CAMERONIANS' CORRIDOR pictures and notes

I was a little unhappy with the balance. I expected it to be tough for 9CAM - it was - but I found I wasted too man units trying to make progress while 7RTR were still off map. It's pretty much hopeless and I lost something like 25% of 9CAM for very little return.

I have made some 'tweaks' to help 9CAM and hinder the German superiority.

1. 7RTR can start issuing orders at 0900 - 30 minutes earlier. They still have a long way to go.
2. 12th SS are no longer such 'supermen' I've downgraded their COHESION to 4 and MOTIVATION and SKILL level is lowered for lower ML MMC and non LEADER/FOO/SNIPER SMC.
3. German company and Bn HQs will only be present if most of their Zugs are. Means fewer adhoc FOOs which had a big impact.
4. I'm not going to force 9CAM to drive into the teeth of the German MLR. They can hold back though this may lead to orders changing.
5. I moved the treelined paved road 25 to the South. Just seemed better.

German dice were 'hot' and numerous heroes appeared - though given the number of FTC they can attempt this is likely. I mistook the German 105mm guns for 150 making them far more deadly!

Maybe have time to start a test of this tomorow. Plays smoothely so can be quite fast. Just the German forts and UK bombardment are slow.

CAMERONIANS' CORRIDOR 0950 26th June 1944

CAMERONIANS' CORRIDOR 0930 26th June 1944

CAMERONIANS' CORRIDOR 0910 26th June 1944

CAMERONIANS' CORRIDOR - NEW VERSION

I made the decision to move the start time on 30 minutes and begin with all the Cameronian line companies on map behind the barrage. Some may in fact be further back depending on when the activate their orders.

I redid the German defences with benefit of experience and added some forces. Unsure if this further unbalances the game but they seem to have been present. In this playing the Germans have 4 platoons of infantry, 6sMG42s and 2 mortars plus 2 PaK40s and 11 tanks available. The bombardment is very hard on tanks though and only 3 survived.

Here are some pictures.

CAMERONIANS CORRIDOR 1000 26th June 1944

CAMERONIANS CORRIDOR 0942 26th June 1944

CAMERONIANS CORRIDOR 0916 26th June 1944

CAMERONIANS CORRIDOR 0858 26th June 1944

CAMERONIANS CORRIDOR 0852 26th June 1944

CAMERONIAN'S CORRIDOR 0804 26th June 1944

North of Haut du Bosq 0800 26th June 1944

GERMAN DEFENDERS - rough layout CAMCOR

CAMERONIANS CORRIDOR FULL MAP - revised

Cameronians' Corridor - full map

CAMCOR 1000 26th June 1944

CAMCOR 0946 26th June 1944

Cameronians Corridor 0800 26th June 1944

CASTLE HILL 0720 19th March 1944

I think is the high water mark of the German attack. The British/Indians have more men in the castle than the Germans have anywhere nearby. German firesupport is struggling to keep Pt 175 suppressed and cannot get much fire on the castle area. Therefore I think I will call this a British/Indian victory (in no small part due to heroic Rajputana troops at Pt 165 and 175 who in many ways saved 1/4th Essex.) The Germans have losses amounting to about 50%.

CASTLE HILL 0700 19th March 1944

CASTLE HILL 0650 19th March 1944

CASTLE HILL 0630 19th March 1944

Progress is slow for the FJ and losses heavy. Bodies can be seen piling up around Pt 165 and the Yellow House and more are hidden by units. All in all this one is swinging heavily towards the 4th Indian Division men and I'm curious if the Germans can recover. They still have a firepower advantage but it will be full daylight soon.

CASTLE HILL 0610 19th March 1944

CASTLE HILL 0600 19th March 1944

NEW VERSION FJ counterattack on Castle Hill

I've made some adjustments that I hope will make the game more historical while also adjusting balance towards the British side slightly. Most can be seen below.

The reduced entry/exit areas make it more feasible for 1/4 ESSEX to exit before the FJ get in their way. In the victory conditions I have added that if => 20 US (about 60 men) of 1/4 ESSEX exit they have achieved a minor victory. If <= 10US (30 men) exit it's a minor German victory. The capture of the castle obviously is the deciding factor still - but I want to motivate the British to exit the map rather than stick around and fight. The local commander wanted to have these troops attack the flank of the FJ but was overruled and the 2 companies continued on to support 1/9th Gurkha Rifles on Hangman's Hill. About 40 of them made it and might well have been significant.

Hangman's Hill

Inspired by the sacrifice of 1/9th Ghurkha Rifles (plus a few men from 1/4th Essex and 1/6th Rajputanas) I'm considering a scenario based on Hangman's Hill. Though I am concerned it was little more than a heroic stand in a shooting gallery and would lack any maneuver.

Castle Hill Analysis

The Germans usually win this one. I think in part it's due to my playing them more diligently while I tend to rush the British side and don't fully exploit their options. I tend not to use the mortars at all and underuse the artillery out of laziness. In this playing I only landed one salvo of 25 lbers on target and that mostly killed 1/4 Essex men.

I would be curious how this game would work with another player since palying solo you can never be sure you're unbiased and I know I tend to favour the Germans - always have done in wargames.

I think this scenario is 'balanced' if very dicey. A great deal depends on the opening German moves. How far they get down the mountain before all hell breaks loose.

Castle Hill 0824 19th March 1944

German victory.

A very close fight but German close range firepower and numerous heroes overwhelmed the castle garrison. Dreadful losses on both sides.

Castle Hill 0810 19th March 1944

Castle Hill 0700 19th March 1944

Castle Hill 0650 19th March 1944

Castle Hill 0640 19th March 1944

Castle HIll 0636 19th March 1944 - commentary

Over an hour since the attack began and although the Germans seem to be doing well they are far from sure of victory.

The castle is tough and well manned. Demo charges need to be used to blow breaches or they have to storm the gateway! One DC was lost earlier and the second has been expended to no effect.

It will be full daylight in 10 minutes and the Vickers MMGs and 3" mortars will sweep the shoulders of Castle Hill clear of Germans.

Meanwhile, stubborn knots of resitance still exist in the Germans rear. Looks grim.

Castle Hill 0630 19th March 1944

Castle Hill 0620 19th March 1944

Castle Hill 0610 19th March 1944

Castle Hill 0600 19th March 1944

Counterattack on Castle Hill. 0550 19th March 1944

OPERATION DICKENS to 1940 15th March 1944

OPERATION DICKENS TO 1900 15th March 1944

OPERATION DICKENS twilight 15th March 1944