ASL - Shopino Struggle - FT165

ATTACKER - Russians - Pete Phillips
DEFENDER - SS Germans - Aaron Sibley

Last night Pete and I did our first live VASL game using Skype. This was a small 4 turn scenario from "From the Cellar" pack 6. This is a selection of scenarios made by Le Franc Tireur, a French based company that make third party ASL products. I have seen some of their products, and though I do not own any, I will do as soon as funds become available, as they are of a very high quality.

This scenario pits seven poor quality SS Infantry squads armed with ATM and machine guns against 11 Russian Squads and five T34 tanks in the Kursk region, July 1943, so no panzerfausts. The Russian objective is to capture the wooden buildings on board 44. However he only has 4 turns and the SS receive reinforcements on turn 3 in the shape of a Tiger Tank, two MKIV Panzers and two full strength SS 658 Squads in halftracks.

AAR
Turn 1 the Russians stormed on board. 4 Squads riding on the backs of T34's and the other 6 squads being in 2 groups of 3 squads moving double time with the leaders. The situation at the end of turn one is shown below. I have removed all concealment counters apart from my dummies. The postions of the Russian troops is not exact as I am rebuilding the game from memory. (should have taken screenshots through the game).

Hex R7, S7, S8, BB8, CC9 and CC10 are worth 1 VP each whilst hex M3 is worth 3VP. The Russians by game end must have at least 5 VP to win. I decide not to contest the centre cluster (R7-S8), except with a half squad speed bump. With no rout paths and the abilty of the Russian tanks to go behind and surround my troops, this seemed justified. So I was set up to defend the others in strength. Russian brokies in the centre was caused by a 4FP-2 shot that Pete failed to see.

In turn 1 I skulked, big time. Russian tanks fired into vacated buildings to gain aquistion.

Turn 2 another T34 arrives with a 628 Russian squad. In the centre one T34 preps against my dummies :-). On the Russian right more prep fire against the building a critical Area Fire hit reduces a squad to a half squad, but mainly to no further avail as I am still concealed.

The Russians have flanked my on their left and threaten the M3 building, which is defended by a 237 half squad. In my 2nd turn I did more high grade skulking.

Turn 3 and Pete takes the centre buildings the 237 killed by a berserk Russki. On his right the advance is held up by a sniper that stuns the T34 and pins one squad. Near the M3 building the 628 squad dismounts but is broken by the 237 in Final Fire.

Now the SS reinforcements arrive. I send a squad, Tiger and one of the MKIV to secure the M3 building whilst a MKIV and squad go a bolster the defence of the BB8 buildings.

The T34 around the M3 building intensive fire against some of the infantry sent to reinforce the building, the Tiger fires a DUD!!!. The MK1V shocks the other T34. My infantry clamber over the T34 but fail to plant ATM's successfully. Russian 628 squad is shot as he tries to surrender.

Turn 4 Russian - With little hope of a win, Pete CX his 9-1 leader with a squad to gain access to the M3 building. He made it. and entered Close Combat with the 447 garrison. Melee! The T34 in CC with the 658 breaks it in prep. However the Tiger and MKIV kill both T34's. Pete manages to get a berserker into the BB8 hex, which also ends in melee.

Turn 4 German. I rally the 658 near the M3 building and break the Russian squad in the melee with the MKIV firing 16FP into the melee with his machine guns at +7 drm. Rolls double 1. Pete concedes at this point as he cannot capture M3 and that was his last hope. Revenge for the double one victory that he claimed from me!

Overall an excellent short scenario that took us 3.5 hours to play over VASL and Skype. The game was exciting and played at a good tempo and spirit.

The dice bot had its moments, especially in the last gameturn where I rolled 3 12's and 3 2's, and Pete rolled a few of both too.

I look forward to our next Live VASL tussel, with me being the attacker.

4 Star Scenario.