Seeing as how this is 500 points I've scaled the table size down to 4'x4'.
The forces today are veteran Waffen SS vs Regular US GI's.
Waffen SS list:
Regular second lieutenant with SMG - 50
Veteran assault rifle squad with SMG NCO - 178
Veteran 6 man squad with 2 LMG's and SMG NCO and SMG - 124
Veteran 9 man squad with 7 SMG's 1 rifle and SMG NCO - 141
Total 493
US GI list:
Regular Second lieutenant with Pistol - 50
Assistant with SMG - 10
Regular 12 man squad with 1 BAR and SMG NCO - 128
Regular 12 man squad with SMG NCO - 123
Regular 5 man engineering squad with 2 BAR's SMG and SMG NCO - 66
Regular Medium machine gun team - 50
Regular medium mortar team with spotter - 60
Total 487
With the lists set out let's see about deployment.
The table was set with a few buildings a wooded area and some hard cover stone walls. A roll off determined who would pick their table edge. The US promptly picked the south side of the table as it provided an array of options.
Deployment was handled with the rules Boltaction has in place to determine turn order. By placing all the order dice in a bag and drawing one out at random.
US DEPLOYMENT
The medium mortar team quickly deployed behind the villa while the spotter hung around just outside the field.
The MMG team deployed with the idea of getting into the upper floor of the ruins and keeping an overwatch.
A 12 man team and the engineering team deploy to guard the eastern boarder if it were to be used for a German flanking attack.
Another 12 man squad was set just beyond the field to quickly run to the stone wall for a good firing position.
The lieutenant split the difference between the 12 man squad and the medium mortar team in case of need for his boosted morale should arise.
WAFFEN SS DEPLOYMENT
the 9 man SMG squad set about using the obscuring trees to screen their advance and make for pushing the attack on the eastern boarder.
The LMG squad positioned itself to be a thorn in the middle of the table.
The 10 man assault squad readied itself to hold the western edge of the fight unless otherwise needed.
The lieutenant positioned himself between the SMG assault squad and the LMG squad.
TURN 1
This turn saw the German SMG team run into the woods on the eastern side of the board.
In response to this the US sent their engineering squad to setup behind the small building next to the woods. Realizing that the spotter for the mortar team had no clear view of any combatants, he was sent into the field to gain a better vantage point. The 12 man squad with BAR ran to the stone wall at the edge of the field and the MMG team ran to the second floor of the ruined building as overwatch.
The Germans finally drew another die and the LMG team advanced to the stone wall in the north and attempted a shot at the 12 man squad across the table. Unfortunately it was just too much to move and shoot and missed with their LMGs as their SMGs didn't have the range to assist. The Waffen Assault squad in the west ran up to the stone wall and serveiled the field.
The US lieutenant went down on this turn and the other 12 man squad advanced to the east to give the German SMG team something to think about for their next turn.
The German lieutenant advanced between the LMG squad and the SMG squad.
TURN 2
This round saw a little more action as the US pulled the first die and unloaded the MMG into the German SMG team. They scored a few hits causing a pin and a casualty.
Advancing the engineering squad the US fired on the German SMG squad again. Pouring 5 shots at 4+ and 4 shots at 5+ the team inflicted a few more casualties and a pin as well.
The Germans pulled the next die and used it to fire on the engineering squad that was now out in the open. They passed their morale test and pumped 12 shots at 5+ scoring multiple hits. Damage resulted in 2 casualties and a pin for their trouble.
The German LMG squad went on ambush to discourage any combatant from moving across the open town square. The assault team moved up the western table edge to attempt a flanking manouver.
The 12 man squad in the field decided to advance over the wall and fire on the SMG squad at close range. Unfortunately the German LMG squad was able to see the movement, albeit just barely and sprung their ambush. The 12 man squad lost 2 men and acquired a pin for their trouble. They were still able to muster their courage and wipe out the SMG team.
The mortar team began their ranging in but failed to strike the LMG squad. The German lieutenant decided to stay put and go down this turn.
Seeing the Germans advancing on the western edge the other 12 man squad ran back toward the villa to intercept. The US lieutenant ran to the more battle heavy portion of the board to provide any morale boost.
TURN 3
The coolheaded decision paid off as the 14 shots they put into the Americans resulted in 6 casualties and caused a morale test. A bad roll saw the Americans lose their nerve and run from the battle.
As this occurred the US engineering squad moved into the trees and gained line of sight on the German lieutenant. They opened fire and the lieutenant reacted by going down. Even with the small team rule and being down the lieutenant met his demise.
The German assault squad advanced to just behind the villa in order to pressure the Americans.
The MMG team ran out to the front of the ruined building to cover the north portion of the villa. The second 12 man team timidly advanced to await the German assault team. The American lieutenant moved back to the mortar team to lend his fire power in case the assault squad were to attack.
TURN 4
The German assault squad activated first and took advantage of the oversight by the Americans and fired upon the open MMG team. The result was a wipe out of the MMG and very quickly the game was tied up.
The American mortar team found their range this turn and forced the LMG squad to hit the dirt. Three pins were caused and one casualty.
The US engineering squad moved in on the LMG squad and opened fire. Unfortunately their aim was not true and the LMG team escaped any further pins or casualties this turn.
The lieutenant went down for the turn while the remaining 12 man squad ran closer to the villa.
TURN 5
First die out was for the Americans and the mortar team fired another shell on the LMG team resulting in 3 more pins and another casualty. The LMG squad was forced down again to mitigate any further damage.
The Engineering squad moved closer to the LMG squad and took out the NCO and other SMG. Now if you are keeping count that is 7 pins on a single unit of veterans. Almost unlikely they will make much noise in the next round.
The lieutenant and 12 man squad settled into an ambush expecting to react to the assault squad.
The assault squad had other ideas. They advanced to keep out of sight of the ambush but were just far enough forward to see the engineering team through the gap in the stone wall. Without the aid of the hardcover one of the assaulters was able to hit and kill a man from the engineering squad.
The mortar team again rained terror onto the LMG squad and caused enough pins to send them running from the field. The engineering squad ran being the ruined building in the north for cover.
The Lieutenant moved to the more southern edge so the 12 man squad could setup an effective ambush.
The last German squad setup behind the cover of the stone wall to finish out the turn.
This turned out to be a pretty good learning game with some missed opportunities on both sides. The end result was 3 German units destroyed and 2 American units destroyed. This was a very close game for sure and could have gone either way. The medium mortar ranging in on the 4th turn probably sealed the deal for the Americans which means the LMG team should have moved in turn 3 to avoid that issue.
All in all it was a fun game!
