A few weeks ago, we played our third and final game of Chain of Command for the week. This time, we decided to play on a larger table and raised the support points for the attacking force, which today was a Platoon of New Zealanders with supporting armour.
The New Zealanders’ mission consisted of capturing two objectives: the first was to capture the bridge and secure a small bridgehead over the river, and the second was to capture the town. The German mission was to secure the town and hold it at all costs.
Once the patrol phase finished, the New Zealand infantry platoon moved across the LD and started advancing towards the bridge. The first section quickly deployed into a compound and set up a strong defensive position just opposite the bridge. The next two sections then cautiously moved towards a small ford, hoping to outflank the German defense positions in and around the town.
However, the German commander soon deployed his platoon, placing one section into a strong overwatch position of the ford, a second section into a large two-story building and also in overwatch, and the final section was deployed to secure and safe reserve position. The next phase saw the New Zealanders, having two platoons (one infantry and the other mixed tanks and light reconnaissance vehicles), move their tanks into positions that would provide good fire support for the supporting infantry…or so they thought.
However, our game ebbed and flowed for the next few phases, seeing the New Zealanders cross the river with two rifle sections only to come under direct fire from the German infantry and an Infantry gun. One of the rifle sections broke and retreated off the field after taking several casualties and a large amount of shock, and then the second section broke, but only after the Germans charged across the road and into hand-to-hand combat.
On the other flank, the New Zealanders were able to capture the bridge and slowly sneak a half section of infantry across to occupy the closest building, securing a small bridgehead. But by this time, the New Zealanders ‘ morale was down to 5pts and they had lost 2/3rds of their supporting infantry; it would only take one more push for the Germans to put in a well-directed counter-attack to win the day. However, the real world called, and we had to end the game. The New Zealanders gained a minor victory by securing the first objective. But it was a Pyrrhic Victory.
Well done, Terry and Dave, on your victory, and many thanks to Brian and Jeff for commanding the Germans and holding onto the village.
