No Brothers, No Friends? - ASL 305 - an AAR
Included with the release of Twilight of the Reich (TotR) is a plethora of new boards and overlays that depict massive rail yards and factories.? The scenario No Brothers, No Friends (NBNF) is set in such a place, utilizing the.new board 16a and the RY2, RC12, RC6 and X35 overlays, in Berlin on 28 April 1945.? A mixed German SS force is defending against a two-pronged assault from two opponents, opponents that, while they have a common enemy, are not exactly ¡°friends¡± with one another.
The rubble creation rolls pre-game saw much of the large rail yard in the center top of the map fall to a smoking heap of twisted metal and stone.? Additionally, several of the victory hex buildings were similarly damaged.
I played the German defenders and set my force up to screen my left and right flanks, a small SS force in the center round house and the strongest SS troops in the rear preparing to defend the large building.? I also had a ¡°mobile¡± response group of two squads mounted on half-tracks to react to the initial assault from my two opponents.? I also had a 20mm AA gun that setup emplaced in the rear and I purchased the 81mm MTR and setup a HIP spotter to hopefully take some pot shots and place smoke to disrupt the massive fire power of both opponents.? Note that the ELR of the German force was a measly 1, which meant almost any morale check failure would result in reduced quality troops and/or disruption.
The first opponent, 1st Ukrainian Front (UF), setup with a stack of men in one of his forward buildings with tank support just outside.? The second opponent, 1st Belorussian Front (BF) setup across as wide a front as he was allowed.? It¡¯s important to note that in this scenario, setup is simultaneous and that it is possible for the UF and BF to overlap initially.? If they do end up in the same locations they¡¯re immediately placed in Hand to Hand Melee!? In our case, the UF avoided such overlap.
Each force is also given Weapon and Fortification Purchase Points (WFP) to gain additional at-start units and fortifications. ?
<pic1> setup
Three-player scenarios offer some unique qualities.? There are three, full ¡°player¡± turns, thus there are three Rally Phases and Close Combat Phases during each game turn. ?
The Defensive Fire Phases are also tripled up but the order of each is staggered.? For example during the UF player turn, the BF get the first chance at both Defensive First Fire and shoot first in the Defensive Fire Phase. ?
While the Scenario Special Rules (SSR) in this game are lengthy, this one in particular is key:
- This scenario also has a table for each player to purchase variable reinforcements for the first three turns.? Additionally, there is a scenario special rule (SSR) that grants the German additional reinforcement points if their two opponents do not engage in Close Combat WITH ONE ANOTHER each player turn.
The last ¡°pre-game¡± thing to note is of course, the victory conditions.? Players earn points for controlling key buildings, earning CC Casualty Victory Points (CVP) and destroying enemy AFVs.
Turn 1
The UF had the first player turn and opened up with some Prep Fire against the BF.? He maneuvered some of his troops in the debris fields and along the right side of the map.? The buildings on that side would provide a jump-off point for the later game into the rail yard.? One of his T-34s got a little close to a willing German conscript who found a panzerfaust and dispatched the tank in a blaze of fire and glory.
The BF decided to engage the UF as well, since (in his words) ¡°they started it!¡±;? The BF also cleared out the screening force my Germans had setup (apropos) in the cemetery on the left.? That BF 9-2 leader was going to be a headache for sure!
My Germans started to fall back in as orderly a manner as possible on the right, utilizing the cover of those stone row houses.? The SS units guarding the roundhouse had been given orders to hold and they did so through turn 1.? The BF engaged one of them in CC but only a melee resulted.? The mobile reserve units went left and right to establish some sort of back fill.? My initial reinforcements all went to the left. My biggest fear was the BF doing an ¡°end-around¡± with their armor and putting pressure on that flank.
<pic end of turn1>
Turn 2
The UF continued the advance on the right, making good progress.? They also pushed further against the BF forces in the bottom center of the map.? Eager to engage the BF in CC and deny the Germans additional reinforcements, they attempted to get into positions to advance, however, the BF defensive fire from an HMG pushed them back.
The BF started to advance on the left and attempted to clear the round house of SS.? Advancing into CC against an SS 447 and Hero.? Instead both sides rolled high creating HtH melee.? (Important to note that hand to hand CC MUST be declared whenever possible!)
The Germans utilized its MTR to Smoke the 9-2 killer stack, neutralizing them for a little while.? Meanwhile, bolstered by the additional reinforcements? started to fill in the big rail yard and the adjacent ancillary buildings.? The MKVI Tiger also arrived and moved to take up a guarding position on the left flank.? The end of the German saw the BF with 3 dead squads and a leader (the BF needed an 8 and rolled a 10).? The Round House was secure for now!
<pics end of turn 2>
Turn 3
The UF continued to advance running into a German roadblock, a T-34 couldn¡¯t load its main gun (malfunctioned) and was stuck.? Meanwhile the tank support against the BF in the bottom center bogged and then immobilized but the ¡°brothers¡± were finally able to break out the bayonets and get up close and personal.
After breaking for dinner we discussed the status of the games.? Both the UF and BF had misread the VCs a little bit.? The big miss was that anyone force solely occupying the large rail yard factory with unbroken units would automatically win, regardless of the score otherwise.? With only 2 move phases remaining both Russians conceded.
<end game pic>
In closing, this scenario is tough.? The Russian forces MUST advance, they ultimately only have 5 move phases to get to the auto victory building.? With the UFs ability to ¡°stripe¡± and leadership of the BF, setting up proper rout paths and rally points are the order of the day.? While they have to have some ¡°fratricide¡±, the table talk on that topic can be open and honest as the Germans really can¡¯t do anything about whatever they agree to!? The rubble generation process will make the battlefield unique EVERY time you play this scenario.? This scenario will definitely get to my table again!
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