplish your vision [ or mission if you will].  Thus you need to know their strengths and weaknesses and set them up for success.  This is what successful leaders do and it is hard; I just don't see it reflected in games.  

After a couple of false starts I came back to my PBI with a 12 card Piquet deck.  Neither side ever gets a run of more than 3 cards and that is only on a "6".  There is plenty of tension for me the solo gamer. 

So to run a game I went back to my FFL in Vietnam.  Their last battle I posted in April.  I will wait while you read about it... good you are caught up! I rolled up a scenario from Grunt's Forward and got Village Sweep.   So lets continue our story...

Lt Carville sat down gingerly at his desk.  He had only been back at work for 4 days in his new job as company commander.  Rumors swirled that higher ups had approved the Croix de Guerre for his actions at the enemy battalion HQ but he had dismissed those which only added fuel to them.  " I hear it has been quiet while I was away.  Rene [Dupont], thanks for not selling off all my stuff while I was gone.  Well it is quiet no more.  Intel feels the enemy is moving arms, ammo and medical supplies into the village of Duc Bo II.  That is the one with the nice shrine.  

 

The shrine at Duc Bo

Here is the village

Duc Bo II
.There are two sites near the shrine and two sites at the other end.  Dupont, you will come in from the left hand road and take the near site as well as the building at the top right corner.  Germain, you will come in from the bottom of this picture and search the grounds of the shrine as well as the building bottom right.  Don't enter the shrine or I will have to answer for it.  Fontaine, you will come in from the top right with two crabs and act as a blocking force in case of escaping VM.  Surprise is key so they don't move any supplies. Questions?

The players [ more background given in April post]

CO Lt Carville brilliant leader

1st Platoon Adj Fontaine avg leader   Took over from Carville when he was injured. Experienced soldier but first time leading platoon in action.  Hence Carville gave him the easiest job. Has 1 brilliant SL, Sgt Loc of 3rd squad. 

2nd Platoon  Lt Germaine   Avg Leader     Avg platoon which for the FFL is very good.  3rd squad is weak and not meshing with Sgt Hocher for some reason.  Of his two objectives Germaine feels the shrine will be the tougher nut so he assigns Hocher to the house bottom corner right and hopes he can do it.  He plans to keep an eye on 3rd squad visually since there are no radios at the platoon level in 1952. 

3rd platoon  Lt Dupont  Avg Leader  Avg platoon except for 3rd squad with englishman Sgt Adames who is a good leader with a veteran squad.  Dupont plans to take one squad forward to the close objective, one squad into the jungle to provide covering fire and send Adames wide left to race to the far building.  

Forces for mission

Squads were LMG team with 12 rifles.  So I represent with 1st squad having 4 bases and the other squads having 3 secondary to disease. I forgot the company mortar!

Village sweep for a company game differs from VS for the platoon game.  All enemy forces start on the board but only 2 are active.   The rest are unready.  When the shooting start on the 5th sapper card the VM can remove 1 search location as they have hidden it elsewhere.  They remove an additional location with the draw of each additional sapper card.  To win the french must search 3 locations and find something.  

   

 Lt Dupont and 3rd platoon enters the village.  Sgt Adames and the veteran squad on the left. 

 First platoon and Adj Fontaine enters blocking positions.  Unfortunately, a sniper opens up from a rice paddy far right.  3rd squad takes casualties. 

I forgot to take a picture of 2nd platoon entering but Lt Germaine questions a peasant about caches and enemy.  He learns nothing. 

 

Dispositions after the first turn.  Enemy forces rolled up per Grunts Forward.  Black markers show locations to search.  Sgt Hocher and his less than good squad identified by the yellow marker bottom right.  Each hex 40 yards. 

2nd squad 2nd plt advances towards the shrine when they take fire from the grounds of the shrine.  They duck into a nearby hut.  Lt Germaine brings up 1st squad and orders then to support 2nd squad.  He looks over at Sgt Hocher...

 

and sees 3rd squad advancing towards the house where they are also taking fire.   No casualties in the platoon; So far so good.  

 1st squad/3rd plt which is trying to ignore the shrine and lay down covering fire for the advance into the village can't because they begin to take accurate fire from the other side of the shrine which promptly pins them down.  Unbeknownst to them, they have found the platoon leader for this half of the board.

The rest of 3rd platoon boldy charges into the town and a firefight erupts.  

 

Meanwhile 1st platoon begins to take HMG fire from the building in the middle of this picture.  The whole platoon minus 3rd squad fires into the building and silences the gun.  Sgt Loc moves into the paddy to silence the sniper but loses 2 more men in doing so.  3rd squad is essentially ineffective now. 

 Situation at the end of turn 2.  Dupont has made good progress on the left.  Germaine is engaging on the bottom.  First sapper card drawn.

With the HMG destroyed the building is open to be searched.  Too bad 1st platoon's orders are to hold as a blocking position. 

 

1st sq/3rd platoon has retreated from the jungle near the shrine.  Lt Carville rallies them.  He then orders the tank to mg the hedges.

 

With the hedges quiet he sends 1st squad up towards the houses.

Lt Dupont enters close combat with 2nd sq/3rd plt. around the souvenir shops. They win without serious casualties!

2nd platoon makes no headway against stiff VM opposition.  Sgt Hocher is now pinned down and taking casualties.  Germain needs to be in two places at once as both attacks are failing.  He decides to stay at the shrine.  

 
This is actually turn 5.  I don't know what happen to the intervening pictures.  Platoon 1 in the upper right corner is staying put.  Platoon at the bottom is struggling.  Sgt Hocher is taking a beating bottom right.  The rest of 2nd platoon is still trying to force an entry into the shrine grounds.  3rd platoon has reached their first target building through close combat [ center left] and have just searched it and found hidden rifles!  Sgt Adames is sprinting for his target house [upper center with blue marker] which is still 80 yards away.  He was held up gallantly by some VM. The next sapper card will allow the VM to declare that marker moved.   

So I start turn 6 nervously and the first card I turn over is... 

 

This card allows me to move either of my brilliant NCOs [ Sgt Adames or Sgt Loc] and their squads!  So as Sgt Adames enters the building the porters scatter!

    

Unfortunately when the sapper card does come up this turn the marker in the shrine grounds is removed.

 

With that the VM leave the shrine grounds.  As the return fire slackens, 2nd platoon rushes the grounds only to find moved earth and blood trails.  

As you might have guessed by now Sgt Hocher makes no progress towards his target and takes three casualties.  So after this occurs...

 the following is noted...

 Not a good day for Lt Germain and 2nd platoon.  

 When Sgt Adames searches the house they find nothing.  Did the porters beat them to it or was there nothing to find?

Great battle that went down to the wire!  I declared it a draw as the FFL searched 2 locations and did find some arms.  Post battle several things occur.  3rd Platoon gets well deserved praise and Lt Dupont makes his leadership role becoming a good leader!  Lt Carville, after discussing the situation with Lt Germaine, decides that Sgt Hocher and 3rd squad is a total mess.  Hocher is quietly transferred to support company and Cpl Sturford is brought in to take his place.  Sturford is an orphaned tough kid from Norway who has shown remarkable leadership.  He will start out as an avg leader.  The squad will still be poor however.  Lastly, Adj Fontaine develops complications from malaria affecting his liver and he is shipped out to Hanoi.  While the company awaits either an officer or SrNCO Sgt Loc will take over 1st platoon.  

Great stuff!   I still really like my mix of PBI and Piquet.  It played much faster this time.  Each turn was about 10+ minutes and the game was 8 turns.  

Enjoy!

 

Joe