AAR - 327th Glider Infantry grind out a win

Greetings Troops,

I was able to get my first game using glider infantry.  Steve and I met up on Saturday (Big thanks to Lydia for cooking an awesome dinner).  Steve and Lydia recently became new homeowners, so a big congrates on that as well.

Here was the following forces brief force organization ...

Americans - Me

• 3 Rifle platoons
• 1 Weapons platoon
• 1 Artillery Battery of 105s
• 4 Sherman tanks

Germans - Steve

• 2 Grenadier Platoons
• 1 Artillery Battery of 105s
• 3 Stug tanks

The mission was Free for All, both sides had 2 objectives.

American Objective Marker - Hilltop near 105 Battery

We both placed our forces in the deployment zones.  For reference, Steve's Deployment Zone will be NORTH.  I placed 2 platoons near my 2nd objective marker, 1 platoon in the middle with the Shermans nearby and finally the 105s and mortars were EAST of my deployment zone.

3rd Platoon, 4 Shermans initial deployment Zone

1st and 2nd platoons initial deployment

Steve being the gentleman let the Americans have the first turn.  I proceeded to fortify 2nd platoon in the woods near the 2nd objective (WEST deployment zone) while moving 1st platoon up towards a small village.  The Shermans and 3rd platoon moved up the middle towards another village in the middle of the board.   Steve's 1st and 2nd platoon moved into woods and fortified.  The Stugs moved slowly towards an objective marker placed on a bridge.

3rd platoon moving in middle, 2nd Platoon in the woods

2nd Platoon in the Woods, 1st Platoon moving into the village

Stugs moving towards bridge objective

Grenadiers near the bridge objective, woods terrain.

Grenadiers in the Woods, near objective and German 105s

Speeding along through the movements, some pot shots were made but no contacts.  Steve got his Stugs across the bridge and was able to score a destroying shot on one of the 105s.  He was also able to score a pinning shot and killed the bazooka team of 1st Platoon.

Stugs moving past the objective and over the bridge

Scratch one .... dead 105

Bazooka team met their demise.  In the form of 105s

My shooting phase in return response was 105s barraging Stugs, bailed 2 of them.  Not too shabby.  The artillery in the game seemed to have almost no problem ranging in.  Almost too easy really ...... BUT the kill shots kept landing snake eyes.  

American Artillery ..... King of Battle

Steve in his next shooting phase killed 1 Sherman via Stug.  Meanwhile I was moving platoons into the middle of town.  1st platoon was adjusting for a planned assault of the Grenadiers fortified in the woods.

1st tank kill of the day - Sherman 

3rd Platoon moving into middle village, Grenadiers are NW of their position

1st Platoon adjusting for assaults

The calm before the storm ....

The Germans in the western ops had an observer attached to them.  Calling in effect fire on 3rd Platoon, killing two and pinning the entire platoon.  This had major effects in the game ... 

1. It stalled a major push to cut the Germans in half.  3rd platoon was not far at all in contesting one of the objective markers.
2. It prevented a flanking maneuver on the Germans in front of 1st platoon.
3. 3rd Platoonremained pinned the ENTIRE game until later when brutal hand to hand fighting wiped them out.

The beginning of the end for 3rd Platoon

1st platoon began assaulting the Germans in the west.  Surprisingly, 1st platoon charged and pushed the grenadiers out of the woods with little resistance.  The assault was assisted by artillery/mortars pinning the Germans in the woods.

Initial charge of 1st Platoon, bayonets fixed.

Into the trenches boys !

Fantastic results ........ 

On the other side of battle, Steve's Stugs were popping in and out of the woods taking shots when they presented themselves.  The Shermans were able to get one up on a Stug when they failed a bog check trying to join his teammates inn the woods.  A Sherman barrage erupted and one Stug met his maker.

One dead Stug ..... 

1st Platoon adjusted from the successful charge causing the boys in 2nd Platoon to join in support cheering.  Nothing was in front of the objective and a battery of 105s sat behind the objective.

2nd Platoon itching to get into the fight ....

Eyes on the objective ...... seems too easy !

1st platoon begins assault the 105s as 2nd platoon rushes into the woods as reserves.  Here is where things turn for the Germans.  Steve's 105s fended off 2 assaults only losing one gun in both assaults.  1st platoon was decimated attempting to drive out the artillerymen.  Meanwhile on the Eastern edge of battle, the Stugs move and destroy the remaining Shermans with ease, smoke barrage assisting the push.

Seeing an opening, the grenadiers leap out of their fortifications and rush 3rd Platoon.  Hand to hand turned vicious.  3rd Platoon was no more.  This left what was left of Steve's grenadiers on a trot to one of the objectives ...

2nd platoon wound up moving up in time to begin another assault.  Slowly 2nd Platoon takes the objective and wipes out the German 105s.  The Stugs having no other targets moved to back up the 105s (before being destroyed by 2nd platoon).

Eventually I was able to take the objective and eliminate the Stugs.  The battle was over but not without major costs.  3rd Platoon was destroyed after being pinned a majority of the fight.  1st platoon was exhausted during the 105 assault, which Steve's 105s repelled 2 assaults !  I lost 4 shermans, 1 artillery piece and about 30% of 2nd Platoon.  My bazooka team got the final kill and was making spectacular shots at the end of the game.

I had a blast ! It was a great game, dinner was excellent and Steve taught me tons.  I am so looking forward to our next battle.  Thanks Steve !

Be safe, enjoy the pics ......

Joe