From: Noel Weer <noel.weer@v...>
Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 09:52:39 -0500
Subject: AAR (April 7, 2001)
The SETTING The scenario was drawn up as a lightly escorted convoy of support elements, that runs into enemy units. Victory was to be determined by getting as much of the convoy as possible off the opposite end of the table, not by holding ground. The terrain was laid out in advance by another person, with only the words "We need a road for a convoy" as his guide. We were hoping that this would provide an action that would feel less "scripted" (we have had too many assaults lately). THE CONVOY (roughly 6,700 points) 1 company of combat cars (4 platoons - 4 each) 1 platoon scout cars (class 1 hi-mobility wheeled - MDCx1) Transport (5 5-ton low mobility wheeled) 1 battery towed artillery 2 ambulances command vehicle combat engineer unit (2 infan teams, 2 AEV, 1 ADS) a couple of turns of off-table artillery support ability to call in aerospace support ability to call in ground support (1 armored and 1 infan. company) if things got out of hand THE ATTACKERS (just over 7,000 points) 1 company of Medium tanks (5 platoons - 4 each, slow tracked - HKPx4) 1 platoon of heavy tank (3 class 5, slow GEV - HELx4) 1 platoon of power armor (including an ADS with the transports) 2 minefields 1 on-table artillery battery ability to call on a short armored and short infantry company if needed The attackers were able to pre-place.The convoy was allowed to start with 4 units on table, and then bring on 2 units per turn. The terrain was clearly against the convoy. There were two strong points to bottle neck the convoy, one being about 20 inches or so on table (ironic note: the guy who laid the terrain was a commander for the convoy...). This was a point where two hills came close to the side of the road - close enough that a single mine marker covered the entire pass. The hills also severely limited movement options (they were large). The heavies had an excellent position, covering right down the gap between the hills. the rest of the units spilt up on either side of the road, beyond the first two large hills. There were no trees (the cat had tried to eat them over night *shrug*). THE ACTION (no clear turn by turn break down - sorry) The convoy started with two combat car units, the scouts, and the trucks. 1 combat car unit immediately began to hook to the convoy's right, around one of the hills. One figure came under visibility of the heavy tank HELs and was destroyed - 54 inches - (much of the rest of the convoy's actions revolved around eliminating the HELs). The scouts began hooking to the left, they were artillery observers and wanted to get a good vantage point. The trucks pulled off an parked in a town near their entry point. The second combat car unit sprinted ahead, gambled that the mine marker was a dummy... and suffered the immobilization of the lead car. The crew did not bail, and was quite annoying for a turn or so, until concentrated fire eliminated it. More units entered the board for the convoy - the towed guns came on, preparing to unlimber and support the action, the engineers began to move to clear the mine field. As some of the scouts cleared the hill edge - opportunity fire cleared them out. The right most combat car unit kept hooking, while a unit of tracked tanks moved to intercept. As the combat cars finally hooked around the hill, the tanks waiting for them missed with their opportunity fire, and blew their call for artillery support. The combat cars succeeded with their call, and the entire platoon of tanks was destroyed. The hook continued the next turn - hoping to either run up on the heavy tanks with their DFFG or run past them and catch the on-table artillery undefended... It did not matter when the heavies turned on them and another unit of tracked tanks closed also... the resulting fire completely destroyed the combat cars. The additional two combat car units entered the table, and both began swinging to the right... attempting to call artillery down on the distantly visible heavies as they did so (every such call failed - a theme for the day, it was the single least effective artillery day we have ever had - lots of 1s and 2s). The attackers did not want the enemy concentrating firepower so the powered armor advanced on the convoy's left (maneuvering through the area previously held by the scouts - some rather ho-hum fire exchanges and failed artillery rolls had removed them) bringing the town and ambulances under threat - sparking a debate on the merits of adhering to rule books literally or not per the "buying the drinks" comment for firing on medevac units... :). It was about this point that the convoy remembered that they could call for reinforcements (4-5 turns away), and thought it prudent to do so. The engineers managed to sneak along the edge of a low escarpment and remove the minefield. And the convoy prepared to surge forward... The convoy's supporting airstrike swept in now, and it was effective. One pilot bailed under the threat of the ADS, but their other two managed to avoid being shot down and took out two of the heavies. It was dramatic, but the convoy lost their nerve at this point... Pressure was advancing on their immediate left and several units were moving to close on the now cleared gap before them. They clearly could not force an advance and protect the vulnerable units in their rear. A general withdrawal was begun. Sharp fire exchanges with the covering combat cars resulted in another platoon suffering severe damage and they routed (GMS from the power armor, and HKP from an advancing tank platoon). Unfortunately the convoy's artillery was unlimbered... As it prepped for departure an enemy unit cleared to LOS on it and called in an artillery strike that took out all the guns and 3 of the soft top tractors in beautiful open sheaf fire mission. If the convoy's spirit wasn't broken before - it was then. The retreat effectively became pell-mell. This is when it got cool, IMO. We shift the map 50%, to include where the retreated convoy had lagered and began moving the called reinforcements on table... Spirits rose among the convoy. The attackers' reinforcements were also entering, but they were outnumbered and rushing to get into some sort of organized defensive position. The convoy's friends surged forward, thrilling in the massive meeting engagement... (good 20-25k points to a side) We called it there - but left it set up to continue at our next gathering.