Through Oder with the 1st Army part 2: The Battle - AAR nr 1

      In the last post I gave outline of the campaign and scenario so now the first game itself.           Support roll showed that each of us would get 2 points. I was leading German side and chose Panzerknacker* team for my mere 2 point support while Sarmor playing the Polish  has chosen Maxim MMG and Pre game barrage for his sum of 5.

 We started patrol phase from oposite corners and while Polish patrols went further  I ended up with better positions.

First 2 phases went to Poland and Sarmor managed to place all of his forces on the table and moved very aggressively against my deployment points. but then iI rolled 2 consecutive phases and with very lucky rolling for preliminary barrage managed to put two of my squads in. One in the middle... 

 ..and the second on ambushing Telamonov squad in the open behind the embankment. In orgy of machine gun fire Katshmareks squad almost wiped out Telamonof druzinha schreading unfortunate sergeant with bullets.

After two phases of machine gun fire Telamonov (Ex Telamonov by now) Squad break and fled.

 Unshaken by Telaomonv sudden demise Sarmorov charged rest of his men forward taking deep plunge into my right flank. But this time much more cautious. His men were crouching and hoping from cover to cover. Fast learner Sarmorov was..

 Maxim team took position on the embankment and started to inflict heavy casualties on victorious Katshmarek.

 But it was to late for realisation of a flaw in Sarmorow plans as whole German platoon concentrated fire on lonely MMG. Then I used my CoC dice to end turn which removed last two men of Telamonov squad from the table (and inflicted another blow for Polish morale.

Next phase saw pinning MMG team and wounding of its commanding sergeant. That put Polish morale at 5.

 Then fate turned and two full squads on the right flank started to put concentrated fire at Stompf squad in the forest fast piling both shock and dead and wounded.

 In last resort of initiative Stompf Squad killed MMG officer and loader breaking the remaining crewman. But then another round of deadly fire of Rzączikov squad - Sergeant Rzączikov unhappy with his men accuracy took Digtariev LMG himself and shown the squad how to use it - break it and sent to flight for safety.

 Katshmarek while being on the far left flank and out of the fray saw opportunity and used which resulted in his Iron Cross II class just after the battle. He charged through hasty Polish positions behind Embankment and captured lonely wandering helplessly MMG crewman. That put Polish at 3 morale and allowed my to deny one of their deploy points (i chosen further one)

 Meanwhile feldfebel Prusser ran his squad the the forest deserted by Stopmf squad, but took some heavy fire from Xardasov hidden in the clump of hazel resulting in casualties..

 Before he reached position his squad accumulated a lot of shock and lost 3 men..

 Meanwhile Katchmarek took lonely survivor prisoner and secured positions (lowering Polish morale to mere 1 point), then moved to last remaining deployment point

 Germans managed to deploy their support asset which started to shoot in the direction of Rzączikov but without much of success..

 But Katshmarek saved the day completely cutting of the Poles from the Oder and breaking their morale.

A we forgot to take photos from longer perspective i created a little map with movements.

Victory for the Germany but..
I lost 16 man from my platoon in the process..
That means that I will play next game with only 18 men.. and 4 men will return from the first aid point after the second game. So it seems I got carried on too far...

I should fight from much further safer positions. But Sarmor managed to come really close with his 2 squads and concentrate fire power on my.
Some sweetens was instant Iron cross for Katshmarek after the game. He deserved it.. Captain took his own and put it on brave feldfebel.

After the game Polish side lost 8 Dead 2 broken and fled and one in the captivity (but only 8 dead came form the Platoon itself.)
But when we checked what happens with cut off squads results were a little more equal.
poles lost 4 captured including Sergeant Xardasov and 9 delayed (unable to participate in another campaign turn while stranded and lost. So Sarmor decided to use one of his 2 Platoon swaps and send the first platoon to the rest.

As its one side ladder I automatically gave up the initiative (and get one free trench for a next game as I strengthen my defences) as a , but now I consider moving back for better position and some more trenches!!

See you next game !

* fair question on historical accuracy is - Do Germans used Pancerknacker teams in shape given by CoC rulebook in 1945, I don't have definite information anyway, but they used many LMG team in the defensive so it will count as one