May 25th Game Day in Chatsworth AAR

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

Dave Nicholas' Germans defeated Mike Soffa's Russians in “The Meatgrinder”.

Dave Lewis and Sal Pelaez' Germans defeated Dan Platcha's Americans in “Display of Enthusiasm”.

And Dave Rosner took the attacking Germans against my defending Russians in “Obian Highway”. I've played this one a couple of times, and I think it's a really a great scenario. A reinforced company of Germans supported by three PzIV's and a couple of PzIII-L's have to capture three multi-hex buildings in the center of board 53. The Russians get a couple of platoons of infantry, supported by a dug-in T-70 and a 45L AT Gun. On turn 2 they are reinforced by a platoon of 5-2-7's, couple of Lend-Lease Valentine VIII's and a couple of T34-M43's.

Dave came on quickly but carefully, making excellent use of SD's, and Smoke from his PzIVF-1. In fact, there were no casualties for either side through turn 3. That changed on turn 4, when Dave's Germans hit my main line hard and fast. My tanks went into the village to take on the Panzers at close range. Meanwhile Dave closed in, looking for as many CC opportunities as possible. (Dave's nickname is the “Butcher of Burbank” from his prowess in CC). It was quick and violent, and by the end of turn 5 all but one tank on each side, and nearly half the infantry of both sides, was dead. But casualties had depleted too much of the German hitting power for them to maintain the initiative, and we called this a Russian victory. We had an excellent and exciting game. If you haven't played this one, you need to give it a try.

During the course of the day we had a couple of things happen that you don't see too often. One of my Russian squads immobilized a PzIII with an underbelly hit from an MG. And over at the next table, one of Nick's squads captured a mobile KV.

We enjoyed an excellent lunch on the patio at San Carlo Deli, where we ran into Bill Yuen, having lunch with Bob, the former manager of JJ's, our old Chatsworth venue. The survivors adjourned to The Habit for our traditional late dinner. It was an awesome day of ASL!