Big Game Saturday 15/01/2011 redux 2

Another 'big game' going on on Big Game Saturday was this Rapid Fire scenario . There's a full list of the forces involved after the 'read more' break further down this article for those who are interested in more detail, along with a couple more pictures. The scenario is from the Rapid Fire NW Europe scenario book, pitting Clarke against Seckendorff at Arracourt, 1944.

T1 German columns in the mist (not gorillas)

T8 - Task Force Hunter plugs the gap on the left flank while the Germans regroup for a push up the centre with a  StuG company

T11 - devastating US artillery takes out more Panthers

T13 - the hill where the artillery observers were positioned

The Germans conceded defeat at around turn 13 as they were losing too much infantry that could be ill afforded, if they were to complete their mission.

Conclusion- 
The Germans had a strong force which was nullified by mist, hidden units and the heavy artillery against them. It could have been worse for both sides if less 1s were rolled.
A great game that we would be able to play again and again with differing results each time.

T0 - Initial set-up

T5- Mist clears to expose US dispositions within spotting range.

T11 Lots of misses from both sides. Dirty rotten Germans gang up on a Bazooka team

T13- Saw 1 Pzr Grenadier Battalion Rout off through morale and the Pivs took morale and had to retire. The PIVs on the right had no infantry support to push through the town in front of them, so waited for the engineers from Brgade HQ to help, but they were shot up as they debussed by MMGs in the town. The center was now being secured by the US engineers 

US Forces CCA (Clarke) Initial Defending forces

HQ Company
CO 75mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 3 HE - 10 Points Table 4
105mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 3 HE - 12 Points Table 4
ARV Sherman C 24 / 12
A Company
CO 76mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 2 HE - 8 Points Table 4
1st 75mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 3 HE - 10 Points Table 4
2nd 75mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 3 HE - 10 Points Table 4
Light company
M5 Stuart D 30 / 15 Gun (4) HE - 6 Points Table 4
M5 Stuart D 30 / 15 Gun (4) HE - 6 Points Table 4
M5 Stuart D 30 / 15 Gun (4) HE - 6 Points Table 4

53rd Armoured Infantry Battalion 36 Figs
HQ CO + 3 figs M3 H/track E 30 15
A Company 10 figs M3 H/track E 30 15
Bazooka Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
B Company 10 figs M3 H/track E 30 15
Bazooka Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
H/WEAPONS 12 figs M3 H/track E 30 15
.30 cal MMG 8 Points
.30 cal MMG 8 Points 
81mm Mortar 8 Points Table 4 M3 H/track E 30 15
57mm AT M3 H/track E 30 15
Gun Class 3 HE - 6 Points Table 4

10th Armoured Infantry Battalion
A Company 9 figs M3 H/track E 30 15
Bazooka Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
24th Armoured Infantry Battalion
B Company 9 figs M3 H/track E 30 15
Bazooka Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"

704th T D Battalion C Company
1st M18 Hellcat D 30 / 15 Gun 2 HE - 8 Points Table 4
2nd M18 Hellcat D 30 / 15 Gun 2 HE - 8 Points Table 4


66th Field Artillery Battalion ON TABLE
OP Tank C Armour 24 12
Radio Truck F 24 12
A Battery D Armour 9 figs
1st 105mm M7 SP HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 Gun 3 24/12 3 Crew
2nd 105mm M7 SP HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 Gun 3 24/12 3 Crew
3rd 105mm M7 SP HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 Gun 3 24/12 3 Crew

94th Field Artillery Battalion
AOP Team 2 Figs ON TABLE Jeep F 30 18

A Battery D Armour ALL OFF TABLE
1st 105mm M7 SP HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 Gun 3 24/12 3 Crew
2nd 105mm M7 SP HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 Gun 3 24/12 3 Crew
3rd 105mm M7 SP HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 Gun 3 24/12 3 Crew

193rd Field Artillery Battalion
AOP Team 2 Figs ON TABLE Jeep F 30 18

A Battery Truck F 24/12 Gun 3 ALL OFF TABLE
1st 105mm HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 3 Crew
2nd 105mm HOW HE - 12 Points Table 4 3 Crew

Reinforcements Task Force Hunter
37th Tank Battalion
A Company
CO 76mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 2 HE - 8 Points Table 4
1st 75mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 3 HE - 10 Points Table 4

37th Tank Battalion
B Company
CO 76mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 2 HE - 8 Points Table 4
1st 75mm Sherman C 24 / 12 Gun 3 HE - 10 Points Table 4

166th Armoured Engineer Battalion 24 Figs
HQ CO + 3 Jeep F 30 18
A Company 10 figs M3 H/track E 30 15
Bazooka Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
B Company 10 figs 2 1/2 Ton Truck F 24 12
Bazooka Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"



German Forces 113th Panzer Brigade (Seckendorff)

Brigade HQ 27 figs
HQ Coy. CO + 5 figs Sdkfz 251 E 30 15
Radio Truck F 24 12
Recce Coy. 8 figs Sdkfz 251 E 30 15
Sdkfz 251 E 30 15
20mm Autocannon Sdkfz 222 E AT 6 8points 30 15
STuG 75mm L48 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12
STuG 75mm L48 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12
Eng Coy. 8 figs Truck F 24 12
Workshop Coy. 3 figs Famo 18Tonne Recovery H/Track E 24 12

1st Panzer Battalion From Panzer Lehr
Bn HQ Panther V 75mm B Gun 1 8 Pts Tab 4 30 15
1st co. Panther V 75mm B Gun 1 8 Pts Tab 4 30 15
2nd Co. Panther V 75mm B Gun 1 8 Pts Tab 4 30 15
Panther V 75mm B Gun 1 8 Pts Tab 4 30 15

2nd Panzer Battalion Replacement Bn 35
Bn HQ Panzer IV H 75mm L48 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12
4th Co. Panzer IV H 75mm L48 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12
Panzer IV H 75mm L49 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12
5th Co. Panzer IV H 75mm L48 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12
Panzer IV H 75mm L48 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12
6th Co. Panzer IV H 75mm L49 C Gun 2 10 Pts Tab 4 24 12

2113th Panzer Grenadier Regiment 6 Figs
Regt HQ CO + 5 figs Horch F 30 15
M/C combi F 30 15

2113th Panzer Grenadier Regt Heavy Co. 15 figs
5 truck/ HT tows F 24 12
20mm AA Gun Class 6 8Pts 
20mm AA Gun Class 6 8Pts 
120mm Mortar 12 Points Table 4 Fires twice 
75mm PaK 40 Gun Class 2 HE - 10 Points Table 4
75mm IG Gun Class 4 HE - 10 Points Table 4 Range 6"

2113th Panzer Grenadier 1st Battalion 41 figs
HQ CO + 4 figs Horch F 30 15
Panzerschrek 3 Rds Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4
A Company 8 figs Must ride on Tanks (4 figs per tank)
Panzeraust Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
B Company 8 figs Opel Blitz F 24 12
Panzeraust Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
C Company 8 figs Opel Blitz F 24 12
Panzeraust Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
Support Co 12 figs Opel Blitz F 24 12
MMG 8 Points 
MMG 8 Points 
81mm Mortar 8 Points Table 4 Fires twice 
Sdkfz 3 HT F 24 12
75mm PaK 40 Gun Class 2 HE - 10 Points Table 4

2113th Panzer Grenadier 2nd Battalion 41 figs
HQ CO + 4 figs Horch F 30 15
Panzerschrek 3 Rds Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4
A Company 8 figs Must ride on Tanks (4 figs per tank)
Panzeraust Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
B Company 8 figs Opel Blitz F 24 12
Panzeraust Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
C Company 8 figs Opel Blitz F 24 12
Panzeraust Gun Class 2 6 Points Table 4 Range 6"
Support Co 12 figs Opel Blitz F 24 12
MMG 8 Points 
MMG 8 Points 
120mm Mortar 12 Points Table 4 Fires twice 
Sdkfz 3 HT F 24 12
75mm PaK 40 Gun Class 2 HE - 10 Points Table 4

First 5 turns are in mist and all visibily is reduced to 12".Germans had to get off the Northern edge of table with 1 tank and a compant (8) figs by turn 20. Germans had hidden movement in the form of playing cards per unit with six dummy cards