US 2nd Armoured vs. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron in Hold the Line

- By Brian Fuller

Brian was kind enough to invite me over to his place to get a game of Flames of War in over the weekend. The D-Day compilation books had not yet been released so we're still using lists from the original Turning Tide and Earth & Steel books. As usual we played with a pretty densely packed board full of woods, hills, and buildings. The mission we rolled up was Hold the Line with Brian's Armored Rifle Company attacking and my Aufklärungs having to defend.

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) Armored Rifle Company HQ (2nd A.D.) Armored Rifle Platoon (2nd A.D.) Armored Rifle Platoon (2nd A.D.) Armored Anti-Tank Platoon (2nd A.D.) Tank Destroyer Platoon (4x M10s) Light Tank Platoon (2nd A.D.) Armored Field Artillery Battery (2nd A.D.) (3x M7 Priest HMC) Limited Air Support Air Observation Post

Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron AufklärungsLehr Schwadron HQ Aufklärungs Lehr Platoon Aufklärungs Lehr Platoon Puma Panzerspäh Lehr Platoon Panzergrenadier Lehr Anti-tank Gun Platoon Radio-control Tank Platoon Armoured Rocket Launcher Battery Heavy Anti-aircraft Gun Lehr Platoon

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

Our board all set up. The Armored Rifle Company will be attacking from the north.

The first objective is placed near the town in the SW corner.

The second objective is placed towards the east side of the board on a hill.

An Aufklärungs platoon deploys on an objective, their transports waiting behind them.

The Panzerwerfer battery deploys on the back edge of the German area.

A second Aufklärungs platoon deploys in the town with their transports.

An ARP deploys along the eastern edge of the board.

The second ARP deploys near an Observer Sherman by the river.

The TD security section deploys in a wheat field.

The Priest battery deploys in the back field.

Anti-tank platoon and Stuarts deploy on the road.

UNITS IN RESERVE
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) None	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron Puma Panzerspäh Lehr Platoon Panzergrenadier Lehr Anti-tank Gun Platoon Radio-control Tank Platoon Heavy Anti-aircraft Gun Lehr Platoon

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): Brian deploys his whole army on the board. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: I don't opt to hold a platoon in ambush. I deploy my two Aufklärungs combat platoons and my Panzerwerfer Artillery. My Pumas, PaK40s, Stugs and 88s are in delayed reserves.

TURN 1

As part of his recon movies, Brian advances his TD Security section onto the hill.

With his spearhead move, Brian advances his Stuarts up the road.

The AT platoon advances.

The Security Section tightens up their formation.

The ARP dismounts, leaving a bazooka in each transport. The transports advance.

The other ARP advances from behind the woods.

Brian ranges in on his first attempt with his Priests...

Brian's Stuarts unload with their main guns and manage to take out another stand of Infantry.

On to the movement phase for the German's. I remount my half tracks...

...And move out to reinforce the right flank.

The command 250/1 half track moves up to try and take some shots which are ultimately ineffective.

The 16 gun Panzerwerfer battery ranges in and takes out a transport and a stand of infantry.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 1x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron 2x Aufklärungs Infantry Stands

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): Brian advances and manages to take a few stands with his Stuart platoon and artillery. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: Seeing that the brunt of the attack will be on the eastern objective, I shift my forces to reinforce. I score a few casualties with my pizza box of death bombardment and hold tight on the objective.

TURN 2

Brian manages to roll for air support but only gets one plane which doesn't do much this turn.

Brian brings his M10s from off board and sets them up at the edge of the forest.

His ARP unpins and advances.

His Stuarts and other ARP w/ CiC advance towards the objective.

Towed TDs unlimber and cover their fellow soldiers.

The Priests repeat bombard on the Aufklärungs causing no damage but pins them.

The Stuarts push in for the assault causing one more infantry stand to fall. The Aufklärungs attempt to strike back but fail their motivation forcing them to fall back.

On to the German Turn. The Aufklärungs jump out of their half tracks knowing that some M10s are watching them across the river.

A lone infantry stand is sent in to contest the objective while the 250/1 half tracks move forward to lay down some MG fire.

The 250/1s open fire on the half tracks and manages to knock out a M3.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 1x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track 6x ARP Infantry Stands 3x M3 Half Tracks	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron 3x Aufklärungs Infantry Stands

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): Brian makes his air support roll but only manages 1 airplane which ends up not doing much. He pops his M10s out of hiding but are too far and out of LOS to do anything. The rest of his army fires off a few rounds but ultimately doesn't kill anything. During the assault phase, his Stuarts are able to kill off one more stand of infantry and force the Germans off the objective. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: The Germans are trying to reclaim the objective and shift the resources from their left flank to help reinforce. The Panzerwerfers are able to scrap a few M3s along with their passengers. Hopefully that'll be enough until the reinforcements arrive.

TURN 3

Brian starts to move his ARP across the river.

The other ARP is shaken up from the bombardment but start to regroup.

The Priests range in on the Aufklärungs trying to help reinforce! Knocking out several 250s and killing a stand of infantry.

The M10s see the parking lot of 250s and open fire, wiping out 4 more 250s.

The Stuarts open fire on the Aufklärungs near the objective forcing them below half.

The CiC is attached but they still fail their motivation roll...

The Germans move a Panzerwerfer up to contest the objective.

The Aufklärungs scramble to defend the crumbling right flank.

The Panzerwerfer artillery calls down another devastating barrage.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 5x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track 6x ARP Infantry Stands 3x M3 Half Tracks	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron Aufklärungs Platoon DESTROYED CHQ DESTROYED

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): The 2nd A.D. continues to press on the German's right flank and it finally crumbles. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: The right flank finally crumbles and the German's are forced to move a Panzerwerfer up to contest the objective. They're able to kill a few stands of infantry but still face a very strong force.

TURN 4

The M10s move out trying to capitalize on their destruction of the 250s.

The Stuarts push forward to attack the Panzerwerfers.

The ARPs unpin and move towards the objective.

The Observer Sherman opens fire and nails one German infantry stand.

A lone Stuart fires but misses the Panzerwerfer contesting the objective.

The other Stuarts open fire on the Panzerwerfers, knocking one out.

The Germans fail to roll any reserves this turn. The Aufklärungs fails to unpin and moves back towards the 2nd objective.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 7x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track 6x ARP Infantry Stands 3x M3 Half Tracks	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron Aufklärungs Platoon DESTROYED CHQ DESTROYED 1x Aufklärungs Infantry Stand 1x Panzerwerfer

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): The Americans continue to advance and gain more ground. However, they aren't able to kill the Panzerwerfer that is contesting the objective. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: The Germans sit tight and pray for reinforcements while continuing to bombard the ARPs.

TURN 5

The M10s continue advance ready to fire upon the pinned down German infantry.

The Stuarts try to take out the Panzerwerfers again and manage to bail one out. The rest of the shooting from the Americans this turn is ineffective.

German reinforcements arrive! 2x Stugs and 3x Pumas roll into town.

The Pumas light up two Stuarts...

...

...and the Stugs hit a third Stuart

The Panzerwerfers manage to kill off a few more stands of ARP infantry but they hang on.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 7x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track 7x ARP Infantry Stands 3x M3 Half Tracks 3x Stuarts	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron Aufklärungs Platoon DESTROYED CHQ DESTROYED 1x Aufklärungs Infantry Stand 1x Panzerwerfer

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): The Americans advance but don't do any real damage this turn other than bailing out a Panzerwerfer. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: The German reserves finally start to show up. Several Stuarts are killed off and more ARP infantry are killed by bombardments.

TURN 6

The lone Stuart moves towards the Panzerwerfers.

Brian manages to call in 3 planes this turn for air support and goes after the Stugs and Pumas

The Stuart manages to bail out a Panzerwerfer

The M10s shoot at the Pumas and bail out two forcing a check that they end up passing.

The Air support knocks out both Stugs and a Puma.

German 88s arrive from reserves! They drive down the road and unlimber...

...and manage to take out 1x M10 and bail another.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 7x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track 7x ARP Infantry Stands 3x M3 Half Tracks 3x Stuarts	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron Aufklärungs Platoon DESTROYED CHQ DESTROYED Stug Platoon DESTROYED 2x Pumas 1x Panzerwerfer 1x Aufklärungs Infantry Stand

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): The Americans manage to wipe out two platoons in one well placed air support barrage. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: With most of their armor assets lost, things are looking grim for the Germans.

TURN 7

The ARP moves up into assault range.

M10s retreat behind the hill as the AOP moves in to spot for the Priests.

The Priests bombard and take out a Sd.Kfz tractor, the 88's commander and 1x Panzwerfer

ARP bazookas fire on the bailed out Puma but fail to hit it.

The other ARP's M3 37mm AT gun fires on the 88s and manages to take one out.

The M10s take out another Panzerwerfer.

As does the last Stuart.

The ARP assaults the bailed out Puma, capturing it.

The other ARP assaults the pinned 88, losing one stand in defensive fire...

...But kill the 88.

The Germans hang in after making their company morale check.

Pak40s come in from reserve and head towards the ARPs

The Aufklärungs platoon finally unpins and heads towards the objective.

Panzerwerfers bombard on the ARPs and take out 5 stands! They fail their morale check and leave with the CiC.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 7x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track 7x ARP Infantry Stands 3x M3 Half Tracks 3x Stuarts	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron Aufklärungs Platoon DESTROYED CHQ DESTROYED Stug Platoon DESTROYED Puma Platoon DESTROYED 4x Panzerwerfer 1x Aufklärungs Infantry Stand Flak 88 Platoon DESTROYED

TURN 7 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): The Americans punish the Germans with shooting and take out the 88 platoon. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: The Germans don't have much to use this turn, but the Panzerwerfers come through by making an ARP and the CiC flee the table.

TURN 8

The ARPs only have to force the Pak40s away from the objective. They move into assault and wipe out the Pak40s

The Americans win!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.) 7x ARP Infantry Stand 1x M3 Half Track 7x ARP Infantry Stands 3x M3 Half Tracks 3x Stuarts	Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron Aufklärungs Platoon DESTROYED CHQ DESTROYED Stug Platoon DESTROYED Puma Platoon DESTROYED 4x Panzerwerfer 1x Aufklärungs Infantry Stand Flak 88 Platoon DESTROYED

TURN 8 SUMMARY

Armored Rifle Company (2nd A.D.): With only Pak40s contesting the objective, the Americans assault and wipe out them out. Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron: They did the best they could!

Brian's Armored Rifle Platoons take the day by nearly wiping out the entire Aufklärungs Lehr Schwadron. Excellent game and excellent table, I look forward to our next engagement!

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