Bolt Action - AAR: Battle for the Oasis

Another 28mm Bolt Action game! This time I roped Sean in, and gave him the crash course. He decided to play the Germans, while I again took over the brits. We decided to play "Hold Until Relieved" with a desert Oasis in the center of the board. Again we come to around 900ish points.

8th Army Brits VET 1st Lt + extra Rifle REG (Free Artillery Observer) VET Artillery Observer + extra Rifle VET Infantry Squad 1: 6 Rifles + 1 SMG + LMG & loader VET Infantry Squad 2: 6 Rifles + 1 SMG + LMG & loader VET Infantry Squad 3: 6 Rifles + LMG & Loader + AT Grenades VET MMG VET Medium Mortar + Spotter REG Grant I

Afrika Korps VET 1st Lt + extra Rifle VET Artillery Observer VET Infantry Squad 1: 6 Rifles + 2 LMGs & Loaders VET Infantry Squad 2: 6 Rifles + 2 LMGs & Loaders VET Assault Squad: 8 Rifles, + 5 SMG VET MMG VET Light Mortar REG Panzer IV F2

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

The board

Brit Defenders opt to take the small compound.

The Assault Squad, Squad 2, and the LT approach from the 11 O'Clock

The view from the German main force

Brit defender

(Duplicate Overhead View for referencing deployment below)

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: (Using Overhead pic above): Squad 1 in the building at 5:00, Brit MMG at 3:00. The first wave is the other 2 infantry squads and the Grant. The 2 spotters, Mortar, and LT are in reserve. The Mortar spotter is at the gate to the compound between the 2 deployed platoons. Afrika Korps: Squad 1 at 1:00. Light Mortar ar 1:30. MMG and Artillery Spotter on the ridge at 8:00. Squad 2, Assault Squad, and LT at 10:00-11:00.

UNITS IN RESERVE
8th Army Brits REG Artillery Spotter (Left Flank) VET Artillery Spotter VET 1st LT VET Mortar	Afrika Korps Panzer IV

TURN 1

Right off the bat the Grant rolls on the table and chews into the German MMG. 1 man is left standing, but passes his leadership test to stick around.

Brit squad 2 arrives from the first wave, and tries to finish off the MMG, but can't bring it home.

German artillery at the end of turn 1 puts some pins on the British arrivals.

Blood Ridge.

The Panzer IV arrives earlier in the turn, but can't quite hit the Grant.

The compound stays quiet.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
8th Army Brits	Afrika Korps MMG: 2 Men.

TURN 1 SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: The Grant rolls on and opens up on the German MMG- hammering it but not destroying it. The 2 infantry squads arrive moving up either flank. The mortar also arrives as well as the vet observer. The LT fails his leadership test and so stays offboard. Afrika Korps: Artillery nails a squad of infantry and the Grant. Everyone else moves forward to get into position.

TURN 2

The other flank- the Germans fire on the compound but fail to score any kills for a while.

The Panzer IV nails the Grant- the shot barely bounces off, but the pins have really added up! The Assault Squad tears into the British 2nd Squad.

Squad 3 on the British right moves forward and takes potshots at the German light mortar.

The ridge is the sight of most of the fighting. The German LT advances alongside the Panzer IV. In the top right, German Squad 2 has taken casualties after the British MMG in the building opens up.

Keep moving!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
8th Army Brits 2nd Squad: 3 men	Afrika Korps MMG: 2 Men. Squad 2: 2 Men.

TURN 2 SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: The Grant fails to act due to the number of pins. The LT fails to arrive again. The Brit MMG tears into an advancing German squad. Afrika Korps: The Panzer IV and LT advance, pinging a round off the Grant. The Assault Squad lights up the Brits from atop the ridge!

TURN 3

Top of 3.

Combined fire from a one-man MMG and the Assault Squad eviscerates 2nd Squad!

Shortly after arriving on the left flank, the German spotter goes after the Brit spotter!

The Grant fails to rally.

Brit MMG keeps eating into Squad 2.

Squad 3 keeps up fire on the light mortar.

Artillery falls on the ridge!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
8th Army Brits 2nd Squad: DESTROYED	Afrika Korps MMG: 2 Men. Squad 2: 3 Men.

TURN 3 SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: The Grant sits unable to act. The British have no real push, only taking potshots. The observer arrives on the left. Afrika Korps: The Germans keep pushing, lead by the Panzer IV!

TURN 4

Just after calling in the coordinates, the British observer is charged by the German!

And killed dead!

But he successfully called in fire on the ridge near the compound.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
8th Army Brits 2nd Squad: DESTROYED REG Observer: DESTROYED Medium Mortar: 1 man	Afrika Korps MMG: 2 Men. Squad 2: 3 Men. Asault Squad: 3 Men. Light Mortar: 1 Man.

TURN 4 SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: With the timely arrival of the LT, the Grant rallies and fires on the Panzer IV. It scores a hit, but the shot bounces off. The co-ax MMG guns down 3 men from the German assault squad. Artillery fire rains down on the hill at 1:00. Afrika Korps: The Panzer IV thwacks the Grant, immobilising the vehicle!

TURN 5

Top of 5!

The Panzer IV drives forward, and the hull MG wipes out the Brit LT!

The Germans are swarming the Oasis now, but they've suffered casualties!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
8th Army Brits 2nd Squad: DESTROYED REG Observer: DESTROYED Medium Mortar: 1 man LT: DESTROYED	Afrika Korps MMG: 2 Men. Squad 2: 3 Men. Asault Squad: 3 Men. Light Mortar: 1 Man.

TURN 5 SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: The Brits are suffering losses now, but still do not commit to the Oasis. The Grant tries to rally but fails. Afrika Korps: Lead by the Panzer IV, the Germans creep up on the Oasis.

TURN 6

Turn 6- could be the end!

The Brits have to move out now. In hindsight, I should have moved this unit out dead last.

Because the losses they suffer are horrendous! Squad 1 and the RA observer hold it down!

The Grant temporarily roars to live as the MG shreds the Assault Squad! The Assault Squad lives on, however.

At the end of turn 6- but the dice gods speak and a turn 7 is to be played!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
8th Army Brits 2nd Squad: DESTROYED REG Observer: DESTROYED Medium Mortar: 1 man LT: DESTROYED Vet Observer: 1 man 1st Squad: 3 Men	Afrika Korps MMG: 2 Men. Squad 2: 5 Men. Asault Squad: 6 Men. Light Mortar: 1 Man.

TURN 6 SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: The Brits go for it, but are looking at a draw. Afrika Korps: Both sides have nothing but battered units contesting the objective. The Panzer IV is unstoppable now.

TURN 7

The Grant sits unable to act with so many pins.

Both of the remaining full strength squads on either side are just out of range to make a difference.

The British MMG has kept firing from the window, scoring numerous kills and pins.  But now, the barrel is silent with no targets.

The lone artillery observer rushes forward and sees off the German LT with his pistol before being gunned down himself by the assault squad.

At the last, the British MMG moves out to make the game a draw.

The battlefield on the left flank.

The Oasis.

The whole bloody battlefield.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
8th Army Brits 2nd Squad: DESTROYED REG Observer: DESTROYED Medium Mortar: 1 man LT: DESTROYED Vet Observer: 1 man 1st Squad: 3 Men	Afrika Korps MMG: 2 Men. Squad 2: 5 Men. Asault Squad: 6 Men. Light Mortar: 1 Man. LT: DESTROYED

TURN 7 SUMMARY

8th Army Brits: With time running thin, the Brits get desperate. At the end the MMG is able to move out and force a draw. Afrika Korps: The Germans are clearly poised to annihilate the remaining British resistance!

This turned out a draw unless we go to attrition in which case the Germans clearly took the upper hand! I had a great game, and I think Sean enjoyed it too. The BA rules are finally starting to get under my fingers, but I'm still far from a pro. Better listen to the BAH some more.

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