While it’s done a pretty good job of marshaling its infantry assets thus far, CMBO’s TacAI hasn’t covered itself in glory on the angry house front. I don’t wish to take anything away from the Comment Commanders, who’ve choreographed their armour superbly up to this point, but questionable tank orders from the CPU have made life easier than it might have been for the Bogen Bouncers.
The third German ‘tank’ to kick the bucket without firing an AP round during BtB, perishes in somewhat humiliating fashion, twenty seconds into Turn 28. Caught with its trousers/skirt down halfway through a clumsy evasive manoeuvre, the Panzer IVJ is euthanized by a brace of 75mm hits to its hind quarters. The first, delivered at T+13, immobilises the 25-tonne trundler.
The second, seven seconds later, causes a bail-out.
This turn’s other big story is a brutal CQB close to the KOed ‘88’ between one of Lieutenant’s Costner’s teams and an enemy squad the CDV-published version of CMBO chooses to label as ‘WG’ (Waffen Grenadiers). Initially it appears the GIs are going to make short work of the men in Erbsenmuster.
However, things start going wrong when Olander’s team remove themselves from the fight, and Alvarez’s five-man outfit go closer. The short-range firepower advantage of the SS unit ultimately trumps the Yanks’ aggressiveness and proficiency. By the time the clock stops, Sergeant Alvarez is pinned and fighting seven foes single-handed!
South of the castle, the situation is less concerning. Harassed by Lee-Enfields, Stens, and Brens for another turn, the Sicherung squad by the castle entrance eventually decides enough is enough.
And Sergeant Johns’ Churchill finally manages to extricate itself from the mire.
The situation at the start of Turn 29:
Other than Alvarez, the only Allied unit with LoS to the SS squad, is Bowman’s Archer. Except for Carlson, all of Costner’s squads and teams are slightly beyond his command range.
The SPW 250/1 remains out-of-sight.
If I move Spencer’s LoS line a fraction further north it’s broken by a hard-to-discern shoulder of land at ‘A’.
Turn 29 orders here, please. Commenters are cordially invited to suggest moves for the following seven unit groups. First come, first served. Order execution is usually Monday morning at 0700 GMT.
(See screenshots for unit locations)
– Captain Hood’s party (Hood’s HQ (6 men), Sergeant Venison’s rifle squad (2 men, low ammo), Forester’s squad (3 men, split), Sergeant Greenwood’s squad (9 men, split) + Corporal Fletcher’s M5A1 halftrack)
– Lieutenant Marian’s men (Marian’s HQ (4 men) + Sergeant Sherwood’s rifle squad (10 men, split) + PIAT team + 3 inch mortar team)
– Sergeant Bowman’s Archer TD
– Sergeant Johns’ Churchill VIII (bogged)
– Sergeant Pyle’s Sherman
– Lieutenant Costner’s platoon (2 split inf squads + bazooka team + 1 HT)
– Captain Dale’s party (Six POWs armed with pilfered rifles and pistols) + Corporal Whitehand’s team (Two POWs armed with a pilfered Panzerschreck)
Please start all order comments with ‘ORDER’ and any later revision comments with ‘REVISED ORDER’. This will help me distinguish firm instructions from suggestions and advice.