Well my first game with Platoon Forward saw my German Company tasked with capturing a prisoner during a combat patrol against the french lines. Moreover only two platoons were allocated for the task. Support came in the form of one HMG from the company support platoon and Battalion HQ laid on a pre planned mortar strike.
The scenario required my troops to engage the french for at least four turns, inflict casualties and capture some prisoners.
I chose 1st and 3rd platoons commanded by URTZ and GUNTER respectively.
The French forces were placed as blinds, there are three types A,B and C. Blinds A will likely be an infantry section, blinds B could be heavy weapons and blinds C could be HQs or even armour. This allows you to set up a credible defence but not know exactly what you will face.
Next I diced for pre game events, luck was on my side with Gung Ho, company morale was high. This increased my chances of motivating my troops to engage in close assault.
Table seen from the German side, French units are dug in.
The artillery strike was planned on the right flank in front of the villa extending to the field.
Move 1
The strike was on target, killing one rifle stand and pinning the rest.
One section assaulted the pinned troops in the scrub killing another rifle stand and pushing the rest back.
The section captured some wounded French left in the scrub ( Result ).
In the centre a fire fight ensued with the dug in French section losing out to two German sections in the woods. However one French rifle stand hung in preventing any advance by the Germans.
Two French HMGs, one each side of the road poured fire on the German units but to no avail.
After four turns I retired my Platoons off the board having lost just one rifle stand, the French had lost two full sections.
The HMGs protecting the road.
A Major victory!
After action events make good my losses with replacements from Battalion HQ and the promise of an extra weapons team on our next outing.
Did Platoon Forward work?
1: The differing blinds allowed a credible defence and actually worked very well. Not knowing exactly what would the blind would represent but having knowledge of the probable units.
2: Any decision for the German force was helped by having a personality for the platoon commanders.
3: Random events anything from reserves to leadership tests add uncertainty.
Thumbs up for our first outing.
Next Blog I think I will layout my German company OOB.
