Raiding Aces Campaign Grand Finale

We had our final Raiding Aces Game over the weekend.  The mission was "Smash and Grab" where one side is in the city of Tobruk guarding key buildings and trying to escort multiple convoys of 3 supply vehicles to safety.  The other team is trying to destroy the key buildings and the supply convoys.  The defender got VP for escorting supply vehicles off the table and killing whole companies.  The attacker got points for destroying supply vehicles and between  1-2 VP for destroying key buildings.

The Axis was leading the campaign by 1 VP prior to this game and started as the defenders in control of Tobruk.  We had 5 Axis players and 3 Allied show up. Each Axis player got 500 points and each Allied player got 833 points.

 

Axis Forces:

- Autosahariana
- 2 Fallschirmjaeger
- DAK Grenadiers
- Dora (Brandenbergers)

Allies:
- OSS
- LRDG
- SAS

The game length is unique as you pick a time for the game to stop and the defender gets to still get their final move.  With 5 people we picked a 2 1/2 hour time limit and it turned into a 4 turn game.

The defenders have one table edge and the attackers enter from the other 3 edges.  We have our supply convoys spread throughout the table and because of the setup rules I have 2 in the sector I am to protect.  The defenders plan is to set up a defensive line with the infantry and use the mobile vehicles of the Dora and Autosahariana to escort those vehicles outside of the defensive line.

 And wouldn't you know it....the OSS sees the 2 convoys and the potential for 6 victory points right in my sector.  This is great scenario feel as it is our 4 battle in this campaign and you can feel the history between the forces.

I will focus in my sector since that is where my attention was...and a large chunk of the action too.

Turns 1-3

The OSS come on in force, right at the 2 supply convoys my one AS42 platoon and Warrior CiC (and his escort) were.  The OSS were an OSS detachment, 2 Guerrilla Platoons, a Partisan Platoon and....3 Stuarts.

The Stuarts head around a big hill masking one of the convoys and into a gap between the hill and stream where they engage my 20mm AS42 and the HMG AS42. The 20mm survives but I lose the HMG.  The 20mm AS42 kept the Stuart platoon fixed in place for 3 turns...and with the help of a DAK ATR actually bailed one of the Stuarts who stayed bailed the whole game.

 The Guerrillas and OSS detachment manage to take out the CiC's custom ride, but the CiC manages to jump to the escort AS42 (but I lost alot of MG fire int he process)...as well the 40mm AS42 and the .5in AS42.  The 20mm AS42 is the sole survivor of the platoon and he manages to pass all required test and still keep the Stuarts busy.

 The Guerrillas also manage to kill 1 vehicle in each of the convoys before I could pull them behind the DAK and get them to safety.

on the third turn I get my first delayed reserves and my 2nd AS42 platoon comes on out of the Harbor...and right behind a Guerrilla Platoon and proceed to mow them down to the man.  All that is left is the OSS 2iC SMG team

The OSS Partisans earned them fame yet again.  The used demo charges and destroyed an Outpost building earning them a VP and then headed for the DAK. These Fearless Conscripts captured my CiC last game and now are staring down a DAK platoon with Halftracks getting ready for a mounted assault.  The DAKS rev their engines and head in only to be stopped in defensive fire, against all odds!  We have taken to calling them the "Spartisians." 

Elsewhere on the battlefield, the SAS engage Dora and take out a few supply vehicles and the SAS get a supply vehicle and a Searchlight building. 

4th turn 

I get my 75mm Artillery battery from reserves and deploy them from the barracks building that is almost right in front of the Stuarts.  The 75s shoot and kill the only operation Stuart...all that's left is the bailed Stuart and one that bogged on the big hill as they tried to bypass the AS42 20mm. 

Else where we hold and manage to get enough points to win the scenario by 1 VP and the whole campaign by 2 VP. 

Wrap up 

It was a great time and we are looking for our next campaign session.  Looks to be we might be heading to Cassino next!