Race For The Rhine: Part 4 - Round 2 Results & Round 3 Fixtures

.Round 2 commenced with a much more even spread of results.  In the first cluster of battles there was a top of the table clash between Aidans British rifle company and Ben’s SS Panzergrenadiers.  This finished almost predictably in a draw, and with barely 150 points and one platoon lost per side questions will be asked about a lack of fighting spirit!  This allowed both Red’s Armoured Recce and James Underwoods tank destroyer company to leapfrog them; the latter by battering Ian’s panzerkompanie in an ideal matchup for their guns – the first to fire won, and the yanks managed it.  The former couldn’t get past my (Rick’s) pioneers and Brumbarrs and had to settle for a 3-3 draw.  Blue Team Dave also found success against armour, with his infantry getting the better of Paul’s British Guards platoons.  Finally David’s panzers pulled off a coup by right royally rolling over Andy’s US para’s with no casualties of their own.

Onto the second cluster, and with three battles in play it was down to Dennis’ tanks to give the Germans the early advantage; racking up a big victory over Lukes sorry US paras, before Pete ensured honours were even by capitulating to Martins Yankees.  With no sign of James Taylor it was down to Pete to gamely step into the breach once more and face Phil, managing a marginally better result, although the less said about the participating armies the better – the Canadians receiving a letter from the Wehrmacht which read; “We vun, 5-2”.  While the Germans received a leaflet drop and a can of who-hash from some Russians….

Tables & Fixtures

All these shenanigans leaves Phil (close your eyes if your of a nervous disposition) top, and the tables looking as they do below.  The Germans, after a promising start, were reeled in and only succeeded in cutting 2 victory points from the Allies lead.  The matchups for Round 3 then were straightforward and are as follows.  Games to be completed by the end of play Thursday 7^th February please.

Allies	Axis
Phil	Ben
Red	Dennis
Martin	David Astbury
James Underwood	Blue Team Dave
Aidan	Rick
Luke	James Taylor
Paul	Ian Shaw
Andy	Pete

Player	Company	Round 2	Average % Loss	Points Total
Phil	Canadian Assault Infantry	5	10	10
Red Pendrigh	Guards Armoured Recce Company	3	0	9
Martin	US Armour (?)	6	4.9	9
James Underwood	US Tank Destroyer Company	5	29	9
Aidan Holman	British Rifle Company	2	3.4	8
Ben	SS Panzergrenadier Kompanie	2	4.3	8
Dennis	Panzer Kompanie	6	16.5	7
David Astley	Panzer Kompanie	6	14.6	7
Blue Team Dave	SS Panzergrenadierkampfgruppe	5	15.5	7
Luke	US Parachute Rifle Company	1	6.5	6
Paul	Guards Armoured Squadron	2	21	6
Rick Andrews	Panzergrenadier Kompanie	3	27	6
James Taylor	Grenadier Kompanie	2	62.5	5
Ian Shaw	Panzer Kompanie	2	72.7	4
Andy Canham	US Parachute Rifle Company	1	13.6	2
Pete Derrick	SS Panzergrenadier Kompanie	1	25.9	2
Position	Company	Round 2	Average % Loss	Points Total
Phil	Canadian Assault Infantry	5	10	10
Red	Guards Armoured Recce Company	3	0	9
Martin	US Armour (?)	6	4.9	9
James Underwood	US Tank Destroyer Company	5	29	9
Aidan	British Rifle Company	2	3.4	8
Luke	US Parachute Rifle Company	1	6.5	6
Paul	Guards Armoured Squadron	2	21	6
Andy	US Parachute Rifle Company	1	13.6	2
Position	Company	Round 2	Average % Loss	Points Total
Ben	SS Panzergrenadier Kompanie	2	4.3	8
Dennis	Panzer Kompanie	6	16.5	8
David Astbury	Panzer Kompanie	6	14.6	7
Blue Team Dave	SS Panzergrenadierkampfgruppe	5	15.5	7
Rick	Panzergrenadier Kompanie	3	27	6
James Taylor	Grenadier Kompanie	2	62.5	5
Ian Shaw	Panzer Kompanie	2	72.7	4
Pete	SS Panzergrenadier Kompanie	1	25.9	2

This months battle reports:

Blue Team Dave and his panzergrenadiers against Pauls British Guards Armour:

Dust Up.Paul deployed his one infantry around one of his base objectives and positioned his mortars guarding his other defensive objective. His tanks lined up for the race over his hills, past the trees and into the village objective where my infantry were dug in. My Luffwaffe 88s were in trees holding my second defensive objective. There was not much on the board to start with, with most units being held in reserve.
1st turn we forgot to roll for reserves, but we suggested that we both rolled badly. His aircraft ripped into my AA 88s, destroying one. Also took out 3 of my 4 mortars... Least I had one 88 left. Stupid 3+ firepower rolls, and scoring nothing higher than a 2... I didn't move. Just dug in deeper.Second turn no reserves turned up. Paul's one aircraft was hit this time. Tanks approaching to the tree line but just out of range to hit my infantry in the village.Third turn Paul's reserve turned up. The 4 strong tank unit then proceeded to pummel the village. No casualties were reported. The Panzerschrek team lay in wait. With tanks getting in behind where I wanted them, Baron Von Fluckveesel turned up. 3 shemans exploded. They were in the open but still rolled to range in. Forgot about targets in the open are auto ranged in by aircraft. Oh well, shouldn't be a problem. Still no reserves of mine had turned up. Fourth turn, Paul's aircraft once again targets my 88. AA is ineffective, matching the skill of the pilot. No casualties were reported. One 4 strong tank unit had skulked along his table edge and now joined in the firing upon the village. No casualties were reported. His final tank unit of 3 were just making their way around the tree line towards the middle of the table. One exploded.A reserve had finally shown up. It was my Tiger 1E. Rolled on behind his 3 strong unit. His rearmost tank was engulfed in flames. Village and 88 in the wood just cowered and hoped it would all be over soon. The screech of a stuka sounded overhead of the 4 strong tank unit in the open. I failed to range in. Damn, it did come back to haunt me...Fifth turn and his single unit tank platoon (the other 3 still burning), not wanting to become a casualty to stukas moved towards the village. ***SOON***The very fortunate to be alive unit of 4 tanks did the same. Just to remove the chance of me hitting them. The shermans decided to take the Tiger on. Long story short. Tiger won.With the tiger approaching his tanks, the infantry unit made a dash to assist... Oh... And the single tank. Well, the Panzerschrek failed it's firepower test, but the unit fled as there were more units destroyed than in action. Turn 6 and his 4 strong sherman unit managed to kill an infantry team in the village. Well done. No aircraft turned up. A sherman tried in vain to take on a Tiger, or perhaps trying to take it's attention from the piat team approaching... Reserves!! I got a reserve!! GP PanzerPioneers. With flamers!! Paul's infantry were perilously close to my Tiger, which was near to the board edge. Some flaming later my Pioneers wiped out his infantry unit. Wiped out. Full assault and everything. At the end of turn 6 Paul had some mortars and a unit of 4 shermans pounding the village. I had lost my 88s protecting the forest objective, some mortar carriers and an infantry team or two.Turn 7 the rest of my reserves turned up and I rolfstomped to the objective. The reserves managed to get in behind his thrust and take the unguarded objective.

Aidan’s British Rifle Company against Ben’s high flying Germans:

Meanwhile, on the next table...

...Das Reichland was getting to know the Kings Shropshire Light infantry in an Encounter.


The Objectives were largely on the right of the deployment zone, and a layered defense was arrayed around them with overlapping fields of fire and well entrenched machine guns and AT weapons, with everything supporting everything else. A probing attack was made up the woods on the left which had the daunting task of unpicking the enemy defense and trying to find a weak spot. As the scattered reserves arrived they were moved up to support the attack on the left/defenses on the right. A platoon was lost due to a somewhat hopeful miscalculation but the enemy defense proved too tough to crack. After 9 turns no headway had been made at all

Read this paragraph twice, once in an English accent, and then again in a German accent. Seriously, thats how close it was and how evenly matched we were!

2vps each

David’s Panzer Kompanies stunning victory over Lukes Para’s:

Die americanische Fallshirmjagergruppe Cranham ist durch den Deutschen Panzergruppe Astbury zerstoert worden.

Ein Sherman Panzer platoon und ein Platoon Fallshirmjager sind tot. Die Deutsche haben keine Manner verloren. 

Seig Punkten 6-1 

Seig Heil Schweinhund.

  

Pete’s SS-Panzergrenadier Kompanie falling on their own swords against Martins US Armour

Mein Fuehrer I am pleased to report that your loyal troops from the Hitlerjugend did not give an inch of ground despite the fierce onslaught of the Americans. My infantry platoon held the objective for some considerable time despite having to face most of the firepower of two American Tank platoons and supporting half tracks with infantry. All of my artillery and tank forces concentrated their fire on the foremost American tank platoon but our visibility was so hampered by the debris and smoke that we made little impression on the enemy tanks. The Tiger tanks sent to support us soon fell victim to the American aircraft and superior American tanks. I am pleased to report that all of my artillery is intact and that the objective was only lost when the last of my infantry platoon fell to the assault by the Americans. These brave boys sacrificed themselves that the rest of the company could be preserved and fight once again for our beloved fuehrer. For those who do not count victory by glory alone, for our defence was glorious indeed, the Americans claimed a 6 - 1 victory. Our losses; an infantry platoon who will soon be replaced by eager new recruits, and a platoon of tiger tanks which is no real loss as these tank crews did not have the fighting capability expected of the men of the Hitlerjugend.

Heil!