CMBN - Flowers of the Forest AAR

[Stonecutter]

This is my first AAR so I have included my battle estimate and plan at the start to provide some type of baseline for comparison with how things actually worked out. I still have a lot of bugs to work out with respect to getting good screenshots, writing a compelling narrative and cutting it down to a more manageable size but hopefully you will enjoy the AAR in spite of its flaws.

Battle Estimate and Plan

SITUATION ENEMY:

Infantry: 2 x dismounted companies with a mix of green and regular troops and normal leadership modifiers. A scout platoon with similar experience/modifiers. 12+ carriers, most of which are Bren variants.

*The Bren carriers provide good protection vs small arms, excellent speed & mobility along with a lot of extra MG firepower.

*Potentially, almost an entire company could be mounted in carriers.

Armour: A full Churchill tank squadron (18 tanks) with a mix 6-lbers and 75mm variants along with 2 x 95mm heavy support tanks. Crews are a mix of regular and veterans.

*At nearly 40 tons, the Churchills have far more protection than the Mk IV.

*The extra protection & weight makes the Churchills very slow, limiting their mobility.

*Firepower of the Churchills is ample to take out a Mk IV but its most impressive feature is the ammo load of 80+ main gun rounds and nearly 10,000 rounds of 7.92mm for the 2 x MGs.

Artillery: Heavy support consisting of 4 x 25 lbers and 6 x 81mm mortars with the latter split into 3 missions of 2 tubes each. The FOO & HQ units provide reasonable response time for the mortars but the 25lbers are much slower to bring onto target. There is sufficient ammo to conduct preparatory bombardment and still have enough for in-contact fire missions. Furthermore, the infantry also carries 9 x integral 2” mortars. While the 2” has limited lethality, it is able to provide very targeted smoke screens with 1-2 minutes.

Reinforcements: None, all British forces are present from the beginning.


SITUATION FRIENDLY

Infantry: 1 x dismounted COY with regular/vet experience & positive leadership modifiers.
Mechanized scout platoon of 2 sections, regular experience and mostly negative modifiers. Support platoon with 4 x MG34 HMGs (regular experience) and 2 x snipers (veteran & crack).

*3 x Panzershreks and normal dose of MP40s, MG42s and panzerfausts in the COY.

*7 x SPW 251 half-tracks for scouts. These are purely battle taxis as experience has proven that small arms fire will take them out and kill the passengers easily. On the plus side, they all have AP ammo to enhance all other infantry based MGs.

Armour: 1 x Mk IV panzer COY (14 tanks) with regular crews.

*Mk IV’s offer little protection against any British AT weapons due to thin armour.

*Good speed and mobility, especially compared to the Churchills.

*The 75mm L48 guns are good but likely unable to penetrate at long (600m+) ranges.

2 x Tigers arrive mid-way through the battle and have the ability to take out all enemy tanks at long ranges while surviving most hits over the frontal arc.

Artillery: Zero to start! Rockets and 81mm arrive as reinforcements.

Reinforcements: 25-30 minutes (nebelwerfers rocket battery) , 45-50 minutes (81mm mortars) and 50-60 minutes – 2 x Tiger tanks!

GROUND & MISSION

Ground: Total frontage to be covered is 1300m – a large area for limited infantry. The top half (where the British deploy) is open wheat and grass. The middle area is filled with hedgerows that severely block LOS and channel the approaching British forces into two routes on either the left or right sides. The railway goes from lower left to middle right and is bordered by hedges on each side except at the two gaps mentioned above. South of the rail line has a mix of orchards, open fields and two built up areas. Conditions are wet so bogging is problematic.

Deployment: There is wide latitude for deploying the infantry COY & support platoon at the start. However, the panzer COY & scouts are on the far, upper right in the open fields must be moved if they are to be useful in the battle.

Mission: Victory points (VP) are roughly evenly spread between destruction of enemy forces and 3 built up areas. British victory conditions are similar but include 2 touch objectives worth ~25% of VPs.

Time: The battle last two hours so there is no time pressure on the attacking British except to exploit the initial numerical superiority before reinforcements arrive. For the German forces, the goal must be to delay as much as possible

KEY DEDUCTIONS

1) British numerical superiority in armour and infantry at start increases the need to minimize losses and avoid becoming decisively engaged too soon.

2) British artillery dominance presents a large risk of preparatory fire inflicting heavy casualties and multiplying their advantage to a catastrophic level. Consequently, likely defensive positions along the hedges must be avoided initially and manned only at the last moment when contact is imminent.

3) The LOS and protection offered by hedges will allow identification of British main effort and movement of forces while denying the British knowledge of German deployment and movement.

4) Tank engagements – Should be restricted to under 500m to increase chance of penetration/kill. The panzers must only engage with clear information from infantry and use a “Shoot & Scoot” approach to avoid return fire.

5) Qualitative and weapon advantages of German infantry can only be exploited if enemy tanks are limited in their ability to provide suppressing fire.

British Courses of Action (COA)

COA#1 (left flank)
Most likely as closest to British deployment area. The series of hedgerows will slow down the advance but once south of the hedges and into the open field by the orchard, the British can quickly seize both Manor 1 and the touch objective.

COA#2 (right flank)
Less likely than COA#1 as it would require an entire redeployment of forces of nearly a kilometre, thereby consuming time. However, a flanking force using this route would provide a serious envelopment threat and could quickly break into the rear area. Furthermore, a fast moving flanking force could engage the Panzer COY and Scouts before they are able to seek cover behind the hedges.




German Battle Plan

1) Maintain Defensive Position 1 (DP1) as vital ground as it covers both enemy COA’s, has quick access to all other DPs for reinforcement or countermoves and a potential withdrawal route if things do not go well.
2) Sacrifice the left flank as the hedges should provide sufficient delay and any infantry used to defend them would be easily outflanked and destroyed.
3) “Rescue” the Panzer COY and Scouts ASAP by moving at max speed to DP1
4) Establish DP1A, 1B & 1C once COA#1 is confirmed and preparatory fire is over.
5) As enemy advances, leap frog back to DP1C and hold as long as possible.

And, if things go pear-shaped?

1) Withdraw and establish defence south of the rail line with remaining forces.
2) Panzers to occupy DP2A & 2D to provide flanking fire into KZ’s. Infantry to defend DP2B & 2C.
3) Hopefully, drop the rocket artillery on Manor 1 just after the British have taken it !

[Stonecutter]

The Early Stages (H to H+10 minutes)



Using smoke rounds from their main guns, 3 Kompanie panzers create a screen to help cover their move into DP1. To minimize traffic congestion, three different routes were used. Scheer, one of 4th platoon's new crew commanders, directed his Mk IV into a mire but was able to recover a few minutes later and complete the move thanks to the skills of his driver. While bogging his panzer was embarrassing and would undoubtedly result in jokes from his peers, Scheer was glad his error hadn't had more serious consequences as he could have easily been caught in the open by the nearby British tankers



Kroner’s 1st platoon/25 Hitler Jugend waits in DP1C to occupy DP1A & 1B. Minimal scouts and observers are positioned at the northern hedges to minimize potential losses from any British preparatory artillery barrages. Harzer’s 2nd platoon/25 defends the vital ground of DP1 while 3rd platoon/25, under Cristoph, is in reserve along the rail line east of Manor 1.



While Zimmerman and his 3 MkIV’s race around Manor 1 to reinforce Kroner's platoon, the remaining panzers of 3 Kompanie/22nd Pz Regt deploy. Meanwhile, the scouts conduct a rapid re-supply program for 1st & 2nd Platoon to top them up on 9mm and 7.92mm AP ammunition (the faded infantry symbols in the half tracks). To the far, top left, a sniper and HMG report the sounds of British armour.



Zimmermann’s haste to block the British high speed advance down the main road proves costly as a Churchill, firing from behind the hedges, brews up one of his platoon’s Mk IV’s. With the British main effort seeming to confirm COA1 along the left flank, Kroner and 1st Platoon occupy DP1A, 1B and 1C while Harzer stretches 2nd platoon’s defence of the vital ground along the northern hedgerow to aid his friend. In the interim, the legendary sniper Fink has set up his hunting stand and awaits his prey.

[Stonecutter]

First Contact (H+10 to H+20)



Kroner and 1st platoon remain carefully hidden behind the hedges and avoid the suppressive fire of Churchill tanks, waiting to draw more British infantry into their kill zone.



Well concealed behind the hedges, Fink carefully takes aim at an incautious Churchill crew commander, ignoring the 75mm HE rounds and MG fire directed at the opening in the hedges just a short distance away. The exhaust from the enemy tanks gives him a perfect wind gauge as he adjusts for a range of 340m. Slowly exhaling, he gently applies pressure to the trigger until he feels the recoil. The 7.92mm AP round strikes home and the British tanker slumps over, fatally shot through the chest.



With the British scouts giving the all clear, more of their comrades rise and begin to advance along the hedgerows and main road. Waiting until the enemy are almost upon him and his men, Kroner screams the order to open fire and his platoon springs the ambush. They blast away at extreme short range with a hail of MG42 and MP40 fire with lethal efficiency. Further away, the success of Fink in killing the British crew commander has forced the remaining crew to pop smoke and withdraw. The British appear to be taking a very cautious approach along the left flank as their armour has not yet moved beyond the first set of hedgerows. As the additional elements of his platoon reinforce DP1A, Kroner already begins to think about how difficult it will be to conduct a fighting withdrawal through the open field behind him.



While 1st platoon is repulsing the first British probes, the fall back position is prepared as Cristoph’s 3rd platoon assists two panzer platoons in establishing DP2. When the railway station proves to be blocking the LOS into the designated kill zones, the panzers demolish it quickly with HE rounds from their 75mm guns.

[Stonecutter]

The Pressure Mounts (H+20 to H+30)



Realizing that the left flank hedges are not defended, the British have forced their advance and now threaten the flank of DP1A. Having fought steadily for the past 15 minutes, Kroner knows his platoon is in serious trouble and that he should have moved earlier. The British armour pours heavy fire into the position from the front and left flank to support their infantry’s assault. Despite Kroner’s best efforts, a couple squads break and flee back toward DP1B. Worst of all, enemy armour is also closing in from 1st Platoon’s right front, completing the envelopment.



Receiving the urgent appeals for help from Kroner, Siebel’s panzer platoon conducts a right flanking to relieve the pressure on Kroner’s hard pressed infantry and Graf’s Mk IV takes out the nearest Churchill tank.



Graf’s driver is too slow in reversing and the five British Churchill’s spot and engage their foe. Miraculously, the Mk IV does not explode despite multiple hits, allowing Graf and his crew to escape with their wounded operator. While he is down a panzer, Siebel hopes he has done enough to help the hard pressed 1st platoon withdraw.



The fierceness of the hedgerow fighting is evident as Andersen and his squad mate lob grenades at British infantry in a Bren carrier on the other side of the hedges.



The grenades land directly in the carrier, killing all the passengers and immobilizing the vehicle. The action buys a few seconds of time for surviving members of 1st platoon to escape.



The British successfully dislodge Kroner’s 1st platoon and render DP1B useless as they quickly flank it on the left. Some remnants of 1st platoon occupy DP1C along with a couple squads of scouts and Mk IV’s from Henrichsen’s 4th platoon. Kroner and one of his squads, exhausted after 20 minutes of continuous combat, try to make their way back to DP1 and safety along the wooded hedgerow. In response to the advance of 5 Churchills, two panzershreks and a couple squads are deployed in the north facing hedges of the vital ground of DP1. Lastly, FOO Rau reports that he has finally made contact with the rocket battery and moves to where he can call in a danger close mission just north of DP1C – if the position can be held!

[Stonecutter]

Defending Vital Ground (H+30 to H+40)



Grotz’s panzershrek team takes aim at a Churchill threatening DP1. Beside him, a Mk IV is somehow unable to detect the 5 Churchills that are less than 200m away. Grotz makes another disparaging remark to his loader about panzer crews and their "iron" brains!



Grotz cheers as the warhead strikes home, destroying the British behemoth.



As Grotz cheers his victory, Siebel curses while a second AP round from his main gun bounces off the Churchill’s thick hull plating. Several rounds later, his gunner finally locates a weak spot and kills the enemy tank.



DP1C is shored up while the FOO registers his artillery fire mission. He informs Battalion HQ that DP1C must hold for at least another 10 minutes – information that doesn’t make Henrichsen’s 4th platoon or the scouts defending the position any too happy considering the overwhelming British forces they are facing.



A brief respite allows DP1C’s defenders to catch their breath as British armour cleans out the now abandoned DP1A. The rest is short lived however as the infantry hunkers down and panzers close their hatches when heavy artillery rains down on the position only a couple minutes after it is fully occupied. While the defenders aren’t caught in the open, the incessant shelling continues to inflict casualties and keeps them suppressed. Perhaps the only consolation is the knowledge that the British infantry dare not advance for fear of “friendly fire” – precious time is being bought with their blood that may allow their own artillery to seek retribution.

[Stonecutter]

The Turning Point (H+40 to H+50)



The defence of DP1 is hastened as panzers of 1st platoon conduct a right flanking and take out three more Churchills with short range shots. However, one Churchill proves tough and requires 7 rounds before it finally succumbs.



The defence of DP1 is completed as Harzer’s 2nd platoon engages in close range fighting with grenades. Sniper Fink methodically shoots another enemy after successfully destroying an entire bren carrier squad with a well aimed grenade and burst from his spotter’s MP40.



Forewarned by the scouts defending DP1C, Ulrich’s gunner gets the drop on a Churchill breaking through the hedgerow and sets the tank in flames in very close quarters fighting.



With the Churchills threatening the vital ground of DP1 destroyed, the panzers of 1st platoon press their advantage against the now defenceless British infantry.



FOO Rau observes the final spotting round and calls down fire for effect. He then issues an immediate warning over the Battalion combat net that rounds are incoming in two minutes. Henrichsen’s 4th panzer platoon and the scouts defending DP1C prepare to stave off the British assault for just a little longer.



The 3rd infantry and panzer platoons in reserve around Manor 1 wait quietly as the battle rages just a few hundred metres away.



The Churchills clearing DP1 advance to support their infantry while Giessens’ 1st platoon panzers move to flank them.



The Churchills are caught offguard as Graber gets a flank shot that penetrates and stuns the crew. Two more penetrating shots later and the tank catches fire.



Mere seconds after Graber has caught the attention of the Churchill tanks, Giessen quickly takes out two more enemy tanks with flanking shots at point blank range. The combat is so close that his gunner has trouble aiming as the gun sight is filled with the enemy Churchills.



To the tremendous relief of DP1C’s defenders, the nebelwerfer rocket battery drops precisely on target with devastating effect on the British infantry. This is the last blow for the British attackers. Having lost half a dozen tanks, several carriers and half a company of infantry in the span of a couple minutes, they are forced to abandon the assault.

[Stonecutter]

Lessons Learned

1) The hedgerows provide excellent cover, concealment and protection for infantry but it is extremely difficult for tanks to fire through them.

2) Better use could have been made of British artillery to provide suppression and smoke throughout the battle. When used, the artillery proved quite effective both at suppressing infantry and inflicting casualties.

3) The timely reinforcement of DP’s using a mobile panzer reserve and the half-tracks to transport infantry proved essential in preventing British breakthroughs.

Key Turning Point: The flank attack by 1st platoon panzers as it removed a dire threat and freed up other forces to stiffen the defence of the orchard and DP 1C.

Hero of the Battle: Sniper Fink with 22 confirmed kills. In addition to taking out 4 crew commanders he single-handedly defended the north hedgerow by DP1 for several minutes, buying critical time for 1st panzer platoon’s flank attack.

[A Canadian Cat]

Excellent - as I am playing this now I have not ready anything. I'll come back later.

[Macjim]

Well prepared AAR

[A Canadian Cat]

OK I finally got back here. Nice write up and your battle plan was significantly different than mine but you certainly got good results.

I have a couple of questions: was this against the AI? Did you read and know the British formation and briefing before you started?

In my case the battle was against a human opponent and I setup my initial forces along the whole front as far forward as I could go. Then the mechanized force was to get in behind my lines and be ready to shore up the defences were the main attack was coming from. I did detach a platoon of Panzers and sent them forward across the fields to hit the British attack from the flank. That proved to be a huge mistake and I lost the entire platoon in short order.

The plan was to make sure I knew where the attack was coming from and to have the mechanized force ready to take up positions behind the initial forces so they could with draw and help offer a stiffer defence for the next bocage line. Things went way better than I expected - at least after my first losses. My picket defensive lines actually repulsed the initial assault on my left flank. The attack then moved to the centre with a carrier flanking move to my right. Again my picket repulsed the attack (at this point I had added several PzIVs to the defensive line). A quick reaction by my mechanized force managed to blunt the carrier based flanking move and then it became a war of attrition in the centre where my defenders, no bolstered, managed repulse several attempts to break through in the centre.

The tank fight was pretty nasty and I only started winning it towards the end. Having the PzIVs in the bocage made them much more difficult for the enemies to knock out. But spotting the Churchill tanks was really difficult - with the fog and the mud and the difficult to deal with elevations around the bocage there were plenty of times when I could not get LOF. But that worked both ways and the Churchill tanks did manage to KO some tanks they could not finish off all my armour.

Once the Tigers showed up I organized a four tank with mechanized infantry counter attack from my right flank and it did not take long for the Tigers to mop up a few remaining Churchill tanks and I forced a surrender.