The Head of the Mace WTO (id:#60219)
Mont Ormel, France 1944-08-20 ()
Designer: Ian Daglish
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
German (SS)Polish
49.438202247191%

Overview:

Elements of the 1st Polish Armoured Division had accidentally arrived in the gap through which the remnants of the German armies in Normandy were struggling to escape the “Falaise Pocket”. Atop the twin 262-meter peaks of Mont Ormel, which they termed “the Mace”, the Poles grimly resisted waves of elite German troops. Cut off from all supply, the defenders were conscious of the drama being acted out in their homeland, where the defenders of Warsaw were likewise besieged. Equally, they were determined to avenge the humiliation of 1939... . A classic Falaise Gap situation. The Polish 1st Armoured Division, itself cut off and unsupported, plugs the gap, stopping the retreat of the German forces. Determined not to be trapped, the Germans throw the best of their depleted forces at the Polish troops, determined to break through.
Attacker: German (SS) (SS-Panzerdivision 12 / Fallschirmjägerdivision 3)
Defender: Polish (1st Polish Armoured Division)  
4.5 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:29.0 D:13.0
AFVs: A:11
PzKpfw VG x 2
Opel Blitz x 2
SPW 251/1
PzKpfw IVH x 3
PzKpfw IVJ
PSW 234/3
PzA II Wespe SPA

AFVs: D:8
Sherman VC(a) x 2
Sherman V(a) x 4
Crusader AA x 2

Guns: A:0 D:2
OQF 6-Pounder 7-cwt x 2

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: Both sides Ammo Shortage. D: Polish AFVs fuel shortage DR on hex move; 12 immobilizes
Map Board(s): 9 55
Overlays: Wd2 OG1
Errata (source)
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Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultComments
2022-10-16(D) Vic Lauterbach vs JM German (SS) winMy defense was infantry heavy on the right where I expected Jim's main attack and AFV heavy on the left, ready to shift as needed. I expected Jim to pay dearly for the B6-C7-D7 woods. My center defense was anchored by a 10-2 led platoon with two PIATs and the second 57L. Crusader AA tanks and some infantry on reverse slope foxholes plus Fireflies HD in B1 and B4 were my second line. GT1 was a disaster. His sniper killed my 10-2 (my sniper got two pins the whole game), his MMC passed a dozen 1/2/3MCs and took the B6-C7-D7 woods. Only four MMC broke and one 658 was CR'd. I flamed a Panther but lost two HD M4s. The right flank 57L crew missed every shot then died in CC. I shifted a 9-1 led platoon to the right. In GT2, I recovered a bit; his 9-1 and five 658s broke. I expected Jim to push his stragglers at my left, but he hurled everything at the center to cover a push down hexrow A by the 10-3 led 548s. GT3/4 was a fierce battle for the H5 L3 hill. Jim icily declared HtH CC and after two mutual eliminations, he had the hill. His 10-3 and 3.5 MMC exited before I plugged the A hexrow gap, but the backbreaker was a Panther driving off despite a NE AP hull hit and a dud APCR turret hit! A 9-1 and 658 exiting iced the cake for a hard-fought German win. This one gets scary but never dull! Jim's summary: Low MC and SMOKE DRs early kept me in this one. With average dice, the Germans need the balance to have a chance.
2021-07-27(D) Michael Rodgers vs Bruno L'Archeveque Polish winGerman attack was all on their left with panthers supporting from level one. Polish had hot dice. Germans had cold dice. Germans conceded after two turns.
2018-10-06(D) Rich Weiley vs Dave Wilson Polish winPaddington Bearz - October 2018
2016-11-08(D) Simon Staniforth vs German (SS) win
2013-01-27(D) Paul Messina vs David Rosner Polish win
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ActionDate
dieneuner25 Uploaded an Image2023-01-14 01:26:48
dieneuner25 Added a playing2023-01-14 01:24:28
Bongiovanni Added a playing2022-09-12 13:33:39
mtrodgers99 Added a playing2021-07-27 15:12:47
hoxson1 Modified the Theatre2021-02-24 20:08:35
FileDescriptionUserViews
(head of mace Batisse design.jpg)Imagehoxson1642
(mace photo.png)Imagehoxson1556
(ss-pole new.png)Imagehoxson1488
Situation at game end (AP40 end of RPh German GT5.PNG)Imagedieneuner2594
(ap40.gif)Map ImageTwirling1068
AP40 The Head of the Mace (AP40 The Head of the Mace.png)Map ImageFre20741928
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Situation at game end
 
Statistics:
Avg Rating: 6.20Votes: 15
Views: 3137
To-Play list count: 7
Estimated Play time: 8.9 hours
Recorded Games: 12
Archive recorded plays:
German (SS)4
Polish8
Drawn:0

ROAR Data: (as of November 2021)
The Head of the Mace [Confirmed]
[A] Polish (British) 40
[D] German 37
All Rights Reserved. (c)2022 Dave Ramsey.