Tips from the Frontline

[RNL Tiger]

Purchase and Setup Phase

The map contains a village, small hills and moderate tree cover; it is mid-1944, so for the force selection I decided to go a little armour heavy and purchased:
• 1 Platoon of IS-2 heavy tanks [2 in total]
• 2 Platoons of T-34/85 medium tanks [6 in total]
• 1 x SU-76M, self propelled artillery
• 1 x Company of Volksgrenadiers
• 2 x Maxim machine guns; 2 x sharpshooters; 1 x 82mm mortar
I am hoping that the Stalin tanks will tip the balance of the armour battle in my favour. The problem with this selection is that the infantry is a little light but I want to compensate for that by using more HE, mortar and machine gun fire to soften up defenses. Time will tell if the balance is OK.

The map itself shows that both the Allies and Axis have a straight line into the village, where there is a small flag and a large flag. Just outside the village is another large flag.



The basic plan is to place forces at each of the yellow markers:
1) Assemble the armour at “1” for a run into the village. Given what POS has said previously it is highly likely [guaranteed!] that he will rush to the flag
2) Move one infantry platoon each to “2”, “3” and “4”
3) Place the artillery support at “5” to assist the infantry in taking the outside of the village flag

Once the forces are in place the attack should move from right to left with the assault starting with preparatory artillery fire. The infantry platoon at “3” will reinforce “4” if needed and then both platoons at “3” and “4” will attack the centre flag together.

The key question is how will the armour battle unfold? It is likely that the armour battle may be decided early because if POS is true to form he will use the road to get into the village too. So, I decide to go all in, determined to win the tank shoot-out and placing confidence in the two Stalin tanks. I am also hoping that POS will split his armour into two with one going into the village and the other towards the flag outside of the village. Whilst I can hope, frankly, I expect him to place all of his armour on the road and that is why I think the armour battle will be decided early. We shall see…