Last Saturday, Max and I got CoC v2 back on the table. Specifically, we tackled Scenario 6 "Attack On An Objective", and as usual, we played it twice—switching sides, of course!
The setting was our go-to "Operation Husky", which we’ll be sticking with for a while. That said, we might eventually move to the mainland and into September '43, since Max is itching to field his Bersaglieri after a long hiatus, and I’m keen to keep pushing forward with my HG-Division 😎
From peaceful slumber to a bloody battlefield
A small, insignificant village is jolted awake from its peaceful slumber. Unfortunately for the locals, it sits right in the path of the US troops landing at Gela. For the defending Germans, however, it’s the perfect spot to stall or at least slow down the enemy advance.
The tiny church was turned into a strongpoint for all-round defense, with its thick walls offering decent protection. Naturally, it became the primary objective for the attacking US Armoured units. The village was further fortified with barbed wire to the north, as the GIs were expected from that direction—a hunch that turned out to be spot on.
Once the first shots from the scouting patrols shattered the morning silence, a bloody firefight erupted. Both sides took heavy losses, but the defending units of the Hermann Göring Division managed to beat back the assault—at least for now.
US Armoured funneled their entire attack from the north, with nothing but swaying wheat fields for cover during their advance. Meanwhile, several platoons of the HG Division occupied the houses, raining fire down on the approaching GIs.
The Setting: A small village surrounded by fields and orchards, typical for southern Sicily in the summer of '43.
Everything is drenched in warm, Mediterranean colors.
The Calm before the Storm: The first shepherds drive their livestock onto the meadows surrounding the village.
But then all of a sudden the first shots shatter the morning silence and the locals scramble for safety!
The GIs strike the village with concentrated force, laying down a wall of covering fire against the buildings. The defenders are forced to keep their heads down and can only return inaccurate fire.
Hobby Hack: My templates for the buildings – no more fiddling around with removing floors and roofs for units inside!
Reinforcements: A tank arrives to support the defenders and opens fire on the attacking GIs.
Counter-Battery: But shortly after, it’s heavily hit by a 57mm AT gun rushed to the front, and attempts to reverse into the cover of the citrus grove.
Holding the Line: Meanwhile, a German PaK 40 pins down the attacking Americans with HE shells as they try to outflank the village.
The Aftermath: Facing mounting casualties, the US Armoured commanding officer is forced to break off the attack and regroup his boys for another attempt.
Game 2: Swapping Sides!
After the Americans successfully wrestled the village from German control in a subsequent assault, HQ from the HG Division issued a clear order: launch a counter-attack and drive the enemy out of the village at all costs.
With my HG Division platoon, I had no intention of getting pinned down in the corner of the wheat fields. Instead, I planned to push through the cover of the olive and apple orchards to outflank the village, allowing me to apply pressure from multiple directions.
However, I made a critical error by placing one of my Jump Off Points (JoPs) too far towards the left flank. I couldn't use it safely, yet I was forced to keep a section in reserve just in case I needed to defend it.
Furthermore, the opposing US Armoured platoon had no interest in just sitting back and defending terrain. They pushed forward aggressively with several squads in a determined counter-offensive. This forced my hand; I had to commit more and more of my units and support early on. Any hope of a defense, let alone a push from the JoP in the wheat field, became an illusion.
The HG platoon commander was fearing the worst, but then disaster struck the GIs: some lucky volleys knocked out several NCOs in quick succession. To make matters worse, the Armoured MG squad came under such heavy fire that they were forced to break and flee. Ultimately, the attackers' Force Moral collapsed. Instead of suffering a certain defeat, the troops of the HG Division managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and retake the village!
The Plan: Pushing towards the farmhouse with part of my platoon while using the orchards for cover—that was the plan. However, the aggressive defense of the US Armoured rendered it obsolete from the start, forcing me to commit more and more troops just to avoid being overrun.
Efficient Defense: Meanwhile, a single section of the US platoon was enough to secure the village...
...while the other three squads were free to give the Germans hell, making them pay dearly for every single inch of ground.
The Turning Point: More luck than brains for the Germans! Fate was against the GIs today; it felt as if every NCO was a literal magnet for enemy bullets.
Lessons Learned: Tactical Takeaways
Every Chain of Command game is a school day! Here’s what this double-header taught us:
- JoP Placement is Key: My biggest takeaway? Don’t get greedy with your Jump Off Points. Placing a JoP too far out on a flank without a solid plan to secure it can turn a strategic asset into a liability that ties up your reserves.
- The NCO Factor: Never underestimate the impact of losing your NCOs. In Game 2, the US attack looked unstoppable until their leadership started dropping. Once your Force Moral starts to bleed, even the best-laid plans crumble.
- Aggression vs. Caution: Max showed that an "Armoured" mindset means pushing hard. Even when defending, a well-timed counter-offensive can completely disrupt the opponent’s deployment.
- Terrain Matters: Those orchards and wheat fields aren't just for show—they are life-savers. Utilizing Covering Fire while moving through open ground is the only way to keep your squads combat-effective.
Now it’s your turn!
We’ve all been there: Your plan is perfect, the support is in place, but then the "NCO magnet" kicks in and your Force Moral hits rock bottom.
- Have you ever had a game where your leadership seemed to have a death wish?
- What’s your go-to strategy when you're forced to commit your reserves too early?
Drop a comment below and share your most epic (or tragic) tabletop moments from Sicily or beyond!
