Red Sector A - Combat Commander Ladder game. The winds of change.

This month's ladder game takes place around Aachen, Germany, in October 1944. This is a big push by the U.S. to break into the Ruhr. The 1st Army has been given the direction to forge ahead. The Germans defended the city of Aachen and surrounding areas with grim determination, to prevent the breaking of the Siegfried Line.

This month, I was given the task of the defending Germans. My opponent Bob P would have the challenge of driving the U.S. forces forward. This was a tale of two stories, with the wind of change playing a large role in the outcome. The game started with a basic setup. The idea of the German defenders was to keep the U.S. towards the middle and to the right flank. I wanted the Panzerfausts up front so they could do some damage and since they just rolled over after use, I felt this was a good place to start the game with them.

The starting setup

Time would play a huge factor in this game. Turn 4 arrived quickly and things were looking good for the U.S. Off-board artillery had been effective in smoke placement and the U.S. was in the position to make a big push.

Feelining each other out to start

With more abundant smoke being placed, the German defenders were starting to wonder if they would be able to see the advancing enemy. The only good thing for the defender was the feeling that time was going by quickly. The U.S. started to creep forward under the cover of smoke, The Germans were seeing the enemy close in fast. Things were looking grim

Smoke all aorund

Then out of nowhere, the winds picked up and in a matter of a few minutes, the smoke had disappeared. Just like that the advancing forces were out in the open, no more protective blanket of smoke. The Germans took advantage of the situation and pushed the U.S. back into the buildings for cover. The winds of change had made the battlefield much more deadly.

The winds of change hurts the U.S. push

After a very effective counter-attack by the Germans, the U.S. was retreating when it should have been moving forward. Then more bad luck occurred as the time went off again and now we would be rolling for a sudden death. Not a good formula for the Americans.

You guessed it, we rolled a 5 and the game ended in a decisive victory for the defending Germans. This was a fun scenario and had it not been for the time running off so quickly it would have been a close one.

Germans win in sudden death

In closing, it seems for the U.S. to win Red Sector A, it has to commit to one of the following strategies. Either smoke, smoke and more smoke, then run for the exits or stand and fight and try to get the Germans to surrender levels. I will take the win as I was on a 0-3 slide wince returning to the ladder. A huge shout out to Bob P, who is always a joy to play against.

Until next time everyone, have fun gaming, be safe and Be Kind! Tell me how you would have set up or how you would have attacked my set up. I am always trying to learn.