ACROSS THE LITANI

            Murrey makes interesting CGs, though they are like scenarios in some ways. What is most innovating about his work is that they often detail separate actions on separate map structures that combine to make the CG whole. In this case we have a 5-6 part CG detailing the Allied push across the Litani River at the start of the Syrian Campaign (1941). The Allies had hoped that the French would not fight them, but this was not to be the case.

            In this initial part of the battle the British sent out 3 Commando forces to attempt to secure a river crossing under the cover of night, but ended up losing their objective. One British unit incorrectly attacked the final objective bridge, another attacked a Vichy French barracks while the third missed their objective totally and joined the main Aussie attack the next morning.

There are 2 mapboard setups:

The Litani River and Ridge

            This is the area where the British and Aussies, without a bridge over the Litani (the French managed to demolish it prior to the morning attack) set up a ferry crossing (as of the 9AM game) to get their units across (as of the 9/10 Night game a Pontoon Bridge is also available for placement). This crossing was under-fire from the nearby Ridges. Units that exit the Northern Edge of this map set may enter the Southern edge of the Kafr Badda map set at the start of the next CG Date.

            The ridge system has LOS to the river crossing areas and contains a number of important Locations (LVP locations) as well a sizable force who are under permanent No Move during the initial Night Date. There is also an important building close to the river and manned by a skeleton force; they are sure to be the initial target of the infiltrating British.

Kafr Badda

            The final objective, the bridge over the river here must be captured; the CG is won when a single Allied AFV is on the Northern side of this bridge providing the Allied have more VP than the French.

            The small plateau here  to the South of the river is also the base for a 155mm Artillery park. While this park is in operation the British must add red-chits to their OBA draw pile, so targeting these guns will be a priority.

            In general I like the look of this, though the rules are a bit obscure on first glance, and playing with VASL PBEM makes the map structure a bit confusing at first (both map sets are adjacent to each other which naturally makes one consider LOS that is just not there!). I do like the idea of an artillery park being attacked, this happened very often in the war and yet it is an under-utilised topic for scenarios/CGs. Most of all I like the idea of playing the Vichy French... it is something I have not done before and that is always a lot of fun.

8/9 NIGHT

Initial Thoughts

            I have a number of tactical decisions to make, though they are mitigated by the forced nature of the French setup.

            Around the Litani Ridge I have the least tactical flexibility. My units on the Ridge are fixed under No Move, so I must positioned units here to look down over the river crossing zones and to cover the ground he will have to cross to exit the North edge of the map. The units in the Barracks (R7) are likely to be the main target of his initial attack; just in case they survive I will position them to allow for their LOS to influence his river crossing zones for the next Date.

            In the Kafr Badda region I have a little more flexibility, but also a lot more to lose. My Artillery park is going to have to be setup either defensively (i.e. far enough back to allow for the vital guns to be supported) or aggressively (i.e., so that their impressive HE payload can be used to influence the battle). Around the Bridge I have few options for defensive positioning. His objectives on this map are going to be crucial; does he go for the Bridge or the OBA influencing 155mm Guns?

Total # of Units:    18    = 5 HIP

North Ridge (Rows V-GG)

Wire        15BB4, 15EE5, 15FF5, 15GG6

15X3                 1S Foxhole, 248 MMG, 8-1

15Y6        HIP    81mm MTR 228 (CA: Y5/Z5)

15BB5     HIP    75mm ART 228 (CA: AA5/BB4)

15CC5     HIP    75mm ART 228 (CA: CC4/DD4)

            I have a little concern that he might attempt to neutralise this ridge's potent forces rather than taking out the Barracks (or attempt both). The Wire is to channel him over the hill rather than let him slip behind and then up. These units are under a permanent No Move restriction during this CG Date. My ART are facing different directions to at least give me a shot no matter which side of the 15CC5 cliff he approaches.

South Ridge (Rows A-S)

Wire        15A3, 15B3, 15C3, 15D2, 15G2, 15S1

15C4                1S Foxhole, 457

15F2                1S Foxhole, 457

15F3                 Trench, 457 LMG, 8-0 , Pillbox (CA: F2,/G3)    -    These guys will start outside the Bunker

15G3                1S Foxhole, 457

15I2                  1S Foxhole, 457

15L3                Trench, 457 MMG, 8-1, Pillbox (CA: F2,/G3), 457    -    The MMG units will start HIP outside the Bunker

15L4                 Trench, 457

15M5                 Trench

15N4    HIP       Trench, 457 HMG MMG, 9-1, Pillbox (CA: F2,/G3)    -    These guys will start outside the Bunker

15N5                 Trench, 457 LMG

15O3    HIP       237

15Q4                 237 60mm MTR    -    They will attempt to dig a Foxhole

15Q8                 237 LMG

15R4                 1S Foxhole, 457 LMG

15R5                 457 LMG    -    They will attempt to dig a Foxhole

15R8                 237, 6+1    -    This has got to be the Command Post!

15S5                 1S Foxhole, 457

            Despite being under a non-removable No Move restriction I don't think these guys have anything to worry about, the British would have to be very brazen to attempt to attack this Ridge. I hope to use the long-range capabilities of the French SW up here to influence the battle on the flats or on the North Ridge should he get bold. I have made the Pillboxes into Bunkers as they are to be the focus of the defensive positions on the ridge and the Bunker allows me to use the LOS of the Trench in addition to the defensive capabilities of the Pillbox

The Barracks

44S6                 1S Foxhole, 458 60mm MTR

44S7                 ATR 7-0

44S8    HIP      458 HMG, 248 MMG, 8-1

44R7    HIP      25LL AT 228

44P8    HIP      458    -    A sacrificial unit to get some early Starshell action and possibly cause a break

            So close to the initial entry point for the British Commandos these units are in dire need of some support.. and the only place that is coming from is the ridge... and it is a looong way away on a very dark night. If I can survive this game these units are in a great position to influence his river crossing... otherwise I hope I can take some of those Commandos with me!

Total # of Units:    4    = 1HIP

The Bridge (33R8)

33O9    HIP    25LL AT 228 (CA: N8/O8)

33P8               2x 237, HMG, ATR, 8-1

33Q7    HIP    1S Foxhole, 237 MMG    -    Units above Foxhole, a little surprise for him.

            My setup here does not allow me much latitude if something goes wrong, but it is powerful enough to make him think twice about taking it on. The foxhole is to give me a rout option and to assist with the setup for the next game.

The Artillery Park Plateau (11Z5)

            All ART must face to the SW; they cannot move nor can they change CA.

11W6      HIP    155mm ART 228

11X3       HIP    155mm ART 228

11Y8       HIP     237    -    This guy is here to start the Starshell fun should the Commandos attempt to infiltrate

11Z6                  AMD 20 (CE)

11AA8    HIP    155mm ART 228

11BB6              1S Foxhole, 457 HMG, 7-0

11CC4    HIP    155mm ART 228

11DD3               1S Foxhole, 458, AM Dodge (CE)    -    The Foxhole is for routing and later setup

            The HIP ART will give him something to think about, I can choose to not fire until I have him right where I want him... with some luck the uncertainty of the situation here will be enough to discourage him from pushing too hard against this defence. I am more concerned about the attack hitting here than anywhere else - these ART are essential to me being able to manage his OBA.

           The enemy surge on-board and look very much like they are heading towards the North Ridge. They stick together as a bunch though a small group (3 units) splinter off to head for the Barracks. Another unit heads towards Strategic Locations to start claiming setup zones (at least I know he is 'real'). By the end of Turn 2 I have been able to lay down some starshells and eliminated a dummy at the Barracks but also had a 458 broken (South Ridge) through a SAN result. Murray has re-mantled a MTR to be ready to fire on the North Ridge.

            In turn 3 Murray exits 2 of his cloaked units off-board, this will allow them to enter the Kafr Badda map at the start of the next CG date. His Sniper is again active breaking a HS and narrowly missing my French Colonel Bogey (6+1 in 15R8). During his movement my shots are a mess... I end up shooting from the South Ridge too, even un-HIPing my 457, MMG/HMG , 9-1 units and the best I can do is score a single PTC (at least it reveals a 648, 9-1). His men steadily march up the Northern hill and this allows me to break the exposed units with adjacent MMG fire, and then reveal the 81mm MTR who finishes of the leader (Fate). He starts lobbing MTR shells at Gunflashes from my HMG and calls down a SAN result that breaks his own MTR HS!

            His turn 4 sends his masses of cloaked units up the North Ridge; they charge my MMG position and a freakishly lucky shot not only K/'s a Cloaked unit, but the stack turns out to contain his 10-2 - the wounded leader succumbs to his injuries and yet another British leader falls (4 down so far - 2 on each map set), though the men with him are safe (A SAN result from the fire CRs another HS though). He wades into CC against the MMG stack with 2x 648 and kills off my essential defenders, but at least I take a HS with me! These attackers then get massacred when a 1KIA shot from my HMG/MMG position scores snake-eyes to take out the 648 but the next shot Malfunctions my HMG.

            There is just a single Starshell for his movement on Turn 5 but it illuminates the vital area of his movements. He attempts to enter my HIP ART location (15CC5) but the HS is forced back and is attacked by this Gun resulting in his being Broken... I got ROF but missed with the next shot. I then un-HIP-ed the other ART and blast another adjacent 648, breaking him too... if my men were not suffering No Move restrictions this would be a massacre! To put the icing on the cake I also repair my HMG in the next turn. Things are getting desperate on the North ridge, so I fire into the CC between one of his 338s and my 81mm MTR Crew (15Y6), and end up scoring a 2MC on the attackers (they are in the open, my Crew is Emplaced!) With this the attack on the Ridge is almost entirely eliminated/broken - only 2 Cloaked unit remain in GO due to the elimination of the just broken 338 and the wounding of an 8-0 in the open.

            Again my starshells are poor and I miss the chance to really nail the coffin door shut on the British at least I manage to finish off the Wounded 8-0. He runs men for the Northern edge... I take shots at a 648 and CR him (eventually) but the attack results in a SAN which breaks my 81* MTR crew.

            Well, this was a close call. If luck had gone the other way, and for a while it looked like it might, then this game could have seen all my North Ridge guns neutralised. As it turned out I was forced to expose the Guns to defend their positions and that is what saved my bacon, that, and the positioning of my MG units to cover the north Ridge from the South. He really suffered terrible losses this game, with 3 of his 4 leaders being KIA as well as losing 3 of his 8 Squads. On the bright side for the British, some useful Strategic locations were taken, including the foxhole on the Hill (15X3). My losses were not very high at all, but were certainly a lot less than if he had decided to go for The Barracks.

French Losses:      248, 8-1

                    CVP:      12

Allied Losses:        3x 648

                                   10-2, 9-1, 8-0

                 CVP:        3

              Exited:        51mm MTR 338, 2 Cloaked units

           The Commandos come on-board and despite one unit Straying manage to keep a strong 'line abreast' formation as they move towards the Artillery park plateau, whilst also keeping the option of attacking the Bridge open. A unit manages to get close enough to my Artillery picket HS (11Y8) to allow me to start rolling for starshells and the night lights up... most of them are useless which leaves a corridor open for movement. Through that corridor a number of units head for the Bridge while the rest (about half) are going for the Artillery Park.

            Facing up to my MG positions here his men have some initial bad luck when the 9-2 leader and squad fail MCs prior to the Squad CRing, but they immediately rally and end up leading the attack on this area. I do well with starshells and manage to hold him off whilst watching his casualties mount up from my interlocking MMG and HMG fire. Eventually though some of my shots miss and my men fail the subsequent MCs from what turns out to be half his force and some good leaders. My MMG crew is forced to Voluntarily Break to avoid CC against the Stealthy British (this HS manages to make it across the bridge and disappears into the night to survive this battle) while my HMG position is broken by a very lucky 2FP +1 shot (the 237 is hunted down as he tries to escape through the 33O10 woods).

            This is not to suggest that I feel put out, not at all... my 3x 237, HMG, MMG, ATR, 8-1 managed to cause some terrible casualties to his attacking force and dished out far more than they took! However, with the HMG position's fall, I was left with just the AT Gun - and it's 1FP AP attack was not going to scare anyone... I IF-ed him and luckily malfunctioned the Gun, but was not able to save the crew as they were swarmed by Commandos seeking revenge! I did manage to get my 8-1 leader away from here though and he eventually ran all the way up to the Artillery Plateau where he assisted in the KIA of a 338 and eventually joined the HMG up here

            The British really started to dig in, not only around the Bridge but also in the woods at 11T10, they are going to defend this Bridge in force!

The British take the Bridge and dig in

            Things were not much easier for Murray here either. I quickly started exposing the Cloaked units and managed to get a 658, 9-1 exposed, with the 658 being broken by the HMG shot; he routed right into the LOS of one of my HIP ART Guns (11AA8) and although I took quite some time to work out whether it was worth exposing the HIP unit I did so in the end... the 155mm ART eliminated the Squad and wounded the leader (he later succumbed in CC to a HS). I have exposed some of my HIP surprises here, but I feel that I had little option and I did have quite some fortune with their shots thus making these moves worth it in the end.

            In fact, all over this map he has been taking quite some punishment and he has few units left cloaked. Also his force cohesion has been somewhat shattered leaving him only the Bridge as a place where he can bring together an effective and mutually-supporting attack. Partially this is due to the continued bad luck with MCs, 8ML units are just melting under the 3ROF HMG up here. He does attempt to sneak a 51mm MTR 338 around the back of my lines but this guy is cleaned up by an AMD 20 overrun... I leave the AMD 20 watching over the North of the plateau (11T7) though I do feel vulnerable knowing that he has an ATR 658, 9-2 nearby frantically digging a foxhole (11T10). 

            Apart from the Overrun my only other attacking move was to run a HS down to CC his wounded 9-1. I got the Kill but lost the HS to another attack in the next turn, though I feel this is a victory for me... I do have few troops to work with but he has just a single leader left on this map set and the other giving me a huge advantage should he attempt to attack.

            Tactically I am very happy with the result on this map set. Even though I lost the bridge I did keep the plateau and all my ART Guns... this is a huge advantage when it comes to the OBA in the next game. I am of the opinion that keeping the bridge would have been impossible anyway, so I am very happy with the casualties that I caused him. I was most worried that he was going to steam-roll my Bridge defenders and then swing up to attack the Artillery Park from the North-West which would have been hard to counter due to the facing of the ART Guns, luckily he split his forces and gave me the advantage.

French Losses:      3x 237, 228, 7-0 (removed for being wounded, no CVP loss)

                                    AT Gun Captured 

                    CVP:      12

Allied Losses:        3x 648, 338

                                   9-1, 8-0

                    CVP:      7

Victory Points Score

LVP

Commonwealth:    6

Vichy French:       16 (12 locations and 4x Crewed ART)

VP

Commonwealth:   18 (12CVP + 6LVP)

Vichy French:        38 (22CVP + 16LVP)

Conclusion

            There is not a lot to be disappointed about with this initial game. My Vichy really performed well and the British lost a lot of men while not gaining much in territory. The loss of the Bridge was expected...

            Interestingly, my defences were based on single-pointed attacks and with the idea that the French were far inferior to the British but this is not how it worked out, and for a number of reasons:

1.    The British did not attack a single target at a time. They spread out and thus diluted their attack, something which I think is always going to cause problems at night.

2.    The Barracks were not attacked on the Litani Ridge Map. This is still a little hard for me to understand though I have not played this CG through and Murray has, so maybe there is something I have missed tactically. I don't see how he is going to be able to dig me out of these buildings (which are covering his bridgehead positions) without exposing himself to my men on the Ridge. If he doesn't clear these Barracks defenders out then he will suffer quite some losses in any South-North movements.

3.    The attack on the Litani Ridge map was concentrated on the North Ridge. I feel that this was a mistake, though it could have been a great result for the British if it had worked. My concerns with it are that it is a lot of ground to cover and an exposed ridge to climb, I had foreseen this possibility and thus made sure that I had some MG coverage on this hill, all I needed were moderately effective starshells and I was going to have some useful shots. Obviously there were some great opportunities open to the Commandos if this ridge was taken though... he would have neutralised my Guns here and helped his next attack, he would have also gained some LVP - in the end he lost a lot of men and leaders for little gain.

4.    The Vichy MG were lethal. I was surprised at how much damage the Vichy MGs did in this night game... they really ripped into his men, especially since the Attackers were trying to keep their Cloaking by not Prep Firing. In retrospect I can see that the French position is so much stronger than I assumed. A well-positioned HMG was enough to deny him access to the Artillery Park, the north Ridge and the Bridge (as long as starshells were available). The Bridge defence was especially lethal with its combined MMG and HMG defence... though I am not sure I would leave both MGs on the Southern Bank (and thus so easily overrun) if I had to do this defence again.

5.    The British MCs were appalling. I can not leave this out of the analysis because there were more losses taken than needed to be due to the simple fact that the Brits had a torrid time passing even NMC.

            I did un-HIP two of my ART to allow for attacks on infiltrating British units. Although these turned out to be effective attacks I am not entirely sure if it was strategically the best option. By exposing the ART I have given him OBA targets as well as allowing him the knowledge of who and what he needs to attack.