Oh, well gee, if you insist, maybe I will.
Here is a game I held a week ago at my home. I had only one other player, a buddy named Harold from Colorado, who was an Abrams TC in ODS.
He and I had-at for several hours. We used the Mein Panzer beta update rules, which feature the fast-play of Mein Panzer tank and artillery rules while adding a faster version of squad-based infantry rules. I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did.
Our scenario took place in the French Alps in June of 1940. The Italians had crossed the boarder, and were advancing rapidly along the national highway that runs from south to north. The French rushed a blocking force forward to the little village of Peinnin d'Asce, where a rapidly running mountain stream could perhaps serve as the basis for a defensive line.
Each side built a force around a core of an infantry company. The French got a battery of 75mm guns, and the Italians a battery of 100mm howitzers for support. Then each chose a few attachements from a set of "available units".
The French received an AOP, equipped with a land-line field phone, and a company CO with a couple vehicles. They also got to choose from a platoon of R35 tanks, a platoon of Panhard 178 AMD35 armored cars, two 25mm ATGs with emplacements, and a few heavy MGs with emplaced positions. The French player (Harold) was limited to 20 stands total, not counting off-board arty, emplacements for ATGs and HMGs, or the two transports of the headquarters.
The Italians received an AOP with a radio, and had a choice from up to two platoons of L3/35s, a platoon of L11/39s, a company command tank (either L3/35 or L11/39), a section of Ansaldo AB-40 armored cars, two 47mm ATGs, or several HMGs. The Italian player (me) was limited to 25 stands total, not counting off-board arty and transports for all units.
Either of us could trade away a few of the infantry stands to enable us to stay under our limit while completing a formation of attachments. Both knew what the other had to choose from, yet neither really knew what the opposition would have as we came onto the battlefield.
As with all my games, we started with "chits", and only placed the models on the table as they were spotted under the rules.
Here is our story...
This is Peinnin d'Asce, in a long alpine valley of rolling meadows and scattered woods, as seen from the North. This is where the French chose to set-up their first line of defense. The stream here is rocky and fast running, and can not be forded. There are stone levy walls around the stream where it passes the village mill and goes under the main road bridge. The national highway is the only paved road, entering from the NW on the near side, running up to the village, across the mill bridge, and then down straight to the S towards Italy. Most of the village is on the S side of the stream. There is a small wooden bridge about 1 Km W of the mill bridge. This structure serves the farm carts of the locals, but can not be relied upon to carry heavy vehicle traffic.
Here is the Italians' view, from the S. The French have arrived, but have not had time to prepare extensive positions. At least that's what the Italians hope...
Here come the Italians up the national highway.
When using chits to keep the gamers "blind", this is the most nerve-wracking part of the game. Both sides are beginning to jockey for position. The French are spread wide, and can be seen moving a screen forward over both bridges. The Italians are staying on the road, at least for now. Neither side knows what types of units the other has, and both have blank chits, so all players are feeling hungry for real information about now.
The French, with the advantage of positions on the high grounds to the N, start to spot the Italians as they come up the road.
But gee, its a long way! What IS that little thing over there?
Well, it's a little thing! An Italian L3/35 tankette, to be precise. Whipping up the road at a pretty healthy clip.
Around the bend and into the town proper, and whoops! We have contact! Seems that chit that moved across the bridge at a leisurely infantry-pace was not an infantry unit at all, but a Panhard!
POP! A quick shot rings out. No one knows exactly where that little projectile went, but if the Pan-pan hit anything, it was probably a few Km behind the L3. Or maybe the gun just mis-fired? Anyways, no harm, no foul, right?
Well... no. The Italians don't seem to be in a forgiving mood. Twin 8mm MGs lay in to the Panhard, and in a hail of bullets the French crew is suppressed and their vehicle is immobilized. I think maybe the driver had his direct-vision block open, and caught one in the face or something.
More to come in the following posts...