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Setup

This is the second of the MEs between Priest and I; this time I will be commanding a British force. The map and parameters are the same as the first, though the location of the VFs has been changed slightly to add variety.

Force selection for QBs can be an art onto itself and I was in a bit of a dilemma selecting my force this go around. I *know* Priest has an armour-heavy focus and now that he is playing the Germans I feel compelled to go that route myself in order to match him, yet also I want to maintain a balanced combined-arms force overall. For all my disparaging email remarks to Priest last game about armour thickness being overrated and the difference between ‘German versus Allied’ armour tactics being negligible, I know full well they are realities on the CM battlefield and I will need to take them into consideration.

I have grouped my force as follows:

 

 Task Force Vickers

  • 2 x Rifle Platoons w/1 PIAT each

  • 1 x Airborne Platoon (Vet) w/2 PIATs

  • 1 x Bn HQ, 1 x Co HQ (Vet), 1 x Plt HQ

  • 1 x Vickers MG

  • 1 x Sharpshooter (Elite)

  • 1 x 4.2” FO

  • 1 x 6 pdr AT gun (Vet)

  • 3 x Carriers

  • 1 x Stuart V

  • 1 x Cromwell IV, 1 x Cromwell VI

  • 1 x Firefly

Task Force Lewis

  • 4 x Rifle Platoons w/1 PIAT each

  • 1 x Sharpshooter (Elite)

  • 1 x 6 pdr AT gun (Vet)

  • 1 x PIAT (Vet)

  • 1 x Vickers MG

  • 1 x 2” Mortar

  • 1 x 4.2” FO

  • 1 x Plt HQ (Vet), 1 x Co HQ

  • 1 x Carrier, 1 x White Scout Car

  • 1 x Stuart V

  • 2 x Cromwell IVs

  • 1 x Cromwell VI

  • 2 x Fireflys

 

Task Force Cleary

  • 2 x Rifle Platoons w/1 PIAT each

  • 1 x 6 pdr AT gun

  • 2 x Co HQs

  • 1 x Carrier

  • 1 x Cromwell IV

  • 1 x Firefly

Task Force Gray

  • 1 x Plt HQ (Vet)

  • 1 x 4.2” FO

Task Force Drake (Reserve)

  • 3 x Rifle Platoons w/1 PIAT each

  • 2 x Airborne Platoons (Vet)

  • 1 x 3” FO

  • 1 x 4.2” FO

  • 1 x Co HQ

  • 1 x Wasp (Vet)

  • 2 x Cromwell IVs

  • 1 x Cromwell VI

  • 2 x Fireflys (Vet)

 

 

Priest has vowed to regain some dignity this game and I fully expect him to come out with a vengeance. He has expressed dissatisfaction in the first game at his inability to “get rolling” so I am again anticipating him to try to roll up one of my flanks with his main force. I am guessing his armour will consist of PzIVs and Panthers/Tigers, probably Panthers because of their greater mobility and his stated preferences on the forum. My counter will be the Firefly and 6 pdr AT gun.

My tentative plan:

I think the possible main thrust from Priest will come from my right flank, through the Hill 1 and Hill 5 area, as this route offers the best covered avenues of approach to assemble and move a large force before striking. Task Force Vickers job will be to quickly setup defensive positions anchored around the AT gun on Hill 5. I will push forward a Sharpshooter, a Platoon, a Stuart and a Carrier to try and get some early recon on the enemy to see his intent.

Task Force Cleary will setup a blocking position on Hill 4. The AT gun positioned there should have good LOS up the Valley, my anticipated main area of battle, and also be able to support TF Vickers should it be necessary. Hill 4 also has the added benefit of providing a further vantage point for possible enemy moves.

Task Force Gray will sneak into position on Hill 6 and remain unhidden initially to get better intel, the more *eyes* on the battlefield the better.

Task Force Lewis will initially setup behind Hill 3, while a token force drives forward aggressively towards the large VF in the Valley. Like the first game I envision this area as being a focal point of the main battle, also practical considerations rule in its favor as the rest of the VFs will all be easily occupied by Priest. To facilitate that I will occupy the VF and *entice* Priest in. I doubt after the first game that Priest will fall for anything obvious; however I will slowly feed in forces this time to ‘build’ it up until it hopefully does become the major focus. At that point the remainder of TF Lewis, in conjunction with the Reserve TF Drake, will envelop and destroy the German forces committed there. If Priest’s main thrust does come from the right flank, which is a very real possibility, then their job will be to attack up the left to put pressure on him and hopefully breakthrough the weaker German forces positioned there to exploit in the rear.

Task Force Drake will occupy central reverse-slope positions just before the Valley. They will remain hidden initially until the battle has further developed. Being centrally located they are in an ideal position to strike anywhere on the map, whether right or left or forward, depending on what I learn from Priest’s maneuvers. They will form my Assault Group and their purpose is to strike a German force that has already been battered by one or more of the other TFs.

Like the first game, the intent is to *win* the small clashes before the main battle and to maintain a fresh reserve to commit to that main battle. I will integrate my AFVs more with the infantry this game because the British infantry needs their support to advance, relying on the Fireflys, PIATs and 6 pdr AT guns for the AT work. As always I want to get intel as early as possible on Priest’s force composition and intent, while keeping him guessing as to mine.

 

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