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Los Ejercitos Nuevos
March 9, 1937 - Jadraque, Spain
After several months of war, both the Nationalist and Republican military leadership began measures to "regularize" their militia forces. On the Nationalist side, among the first fruits of these policies was the Division de Soria, formed from Carlist and Falangist militiamen operating northwest of Madrid.
Holding a front of 50 kilometers, they had been opposed from the first day of 1937 by the Republican XII Division, one of the first large newly formed formations of the recently decreed Ejercito Popular (Popular Army) to reach the front lines. When, on March 8th, 1937, Mussolini's Black Shirts struck south down the Zaragoza highway towards Guadalajara, the task of clearing and screening the right flank of their advance fell to the Division de Soria.
As the Italians poured through the XII Division's shattered front, the hills around Jadraque, almost the only elevations breaking the bare tableland, offered excellent positions both for the remnants of the XII Division to regroup and for Italian penetration. Colonel La Calle, commanding the XII Division, was determined to hold the hills; General Moscardo, commanding the Division de Soria, was determined to take them.
The new armies of both Republican and Nationalist Spain were meeting in their first trial of major battle.
SETUP
10x 3-3-7 Squads
3x 2-2-8 Crews
1x 9-0 Leader
1x 8-0 Leader
1x 4-10 MMG
2x 2-6 LMG
6x ?
12x Foxhole (1 Squad)
You may set up anywhere inside the red perimeter.
Reconnaissance
-Enemy forces outnumber your forces.
-The enemy enjoys a numerical superiority in support weapons.
Primary Objectives
- Control 8 or more Level 2 hexes on Hill 526 at Game End (15/15)
Secondary Objectives
- Kill the Nationalist 9-1 Leader (0/1)
- Preserve at least 25% of friendly units (15/15 - 100%)
Special Rules
Weather: EC is Overcast, and Mud is in effect. There is no wind.
Heated Argument: All units have a +2 Heat of Battle DRM for their nationality.
Der Commissar: All Republican leaders are Commissars for Rally Purposes only.
Inexperienced Users: Republican squads/half-squads are considered inexperienced for Cowering and SW usage.
Fanatical Upbringing: Squads/Half-squads always Battle Harden to Fanatic.
Inexperienced Fascists: Squads and Half-squads are inexperienced for MMG usage.
Close Quarters Combat: Hand-to-Hand CC is allowed.
Prepared Defenses: "?" counters may be set up in non-concealment terrain.
Orders Due: Any Time On Saturday!
How will participation work?
Ideally, each leader will be led by goon participants, as well as squads/crews or vehicles, based on total available numbers. For example, in low density scenarios, a lower total number of squads will be controlled alongside the leaders. This is partly to ensure that things don't end hilariously quickly
A google docs sheet will be made available for players to input orders. Orders will be for 1 full turn each, allowing for faster rate of play. Examples of orders can be precise:
-8-0 Leader and Squad X forgoes shooting, moves to Hex AA5 for 3MF then Hex AA4 for 5MF, shoots at enemy unit in foxhole CC1 in AFPh. Attempt to get into CC.
Or they can be vague:
-8-0 Leader and my squad moves towards objective, try to stay in good TEM, shoot at nearest target.
I will try to aim at giving participant control of 1/5 to 1/10 of the total Order of Battle, fractions rounded down. Certain actions will be done automatically for ease of play, such as rally attempts, types of ammo to use (if not designated), or shot targets (if not designated).
The idea is to give participants some agency in the scenario without bogging down everyone with rule checks, or expecting that participants know all the rules.
Particularly bad ideas will be veto'd by myself in order to prevent "throwing" a scenario, and the participant will receive suggestions on other actions they could perform.
Heroism, Permanence, and Variability
While the thread will vote whether or not we will play through all scenarios as the Axis or the Allies, certain things like the balance, or secondary objectives, will vary in effect and frequency. They may exist for flavor, or to help balance things out as a scenario progresses.
Particular acts of bravery can and will be rewarded based on votes after the completion of a scenario. Dead Leaders will be enshrined in the hall of heroes, survivors may become better or worse if the dice rolled obscene odds, enemies may get worse in future scenarios. Theatres of combat, units, leaders will be tracked individually, if time permits, to keep continuity running smoothly.
For example: A leader that was particularly bad at rallying units may very well be downgraded the next we see him. A squad that manages to kill a high number of units, or survives a veritable hailstorm of bullets, may upgrade to a higher quality, or be permanently attributed the "Fanatical" status in order to represent their elite status.
Example of Play:
As the men gather themselves for the morning, Lt. Delgado finished giving the runners instructions for his men to assault the Republican lines. He knew the coming battle would be bloody, and he could only hope that most of his men made it through this ordeal alive. There was little else to prepare, the machine guns having been cleaned and oiled, the men in the first echelon briefed and given the lay of the land. With a few encouraging words to spare for the machine gun team sharing his foxhole, the opening shots broke the morning silence and Nationalist troops began to leave their positions.
[Player Orders]
7-0 Leader (MacGuffin) and squad fire on enemy unit in X7. No move in Advance Phase.
9-1 Leader (McQueen) and MMG fire at enemy unit in X6. No move in Advance Phase.
[Initial state of play]
In the opening shots of the turn, Republican squads in X6 and X7 were broken by concentrated machine gun fire. As the first line of defense broke, Nationalist troops left their starting positions and advanced on Hill 526. The going was slow, largely due to the muddy ground and marshy terrain that proved difficult to cross.
[Current state of the board]
(Suggestions for line colours welcome)
I'm hesitating on using lines due to the nature of ASL having so much movement and shooting during a player turn, and more in a game turn. Taking suggestions for alternatives, to use as example above, or not at all.
[Initial State + Planning]
The Bolivians [Brown/Blue] are set to attack and hold an initial manpower advantage, as well as multiple artillery pieces being brought in via horse-drawn wagons. The objectives are two-fold: Either the Bolivians eliminate enough Paraguayan men as to force them to rout, and/or take the strong point and burn the local village.
The plan is to have machine guns set up on Hill 547 (NE of the Roadblock) shoot at anyone exposed on the hill opposite them. Once this has been achieved, the machine guns will be able to move up, yet remain somewhat safe outside of the regular range of the defenders. Pressure will be the name of the game as two pincer moves will be made by the bulk of the Bolivian forces.
The Bolivian Cavalry and Artillery (Off-board) will make their way to Hill 526. Should the way be clear, they will turn West and attack the village. If that appears too risky, the will continue on a wider encirclement and attack the village from the rear. This may also depend on how many losses are incurred by either side in the first few turns.
Communication intercepts point towards the Paraguayans attempting to hold the line the retreating from their forward positions into the village. Dismounted cavalry units have also been reportedly seen from the West and may attempt to reinforce the men currently in the area. We should expect stiff resistance coming from the stone building currently overlooking the road block.
Minutes after the fighting had commenced for the day, Bolivian troops had made their way along the northern edge of Hill 534, capturing a squad of Paraguayans in the process. In the East, many units have successfully edged their way around the defensive perimeter, and now have the choice between moving west across the bridge in 36R4 and subsequently entering the village, or attempting the larger encirclement.
"Both machine guns developed issues, likely due to a lack of training and maintenance." Stated 1st Lt. Correa. "The men will have to be disciplined... if we survive this ordeal." He did not yet know that one of the MMGs had broken completely, and will likely need an armourer to look at it and repair it. Meanwhile, the Paraguayans had suffered numerous casualties, as well as several units being captured. Their guards were too valuable for the attack, and could not be sent to the rear immediately.
"Maybe they won't be so hasty to shoot us if they risk shooting their own troops?" Maj. de la Cruz said with a smile.
Bolivian CVP = 4 + 2 (Captured)
Paraguayan CVP = 0