Reconnaissance Before Pontecorvo - After Action Report

Kieran and I decided to play another "Hit The Dirt" scenario, and at the same time introduce another Auckland Wargaming Club member, Ben, to Crossfire. We selected 'Reconnaissance Before Pontecorvo', as a suitable scenario that matched our available forces on the day and kept the size of the game to manageable with a new player.

Pontecorvo - from behind German lines looking East towards the Canadian start line.

In the scenario a Canadian Company is attacking, or rather doing a reconnaissance in force, and a German Infantry Company is defending. The scenario called for a single MMG Section for the British, but as we again had none available for the game, they would instead receive a single M4A1 Sherman to provide direct fire support to the Rifle Platoons. We also gave the Germans full size Platoons (3 'Squads' each) and used our own house rules which include our new Anti-Tank Rules (version 4), our own Sniper rules, and some minor modifications to HE fire and Cover effects. Also as we use 1/72nd scale figures on 40mm bases we enlarged the map 125% (i.e. to 5' x 5'). Otherwise the scenario and forces were as described in "Hit The Dirt" along with the published victory conditions.

On Point - No.1 Section of No.1 Platoon reconnoitre the second orchard.

Kieran commanded the German Defenders (yet again), and Ben the Canadians with a little help from Me. The game was played with 1/72nd scale figures (mostly 'AB Figures' to be exact) and I got Ben and the Canadians started with a push up the centre, sending No.1 Platoon through the orchards alongside the Pontecorvo Road. Poor old No.1 Section, No.1 Platoon, got the windy works again, being on point at the forefront of the whole advance! The advance went unopposed however and the balance of No.1 Platoon soon joined No.1 Section in the second orchard along the road.

No.1 Section waits for the rest of the Platoon to move up to join it - all seems quiet...

Ben now brought No.3 Platoon on, or rather a section from it, to the left of No.1 Platoon. Advancing into a copse of trees to the South of the ridge line the Section encountered no resistance. Turning North-West the Canadian's headed for another copse at the West end of the ridge, that would bring them into a position to cover the left flank of No.1 Platoon on the other side of the ridge. However the copse was occupied and they stumbled into a dug-in German rifle section, who's defensive fire proved erratic allowing the Canadians to infiltrate the wooded position.

Elements of No.3 Platoon infiltrate a wooded German position.

After some discussion between Ben and Myself we decided that since the route of the Canadian Section had shown nearby features to be empty (which effectively covered most approaches to the German position), and their approach had not incited a response from possible enemy positions further away, that rather than gamble on a 1:1 unsupported Close-Assault against the 'No Fire' Section we would instead bring up the balance of the Platoon and have the PC lead the other 2 Sections in a direct frontal assault... This, we felt, should allow us to steam roller the isolated German Section before further enemy troops might intervene - so No.3 Platoon's PC duly lead the balance of the Platoon along the exposed valley floor, adjacent to the ridge...

The balance of No.3 Platoon head up the valley.

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