May 28th Game Day in Chatsworth AAR

We had seven members for the May edition of our SoCalASL Game Day at All Ways Gaming in Chatsworth.

Eric Visnowski and Sal Palaez' Germans narrowly defeated Dave Nicholas' French in “Panzers Forward”.

James Quinn's Americans and Ed Esparza's Germans fought to a draw in “The T-Patchers”.

And I took the Germans against Dave (DL) Lewis' Slovak/Partisans in “Rebels Without a Pause”. I had played this one before, so I gave DL his choice of sides, and he decided to take the attacking Slovakians. The Germans get a mixed quality infantry company, with a 50L AT Gun, 20L AA Gun, and a 37L flak truck in support, to defend a cluster of stone buildings with a stream along one flank. The Slovaks get a full, well led infantry company that includes some assault engineers with DC's, supported by three excellent 38t tanks. They also get a flanking force of well-led Partisans that enters on one of the first three turns, depending on which of three VC's the Slovak player chooses. This scenario shows even in the ROAR, but I knew from my previous playing that its a tough attack, and DL would have his hands full.

I set up my 4-6-7/MMG/8-1 in one of the only level 2 building hexes, where they could hit the entry hex to the bridge over the stream, and cover many of the Slovak approaches. I HIP'd two half squads, one each at first level in two of the victory buildings. I set up a strong MLR to face off the Slovakians, which I saw as the more dangerous threat. I put the 50L gun in the middle of it, figuring DL would commit the tanks there to try to break it. I put the 20L in the rear, in a position to cover the exit from the stream where I knew the Partisans would come through, backed by the Flak truck and a 4-6-7/LMG with the 7-0 to run up on the rear hill and provide additional support for this rear coverage.

DL made a good try of it. He moved his Slovakians along the stream, which was a slow go, but an unexpected and protected approach that, I mush say, was a clever move. I was able to shift to the right and eventually checked this attack around the bridge, and the 50L was able to kill one tank and force the other two up to the German right. DL's attack with his Partisans got cut up trying to get to the stream, where I was able to use long-range fire from the Flak truck and 4-6-7/LMG to break them up as they moved forward. With time running out, we called this one a German win. DL and I had a lot of fun with this one. It's a good scenario, and we both thought it was pretty balanced. The multiple VC's give it decent replay potential. But 3-3-7's and 3-4-7's attacking into stone buildings against even a mediocre German force is a tall order. The Slovakians have the tools to get it done, but it is the German's scenario to lose in my opinion.

We had a *perfect* lunch out on the patio at San Carlo Deli, enjoying the fine combination of excellent Italian food and beautiful weather. The survivors retired to The Habit for our traditional late dinner. All in all, it was an awesome and highly enjoyable day!