Dave popped over to OHQ today, I chose a game of Chain of Command, I used scenario two, The Probe. To win the Soviet force had to move one team to the German base line, this meant that the Germans had to cover their entire front, at least initially to ascertain the direction of the Soviet attack. The Soviet thrust began on the left, the Germans countered this with two squads covering the road and the flank to the side of it, one squad was left off table to counter any Soviet threat on the right. They also left the panzerschrek team in reserve ready to counter any Soviet AFV, sure enough the Soviets sent a squad out on the right, although the main attack was going to be on the left this had to be countered by deploying the remaining German squad to head them off and stop them reaching the table edge. Two Soviet squads kept the Germans under fire on the left and centre left, they eventually brought up a SU76 in support. The German squad on the left was eventually broken, emboldened by this the SU76 ventured in to sight of the corn field, the Germans had a full Chain of Command dice, now was the time to deploy the panzerschrek, AMBUSH! and KABOOM! the SU76 with four net hits went up in a ball of smoke. Meanwhile the Soviet squad over on the right made a bold move upon the Germans entrenched their, but the firepower of the MG42 and rifle team broke their advance, this and the loss of the SU76 saw the Soviet morale start to plummet. With the Germans in the corn field now gone and the German squad in the woods occupied and the other over on the right, now they made a dash for they base line. They were now hindered by being down to three command dice and the Germans were able to get their squad over from the right before they could make it and a sharp melee ensued with the German numbers carrying the day and reducing the Soviet force morale down to 0.
It was a close run thing with the German squad on the right unable to get the message to transfer to the left flank straight away, with a better force morale and more command dice the Soviets could of won, a close run thing.
Not many pics I'm afraid, get so wrapped up in the game these days.
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| The Soviets Deploy In Cover Of The Wheat Field |
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| The Germans Deploy In Cover Of The Copse |
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| Entrenched Germans On The Right Flank |
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| The Soviet Thrust On The Right Is Repulsed |
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| The Soviet Dash For Victory |
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| Oh No You Don't Ivan |
TTFN
A very nice looking game and the report was really fun to read! I can understand how you got caught up in the game. I'm a huge fan of Chain of Command.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thank you Christopher. Indeed CoC has a splendid narrative feel, it leaves 19th century folk like Dave ;~) and folk who just want a "game" a bit cold, but for WWII aficionados I think it is perfect for the level of combat it seeks to portray, glad I persevered with it and that Dave puts up with it.
DeleteSurprisingly my main periods of interest are North America between the F&IW up to the ACW and the Dark Ages. I've had an interest in WWII, but nothing like my friend who is very keen indeed on it, but CoC has really pumped my interest up and reeled me in as it's the first WWII game I've played that just "feels" right.
DeleteChristopher
Looking great sir!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michal.
DeleteA fair assessment of how the game unfolded. As you correctly state, I think CoC is a pile of sh*t, but your house, your rules is how we play so I do my best. But remember, real wargaming is when men with wonderful facial hair stood shoulder to shoulder and shot at each other, none of this sneaking about in wheat fields with vastly over powered missiles!
ReplyDeleteThere, there, I won’t make you play again ;~)
DeleteAs I said, it’s your choice and I will do my best as ever. Doesn’t alter the fact that they are a very poor set of rules for the sort of WWII games that interest me. For bigger bashes Rapid Fire2, for smaller actions Bolt Action2.
DeleteI am firmly in the David camp as you know, however I enjoyed the report. I am playing fantasy tonight rather than 'What a Tanker' :)
ReplyDeleteFantasy! I doubt even Dave would go that far to avoid TFL stuff :~)
DeleteAs you well know we play SP2 from time to time for the F&IW. I would even consider Gnomes and Fairies games more like Wargames than CoC.
DeleteHooray! You will play Red Book of the Elf King then?
DeleteDidn't like the game and WaT still had no kills after two and a half hours!
Delete2.5 hours! Sounds like it needed an ambush with a panzerschreck.
DeleteHo Ho Ho!😉
DeleteNice looking game.....although I would have liked a photo of the SU76 in action ! As for CoC still need to give it a go...but still obsessed with ACW at the moment 🙂
ReplyDeleteIt didn’t see much action, it got took out by an intercontinental ballistic missile 💀
ReplyDeleteACW is a bit like that, it just has that charm about it, if you like BP, the ACW supplement is great, it takes all the vanilla away and you don’t have to use all the suggested rule changes or additions to do it.
96 Dice as I recall needing 1+ to hit and saving on a 7! 🎲🎲🎲
DeleteYes but only saving with one dice not the three you have there😀
DeleteSee above 😉
DeleteLooks like a good good game although I feel sorry for the Soviets, clearly not sufficiently motivated,send for the commisar!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you Iain, it was very close, another phase of delay for the Germans and they would have made it.
DeleteGreat looking game Phil! I have to agree about CoC. Lots of friction, fun and head scratching. I took maybe two or three photos of all the games we had... I simply forgot to 😅
ReplyDeleteThank you Nick.
Delete