ASL 24: The Mad Minute (Yanks 2 version)

Played the new version of ASL scenario 24 "The Mad Minute".  The original was known as a badly balanced scenario highly pro-German.  This new one had the following changes to help the US.  First the number of buildings the Germans had to take was upped to 22 (from 18 I think).  Second is the Germans do not get to setup on board (the board they setup on was removed and they have to enter on turn 1, BIG difference there since they could not fire smoke or anything in prep).  Third was the US M10 tank destroyers get to US HIP like a GUN.  I played the US in this one and Tycho played the Germans, I'll give my thoughts on this one after the replay.

Setup for start of game.  The Germans come in from the top (as shown).  The buildings they have to capture are the bottom map.  Finally the Germans have to have 3 or more mobile AFV at game end to win in addition to the buildings, they start the game with 9 tanks.

First Kill!  The Germans start onto the board with a Panther and an M10 skulking the in brush gets a side shot and hits.  The M10 did manage to keep concealment (just like a gun) but I removed it for the picture.

One Panther Down.

End of German turn 1.  The Germans move on board, all but the other M10 on the other side of the board open fire.  By the end of this player turn the Germans are down 3 tanks, 6 left.  The US infantry also open up with MMG and HMG fire from level 2 buildings, not as much carnage as I hoped but a good bit none the less.  The gun on the far left malfed on an IF shot.

End of US turn 1.  The M10 tried to fire at one of the Panthers with APCR and rolled a 7, none available.  He switched to regular rounds and fired at a PZIV killing it (and setting it ablaze).  He then fired IF at the PZIV adjacent and only managed to Shock it.   In return fire a Panther knocked it out.  A 60mm mortar (on the left) managed to Immob another PZIV (Germans now down to 4 Tanks, one of which is Shocked).  The Malfed gun was repaired!  It opens up on the Immobilized PZIV but scores no hits.

So turn 1 ends with 3 destroyed PZIVs, a Panther gone, and one PZIV shocked.

 

But Also a dead M10.

Photo said it was an M10, looks more like a Sherman.

 

End of German turn 2.  Germans move out, the US 9-2 kill stack (HMG and MMG) DM some riders and the tank moves on.  The Guns in the middle (in a building) fire like crazy and both make IF shots (side shot at a Panther, had to try!), one Malfs and the other boxcars and goes poof!

End of US turn 2.  The 9-2 kill stack Stuns a German Halftrack and breaks the riders.  The previously shocked PZIV lives and breaks his gun.  A US squad in the middle building and the now gun-less crew jump the Panther next to them.  They do not manage to knock out the Panther but the Panther's close defense weapon does not hurt them either.

End of German turn 3 (and the game).  The German player moves forward, the US troops focus on taking out German infantry and manage to break or Pin a number of them, the US 57L takes a long shot at a PZIV moving across the board but the LOS is not clear!  Rolled a 1,2 to hit too...  At this point the German player counts up the 5 turns left in the game, the fact there is only 3 Squad Equivalents near the objectives, and that they have 22 buildings to capture in 5 turns with roughly the entire US Infantry force still kicking and concedes the game.

My guess is that the new scenario is balanced BUT it is very much a guessing game.  If the Germans enters where the US tank defenses are lighter they have a good chance of winning, if they choose the side where the defense are stronger (like this one) then they have a good chance of losing.  IMO this happens a good bit with scenarios featuring guns and ASL maps and their goodly amount of LOS blocking terrain.  Compound that with the need to get side shots in order to kill Panthers (or get lucky with the APCR roll, and needing a 6 or less means it can be nothing but luck).  At any rate it was a heck of a lot more fun since the last time I played this scenario (the old version) where I was beaten soundly in no time.  I was a noob with Armor back then (and I'm not claiming to be any genius now mind you) that made it even worse. 

Next week we are giving BFP 22 Speed Over Caution a try, so many scenarios to play and I'm not getting younger.  Tank goodness for VASL!