Cradle to Grave MTO (id:#61658)
(ASL Journal #10 ID: J154)   [next]   [previous]
Meximieux, France 1944-09-01 ()
Designer: Pete Shelling
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
GermanAmerican / FFI
48.148148148148%

Overview:

The area around Lyon was known as the “cradle of the resistance” due to activity of the FFI. Consequently, after landing in southern France on 15 August and heading quickly northward, the American Seventh Army encountered more friendly maquisards than German opposition. Advancing 300 miles in just 14 days, Maj. General William Eagles’ 45th “Thunderbird” Infantry Division secured a bridge over the Rhone at the town of Meximieux. It was here that the German Nineteenth Army chose to turn and fight the Thunderbirds, despite the fact that the countryside was crawling with Maquis.
Attacker: German (Panzer-Division 11)
Defender: American / FFI (179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division and 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion / 117th Cavalry Squadron / FFI)  
6.5 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:14.0 D:19.0
AFVs: A:8
PzKpfw VG x 2
SPW 251/2
SPW 251/sMG
PzKpfw IVH x 2
PzA III/IV Hummel SPA x 2

AFVs: D:4
M10 GMC x 2
M5A1 x 2

Guns: A:0 D:2
M1 81mm Mortar x 2

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: NQ in effect. D: M5A1s have Gyrostabilizers. Variable Partisan OB - DCs, Mines or ? counters
Overlays: NONE
Errata (source)
Players wanting to play this game/Request a match:

Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultTimeComments
2025-05-28(D) Tuomo Lukkari vs Tommi Kangasmaa American / FFI win
2024-11-01(A) Douglas Leslie vs Marc Hanna German winI was originally slated to play the defenders in this game and opted to set up the Americans well forward while the partisans started as far back as possible with the intention of falling back and making it impossible for the Germans to amass the needed CVP total for victory. After I sent out my defensive set up, Marc opined that the game was unwinnable for the Germans and conceded! I suggested that the results suggested that the scenario was well balanced and suggested that I play the Germans instead. The Partisans set up well back but the Americans didn't defend the hill in front of the village as strongly as I had in my set up. I duly ran my Panthers onto the hill to take out the two mortars that were sitting there. I incautiously allowed a German TD a shot at a Panther's side turret and it was duly destroyed in US turn one. Not an auspicious start. After that, things changed for the better. The other Panther destroyed both US TDs and survived an infantry charge that left the US defensive positions devoid of defenders and March conceded on turn three. I definitely got lucky here when the second Panther survived a DI shot and an OT assault gun survived a MOL attack but if you can't be good, be lucky!
2021-06-27(A) Jonathan Kapleau vs Duenskie, Ron American / FFI win
2021-01-19(A) X von Marwitz vs David Wallace German winThis scenario looks very promising as the attacking Germans have an interesting mix of vehicles and an Infantry force with a punch to obtain its objectives. The Allies are a mix of Americans and Partisans that do receive some further reinforcements by US troops with a pair of gyro-stabilized M4A1's. The tactical objective for the Germans is to capture more stone building hexes than Partisan VP remaining in the game. As the German force is required to enter split into two forces, the idea behind the scenario is obviously for some of the Germans engaging the Partisans, while the rest tries to capture the stone buildings in the village.

If left unchanged, the scenario has issues IMHO. I think it can be 'broken' or at least be skewed to a side which will make winning it for the opponent very difficult.

For a thorough AAR, check the link on GameSquad forum below:

http://www.gamesquad.com/forums/index.php?threads/j154-cradle-to-grave-aar.159972/
2021-01-16(D) walter mcwilliams vs Al Salzman American / FFI winVery difficult on the Germans if the Americans defend up front vigorously. Al asked for a redo by the end of turn 3 of our first playing when he drove his to PzIV in LOS of the M10 on the lvl 2 hill which promptly shot them both on consecutive shots. The very next turn an 81MM Shock/UK a Panther. So we reoladed and went at it again. We got to turn 6 but a ROF tear from one of the 81mm decimated his front side infantry assault leaving nothing but a wounded leader in its wake. The US withdrew to the village, along with the partisans and I had the entire OB in stone buildings minus a partisan squad to delay the Germans on the paths.

View all or balance report
ActionDate
asloser Added a playing2025-05-28 21:59:15
Dougban Rated the scenario2024-11-01 23:56:41
Hutch Modified the gps location2024-11-01 20:00:24
Dougban Added a playing2024-11-01 16:42:39
hoxson1 Modified the overview2024-07-24 18:45:49
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Statistics:
Avg Rating: 7.06Votes: 33
Views: 6326
To-Play list count: 2
Estimated Play time: 8.3 hours
Recorded Games: 23
Archive recorded plays:
German11
American / FFI12
Drawn:0

ROAR Data: (as of today)
Cradle to Grave [Confirmed]
[A] German 28
[D] American/Free French 30
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