I finally got to play the French in "Counterstroke at Stonne." I've played the Deutschies 3 times now and really wanted a go at the Frogs. My analysis rambles so if you're not in the mood, hit the D key now!
My opponent set up with 3 squads, 2 lmg and the 9-1 in the chateau; 2 squads, the hmg, and the 9-2 in the 3rd level hex on board 3. The remaining squads were spread out in the woods near the chateau. The 37L ATG was hidden in a building on the French right deep on bd 6. The 75* INF was hidden in some woods on "the grounds of the chateau property."
I split my massive force into a large attack group (22 squads, 8 tanks) to invest the chateau from my right, and a small diversionary group (6 squads, 2 tanks, 4 lg. trucks) to drive up the road on my left. Turn 1 saw mostly movement, but I did get a lucky roll that fried an opposing 2-4-8. My tanks were moved up as close to the German infantry as possible. Turn 2 saw some heat. A lucky sniper roll and my best leader (9-1) was history. I rushed the woods on the right and had some broken squads to fix up, but I did get a bunch of guys into close combat that locked up the right and eventually saw me successful after 1.5 game turns. Meanwhile, one of my heavy tanks got lucky and blasted a StuG into flames in a location that hindered the HMG from pressing heavily on my right flank. Another heavy tank was engaged in a gun duel with a StuG that lasted for 3 GAME turns. The StuG finally attempted to withdraw but mistakenly forgot about my 75* HE shot on his side armor. The StuG lost. By turn 4 I had pressed my tanks deeply into the right flank where I was surprised by the hidden ATG (butt shot on the Char1-bis in a bore-sighted hex!). I was looking at a sure problem when my opponent rolled BOXCARS and malfed the gun! I didn't need a second invitation. I destroyed the 37L ATG, 37L HT, and another 37L ATG on the hilltop. By now my opponent had only 1 37L ATG and one 37L HT left. He still had some firepower and had the intact HMG and chateau. Turn 6 comes in with a roar, I blow away the units (they broke) in the chateau with 2 heavy tanks and the third unit is locked in melee with a measly 1-2-7 tank crew. My other heavies blast away at the HMG and break the 9-2 leader (and effectively improve my movement situation). I move into the chateau and my opponent resigns.
ANALYSIS:
Am I right in thinking that the chateau is the focal point for the scenario? Another opponent once felt that skirting the chateau would win the game. The building is worth 7 of the 16 VP. Every time I've played it as the Germans I've put at least 4 squads, 2 lmg, 9-1, AND the 75* INF therein. This is probably the minimum number to be in the building! The woods (especially on the French right) are just too difficult to defend against a strong French player. The woods are also difficult to launch an attack from if the HMG is active.
As the French, has anyone attacked up the road on the left? Depending on the setup, this seems to have many possibilities. The trucks can transport many squads to good locations on the left. As a diversion it worked well as the 2 tanks prevented use of the road to the Germans and the squads supported the tanks from lurking infantry. In retrospect, I might have been able to get to better cover had I launched the entire attack up the left, but the HMG is quite dangerous in this scenario.
USELESS GRIPES:
Why don't the Char1-bis have SMOKE? Bloody things could use it in this scenario. Had to rely on burning trucks and enemy halftracks to provide cover! ;-) What's this about the StuG having to roll for AP! Bloody things could use it in this scenario, too!
Jeffrey Shields
> ANALYSIS: Am I right in thinking that the chateau is the focal point
for
> the scenario? Another opponent once felt that skirting the chateau
would
> win the game. The building is worth 7 of the 16 VP. Every time
I've
> played it as the Germans I've put at least 4 squads, 2 lmg, 9-1,
AND the
> 75* INF therein. This is probably the minimum number to be in
the
> building! The woods (especially on the French right) are just too
>
difficult to defend against a strong French player. The woods are also
>
difficult to launch an attack from if the HMG is active.
The chateau is important, but the French DO have to get past it. It's quite vulnerable, too, once the B1-bises get parked two hexes away and start blasting. I did this about a week ago as the French and they forced the Germans to keep retreating (within the building, of course) until I finally tied them up in melee in the last hex of the chateau.
> As the French, has anyone attacked up the road on the left? Depending
on
> the setup, this seems to have many possibilities. The trucks can
transport
> many squads to good locations on the left. As a diversion it
worked well
> as the 2 tanks prevented use of the road to the Germans and
the squads
> supported the tanks from lurking infantry. In retrospect, I
might have
> been able to get to better cover had I launched the entire
attack up the
> left, but the HMG is quite dangerous in this scenario.
I sent about 8 squads up that road (and the woods along both sides, for the infantry), plus three B1-bises and a Hotchkiss. In fact, I consider this the key to my win. Once that flank crumbles (and it will under the weight of three B1-bis tanks!), the Germans are up a creek, especially if it's only turn 6 when your last ordnance on that side stops functioning... my opponent surrendered at that point, with good reason, since there was nothing stopping me from rolling the tanks up behind the rest of his troops and easily capturing half of the board 3 village. I used the trucks to transport my green squads (two each), since over open ground the first-liners can move just as fast, and they'd be less tempting targets to boot. I think that side of the board is a great place to use the trucks.
> USELESS GRIPES: Why don't the Char1-bis have SMOKE? Bloody things
could
> use it in this scenario. Had to rely on burning trucks and enemy
>
halftracks to provide cover! ;-) What's this about the StuG having to roll
>
for AP! Bloody things could use it in this scenario, too!
Smoke would be nice, but then I think this would be a walkover for the French.
IMHO, the StuGs should RARELY fire AP in this scenario. My opponent tried duelling a B1-bis with one, and it just didn't work. Although he DID get a lucky Shock result at one point by area firing at my B1-bis, the B1-bis recovered... all it did was tie up the StuG and accomplished little else. Since the StuGs have a couple armor leaders which will probably be in them, they should be off killing all that Frog infantry (which is the REAL key for the Germans, IMHO). On the other hand, if you have an opportunity for a point blank side shot, the AP isn't so bad. At one point, my opponent charged a couple B1-bises which were facing the wrong way with one of his StuGs, and I had to Intensive Fire to score the kill or risk the loss of a B1-bis to a point blank AP shot. Luckily I got it.
Doug Gibson