[ASLML] AAR: J88, Escape to Wiltz

[Oliver Giancola]

I logged my first scenario of 2004 with Paul Sidhu this past Friday (1/2). 
We played "Escape to Wiltz," from J5. We diced for sides; Paul got the 
Germans. Getting started in this one is easy: both sides enter on turns 1 & 
2.

He brought most of his eastern (turn 1) force on board 39. He sent an 8-1, a 
467, and a few HS (one with an MMG) on board 17.

My 10-2 group chugged hard toward the 17H4 area. The M4A1 got to 39X9 on the 
first turn. This helped interdict the Germans moving down the road bordering 
the hill mass. This tank soon suffered some bad luck, breaking its MA on its 
first shot, and soon breaking its BMG.

By turn 2, Paul got his 8-1 and MMG into the first level of 17W4. He also 
got a 7-0, MMG, and a squad into 39K7. Meanwhile, his southern force stuck 
to defending the exit area. The German might consider moving a MMG into 
39S7, as both Paul and I had, but it seems better to stick every body into 
the FF7 clump of woods.

The middle turns see a 447 and another with a PSK getting down the road to 
threaten the M4A1. I should have moved a squad or HS into X10, but the M4A1 
got out of its predicament, despite having no Smoke (vehicle grenades being 
hard to place when BU). Paul's eastern force moves into position in the Q10 
area, while my 10-2 group moves forward to hammer the German 9-1.

The M8, meanwhile, broke and mortally wounded the German 8-1, whose death 
reduced his HS to a quivering mess; they ran back to the woods, MMG in tow. 
My mortar and a couple of squads hung out in this area, to be mopped up by 
the end of the game by a couple of HS. My mortar did KIA a German squad with 
an LMG in the 17 N8 woodline, though.

So, by German turn 5, I'm feeling pretty confident with my 10-2 and a couple 
of 347s moving the flank on the hill. I had a 9-1 on two squads in 17 E10, 
an 8-1, 667, and MMG in CC10, the tank in 39 DD10, and a 666 in EE10. Pretty 
good odds against the German 9-1, 447, and LMG, right?

Paul's luck, which saw his vulnerable 447s proving they were really 436 
material, finally caught up to him. He rolls a 4 and (with the ROF from the 
LMG) a 3, breaking the 9-1 and 8-1 stacks. My return fire caused the 447 
under his 9-1 to go Berserk. On my 5, The 10-2 ran forward to strip 
Concealment from a unit in EE6. While the 10-2 revealed both the 7-0 and a 
squad manning a MMG, he wounded (12 MC DR) under their fire.

While my guys sorted themselves out, the M8 moved o 39G9. Some units from my 
turn 2 group started to get involved in the fight for the exit area. The 447 
going Berserk proved opportune for Paul, as it charged the M8 and a squad 
underneath it in GG9. Despite 16 and 24 (-2) shots, the 447 survived to 
cause a Melee there. That, in turn, allowed a 247 manning a PSK to get into 
GG8. My AC was unable to fire on it, or get a smoke grenade, so up it went.

I knew I'd have to exit both vehicles to have a good shot at winning. We 
played it through to my seventh turn. The German eastern force was in the 39 
Z10 area and making their presence felt. My guys rallied. I had moved the 
M4A1 into 39FF6, keeping the 9-1 and a HS there busy. Two of my squads in 
FF7 had fired into the Melee there and broke the HS -- my 347 survived -- 
and the Disrupted remainder withdrew to GG7. The 7-0 was in GG6.

I had 21 CVP ready to run these guys over. I therefore conceded. Losing the 
M8 to the PSK -- which was largely made possible by the timely charge of the 
Berserk 447 -- did me in. Also, the shoot out between my Americans and the 
9-1 also hurt.

We both felt the scenario was fun and even. The situation is certainly 
interesting. Keeping the vehicles alive will be the main challenge for 
Americans to win. The AFVs will need to keep away from the 3-hex-range PFs 
and 4-hex-range PSK, or at least keep the odds of hitting low. Having the 
AFVs fire from the rear while the infantry closes in will be the standard 
tactic. However, some of the LOS in the 39 GG1 area, as well as events such 
as squads breaking, will of course force the American AFVs to move up. The 
AFVs are also weak on Smoke, although the squads can help each other out in 
this regard. The Americans also need to be conscious about their rout paths, 
as here they have Germans closing on their rear. But, the Amis do have the 
10-2 and a lot of FP. I'd play them again.

Thanks goes to Paul for a tight, tense playing, like always.

Please let me know if you want to post this elsewhere.

Oliver Giancola

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