Scenario of the Month - September 2011: First Clash at Carpiquet

[Kool Kat]

Gents: :smoke:

I have found "First Clash at Carpiquet" to be a tough battle for the Axis for several reasons:

* Huge Allied artillery support (12x 25pdr, 9x 5.25-in Naval Guns, 1 dozen or so hand-carried mortars) :eek1:
* Two Sherman battalions (one equipped with Fireflies!) :eek1:
* Terrain - Open with clumps of trees, buildings, and gullies... so Allied player has a good idea where to concentrate his massive firepower... and Axis player does not have much choice as to where he places his defending troops! :eek1:
* The fixed Royal Ulster Rifles (that attempt to release [50% chance] starting on Turn #10)

and on the Axis OOB... not much stands out except some engineers mounted on half tracks and a few companies of Mark IVs.

So, the times I've played the Axis, I would try to concentrate my meager armor platoons into a mobile reserve... have my troops dig in... and try to get my engineers transported to the front lines without getting blown away.

Typically, my troops would get pulverized by the Allied artillery... the Allies would advance under the cover of 25 smoke rounds... I would try to stem the tide by desperately rushing infantry forward to plug holes... only to have the Royal Ulster Rifles release and chew up the Axis right flank! :(

I would really like to know what is an effective Axis strategy to manage either an Axis "Draw" or "Minor Victory" in "First Clash at Carpiquet.?" :chin: