I've just completed an action packed encounter between a couple of companies of
British and German advance guards. Fought over a densely packed table covered
with loads of terrain both forces strove to achieve their objectives.
I used the Command Rules again and these gave me a lot of variations which made
play less predictable. The British slowly gained an advantage and despite a
couple of platoons of scheduled reserves, the Germans had to concede.
Here is a fuller account of this engagement.
The rules used were my WWI Period Adaptations of the WWII Ruleset in
Introduction. As always they worked really well.
I decided to go down an organisation level making platoon the scenario unit
size. This gave more of the feel of a large skirmish type game. I must admit
that I feel no real limitations as to whatever level you want to play the game
at. Once I've designed the scenario and set the scale I'm usually in the way of
thinking for the level being represented.
I gave both Commands an average rating. This was to provide a bit of activity on
the unit activation front which certainly produced some interesting nuances
without dominating the game-play. There were a couple of instances of forced
retreats and advances which disrupted both commanders strategies.
As mentioned the map was well covered with gentle hills, extensive woodland and
fields. The two objectives which both sides needed to secure to win the contest
were a Chateau to the north of the board and a small village to the south east.
The British had a superior force initially of two companies of four platoons
each and these deployed along the southern table edge. The Germans held a
company in reserve and this was scheduled to appear by turn 4. Both sides had 3
HMG sections to bolster their firepower. These proved useful once setup in fixed
positions on hills or covering the infantry advance corridors.
The Germans initially did quite well. They secured the chateau and at the same
time made a foreceful flank move towards the village. The British had more units
to the left flank and seemed poised to perform a sweeping flanking move,
however, the British commander responded to this German threat by pulling some
of his left flank across to the other to bolster and secure the village.
British forces were successfully pinning the Germans on the left flank and the
combat on the right intensified with a British push of the remaining German
units from the village precincts and back towards the chateau. Despite the entry
of a couple of German reserve platoons the writing was on the wall. In the
remaining two turns the German battle line disintegrated while the British
applied sustained pressure along the entire front.
Eventually the chateau was occupied and Major Mallory could reward his
lieutenants with a fine vintage from the wine cellar.
