The Clearing WTO (id:#61797)
(Rivers to the Reich ID: U39)   [next]   [previous]
See Also: The Clearing by Austin ASL Club
Designer: Adapted by Jim Stahler
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
AmericanGerman
49.122807017544%

Overview:

Day after day of seemingly endless forest. Constant shelling had turned most of the trees to shattered hulks. Advances were truly measured in yards as each step forward increased the threat of yet another sniper or hidden Spandau. Then, near the road from Richelskaul to Raffelsbrand, the GIs saw treeless sky. Without any command given, the US forces surged forward to take the high ground.
Attacker: American (60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division)
Defender: German (Infanterie-Regiment 983)  
6 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:6.0 D:3.0
AFVs: A:0
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:0 D:1
5cm PaK 38

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: Foxholes containing HIP units revealed as if Night
Overlays: NONE
Errata (source)
Players wanting to play this game/Request a match:

Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultTimeComments
2024-03-22(D) Jesus Pie vs Pedro d'Snafu German win
2024-03-04(A) Jack Wilson vs Ken Walsh American winAt first glance, the tiny OBs for both sides give the impression this should be a fast-playing rumble. But with the German player getting to set up HIP, with a scary 50L ATG, backed by an MMG, 2 LMGs, 2 FHs, 1 PB, and, oh yeah, 4 wire counters and 6 FP of minefields, the Americans with their 6 squads have to think very hard to find a safe path to the ridge victory hexes.

This is also one of those small scenarios in which the defender depends heavily on one or two weapons. As it turned out, Ken's ATG pinned a unit on its first T1 D1F shot and made rate. So far, so bad for the Americans, and it seemed my worst fears were about to be realized. But on its second T1 shot it malf'd, and was never repaired, eventually rolling the dreaded 6 on a repair roll. That meant that for essentially the whole game, the German ATG (which should have figured prominently in the defense) might as well have not been included in the OB at all.

Ken had a solid defense and turned the ridge into a Mt. Casino-like fortress. He put 3 of his 4 weapons, both FH, the PB, and 2.5 SE of 3.5 on the ridge surrounded by wire and mines. I wish I could claim a brilliant attack plan was the key to victory, but I think I was substantially bailed out by the dice. Besides the aforementioned malf'd ATG, he had a FS in the PB go berserk and charge to a glorious, but pointless, death.

I think a replay with the exact same setup using the exact same attack plan would end differently with kinder dice. Nevertheless, this is a fun and well-balanced scenario that can be finished in one sitting. Worth a try.
2023-12-28(D) Rich Worden vs Jim German winThree pronged American attack failed when the northern prong was ambushed moving along the road, the central prong was held up by the German sniper then (eventually, once the pillbox was manned) MMG fire, and the southern prong hit the one minefield and was unable to rally and get out of it.

Close game suddenly turned into a bit of a rout for the Germans on T5.
2022-09-04(A) Dave Mareske vs Paul Lauger American winOmaha Tournament
2022-01-09(A) John Garlic vs Mike Meyer American win[Imported from ROAR]
View all or balance report
ActionDate
Pte Parts Linked the scenario to ROAR2024-07-16 05:50:07
Larry Added a playing2024-05-31 03:03:07
jesuspiebatlle Added a playing2024-03-22 23:57:24
jesuspiebatlle Rated the scenario2024-03-22 23:55:23
Jwil2020 Added a playing2024-03-04 22:29:08
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Statistics:
Avg Rating: 6.90Votes: 20
Views: 5164
To-Play list count: 5
Estimated Play time: 1.3 hours
Recorded Games: 19
Archive recorded plays:
American8
German11
Drawn:0

ROAR Data: (as of today)
The Clearing [Confirmed]
[A] American 20
[D] German 18
All Rights Reserved. (c)2022 Dave Ramsey.