Germans Crush Combined Czech/Brit Forces in Gloucester

So for today's half of the weekend reports I'm putting a fight that I'm sure we'll be arguing about for ages here at Throck HQ. We decided to do a team game, linking up the previous two reports (Throck v Rotny and Throck v Loon) into a third and culminating battle deciding the fates of our armies in that sector of the Operation Sealion battle. 

 Turns out we had some lessons to learn about list balance and how to set one of these up. It was still a blast and a good deal of fun and learning was had by all. But certainly, we'll know better next time. Read on to see what I'm talking about.

Shattered in previous engagements a Czech Armored company led by RotyVana and a cadre of Commandos led by Major CrazedLoon, (OBE, GCB, GC etc etc...) fortuitously run into each other on the long road back to link up with their parent units in Gloucester. Unfortunately, KG VonThrock has plans to finish the job he started. Using superior mobility he cuts the combined Bit and Czech forces off. Now, the allies must break through... or be annihilated.

KG VonThrock HQ: 2x Cmd Panzerfaust w/Tracks 85 pts Combat PLT1: Full Panzergren's With Tracks and HQ Faust 230 Combat PLT2: Full Panzergren's with tracks and HQ Faust 230 Weapons PLT1: Heavy Mortar Platoon 4x 12cm sGW 43's 165 Weapons PLT2: Anti-Tank Platoon 2x PaK 40 105 Div Support 1: 4x Panther G 750 Div Support 2: Heavy Anti-Tank Platoon 2x 8.8 PaK 43 220 Div Support 3: Armored Rocket Launcher Battery 4x Panzerwerfer 42 w/extra Crew Total: 2015

Combined Ronty Loon Forces Crazed Loon: HQ: 1 CMD Team 2x PIAT teams 60pts Combat PLT1: Understrength Commando Co. 7 teams 195pts Combat PLT2: Undrestrength Commando Co. 7 teams 195 pts Combat PLT3: Understrength Commando Co. 7 teams 195 pts Div Support: Royal Artillery 4x 25 pdr 145 pts Div Support: Limited Air Support Typhoon 170 pts Warrior Team: Lt. Col. Peter Young Rotny Vana HQ: T-34/85 w/Cupola 95 Combat PLT 1: 5x T-34/85 w/Cupola 450 Combat PLT 2: 5x T-34/85 w/Cupola 450 Total: 995

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

The Battlefield

German Deployment

Allied Deployment

UNITS IN RESERVE
KG VonThrock PaK 40's Mortar Team Armored Rockets	Combined Ronty Loon Forces 2 T-34/85 companies 1 Understrength Commando Company

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

KG VonThrock: I knew I needed to hold hard and force the allies to make a choice about Tanks or infantry. I decided to put my larger Anti-Tank assets on the table. The 8.8's were in position to threaten their reserve deployment zone, the panzergrens are set up to hold the objective on the road closest to the table edge and I've got the Panthers creeping around behind the hill to ward off a possible flanking move. Combined Ronty Loon Forces: We had to strike fast, but we didn't want the tanks on the table early because of the Panthers and 8.8's Throck was starting with. We decided to but the arty and two commando squads up and keep the rest in reserve. Our hope was being able to push the Czech tanks straight at the Germain Main line and break through once the Arty and Commando's had softened them up.

TURN 1

The british again step off, this time it's for all the marbles.

Jerry lies in wait.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces	KG VonThrock

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Not much to do but move. I send my boys forward at the double towards the three story house dominating the center of the board. I shoot off my arty at the dug in panzer grens, while we fail to hit, we've got them ranged in now. KG VonThrock: Steady boys.... Steady....

TURN 2

Brits Take First Blood ending the life of a poor spotting team

And pour into the fields

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces	KG VonThrock

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: There's a bit of claret in the water... He's got one of his mortar spotters pretty far out. So, I send the boys in and take him out. KG VonThrock: Yeah, still holding. Foot sloggers better get here soon. Bays are starting to sing "Lily Marlene"

TURN 3

Rockets arrive on the table

Panthers Move to Shore up the line.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces Loon Combat PLT 1: 2x Commando Teams	KG VonThrock 1 Mortar Spotter

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Arty continues its barrage on the dug in Grens taking out a half track and one tray. KG VonThrock: I getz mah rockets! And shoot them. Taking out some commando's in the open field.

TURN 4

Commandos move to put pressure on the rockets

Both Tank Platoons Show up and bolt towards the line.

Commando's open up on the rockets taking out one. Great shot blokes!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces Loon Combat PLT 1: 3x Commando Teams	KG VonThrock 1 Mortar Spotter Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Tanks arrive, commando's get frisky with the rockets and take out one, and the air force scores a kill on the 8.8's. All around a good round of shooting for the allies. KG VonThrock: I open up into both commando teams, doing little damage and now, my tanks can see their infantry. Next turn I shall tear them up!

TURN 5

Panzergrens move in for the kill on Peter Youngs commandos

State of the Front, bottom of turn five.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED Loon Combat PLT 2: 2x Commando Team Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED.	KG VonThrock 1 Mortar Spotter Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher Div Support 2: 1x 8.8

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: We're holding our guys back, trying to take out the 88's and panthers before we head in. The shooting this turn doesn't do much as the tanks, commando's and arty all fail to strike home. KG VonThrock: Got my other Panzer Grens on the board and I'm faced with a hard question. The allies have left one of their objectives relatively open and I could dash for it. However, Peter Young and his commandos are threatening both my panthers and my rockets. I've got to take care of that first. I unload with the tanks and the grens. Then assault straight at them, destroying Yonung and his team.

TURN 6

Grens move up and get out to seize the objective in the Allied deployment zone.

Czech's lose 2 tanks in sustained fire from the German emplacements

Czech's roll up to the allied objective, stopping short a quick victory by the Germans

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED Loon Combat PLT 2: 2x Commando Team Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED. Rotny Combat PLT 1: 1x T-34/85 Rotny Combat PLT 2: 1x T-34/85	KG VonThrock 1 Mortar Spotter Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher Div Support 2: 1x 8.8

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Our third british commando company shows up and starts to rush over to the objective. They're not going to make it in time but at least the Tankovy will. We shoot down range but dice just aren't going our way this game. KG VonThrock: Time to get aggressive. I move my second panzer grean company up to their undefended objective. This will force them to move at least one of the two Tankovy company's away from the main line of dug in Grens on my left. The Panthers and lone 88 open up on the Tankovy bailing 3 and killing 2.

TURN 7

German combined arms take their toll on the Czech's and British

Tactical situation at the end of turn 7

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED Loon Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED. Rotny Combat PLT 1: 4x T-34/85 Rotny Combat PLT 2: 1x T-34/85	KG VonThrock 1 Mortar Spotter Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher Div Support 2: 1x 8.8

TURN 7 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: That was rough, Throck's shooting tore up both of our armies. But we Czech's and Brit's are known for our determination, so we'll keep in this fight! KG VonThrock: Time to get my grens at the allied objective out of the firing line. They mount up and head back to the safety of the fields behind them. PaK 40's arrive and start to close in on the T-34's near the allied objective. Most importantly, my shooting really strikes home this turn eliminating all but one in the Tankovy Comany AND the knocking out the commando platoon putting pressure on my objectives.

TURN 8

Panthers move in for the kill on the remaining T-34's

British Artillery Strikes home

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED Loon Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED. Rotny Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED Rotny Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED Rotny HQ: DESTROYED	KG VonThrock 1 Mortar Spotter Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher Div Support 2: 1x 8.8 Combat PLT 2: 1x MG stand 1x Track

TURN 8 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Rotny fails his command test and the Czechs flee! This leaves the plucky brits alone to move up and defend their objective. They, too are under the threat of one die roll ending the game. But british artillery scores a half track and an infantry stand from the second panzer gren platoon. KG VonThrock: Before I do anything else I want to reduce those last tanks. My 8.8 takes out the final one from the left tankovy company and the combined fire of my Panthers and PaK 40's score 2 kills on the right Tankovy company.

TURN 9

Germans move in on the objective

Battlefield at the end of the game.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED Loon Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED. Rotny Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED Rotny Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED Rotny HQ: DESTROYED	KG VonThrock 1 Mortar Spotter Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher Div Support 2: 1x 8.8 Combat PLT 2: 1x MG stand 1x Track

TURN 9 SUMMARY

Combined Rotny Loon Forces: At the top of their half of the turn Loon fails the commando command check and the game ends. KG VonThrock: All of my boys mount up and head in for the Objective. It's time to cement this thing.

I think the most important lesson we learned here is that two 1000 point lists is not necessarily the equal of 1 2000 point list. Next time we do team games like this I think we'll need to allow one person to be the "HQ/mandatory" half of the points and free the other player up with some looser restrictions. Luckily, fun was had by all and many lessons were learned along the way.

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