By Jochen Kehoe
December 1944: Corporal Cecil Hannaford was not happy. As the assistant squad leader in the 3rd Platoon, A Company, 110th Infantry Regiment, he had just learned that his platoon had been ordered to leave the warm, safe shelter of their buildings in Heinerscheid to set up a roadblock nearly a mile away in Kalborn. Reluctantly, Hannaford and the others moved out into the cold night. “We ran a phone line to our outpost as our only communication with the company HQ” in Heinerscheid. When they got to their OP position, Hannaford was dismayed to see that it was “in plain view of the road on the next hill.” As he and his foxhole buddy dug in and set up their position, Corporal Hannaford could only think of the rest of the company, cozy and dry back in Heinerscheid. They finished digging in, and Hannaford took the first watch. Oh well, he thought, at least it’s quiet here.
Mission Objective: The mission ends if at the end of the game turn there are no American undisrupted combat units within two hexes and LOS of the Church, or either side exceeds their Casualty Differential Limit, or the Final Score is ≥ 46.
The Americans, played by Jochen Kehoe, setup spread out in Improved Positions on the high points East to West with their command on the large hill west of the church. The Germans, played by Miku Mikowski, setup with each platoon entering on opposite sides and their respective support units in the middle.
The Germans continued their advance along the eastern valley and in the west over the hill and into the woods. Initial American mortar fire did little to shake the German progress. A German Recon revealed the initial makeup of American defenders on the central Hill.
The Americans exchanged their MG position for brief momentum adding suppression to the advancing German units in the West. Koch took a calculated risk and reacted to the fire by moving his units forward in the woods to get out of LOS of the MG…Ambush! An American concealed squad opened fire from close range, drawing First Blood!
Unfortunately, the American platoon leader, Lt. Murphy, was lost to accurate German Sniper fire! Koch’s unit weathered the previous firefight and prepared for further action. Koch was able to rally the platoon and charged to assault the Americans to their front. Steiner’s actions on the east side brought his units within earshot of the American MG…The American MG responded, hoping to suppress and delay the advancing units. Lucky for them, the German MGs were delayed in setting up their positions.
All the American and German units fighting around the central hill area were disrupted. Koch and Co. were able to chase out the American squad on the west Side and send them retreating up to protected higher ground where they disrupted.
Koch regrouped and advanced through the woods in the shadow of the hill continuing to circle around the west side. Steiner and his subordinates recovered and continued their advance. The American MG would have to hold fast. The battlefield was starting to change, and the American section on the eastern ridge thought it better to withdraw back to the protection of the old stone church. They had heard about the German mortars.
The American had a new platoon leader (Murphy—no relation) who felt an MFA in reaction to the advancing Germans in the nearby woods was the most effective action at the time. Steiner and his platoon charged up the hill and assaulted the disrupted MG team, hoping to end the nuisance. The American MFA had little effect on the assaulting Germans as they advanced to assault the American MG position on the central hill. The MG position was eliminated, but Steiner was lost in the process.
German mortar shells began to rain down on the church, pinning Murphy and section C. Koch coordinated his platoon to envelop the American units on the west hill. The disrupted American 1st squad on the west hill rallied and, with the assistance of the 3rd squad, was able to place heavy fire on the assaulting units that had just crested the hill in open terrain. They in turn suffered reaction fire from nearby German units. The German Mortar had little effect on the Americans in the church. The German envelopment of the Americans on the hill was not enough to dislodge them, Koch was lost, and the assaulting Germans were sent packing.
The Americans now had the initiative. They called an MFA to pin the Germans on the central hill and, with Murphy’s assistance, were able to recover some of the units on the west hill. Small arms fire was exchanged by both sides with little effect.
Although both suffered minor wounds, Steiner and Koch were able to return to their units, but the German momentum had been lost. The American small arms fire continued to suppress the Germans to their front as they slowly moved closer to the Hill to the west. With a change of plan, the German 1st platoon was directed to move southeast down and around the hill and north to a position to attack the church directly from the east. The German 2nd platoon had repositioned themselves to try again for the hill on the west. Everything was starting to tighten around the American defenders. Seeing the Germans moving around the hill, Murphy called for another MFA against them. A combination of small arms and mortar fire stopped the German maneuver cold, disrupting the German force.
In an attempt to regain momentum, Steiner and his 1st Platoon maneuvered around the hill on its left, stopping along the tree line, and were surprised to find the American 3rd squad to their front…in open terrain. The American 3rd squad thought better of their chances and passed on any reaction fire against Steiner and his 1st squad for the protection of the nearby church. Murphy called everyone on the western hill to action and assaulted the disrupted Germans in the woods. The German 2nd squad recovered, and the American section in the church maneuvered out and next to the Assault hex to aid if things didn’t go well. The German defenders were overwhelmed and forced to retreat by the assault led by Murphy. The German 2nd squad suffered a casualty and lost Koch again—this time for good. With time running out, the Germans made one last effort and moved hard and fast against the church. Pinning the occupants with mortar fire, the remains of the German 1st platoon advanced toward the church in open terrain. Murphy and the American combat units regrouped and returned to their outpost on the hill. The German mortar fire had a minimal effect on the American units in the church.
This was the final turn, and the game ended with a Final Score of 46, resulting in an American victory.
It was a very enjoyable match with my opponent Miku Mikowski. I am looking forward to our next encounter.
The Last Hundred Yards (LHY) Vassal Ladder is an ongoing monthly tournament. We currently have approximately 20 regular participants. Players can join, leave, and re-enter the ladder each round as they have available time. Everyone from the game’s designer to brand new players participate in the ladder. The Ladder is a great place to learn the game and to improve your play. Most players play over Vassal, and a typical ladder mission will last between 90-120 minutes. Players should be familiar with the rules but can certainly discuss and help one another learn them better. If you would like to participate in the LHY ladder, you contact Mark Buetow at buetowmt@gmail.com.
Check out Mike Denson’s newest addition to The Last Hundred Yards series, now on GMT’s P500 preorder list:
Author: Mike Denson
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