Operation Lorraine-Alsace (PlayTests)

[Whiterook]

GAME 5 -- final round in playtesting

As the Germans, I think I might make a play for the Supply Depots fuel dumps as my major offensive strategy. The main problem is keeping the northern frontline defended enough to thwart an Allied breakout counteroffensive, all while keeping an eye to the south at the Mulhouse/Colmar pocket.


As the Allies, I'm looking at the cities of Bitche, Saarbrucken, or Freiburg, or town of Baden Baden...I just need one. The French especially, have a bit more horsepower around Mulhouse and Comar, which the Germans just have such a hard time bolstering forces around that sector.

The setup...

[Whiterook]

Turn 1 The German 1st Combat Phase started in the south with the artillery support, and achieving thre dreaded BB2; defender retreats out of Mulhouse and German unit takes the city for control; defender retreats north of Mulhouse but German maintains position in order to have options to move south; 6CF unit north of Freiburg rolled a retreat, but no hex available so a DL1 is sustained instead; DL2 in Strasbourg; unit eliminated in 3315, and unit east of it; DL3to unit west of Karlsruhe; DL2 northwest of Bitche; DL1 in 3212; BB2 3312; DL2 in 3412; DL1 no retreat 2907; DL2 in 2707; defender retreat to 2505 and 2502; DL2 in 2602. German Movement Phase saw units fortify main combat areas around Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasbourg, Bitche, and Saarbrucken. German 2nd Combat Phase saw a BB2 in 2226, which at least eliminated the French 2CF there, with German units advancing; defender retreats to 2519 and 2819; unit eliminated in Strasbourg, Germans advance to control city; eliminate unit in 3713 and 3412; BB2 for 3312; defender retreats to 3112; DL2 to 3010’ DL1 to 2907; DL3 to 2707; DL2 in 2601. Einheit Stielau to 3112; von der Heydte to 2520.

[Whiterook]

The Allied 1st Combat Phase started in the with a stalled attack at Mulhouse; switched over to Bitche and a defender retreat in a city hex converts to BB2; AL1 at 2907; retreat converted to a BB2 at 2702and Americans advance into the West Wall, in a breakthrough. Allied Movement Phase fortified Mulhouse, a unit move to the Rhine, Bitche, and the Saarbrucken sectors. Allied 2nd Combat Phase saw a DL1 in Mulhouse, but the Germans hold the city; BB2 outside of Colmar; attack on Bitche converts to a BB2; Defender retreat into Saarbrucken, Americans advance; and a stalled attack up north.

[Whiterook]

Turn 2 The German 1st Combat Phase saw defender retreat in the VosagesBB2 at 3111 for defender eliminated; DL3 at 3010 eliminates one and reduces another; unit eliminated in Sarregemuen with BB2; DL2 in 2706; DL2 in 2601. German Movement Phase sees units shore up Sarrbrucken sector, eastern units move south towards Strassbourg, and Colmar and Mulhouse shored up. German 2nd Combat Phase sees DL2 in 2025; DL2 in 3010; DL3 in 2707; DL3 in 2706; BB2 in 2702;DL1 in 2601.

[Whiterook]

Allied 1st Combat Phase sees DL1 in Mulhouse; defender retreat in 2807and advance. Allied Movement Phase realigns American units near Saarbrucken, 2603, and the Lower Vosgaes; while French units reposition for attacks on Mulhouse, Colmar, and southwest of Strasbourg. Allied 2nd Combat Phase sees a BB2 (retreat conversion) in Saarbrucken; defender retreat 2307, Allies advance; and a stalled attack in Bitche.

[Whiterook]

Turn 3. The German 1st Combat Phase sees BB1 outside of Colmar; DL3 south of Saarbrucken and DL1 to the north. German Movement Phase saw fortifying Mulhouse, the areas around Strasbourg, Bitche, and Saarbrucken. The German 2nd Combat Phase saw French near Mulhouse suffer DL1 for failure to retreat; DL2 south of Strasbourg; DL1 by Bitche; DL2 elimination to two units and a reduction DL1 on the northern most unit.

[Whiterook]

The Allied 1st Combat Phase saw DL1 above Saarbrucken; DL2 eliminates the unit in the Lower Vosages and advance; BB2 in 2821; BB2 on Colmar due to failure to retreat;BB1 by Mulhouse. Allied Movement Phase saw no movement because there were no good moves except better positions in enemy EZOCS (prohibited). The Allied 2nd Combat Phase saw BB1 near Mulhouse; BB2 in 2821 eliminates German unit and French advance; BB1 at Lower Vosages; Defender retreats north of Saarbrucken and Americans advance. Reinforcements saw American 101st and 82nd Airborn enter the battlefield at 2600, move to 2700 into enemy EZOC.

[Whiterook]

The German 1st Combat Phase sawa DL1 above Saarbrucken; DL2 in the Lower Vosages; DL1 below Strasbourg; BB1 in Colmar. German Movement Phase saw units surround American Airborne units; and shore up Saarbruken, Lower Vosages, south of Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse; unit near Sarregemuend barrels down road through St. Alvod, just past Metz. German 2nd Combat Phase saw DL1 to 101st Airborne; DL1 by Saarbrucken; BB2 Lower Vosages; DL2, south of Strasbourg; BB2 outside of Colmar; Stalled in Mulhouse.

[Whiterook]

The Allied 1st Combat Phase saw the paratroopers push the Germans back one hex and advance; Americans push Germs to the south back and advance out of the Lower Vosages; BB2 in Mulhouse. Allied Movement Phase has French retreat from Colmar; French retreat from south of Strasbourg; Americans retreat farther from Lower Vosages, towards Strasbourg, with an even strength attack position and an American unit coming up; unit move north from Saarbrucken for even strength combat upcoming. Allied 2nd Combat Phase saw paratroopers push SS back and advance closer to east map edge; defender retreat converted to DL1 elimination and advance of American unit; DL1 Lower Vosages; BB2 at Mulhouse for a German unit elimination and French unit advance.

[Whiterook]

TURN 5. The Allied High Command Phase saw a USA9 unit with 7CF arrive at 1300 to seal back door a little; with Patton. DeGaule is not placed.

The German 1st Combat Phase saw a DL2 on 101st Airborne; DL2 eliminates next unit over; BB1 south of Strasbourg; retreat converts to DL1 in Mulhouse. German Movement Phase sees shoring up the usual combatant areas. German 2nd Combat Phase sees DL1 north of Strasbourg; eliminate Americans at Lower Vosages; DL2 at Mulhouse.

[Whiterook]

Allied 1st Combat Phase saw 82nd Airborne causes a DR converted to DL1 up north…no other combat. Allied Movement Phase saw a French unit hop the Rhone-Rhine canal to help support Mulhouse back attack, and no other movement available. Allied 2nd Combat Phase saw no gains.

[Whiterook]

TURN 6. The Allied High Command Phase saw a USA9 unit with 6CF arrive at 1022 to rush support up through Belfort to Mulhouse; with Patton. DeGaule is not placed.

The German 1st Combat Phase saw BB2 at mulhose, elimination a French and German unit; French unit eliminated north of Colmar; DL1 on the 82nd AB. German Movement Phase saw Germans take estern most supply depot; move to Mulhouse; Germans give up back door and start racing for supply depots. German 2nd Combat Phase saw DL2 wipes out French in Mulhoiuse; DL2 on 82nd AB.

[Whiterook]

The Allied 1st Combat Phase saw DR converted to DL1 from 82nd AB. Allied Movement Phase saw new USA9 unit that entered play move towards Saarbruken; units move to Commercy and the unit in Vesoul move north, heading for the supply depot. This is nuts! Allied 2nd Combat Phase saw another DR converted to DL1 from 82nd AB (the animals…epic!).

[Whiterook]

TURN 7. The Allied High Command Phase saw a USA9 unit with 4 CF arrive at Neufchateau; Patton joins USA9 7CF at Commercy. DeGaule is not placed.

The German 1st Combat Phase saw the 82nd AB wiped out. German Movement Phase saw units take Belfort and Nancy for the win: Control of Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Belfort, Nancy, and Metz. To complete the German turn, the 2nd Combat Phase saw a DL1 north of Saarbrucken.

Americans can’t take back a Victory city and are pretty much decimated.

[mikeh]

Wow, you are really working this one! Ty Bomba game right? He seems to be going for the Alt History King title. His alt history game of Hitler releasing his Battle of the Bulge Offensive in the east instead of the Ardennes looks interesting, and I usually don't say that about alt history games. So I'm wondering if same mechanics just different fronts.