We are at last posting the final battle over castle hill. The previous one ended in a Major American Victory and saw the 91st Cavalry retain control of the critical vantage point. The 1st Fallschirmjager-Division has pieced together one more assault to drive the American's off of Castle Hill.
The Game ended in a Major German Victory. My opponent suffered from a few bad rolls in very key moments. Just as my 2nd FJ platoon suffered from a flopped storm trooper move. Overall Im rather pleased with how I played this. I Wish I hadnt lost that one platoon, but it was the dice's fault. I was hoping I could get them into that forest and force his ambush back even further as well as leaving him with no choice but to deploy it on the second objective. My opponent wished that he had done something else with that HMG nest. He had not counted on my knocking it out first turn and felt that he had placed it to far out and exposed.
Hope you have enjoyed the Castle Hill portion of the campaign. Most of our 500pt force has been painted and we are moving on to the next turn and 700pts. Look forward to posts involving the board. This one was rather easy seeing as we had all the terrain for it, aside from our Castle Hill Building. However the next turn takes place within the town of Cassino at focal points: Continental Hotel, Train Station, and Nursery. All which we will hopefully be able to create to some effect.
As you can see, the map is much like it was for the third battle. The only real difference is the rotation in the map. Castle Hill has been turned to show that the Germans are striking from another location. All terrain points work as they did in the previous one and in the bottom left hand corner as small village template has been placed to provide a little difference to the table.
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(Unfortunately there will be no pictures for this battle as it took place before we had our camera back!)
The forces involved stayed the same for the most part. The Americans kept their format down exactly, but the Germans dropped the troublesome recoilless rifles and were issued two MG42s in their HMG platoon.
The two forces deployed according to a No Retreat mission, the Americans dropped their HMG nest in front of Castle Hill, guarding the flanks of the hill were two Barbed Wire stands that were purchased with the HMG Nest. 1st Dismounted Cavalry was given the lion shares of the LMGs again and placed in Ambush. The Germans deployed across a long front with the 2nd FJ Platoon being split to create a Kampfgruppe. These two platoons were deployed on the German side of the town, the HMG platoon was placed in the clearing between the two broken forest templates and the 1st FJ platoon with my Infantry Ace deployed on the German side of the broken forest template facing Castle Hill.
1st Turn:
Germans have turn one and begin with their platoons advancing. The Kampfgruppe and 2nd FJ platoon moves up through the small Italian hamlet and take up position along the stone wall that divides the Italian yards/gardens. The 1st FJ platoon moves up into broken woodlands. Finally, the HMG platoon was setup in prepared positions with clear shots on American the HMG nest. During shooting, the Germans knock it out in a truely devestating display of firepower. (of the twelve "shots" nine hit successfully followed by two successful firepower checks.) 1st FJ platoon stormtroopers to better position themselves in woods, as do the Kampfgruppe and 2nd FJ platoon.
Americans choose not to spring their Ambush but they receive reserves in the manner of the 2nd Dismounted Cav. Platoon, who move up towards the ruins.
2nd Turn:
Germans HMG platoon repositions and moves up so that it can provide fire upon the ruins and then stormtroopers into their new firing position. The 1st FJ, led by Hauptmann Starke, move out of the broken woods and then stormtroopers to position themselves in the rubble surrounding castle hill. Kampfgruppe and 2nd FJ hold their position for now.
2nd Turn:
Germans HMG platoon repositions and moves up so that it can provide fire upon the ruins and then stormtroopers into their new firing position. The 1st FJ, led by Hauptmann Starke, move out of the broken woods and then stormtroopers to position themselves in the rubble surrounding castle hill. Kampfgruppe and 2nd FJ hold their position for now.
Americans still hold thier ambush and the 2nd Dismounted Cav moves and occupies the ruins. Mortars arrive from reserve. (Surprisingly ineffective this game, accounting for only one destroyed FJ Team.)
3rd Turn:
3rd Turn:
Germans prepare to launch an offensive across the entire front. 2nd FJ platoon break cover and try to cross a clearing and make it into a stand of broken trees. 1st FJ, still led by Hauptmann Starke, pushes them through the rubble and within assault range of the 2nd Dismounted Cav. The Kampfgruppe remains in position to provide support and to cover the HMG gruppe's flank. The HMG's direct their fire into the ruins and in another immpressive display of firepower, manage to not only pin the dismounted cav., but inflict a casualty as well. With this turn of events (had not really planned on pinning the platoon or launching my assault this soon), the Infantry Ace Hauptmann Starke seizes the moment and leads the 1st FJ out of cover and into an assault. However, on the otherside of the battlefield, the2nd FJ fail to stormtrooper into the broken trees and are now stuck out in the open...
The Fallschirmjagers charge into the ruins and lose two stands to defensive fire but deliver 3 hits. One of which is the placed on the platoon commander. The company commander takes charge of the platoon and leads his dough-boys into a counter attack, destroying another FJ stand. It now stands 5 American teams to 4 German teams. Germans counter attack and destroy an additional stand. The assault ends with the American's having had enough and are forced out of the ruins. The Germans Consolidate on the outside of the ruins in a defensive posture. Germans now contest the objective. (For those who have followed these reports, this has been the farthest the Germans have managed to get in their assaults!)
Americans finally pop their Ambush to devestating effect. The 1st Dismounted Cav platoon springs their ambush and mercilessly guns down the 2nd FJ Platoon...to the man. Hope for a stunning German Victory are over. However, the 2nd Dismounted Cavalry platoon fails to unpin so the American's can not capitalize on the pinned German Fallschirmjagers!
4th Turn:
Germans: Hauptmann Starke orders the HMGs to move up into the ruins to support him and the 1st FJ, who manage to unpin. The Kampfgruppe falls back so it can cover the HMGs advance. The 1st FJ is waits for their heavy fire support to reach them so they go to ground in the ruins.
Americans: The Allies now find themselves behind the eight ball. 1st Dismounted Cavalry pull out and move at the double across the clearing towards the Ruins atop castle hill. 2nd Dismounted Cav Platoon recovers from being pinned and advances into the ruins under the cover of their only LMG. They attempt to retake the position so begin trying to pin the Fallschirmjagers with the LMG scoring only two hits. Rifle fire from the rest of the platoon adds another hit but still no where close. Mortars are called in to bombard the position and force their heads down. Ranging in, the mortars manage to score a hit! However, due to their strength of only two mortars, the hit is re-rolled...and MISSES! Fallschirmjager's remain unpinned. However, the American Infantry Ace, T. Highway, proceeds with the assault anyway. He cant afford to let the HMGs get inside the ruins.
The Germans riddle the assaulters with defensive fire from the 1st FJ and Hauptmann Starke, who is covering his men from the second floor of the ruins. The Americans are thrown back by weight of fire and one American Team is destroyed. Unfortunately, the 2nd Dismounted Cavalry fail their motivation check and they break cover and fall back, quitting the field entirely. The Germans now control the objective.
With the German MG42s a move away from the Ruins and the Kampfgruppe a turn behind them, the 1st Dismounted Cavalry have no chance to reach their before the Germans take the position over defensively. The Mortars are in a position to rush in and contest the objective however, they would be unsupported and would not hold it for long. The American's cede the field to the Germans! 1st Fallschirmjager-Division retakes Castle Hill!
4th Turn:
Germans: Hauptmann Starke orders the HMGs to move up into the ruins to support him and the 1st FJ, who manage to unpin. The Kampfgruppe falls back so it can cover the HMGs advance. The 1st FJ is waits for their heavy fire support to reach them so they go to ground in the ruins.
Americans: The Allies now find themselves behind the eight ball. 1st Dismounted Cavalry pull out and move at the double across the clearing towards the Ruins atop castle hill. 2nd Dismounted Cav Platoon recovers from being pinned and advances into the ruins under the cover of their only LMG. They attempt to retake the position so begin trying to pin the Fallschirmjagers with the LMG scoring only two hits. Rifle fire from the rest of the platoon adds another hit but still no where close. Mortars are called in to bombard the position and force their heads down. Ranging in, the mortars manage to score a hit! However, due to their strength of only two mortars, the hit is re-rolled...and MISSES! Fallschirmjager's remain unpinned. However, the American Infantry Ace, T. Highway, proceeds with the assault anyway. He cant afford to let the HMGs get inside the ruins.
The Germans riddle the assaulters with defensive fire from the 1st FJ and Hauptmann Starke, who is covering his men from the second floor of the ruins. The Americans are thrown back by weight of fire and one American Team is destroyed. Unfortunately, the 2nd Dismounted Cavalry fail their motivation check and they break cover and fall back, quitting the field entirely. The Germans now control the objective.
With the German MG42s a move away from the Ruins and the Kampfgruppe a turn behind them, the 1st Dismounted Cavalry have no chance to reach their before the Germans take the position over defensively. The Mortars are in a position to rush in and contest the objective however, they would be unsupported and would not hold it for long. The American's cede the field to the Germans! 1st Fallschirmjager-Division retakes Castle Hill!
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The Game ended in a Major German Victory. My opponent suffered from a few bad rolls in very key moments. Just as my 2nd FJ platoon suffered from a flopped storm trooper move. Overall Im rather pleased with how I played this. I Wish I hadnt lost that one platoon, but it was the dice's fault. I was hoping I could get them into that forest and force his ambush back even further as well as leaving him with no choice but to deploy it on the second objective. My opponent wished that he had done something else with that HMG nest. He had not counted on my knocking it out first turn and felt that he had placed it to far out and exposed.
Hope you have enjoyed the Castle Hill portion of the campaign. Most of our 500pt force has been painted and we are moving on to the next turn and 700pts. Look forward to posts involving the board. This one was rather easy seeing as we had all the terrain for it, aside from our Castle Hill Building. However the next turn takes place within the town of Cassino at focal points: Continental Hotel, Train Station, and Nursery. All which we will hopefully be able to create to some effect.
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