Matt turned up for our third game of the second Abbeville campaign. I will not sugar coat this, it was terrible from the British (me) point of view.
The scenario was all wrong, the defenders got the same amount of support as the attackers, 14 points, they started the patrol phase halfway along the table and I was relegated to one corner, so basically my Jump Off Points were together on the table edge, I had got nowhere due to the huge expanse of open ground between me and the German edge.
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| The German edge. |
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| My edge, aaagh! |
I had taken a Vickers MkVIb with a HMG and a Bren carrier and two MMG's, the idea was to put up a wall of lead and grind down the defenders from long range as I could not send infantry to their deaths across No Man's Land, toys or not. I got my machine guns, tank and a squad behind a hedge on and felt good as I knew Matt would be in the trees opposite. Then the Jerries began to turn up, and it was me who started to lose figures with my squad having to hide behind any rock or outcrop to remain alive. I usually got to use three or two command dice due to getting sixes or fives so never had enough to concentrate fire on the bad guys.
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| This will sort them out, not. |
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| Matt's forlorn hope. |
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| Quick, hide lads. |
I then moved another squad and one of the MMG's into the one house facing the enemy, this along with moving my useless tank around meant I really could not muster a decent volley against the Boche. Matt then brought a squad on in an awkward place to tempt me out of my line, fat chance the way the game was going, I picked on this squad with almost everything I had and although sending them packing it took time, too much time. My tank failed miserably to hit or kill anything, even in the open.
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| Heavy metal. |
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| Not so heavy but enough. |
The game descended into both forces at the opposite ends of the table throwing dice and hoping for hits and kills, Matt did far better than me, he had his moments with the dice as well but once his infantry gun and armoured car were deployed I could not match the hurt coming my way. I didn't even have anywhere to bring on a third of my troops where they could survive. I lost a squad, MMG and a Senior leader and gave up as my morale plummeted, along with mine. A good win for Matt nonetheless.
What a complete mess this scenario was, I could have taken a mortar bombardment but shy away from these due to my experience with V1 but in the end you really need one if you are attacking across a completely open battlefield, I will not forget this, oh, and no more Vickers MkVI's, it has been hopeless in every game so far. Do not go near the Abbeville campaigns if you play Chain of Command, unless you are the bad guys.
I just had to get this off my chest, thankfully I have a more upbeat post coming on the heels of this one, more anon.
Looks like a very tough day for you and a good one (again!) for Matt. At least the table is pretty…
ReplyDeleteIt is always good to play against Matt, however the scenario was just pointless for the British, even with better command dice I think I would have struggled to get across that open ground.
DeleteDoesn't sound like the best wargame ever George! I guess that's the downside of refighting real-life actions - to make them realistic, they should probably have a historical outcome, and 1940 France didn't have many bright spots for the Allied cause! Same is true of the Russians during Barbarossa, the Germans after 1944 on all fronts or the Italians from 1935 onwards!
ReplyDeleteA good report nonetheless and the table and figures look superb.
A good point Keith but in a wargame we have to maybe skew reality a bit so that some hope is held by the underdog (me!). Some small campaigns do work but there are a few which are real bummers. The addition of the odd house, wood or wall could make a big difference. Anyway, I am still one up, we will see how the next one goes.
DeleteA shame the scenario made for a poor game, nice looking table though!
ReplyDeleteAll the Abbeville games are pretty much a hard ask for the British, fair enough they were up against it but in designing a wargame there has to be at least some chance of everyone winning. Onwards and upwards Donnie.
DeleteTotally agree, there is a trade off between historical accuracy and playability that needs to be taken in to account, but haven't played this campaign so not commenting on this one specifically.
DeleteThe first game was a British win, the second only just and see above for the third. We will see what happens in the fourth.
DeleteAlways a fine setup George but I have to agree the scenario wasn’t well balanced and was always going to be super tough for the British especially when the command dice aren’t in your favour.
ReplyDeleteSuch is war Matt as the Frenchies say.
DeleteA tough one that George, realistic outcome maybe but game wise most frustrating.I noticed you didn't put any smoke down?
ReplyDeleteI didn’t manage to get my mortar on the table Phil, or my damn machine guns to do their job.
DeleteOof - that didn't sound very fun mate. I seem to recall V1 mortar bombardments being really annoying as the recipient. Are V2 ones as effective at pinning down stuff?
ReplyDeleteThe second barrages are not as game changing but are still very useful tools.
DeleteCertainly not a great time for the good guys….
ReplyDeleteHopefully the dice gods will look more kindly on you in the next game…
All the best. Aly
It was a desperate game Aly, not a lot of fun apart from playing against Matt.
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