EW: French Recon vs German Schutzen

Joe was eager to both try out V3 AND play some Germans. So we decided to rock and roll Early War. I made a few French lists and rolled randomly- of course the dice dictated that I run my beloved Panhards! We rolled up Breakthrough the for mission.

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

Thanks to Easy Army for the lists!

The board. Objectives are in the two rubble areas in the top right.

One objective.

The other objective.

Joe's Panzer IIIs

The recon column prepares to race down the road.

Looking North

German Mortars

French AT guns and Mortars

Zoom! The recon move sees the Panhards racing forward.

While the other platoon is able to sneak forward a bit- unhindered by Joe's mortar observer in the building.

UNITS IN RESERVE
Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance	Joe's Schutzenkompanie

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance: I start with everything on the board except my infantry platoon. Nothing else would have a good time navigating that mess near the objectives! Joe's Schutzenkompanie: Joe puts his Panzer IIIs in the bottom right, ready to move out. Both infantry platoons in the top, ready to hop from rubble to rubble, and his mortars in the top left to provide support. Armored Cars and Panzerjaegers are in reserve.

TURN 1

Panhards swarm the Panzer IIIs!

And don't miss a single shot.

One Panzer III goes up and another is bailed.

SOMUAs roll out ready to back up the Panhards.

Panhards prepare to harass the mortars

French mortars move up and prepare to direct fire (We are backwards compatability-ing-izing 8cm mortars here)

French 25mm guns move out.

The 75s don't do much.

Lining up a beautiful shot, the Luftwaffe is foiled at the last second by the remnants of the French air force.

German Mortars bombard the Panhards, and actually blow one up!

The two unscathed Panzer IIIs roll out. Their bailed bretheren does not remount.

German infantry races to the objectives.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance Panhard Patrol "C": 1 Armored Car	Joe's Schutzenkompanie Panzer IIIs: 1 tank

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance: Everything races forward! Panhards knock out 1 Panzer III. Joe's Schutzenkompanie: Joe's infantry moves towards the objectives. His air force is foiled!

TURN 2

Turn 2.

A few Panhards move into the wheat, though it is slow going.

The SOMUAs approach the front.

The Panhards pump round after round into the bailed panzer III, knocking it out.

Panhards continue to harass the mortars, but a lack of HE makes the task difficult.

Panzerjaegers show up and attempt to stem the tide!

6-rads likewise move to counter the Panhards!

Recon on recon action.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance Panhard Patrol "C": 1 Armored Car 25mm AT Guns: 2 guns	Joe's Schutzenkompanie Panzer IIIs: 2 tanks

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance: On the right flank, Panhards keep the pressure up on the Panzer IIIs, scoring another kill. In the north, mortars and Panhards harass the German mortars. Joe's Schutzenkompanie: No planes arrive, but both reserves show up! Panzerjaegers are dispatched in the South to combat the Panhards, while 6-rads back up the mortars in the North.

TURN 3

Turn 3

Panhards race to counter the 6-rads

Likewise, their brothers swarm around the Panzerjaegers

One Tank Hunter is destroyed, and 2 more bailed.

French Mortars open up on the German mortars.

And knock two out!

One 6-rad is bailed but the other is unscathed.

Germans hold the ruins solidly.

The other platoon moves into the ruined train station.

German mortars return fire on the French mortars, and knock out the platoon commander.

Return fire from the 6-rads wipes out 2 Panhards! The unit is below half, but stay in the fight.

Stukas swoop down and knock out 2 Panhards!

Panzerjaegers circle the wagons after knocking out 2 Armored Cars.

Panzer IIIs back into a tree line... but the 75s ranged in previously.

the operational 6-rad pulls back.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance Panhard Patrol "C": 3 Armored Cars 25mm AT Guns: 2 guns Mortars: Platoon Commander Panhards Patrol "B": 2 Armored Cars Panhard Patrol "A": 2 Armored Cars	Joe's Schutzenkompanie Panzer IIIs: 2 tanks Panzerjaegers: 1 Tank Hunter Mortars: 2 Guns

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance: In the South, Panhards and SOMUAs move to counter the Panzerjaegers. In the North mortars continue to fire on the German mortars while the Panhards shift to focus on the freshly arrived 6-rads. Joe's Schutzenkompanie: Panzerjaegers pop 2 Panhards, and pull back some to force the French to move. 6 Rads also nail 2 more Panhards. Infantry secures the objectives.

TURN 4

Turn 4.

75s repeat on the Panzer IIIs

And bail one. Fairly weak until we realize that puts them below half strength...

A 25mm AT Gun pops the 6-rad.

The Panzer IIIs run away.

At the same time, the Panzerjaegers fall to massed fire.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance Panhard Patrol "C": 3 Armored Cars 25mm AT Guns: 2 guns Mortars: Platoon Commander Panhards Patrol "B": 2 Armored Cars Panhard Patrol "A": 2 Armored Cars	Joe's Schutzenkompanie Panzer IIIs: DESTROYED Panzerjaegers: DESTROYED Mortars: 2 Guns 6-rads: DESTROYED

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance: The French continue to press, scoring some hard earned victories- and one bout of good luck when the 75s run off the Panzer IIIs. Joe's Schutzenkompanie: Joe's armored forced crumble, but his infantry still holds the objectives solidly.

TURN 5

Note the sweet laser pointer on the wheatfield in the bottom that lays a line down for checking LOS.

French reserves arrive!

Panhards and SOMUAs begin making their way towards the German infantry

The German mortars are whittled down, but have knocked the 25mm AT guns down to a single gun.

The two remaining Panhards finally hook around the Mortars.

And launch an assault!

One mortar tube escapes.

The French launch an assault into the ruins!

But are just barely stopped by defensive fire.

Stukas swoop in and knock out more Panhards, eliminating B Patrol.

After B Patrol fled the field.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance Panhard Patrol "C": 3 Armored Cars 25mm AT Guns: 3 guns, command Mortars: Platoon Commander Panhards Patrol "B": 2 Armored Cars Panhard Patrol "A": 2 Armored Cars Infantry Platoon: 1 team	Joe's Schutzenkompanie Panzer IIIs: DESTROYED Panzerjaegers: DESTROYED Mortars: 3 Guns, Command 6-rads: DESTROYED

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance: Joe's company is in a bad way now, and the French press the advantage. SOMUAs, Panhards, and infantry all close in on the objectives, while the other unit of Panhards moves to finish off Joe's mortars. Joe's Schutzenkompanie: Not much Joe can do but hunker down. His planes see some success in running off more Panhards finally.

TURN 6

The action winds down.

One of the 6 remaining Panhards on the board.

SOMUAs park in front of the ruins, readying their HE rounds.

Panhards finish off the Mortars, knocking Joe's company below half.

The French infantry unpin and prepare another assault, maneuvering into the flank.

The assault is successfully launched!

The German infantry suffers a single casualty.

And swiftly counter attack!

Forcing the French back.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance Panhard Patrol "C": 3 Armored Cars 25mm AT Guns: 3 guns, command Mortars: Platoon Commander Panhards Patrol "B": DESTROYED Panhard Patrol "A": 2 Armored Cars Infantry Platoon: 1 team	Joe's Schutzenkompanie Panzer IIIs: DESTROYED Panzerjaegers: DESTROYED Mortars: DESTROYED 6-rads: DESTROYED

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Steven's Escadron De Reconnaissance: Panhards finish off the Mortars as the infantry launch an assault into the ruins. The assault is repelled, but it's too late for the Germans. Joe's Schutzenkompanie: Joe rolls a 3 for his company morale check at the start of his turn, costing him the game.

It was nice to get some Early War action in! The Panhards were freakin' awesome. V3 made them beasts. Though I did still lose a pile of them (10/16). Joe had some poor luck with his Panzer IIIs- I expected them to give me a lot of trouble, but they wound up goin down pretty easy. Thanks for the great game Joe!

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