[CMBN-CW] Scenario of the month: August - The bridge at Varaville

[PanzerFest]

Myself and expecting_on_crossroad ended up playing this as a mirror battle. This was my first CMBN pbem, I have played many CMx1 and a few CMSF pbems in the past.

As the Canadians I decided on a risky aggressive strategy, because hey, they're paratroops, they need to seize the initiative right!? I really wasn't sure on where the enemy would be because of the ambiguous briefing so I ended up spreading my forces out too much. I got cocky and pushed too hard, but I was doing damage and had occupied the guard house but I was taking casualties I could not afford. When I lost my last flanking squad to my poor leadership I was left with 5 troopers, 3 from the HQ in the guard house with zero ammo and 2 screening a quiet flank with nice fat bandoleers, with no other options I regrouped in the guard house. At this point I was close to surrendering, i knew there was a large group of Germans surrounding me on both sides of the River, but I had ammo now and I'd short cover arc/hide and wait. Amazingly they weathered the withering suppresive fire and at short range proceeded to spray down any poor assaulting German that got close. At the end there where 3 paratroops holding the guard house I was happy to earn a minor defeat!

As the Germans I lost most of my starting force, but once reinforcements showed up used their superior numbers wear down the Canadians with ample use of supressive fire. I recaptured the guard house, and had the paratroops on the run when they started running low on ammo. I got a minor victory, because I lost too many men.

I think this scenario is slightly pro-axis but if the briefing were a little clearer you would have a better chance as Allies on your first play through.

I had tons of fun getting back into CM PBEM see you on the battlefield!