3rd Battle over Castle Hill

This is the third installment of our battle of Castle Hill. Once again, the 91st Cav. is defending, however instead of the mission being Cauldron it is instead No Retreat and all the familiar faces are involved in this battle.

As said before, the 91st Cavalry is defending in this mission and once again, are bringing two platoons of dismounted cavalry, the two mortar sections will be grouped under the 2iC to bolster Platoon strength as well as an HMG Nest.

The 1st Fallschirmjager-division is bringing the usual two FJ platoons with two sections each, along with recoilless rifle weapons platoon. However this time, they will be deployed together and not broken up between the two FJ platoons. The 2iC will also be splitting one of the FJ platoons in half and creating a Kampfgruppe.

Having learned mistakes from the previous battle, I figured I had a good handle on what I wanted to do. Objectives were placed once the board was arranged and as you see, the objectives my friend was forced to defend dictated where his Ambush would be used. (The Objs. are the white circles).

A quick reference key for the above map. The Dark green "blobs" are hills. The two on the table edge were treated as being covered with olive groves and various other foliage. The gray markings are broken ground/rocks and the entire hill in the center was treated as blasted rubble. The two black squares are ruined buildings. The tan brown blobs with dark brown splotches are craters and an the dark green splotches are forest templates. However, due to the German initial preparations of the area, they are not really forests but instead, blasted and cut down forests giving a broken ground feel. IE it provides cover but not bullet proof like the rubble.

Turn 1

The first turn went fairly quick. The Germans advanced with the cautious movement through the broken woods. The 2nd FJ platoon closing on the far left objective marker, supported by the Kampfgruupe. Hauptmann Starke took the 1st FJ platoon to the edge of the woods and waited for the recoilless rifles to move into position and knock out the HMG nest that was sitting in the center of the blasted hill.
The Allies sprung their ambushing dismounted cavalry on the hill right above the far left objective and ineffective fire did nothing but pin the 2nd FJ. The HMG nest attempted to shoot at the rifles but failed to score any casualties.

Turn2

2nd FJ repositions itself to give it a better front facing against the dismounted cav, the 2iC moves up behind to support. The Rifles move in range of the HMG nest and blow it to pieces. With the nest now gone, the Company Command leads the 1st FJ out of cover and surging towards the hill with a stormtrooper move.
The Allies receive both reinforcements, the 2nd Dismounted Cav platoon and the mortars. The 1st Dismounted cav. leaves the LMGs to pin down the 2nd FJ and close for assault. The exchange destroyes the 2nd FJ.

Turn 3
2iC leads the Kampfgruppe into an assault with the 1st Dismounted Cav and win. The LMGs were to far away to provide defensive fire and the platoon commander and supporting rifle sections are killed. The Kampfgruppe is down to the 2iC and one stand of FJ. In the center, Hauptmann Starke leads the 1st FJ to the base of the hill and take cover among the rocks, preparing for the eventual assault into the building. The Rifles move up to join them.
Allies move the 2nd Dismounted Cavalry platoon into the ruins and take up a defensive position. The Mortars are in the rear to provide direct fire and indirect fire support. With the Platoon leader dead the 1st Dismounted Cavalry is stuck on their hill guarding the far left Objective. The Company Commander can not afford to move out and assume command.

Turn 4+
For the sake of sanity, the rest of the battle will be wrapped up here. The 2iC would move to join the 1st FJ and Recoilless rifles infront of the building ruins and add weight to an already intense close range fire fight. Both Company commanders are guiding fire for their men as a battle of "go to ground" or not to "go to ground" erupts. In the end, several turns pass with each platoon attempting to shoot at the other in Bulletproof cover. However, the Allies have effective mortar fire which starts digging the Germans out while the German Recoilless Rifles fail to effectively do anything since it is down to one gun, having already lost one to mortar fire. In the end, an ill-fated desperate assault is launched against the enemy who was unpinned. Casualties are taken but the Germans manage a foot-hold after Hauptmann Starke and the 1st FJ are wiped out in the ensuing string of counter-attacks. However, the net result is a Pinned American Cavalry Unit, so the 2iC charge with his supporting 2nd FJ section, killing another Allied base, but being destroyed in the process. It came down to a final assault by the RR command team, which, promptly fails, and then fails, his platoon morale check. Game ends in a blood bath, leaving few if any Fallschirmjager survivors! 91st Cav. defend the hill AGAIN!

***********************************************

After-Thoughts:
While the game ends in a Major Allied Victory there is one thing that is learned! The Allied Infantry Ace, T. Highway did not have his second medal which allowed him to re-rolled his failed close combat attack. This is significant because in a couple of the final exchanges, this was a very big decider! So, in a effort to be fair, the 91st Cav still get the victory, however Hauptmann Starke was not counted as being destroyed or fleeing the field for the battle. Thus giving the Germans 3 experience points instead of two! Hurray gamemenship!

Thoughts on the battle? Well I felt I played a better game. My friend once against presented a solid defense and those mortars once again, proved to be the bane of my existence. Im done with the Recoilless Rifles at this point level and going back to my beloved HMG 42s! Their weight of fire is a necessity for pinning and their Range gives them more flexibility then the shorter ranged rifles. We also learned a little more about using our Company Commanders to the full extent as far as command and control.

Also, There will be one more 500pt battle which will get posted and then its on to the 700pt Turn 2 battle of Cassino. Most likely there will not be another battle for several weeks after this next post goes up due to several personal matters that will be dealt with! Also, a trip to Dragon Con at the first of the coming Month will prevent us from playing. However look forward to a few Terrain posts as we get our town ready for the ensuing conflicts. Finally battle reports, after this next one, will start containing pictures on the account that once again, we will have access to our Digital Camera!

That is all!