CW Iron Horse Vale - Combat Mission: Battle For Normandy

The extremely limited deployment zone for the allies allows the Axis to set up covering any possible avenue of advance with both small arms and ATG fire. If the allies were given a larger deployment zone and the Axis restricted it would be much more evenly balanced.

Axis are able to cut off all access paths to objective in first couple turns.

I would have preferred a rating between 'moderately' and 'totally', such as 'significantly'. And that due to terrain and position - not due to force imbalance.

The force sizes appear to be in balance on paper.

From the get-go the British have overwatch into the victory objectives as well as into the terrain through which the German might redeploy or retreat. Despite the obvious two potential axes of advance (left or right flank) which can be used by British armor to cut the German position in half with their fire, the extremely restrictive German deployment zones prevent the defender from deploying his game balancing AT guns more favourably. This is the first scenario in my many years of gaming that I found not enjoyable. It felt like shooting ducks in a barrel and I was the ducks.

That said, my opponent played extremely well using overwatch, scouting, his three 81mm mortars effectively and holding his armor back properly out of harms way.

Recommendations:
1. Modify the Axis deployment zone to be all one color.
2. Only play this game H2H mirrored.

Well played.

The British easily dealt with the German AT guns and got away with a very aggressive move early. If that is common then this is very pro British but it didn't feel like it would be.

I agree with Canadian Cat's analysis (I was his British opponent for this one). The German heavy weapons are too vulnerable to spotting and destruction early on, and the British side has enough time to wait for that to happen before pushing forward. Increasing the map size to allow the German player more deployment options for heavy weapons could help (but then the British player might need more tanks).

See detailed comment.

AAR - some spoilers but not major ones.

SOT July 2017

Small map with central VP location...trainyard. German army is defence Allied attack. Small map so not much room to maneuver so pretty well a static defence. Initial set up zones very restrictive on defender set up. Don't know about Allied. Set up defence in depth and hoped for the best. Battle basically comes down to taking out allied tanks and if done early enough then good chance for victory. Guardsman's last tank almost broke my ranks on my left flank but a courageous panzershrecht team lobbed a good shot over a wall.

Recommend this to be played when you have an experienced player playing someone who is learning. Give the new guy the German defender.

Good game by Guardsman, he inflicted damage to my men and the file return rate was exceptional.

Cheers.

Good map and potential scenario but spoilt by too short a time-scale for the allies considering the opposition in place. It creates a rushed attack and suffers accordingly.

GuardsmanGood map and potential scenario but spoilt by too short a time-scale for the allies considering the opposition in place. It creates a rushed attack and suffers accordingly.

Possible spoiler:

I would also add that the Brits setup zone is very tight, so the axis can cover all exits and once a few mortar bombs got lobbed into the congested area your casualties can mount up quickly so you are forced to make a break out into kill-zones.

A tought fight and my opponent defended well.

The axis player is hard pressed to protect their AT assets, otherwise they may have a very difficult time. Otherwise a fun quick scenario.

!Spoilers!
##########

The map is enjoyable/beautiful and the balance of forces pretty good save for a few elements. I think it's more suited as a tactical challenge than an H2H battle, the German defense relies on 3 AT guns to ward off the 2 British tanks. However, once they are spotted, the Brits have access to 3 on-map 81mm mortars that can quickly dispatch them by firing from well concealed direct-fire positions offering good cover. Any changes I'd make to the force composition would revolve around the AT gun/tanks counter-play.

very balanced scenario, the german player must place his at assets very carefully, they are the key of success

Nice, small scenario.