Scheldt 44 comments

[Kool Kat]

Gents: 


My Allied opponent and I completed the following Scheldt' 44 scenario:

0904_01_Antwerp "Taurus Pursuant" (19-turns).

Here's my game result write-up:

My Allied opponent was able to drive into Antwerp, but was stopped adjacent to the two 100 VP hexes downtown. Once the German entrenched and enjoyed a negative 90% defense advantage in the urban hexes, it seems nearly impossible for the Allies to capture them. I have my doubts on balance too. It appears that the Allies need a lot of luck and maybe some sloppy German play to have a chance at a victory. Not a fan of the set piece and grinding nature of urban battle with morale D and E units! This was my first PBeM Scheldt ' 44 game.

Additional comments:

As the German, I concentrated large unit stacks on the two 100 VP hexes in-city and covered all the perimeter objectives with defending troops. Entrenched all objectives asap. Kept the garrison troops with heavy flak / AT in the bunkers and sortied them out to harass - especially to threaten Allied supply lines. It was only in the last few turns did I send what garrison troops remained into Antwerp. Both the Allies and Germans struggled to make headway against each other within Antwerp. A couple of resistance fighter casualties here... a few German casualties there. Everything was measured in 1-2 men killed increments. Artillery was generally ineffective. The superb Jagdpanther and Stug morale B reinforcements enter too late to make much difference in the outcome. The 40% night disruption rule is brutal. Morale D and E units have no business trying to move off road at night! Overall, combat felt sluggish and ineffective. Honestly, I was not a big fan of this scenario, but am looking forward to seeing how the other Scheldt '44 scenarios play out!

Bing! Bing! Bing! Green (Allied opponent) and me claim first recorded PBeM Scheldt '44 game!