Across the Aller, Time on Target 24
I got a chance to play a game with my one-time mentor over the weekend, Richard Cornwell of the List, visiting from Oz. Richard is mainly responsible for getting me into this damned game in the first place (with a little help from my buddy Pooch) back when we both lived in the U.K. My record against him was 2-14 when he left London, but despite my stinking play he still took the time to help me improve my game.

We chose Across the Aller because it looked weird and fun - the Brits are attempting a river crossing on board 40, having already established a small bridgehead, while the defenders are a pack of crap Hungarians (ELR 0) armed to the teeth. The British have a bunch of boats and a somewhat limited setup area; the Hungarians can set up anywhere on their side of the river, and on board 43. The VCs require the British to take five stone buildings across the river (there are nine in total) and have ten Good Order MMC at game end.

My Hungarians enjoyed a lot of toys - two HMGs, an MMG, four LMGs, two 50mm MTRs, a couple 'schrecks, 24 AP Mine factors, and five foxholes. I set up basically conceding buildings 40EE1 and 43I1, and put a concealed squad in 43B3 with the always popular 'Die In Place' assignment. I set up the rest of my troops with the intent to deny the application of British firepower while still interdicting the copious open ground he would have to cross to get the rest of his buildings. I placed a Foxhole(FH)/LMG/squad combo in 43L9, with a FH/HMG/squad/9-1 in 43L10, where it could shoot down the L hexrow and still be out of LOS of most Brit covering fire. My two mortars went in 43M3 and 43M4, where they covered the J0/J1/I2 woods as well as the 40U1/43N0 hexes. The second HMG went in a FH in 40S2, directed by a 7-0. This guy was likely to be promptly SMOKEd, but I was hoping to lay a FL out which would be just as effective as a regular HMG shot (IFT attacks on Boats are halved - the HMG goes to 2, as does the 4 FP FL). This stack was backed up by a concealed squad in 40R1. The MMG was in 43P1, backed by FH/'schreck teams in P2 and O3, and a LMG team in P3. The balance of my troops were in the farmhouse compound, with LMGs in M7 and M9. The bulk of my forces were out of LOS from Richard's starting positions. Finally, I put six Mine points in 40V0, 40 U1, and 40T1, with dummies in all three hexes - a nice reception for any aggressive move through these woods toward P1 and 40R1. The last six Mines went into 43K10, to protect the farm compound's flank.

Richard had sixteen squads to my fifteen, not much of an edge attacking across the open! In FP terms, his squads pumped out 64 points to my 44, but my weaponry offset that. He did, however, have six leaders, including a 9-2, copious LMGs and PIATs, and a 3" MTR to lay Smoke. He chose to attack directly across the river from his setup area, sending most of his forces into the small enclave he had already established. He used Smoke from the mortar to neutralize the S2 HMG, and my FL failed to dent him, as he lost only a HS to the 'clumsy boatmen' SSR. He sent a platoon of his bridgehead forces to attack 43B3, with a unit succumbing to the 1(-1) shots dished out at long range by my LMGs (there is a +1 LV Hindrance in effect beyond two hexes). The rest of his boys were poised to assault the hedge line along rows L and M, and make for the P1 building.

My opening shots weren't too successful, with only a broken squad to show for my own broken (soon malf'd) mortar. However, on turn two I broke his 9-1 and some assault engineers with my remaining mortar, and another 1(-1) shot claimed a 7-0 killed. An intrepid HS discovered the mines along the river, frustrating that axis of attack. In addition, he had a tough time drawing a bead on the HMG in L10, which was dominating the center of the board. My mortar was wreaking havoc in the treeline which formed his jumpoff point. By this time the B3 building had fallen, and Richard was beginning to swing his troops around for a push through the brush against the compound. At this point (turn 3) he moved his 9-2 and a couple of squads into 43I2, braving the mortar. The mortar failed to hit, but the HMG was able to squeak a LOS in, directed by the 9-1. Six ROF shots later, all 6(+1), the 9-2 was dead and only a pinned Elite HS remained.

Up to now I had failed only one MC, that being the disposable squad in B3. Now Richard had to try to take the compound. I drew my MMG back, along with a second squad, and pulled my mortar off the hedge line to 43N3, from where it could hit K9 while out of LOS of his troops. His own mortar was out of Smoke and effectively out of the game. Perhaps I over-weakened the P1 position, because some Brits resumed the assualt there. However, most of these guys died on the hedgeline. The British 9-1 went Heroic, and naturally succumbed to a bad Wound dr on a failed MC. This, plus the discovery of the Mines in K10, took the air out of the attack, and Richard conceded.

In sum, I lost a single squad, the only MC I failed. The worst thing that happened was the malfing of the mortar. Overall, the dice favored me, with a tremendous ROF tear from the 9-1's heavy, and Richard couldn't pass a meaningful MC. The playtest notes suggest the British try to flank the Hungarian position by shifting some of the river-crossing force west, but that is a long, hard way to go, and the Hungarians can still react adequately. I'd like to try this again and see if more even dice make the scenario more even overall. I enjoyed it, but I think it may find it's way into Richard's doghouse. He is a complete gentleman (from Oz no less!) who never curses, but a few of his 'Shucks' and 'Darns' nearly made a wrong turn.

I am now 3-16 against the continent of Australia (including Paul Haseler's two thumpings), so this was a very satisfying win against the guy who taught me this cursed system. Now, thirteen more wins to go to even up the score....

(the other) JR