Dawn Patrol - Combat Mission: Red Thunder

Nice idea for a scenario but I think it's favored to the soviets

Very good scenario for learning how to advance infantry over an open field under MG fire. Tense and unforgiving.

Yes, I played this as the Russians in a PBEM game and I agree that it favors the Russians.



*** spoiler***

If you take a careful approach forward as I did and are lucky enough to spot and destroy the German AT gun before losing any of the SU-76 tanks then you have a lot of extra HE to pound the defenders with.

This could be a good, little battle for practicing attacking a strong defensive position. However, there are three major problems that unbalance the battle:

1) VPs - both sides get up to 1500 for holding ground but the Russians can get up to another 800 for parameters. Obviously, this is completely unbalanced.

2) Terrain & Set Up - the small battlefield and open terrain make this a little boring and any defenders can be picked off at short range once they are spotted even when in trenches. This lack of cover is a big advantage for the attacker. Also, most of the mines are fixed but should be open to the defender to place where they like.

3) Balance of Forces - The infantry forces are OK for balance at roughly 3:1 (i.e. a company of Russians vs a platoon+ of German defenders). However, the Russians have 3 x SU-76s vs a single 50mm ATG for the Germans. Due to the open terrain, the ATG is quickly spotted and easily knocked out by mortar fire, leaving the SU-76s free to slowly wipe out each easily spotted trench/foxhole. The Russians also have 2 x 81mm mortar missions for a mere company level attack so they can essentially pound the German positions with harassing fire the entire battle.

I played this battle as the Germans vs Stonecutter, my usual opponent. I echo his comments about this battle. I had but a lone 50mm ATG to face the three Soviet AFVs, but Stonecutter's cautious approach prevented any AFV casualties. Since there is no cover in this battle, he was able to easily spot my ATG with his infantry, and then the mortar bombs rained down upon it incessantly until the gun crew was decimated. At that point it was Soviet clean up time and my Germans had zero chance of getting any location points, let alone win the battle.

To improve this battle I would give the Germans a second ATG, allow all of the mines to be "freely" placed, and eliminate the extra 800 points that the Russians can receive. That should do it.

I don't think there is much the German player can do here to win. Numbers and time are overwhelmingly with the Russians.

Weird, felt like World War One trench war.

Weird, felt like World War One trench war.

Nice little scenario with a WW1 feel to it. Need to really follow the the contours of the battlefield to get close to the enemy.