The Purpose

Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Steve Fliss has written six boot-camp scenarios to teach the mechanics of Micro Melee. In this scenario, both direct and indirect artillery are introduced. Players learn how to use an FA (Field Artillery) observer by calling for a point, line or area target. The fire is corrected and the rate determined. After a slight delay, the mission begins.

The Game

2 March 2014: The game began with the two German commanders (Joe and Ben) preparing a strategy for their respective platoons. The Canadian Airborne was controlled by Steve and they were hidden from view. We could see a number of foxholes and slit-trenches, but little else was known. During the strategy session, Joe and I decided that Steve's forces were too small to cover the entire board, but we expected him to try. Consequently, we were determined to focus our attack on one sector and press him to victory. The old axiom, no plan survives contact with the enemy was true once again.

The battlefield

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The Reality

Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

As the game began, Joe split up his forces and ordered one platoon into the woods. One squad conducted a recon down the road, and immediately drew the attention of some hidden paratroopers.

Joe's platoon at the FUP

As Joe's men began to move out from the FUP (forming up point), they received accurate 2" mortar fire that was being indirectly guided by a hidden Platoon HQ. This was disconcerting to the point that the initial plan was all but forgotten. Joe's two platoons scurried for cover, but there was little respite from a Vickers machine gun, which joined the attack. The Panzer Grenadiers managed to make it to a hedgerow in good order, but the paratroopers continued to harass them with long range small arms fire.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Joe's second and third platoons take up positions at a nearby hedgerow.

Meanwhile, 1st Platoon

My plan was to carefully reconnoiter the closest hedgerow and other likely hiding places. I was aware of the accurate mortar fire against 2nd and 3rd Platoon and realized it was being directed by a headquarters unit that most likely had line of sight near my position. After a few unsuccessful identification attempts, I came to the conclusion that this field artillery observer must be in the hedgerow. I shifted my effort and finally confirmed the location of the platoon HQ and a security element. Our squads exchanged fire, but little damage was sustained. My company commander successfully contacted the battalion mortar battery and requested a heavy linebarrage along the bocage. After a short delay, the rounds began to fall. My battery was of regular troop quality and the rate of fire was only eight rounds per phase. But that was enough to shake them up and inflict a few casualties.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

1st Platoon at the SL (start line)

My strategy involved slow and methodical observation. Before 1st Platoon revealed its whereabouts, it conducted an exhaustive reconnoiter of the likely hiding places. Although that tactic limited the initial action, it paid off by holding casualties down.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Joe's platoon is spotted by a hidden FA Observer, who calls in a 2" mortar.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Joe's men suffer the effects of accurate Canadian 2" mortar fire.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Once the enemy forces were identified, 1st platoon opened fire in an attempt to pin them down. However, the Canadian defensive position was too strong and the fire was ineffective. Notice how almost the entire force has revealed its presence (blue bingo chits represent ID'd units).

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Security squad withdraws after the platoon HQ is destroyed.

The German Barrage

The 8.0cm mortar from the battalion battery slammed across the bocage with devastating effect. The platoon HQ was destroyed and the security squad fell back to a defensive strongpoint.

2nd and 3rd Platoon

Joe's platoons moved forward to escape the Canadian barrage and took up positions at a hedgerow. This drew the attention of the Canadian company commander, who called in the 3" mortars. Joe's day was about to get worse.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

The target chit is the starting point for the German 8.0cm mortar barrage.

At this stage, the security squad withdrew to a fallback position. Notice that the Platoon HQ (blue bingo chit) was trapped by the mortar barrage. The unit was doomed, and it was only a matter of time. Meanwhile, Joe was still trapped on the road. He was surrounded by hedgerow, which restricted his ability to maneuver. Consequently, the paratroopers continued to pour machine gun and mortar fire on the helpless Panzer Grenadiers.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

The Panzer Grenadiers are trapped on the road.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

As Joe ponders the next few moves, he knows the fate of 2nd and 3rd Platoon hangs in the balance.

But try as he might, the Canadians refused to let him off the hook. A Vickers machine gun continued to hammer his position.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Unwavering morale and excellent leadership help to make this Allied position a veritable strongpoint.

1st Platoon Makes its Move

Now that the Platoon HQ had been eliminated and the security squad had withdrawn, 1st Platoon was ordered forward. The men moved out and took up positions in the bocage recently vacated by Steve's men.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

1st Platoon double times to exploit the success of its artillery barrage.

In spite of the German penetration to their right flank, the Canadians continued to pummel the Panzer Grenadiers of 2nd and 3rd Platoon. In so doing, they were able to break contact and move several strong units to meet the growing threat posed by the German 1st Platoon.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Elements of 2nd and 3rd Platoon on the main road

By this time, 2nd and 3rd Platoon had been reduced to a few dozen men struggling just to survive. They were trapped between the pincer formed by the Vickers machine gun and the devastating two and three-inch mortar barrage.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

Joe's men are caught in the blast radius of Steve's powerful mortar barrage.

The Conclusion

Although the advance of 2nd and 3rd Platoon was stopped, 1st Platoon's probe was able to find a weak point in the Canadian defensive line. As the Panzer Grenadiers of 1st Platoon took up their new positions, they were able to identify the Canadian units manning the last line of defense. Immediately, the Germans poured heavy and continuous small arms fire on those positions until the Company HQ could call in the balance of the 8.0cm battalion mortar battery. Once that happened, the position was broken. But all was not lost for the Canadians, as they managed to move a few squads into positions to contest the final German exploitation. We played six turns, and logged a great deal of action. The game was well balanced, and could have gone either way.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

1st Platoon takes up new positions in the bocage.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

1st Platoon is considered to be in firing positions in the bocage.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

These Canadian Paratroopers are under fire from the Panzer Grenadiers of 1st Platoon.

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Micro Melee: Artillery Boot-camp 1944

The Vickers Heavy Machine Gun and Platoon HQ

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