When I created the Supply Depot, I made a note under "Joe's Archives" about posting old posts onto AAR Central. Over the years, I created two blogs that both saw their end well before their time as well as a now defunct YouTube channel. As promised, from time to time I will make an effort to resurrect these old posts and photos. At a glance, you'll be able to spot these resurrected posts under the heading "Blast from the Past!"
So, for our first Blast from the Past, Joe has scrounged from the archives AAR Central's first ever post on Advanced Squad Leader! I'm pleased to report as well that I managed to scrounge up two lost photos from the original post. Without the additional photos, I'll add in a few supplements.
This was the first post on Between Two Trenches and was one of the first ASL starter kit games that I played correctly when I made a concerted effort to properly learn the mechanics for the game. Only 16 at the time, it was a lot to bite off an chew.
The following post went live on January 19, 2017.
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ASL Scenario S14 was completed a while back and my notes don't seem to fill the gaps in all the information about the scenario, so this AAR will be a bit more condensed. That said, let's get to it.
On September 17th, 1944, elements of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment were sent racing towards one of several important bridges, one being near the Zonsche Woods, during operation Market-Garden. They made steady progress until they reached the village of Zon, Holland. It was here that the Germans prolonged the American advance long enough to blow the bridge just yards away from the first American Paratroopers. What follows is the recreated engagement of the German defenders and their elastic defense at Zon against the rapidly advancing paras of the elite 101st Airborne Division.
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| The Main Line of Resistance (outlined after the engagement) |
The Germans set up with control of the high ground within the center of town and with room to maneuver and relocate to more favorable positions. The above photo, however, does not show the disposition of either Flaks, which did not opt to set up HIP. With tactical placement in mind, the Germans allow for a rather elastic defense in this particular case. With the main defense concerned within the confines of the town, the open ground to the right flank is held by the 8-1, LMG, 4-4-7 stack, a HS, and an emplaced Flak 18 on elevated terrain. The 16FP attack of the Flak alone is enough to deter American involvement in open ground, especially with hindrance from grain negated due to elevation. This considered, the central 4-4-7 and 4-6-7 hold critical lanes of fire along the roads leading south across the board within the village itself. The final key placement is of the 8-1 stack in the corner of the photo. Should any American breakthrough be achieved in the urban sector, they are exactly 6MFs away from J3 to cover the final open ground south of the village for any squads/leaders attempting to blitz the exit. This would prove key to the Germans in the final stages of the engagement.
With their bases covered, the Americans entered on Turns 1 and 2, having any previous progress thrown back in their faces. The advance elements of the 1st Battalion are pinned and broken almost immediately. Only the noteworthy direction of Sgt Highsmith keeps their progress alive. Holding by only by tooth and nail, the Americans sustain harassing LMG fire from G7 and sporadic fire from the right flank Flak. It's only after Highsmith forces the elimination of a HS, charges through enemy fire, shouldering the bazooka '44 as he goes, and dies by the accurate fire of the hilltop 88, that his men are relieved by the 2nd Battalion 506th.
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| The relief is only temporary |
Immediately upon entering on Turn 2, 4 of the 7 American Paratrooper MMCs break from strikingly accurate fire. Attempting to force a breakthrough early on, the Americans are thrown back and Cpl Chacon from 1st Battalion is killed while linking up with 2nd Battalion. It's not until turn 3, nearly halfway through the scenario, that the Americans successfully regroup and prepare to advance their currently meager gains. During the DFPh, the Americans direct all available fire on the leader led MMG in O6 and successfully force them back. Starting turn 4, the Americans push forward with all available fury.
Lieutenant Gorham clears the way for his paras, breaking the MMG stack. A lucky die roll placed the much needed smoke, and the fire from Cpl Grinke's squads failed to halt the renewed surge forward.
With the first Flak in sight, the squads spread out and advance into the buildings above. Gorham's squad closes the gap with Kreiser's men, and make short work of them. Down below, the support section advances in conjunction with Gorham.
Just as quickly as the Americans regain their momentum, they lose it once more. With close enemy presence above, and their covering stack gone, the Flak 18 makes a desperate attack on Gorham's location. The German crew swivels their CA to P4-O5 and fires an HE round into the building. The stone walls crumple to their fire, and break the occupants within, including the elite Lt Gorham. Sensing the threat of a 7-4-7 adjacent to their exposed position, the crew panics and fires an extra HE round at the adjacent building, declaring intensive fire. The HE round faults in the barrel of the 88 and temporarily malfunctions the gun.
The 7-4-7 takes advantage of the defenseless crew. Of all things, they prep fire.
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Not only did I not advance the 7-4-7 into the lower level before the 8-1 stack on the right flank moved, their prep fire failed to even force a PTC. Left unharmed, the German crew received more time to attempt repair of their 88 and the Americans lost the chance of exiting another 2 VP.
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On the final turn, the Americans go for broke. Most units declare counter exhaustion and attempt to draw as much enemy fire away from Gorham and his men, newly rallied by sheer luck. The rear placed paras attempt to draw enemy fire and close with the enemy. One squad is decimated by enemy point blank fire while another two run through orchards to the east. With no room for error, Gorham sends his men south, and a lone German squad pins them before they even exit the village, let alone the board. With no hope left but to avoid fire from the 8-1 stack, Gorham goes CX and advances through the last row of houses and makes for the exit. Just one hex from exiting, the Germans fire.
The German DR is a 5. This alone sunk my heart, but then I had to apply the DRMs. -1 for FFNAM, -1 for FFMO, and -1 from Sgt Alonzo's leader direction. The result is a 2 on the 6FP column, a 1 KIA. On the final die roll of the scenario, Lt Gorham dies just before he's able to clench the Allied victory.
101st Airborne Lieutenant Gorham falls far behind the battlefield, bleeding from the direct fire of a German LMG. Looking back with his last dying breath, he watches as the troopers he led fall to the fire of the last German stronghold and their one remaining Flak gun. Defeated, the Americans lose their first scenario and fall behind the German tally.
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Tally
With the previous tally included from older scenarios, the Americans retain their one victory from scenario S4 while the Germans advance to two points.
For Defenders vs Attackers, the score ties up with Attackers 2, Defenders 2.
Casualties
The officers of the 101st Airborne suffered particularly high losses in this scenario, keeping only 1 of 4 alive at game's end. Even while they lost the scenario, the Americans only sustained 32% casualties among their infantry while the Germans suffered a loss of 35%. Taking squad losses into account however, the Americans did manage to lose the equivalent of a half squad more than the Germans (totaling 3.5 squads).
Recap
With future decisions taken into account, the Americans would have done themselves a favor to try and obtain modest gains on the first turn they entered. Having moved into the open instead, they set their main attack back to the fourth turn after suffering a devastating blow from Grinke's men. Having abstained from advancing too far, they would have allowed for at least another turn to properly advance to the edge of the village before making a dash towards the exit.
For Future Reference ...
I've got the idea to award "medals" to individual leaders and squads for battlefield heroics at the end of the scenario. Their appointment would be based on factors including battle participation, combat effectiveness, and so on.
One simple example would be the posthumous decoration of Lt Gorham with the "Distinguished Service Cross" for expert leadership and rally capabilities as well as his selfless action to sacrifice his own safety for the benefit of the American chance at a victory.
Either way, this one addition to the AARs will be made following the post of this entry.
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