Fog of War

VotG and RB SASL - Update August

2011-08-11T07:52:00.009Z

New update version of the rules just in with latest changes discovered in play test. There are also a nice addition to the rules regarding the Friendly Random Event possibilty. I like this new addition were you have to pay CPP in order to get the possibilty to get a RE. Playtetst should show how it works.

Here is the progress in my ongoing CGII. I'm the Russian player while the SASL System is the German Enemy.

The first picture shows the Front Line after the first scenario. The German ENEMY pushed me back in several places.

The second picture shows the situation after the second scenario. The German ENEMY managed to extend their Front Line quit a bit and my forces are very stretched. Fortunately the third day became an Idle day so I'm ready to stop the next attack and counter attack in the night.

VotG and RB SASL - Update July

2011-07-23T14:41:00.005+01:00

The playtest of the VotG SASL CGs showed that some changes needed to be done. We will continue the playtest to seek out even more tweaks. We are very close to call it "ready for MMP".

Two new Red Barricades missions are through playtest. Mission r5 and r6 are done and now r7 get the attention.

Here are a picture of my playtest of VotG CGII scenario 2.

VotG and RB SASL - Progress

2011-02-20T22:03:00.003Z

Looks like the playtesting of the VotG Missions are done. They are great and offers an intense gaming experience for the SASL player in the central Stalingrad. We are now going through the rules to seek out errors and wordings to make it a good text document as well.

The Red Barricades Missions are also out on a new round of playtest. So far mission r5 has gott some great tests and that resultet in some revisions. I'm testing Mission r6 at the moment and it feels good. Below there are a picture of my playtest from VASL at the early stages of the mission.

VotG and RB SASL - Update

2010-12-28T18:31:00.002Z

Hi,

lots of play test going on. Toms Missions are being done one by one and we are down to 1 or two more tests.

I've sent out my new RB Missions for play test and they need to be corrected and balanced. I hope to be able to wrap up this SASL project in the firsty quater of 2011.

VotG and RB SASL - Progress

2010-11-04T10:16:00.003Z

Hi,

the work on the VotG SASL rules progresses nicely and there has been som tweaking of the rules that I have to say made them much better and fluid. Tom made some decissions to scrap new rules that were specialy made for VotG SASL and go with the Standard SASL rules instead. I will incorporate these changes into the RB variant shortly and call for some mission playtestings using the new alterations.

Myself I'm currently working on playtesting the VotG v1 Mission and has started a second playtest as the Russian player.

GSASL, VotG SASL and RB SASL update

2010-08-02T12:58:00.005+01:00

It's been a while and I think it is time to update my blog. I have a lot of SASL stuff going on. I'll run you through them to let you know of new stuff happening and update you on the progress of others.

GSASL: Our Cyranaica campaign had to be put to rest. There was not enough interest to let it continue. Lesson learned was that having a DAKII campaign running parallel made the whole thing take too long before the company commanders get their missions. Hans Mielants and I have started a Stalingrad campaign where we are using the VotG module as a base and have just ended mission 2. We are waiting some Battalion commanders AAR to get the campaign get through to mission 3. Here is a link to Hans Stalingrad GSASL Campaign Site http://www.mielants.com/Simulation/GSASL11.html . Give us a line if you are interested in joining.

VotG SASL: I'm play testing mission v4 "The Department Store" now as a Russian encircled unit in September of 1942. It is great fun and I'm having a hard time. The Germans are closing in even if I got a RE saying that the German attack is slacking.

Here is a picture of my ongoing Playtest.

RB SASL: I've also continued my RB SASL CG and it is very pleasing results so far. Everything works fine and the ENEMY is pressing hard on my Factories. It is time consuming playing a CG but very rewarding. :)

Here is a picture of my playtest of CGIV scenario 3

I have also several other Historical modules in the making for being able to play it using the SASL rules. Not just MMP material but others as well. When there is something to show you I'll post it here.

Take care
Jörgen

VotG SASL

2010-07-01T00:19:00.003+01:00

I've been doing some testing for Toms VotG SASL lately. It's coming along quit nicely. I had a ball testing Mission 2. We did some changes that made it more challanging and balanced. I will tackle a new mission shortly.

Here is a picture from my test as a German attacking on the 14th of september 1942.

Red Barricades SASL CGIV

2010-04-07T18:13:00.005Z

I'm play testing the new SASL rules for Red Barricades by playing CGIV as Russian. It's been great fun so far and the rules have worked fine. The initial scenario, 25 October I was mostly busy trying to stop the Germans from gaining too much. The scenario was won by me. Good amount of reinforcements made it possible to hold on to enough Factories on the 26 October not to lose the CG. The Germans gained a lot of stone locations and had an easy win. The 27 October fortunately was an Idle day and I could reinforce my front line even more. I think I have enough manpower to stop the Germans from getting 14 Factories now but a lot can still happen. They do have captured 9 so far.

I'm having a blast playtesting and I know the guys in my play test team have as well.

Here is a picture of the perimeter after Scenario 2.

GSASL and Red Barricades update

2010-01-03T09:42:00.004Z

It's been a while since my last posting so here we start 2010 with a small update.

The Cyrenaica campaign suffered from Hans and mine work load. Our jobs sometimes made it impossible to meet up and continue the DAK campaign in a way that was necessey for the GSASL campaign. At end of september we were finaly at a good spot to send out new orders. Now our problem is commanders dropping out. We will see were we are when all mission AARs are in.

My Red Barricades SASL CG project is progressing well. I've made some changes to the rules and tables. Among other stuff I've tweaked the roof top rules taking care of some problems whith generation of Suspect counters. Right now I'm looking into AFV generation in advance Attitude in Bog Terrain.

I wish all SASL players a great playing year.
Jörgen

New Red Barricades SASL rules in development

2009-07-30T22:51:00.005+01:00

As I told you in previous post I am redeveloping the RB SASL rules. The development has progressed well and feals right. I've made some changes that makes the ENEMY harder to beat and an challange to take on. My own playtest of my new mission went well and it's out for playtest by other players. Myslef I've started a Campaign playtest and chose CGIV as my choice of CG. I'm commanding the Russians as the Germans attack the Barrikady. Te Germans have taken a great deal of buildings and I'm feeling the presure. As the campaign develops I'll let you know how the rules work.

This is after the russian turn 2.

Until next time

Jörgen

In development - New SASL material

2009-07-13T20:23:00.004+01:00

If you are a frequent visitor to the Gamesquadforum then you probably know that there are two SASL projects in playtest. The first is rules and missions for the Valor of the Guards module and a new type of rules which make it possible to play the four CGs included in the module.

The second is rules and tables for the Finns that will be included in the long awaited Hakka Pälle module. As they are in progress I can't say much about them but they are really well done.

What not many know about is that there are a third SASL project in playtest. It is new rules to be able to play the four existing CGs for Red Barricades. This one I run and it is based on the SASL CG rules for the VotG module. I have MMPs blessing to go ahead with this and I trully enjoy it. The playtest team has given me great comments and the development has a nice flow. I have also made some new missions and with the information that the books from the last couple of years gives on the Barrikady Fighting, there are a lot of material to base the development of Missions on. I intend to add a few new missions to this and the first one I recently playtested myself. It's called "When the Hunted became the Hunter" and takes place in late december when the Russians try to brake through from the encirclement to the south and recapture the Commissar House. So far I'm very pleased and will talk in later postings on new rules and other stuff that makes this run well. Below are a picture from my playtest of my new Mission.

Jorgen

Cutting off the ENEMY

2009-06-28T09:17:00.002+01:00

The British 7 Armoured has almost been cutoff. They are trying to escape captivity and are running back to their lines. We were given the orders to stop their retreat outside a small border village. We were to expect a Tank Attack.

We moved into positions a formed a defense line outside of the village that had a depth into the village in some strategic places. The alotted reinforcements of three AT Guns were placed in the front line in buildings or in trenches. Elements from the 7th Armoured came down the Hill but could easilly be stoped just below the hill. We had a lot of firepower in the front line and even the Matildas could be knocked out.

Our losses were very light and heavy for the Britsh units. We can now continue to move towards Alexandria and use our momentum,

2009-06-06T09:01:00.002+01:00

It's been a while since I had time to write about my GSASL missions and other new stuff in the SASL world. There will be a change from now on. I'm approaching the end of this semester and I will have plenty of time to write about everything that is happening. Just to mention a few is the progress in the current Cyrenaica Campaign and playtest of new SASL material. Stay tuned for more information in th very near future.

Jörgen

German Schwere Coy 1 Btn/5 PzRgt/5 Div - Pursuit

2009-02-17T18:58:00.008Z

Oberleutnant Holmquist, Schwere Coy 1 / Btn I / PzRgt 5 / Div 5

After Action Report
Mission: Pursuit [SASL/TSASL/DSASL Mission 15]
Enemy: British King’s Dragoon Guards Recon Btn
Date: 1941 MarchLocation: South East of El Agheila, Cyrenaica, North Africa
Result: Victory! [Friendly VP=75, Enemy VP=14]

Report: Our orders were to chase the British King’s Dragoon Guards Recon unit and drive them out of Cyrenaica using the momentum of capturing El Agheila.

We took use of afternoon sun and attacked the britisk retreating along the road to Benghazi. Dividing the forces in three groups we attack what looked like a long strait line at start. Finding British rear guards on the road we made a strong strait on attack and simultaniously trying to envelope the Britts from north and south.

Our first encounter was a A13 MkI who took out one of our Pz IVD with a well placed shot. We stoped and fired from several positions and after not that few bounce offs a kill was secured. No one came out allive. We pushed on and the enveloping pushed on. Now a new tank, a Matilda II appeared along with some 2 pounder guns. Those are really leathal and we had to use smoke dispencers to protect us. The fight became intense and we managed to get some of those 2 pounders in overruns. The attack along the road and to the south got stuck in fire fights. At the same time the northern enveloping made progress. Although a 25 pounder appeared to frighten us it was quickly take out of action and later destroyed. Managing to get arround the Matilda we finaly got a shot that took it out of action. Those men fought bravely and took out another 3 Pz IVD from us in our attemped to get around it. Shortly after the Matilda who had placed himself on the bridge over a wadi the bridge was destroyed by the Britts. We never had the chance to find any demolition charges on that bridge. Now our pioneers have some work to do.

Summary:
German Losses:
4x Pz IVD w/ crews
1x 2-4-7

British Losses:
1x A13 MkI w/ crew
1x Matilda II w/ crew
1x A10 MkI CS w/ crew
1x 25mm Hotchkiss
1x 2-ponuder
1x 25-pounder
1x 3in. Mortar
3x 4-4-7 MMC
1x 4-5-7 MMC
1x 4-5-8 MMC
8x Crews.

New GSASL Campaign Cyrenaica 1941

2009-01-10T23:28:00.003Z

It time for a new GSASL campaign. This time we are heading for the desert and the campaign starts at the historic date og 29 mars 1941. There will be three divisions, the German 5 Leichte, the Italian 27 Brescia and the British 2nd Armoured. I will be Campaign Master for the Italian Brescia and it is the first time I will act as a CM. This will be great fun and we have been given permission to try out Desert SASL rules modified for the GSASL campiagn. This will be great fun.

The campaign will start very soon and I will be reporting on its progress in several ways so keep your eyes out for more soon.

Bessarabia Campaign has ended

2009-01-02T22:05:00.004Z

The Bessarabia Campaign has been over for some time now but I haven't had the time to write about my results. This time I will make an abstract of the five last missions of the campaign and give you an idea of how they went.

Mission 6 - Escape
We were ordered to harras the Romanian flank an impose as much casualties as possible. We made some progress but lost the mission due to an armored counterattack which both stopped us and gave us some casualties. We had to withdraw.

Mission 7 - Recon
On the 7th of july we were ordered to recon our flanks and stop any Romanian we stumbled upon. We moved out in two groups reconing the area and found a small group in a building. They were swiftly dealt with and we continued our mission. Another building containing a small Romanian force fortified with a AT Gun was encountered a few hours later. Also this building was attacked.We had some casualties here but could neutrulise them and occupy the building. No more Romanians enetred our area. Mission victory.

Mission 8 - Interception
On the 8th of july our orders were to delay any Romanian advancing units that we encountered.
We moved in position and had our MMGs and 81mm MTR positioned in the middle of our sector to have good protection but also good LOS. We ere expecting Romanian tanks and that worried us as we only had our mortars and ATRs to fight them. We als hd some Batallion Oba to help.
At 10.30 we saw he first Romanians approach. They were advancing carefully and we managed to stop them. More and more Romanians entered the scen as time went by and the first Tanks appeared and moved towards our MMg and mortar nests. We got some lucky hits by the mortars and two tanks were eliminated, one burning. And then a very well placed shot by our ATR crew burned a R-35(f) Romanian tank. More bravey was showed by our infantry. They took on a LT vz 35(g) tank in Close Combat and got it eliminated. Great work. Only a small part of the Romanians managed to get by our lines.

Mission 9 - Take the Highway prolonged
We moved on the ENEMY to harras them along the highway. We found a few hidden in some buildings and they were easily taken out. As moved further along the road we found more Romanians garding some buildings and the road. They were to become more of a diffucult struggle then anticpated. The Roamnians had a well placed R-1(t) with an excellent MG gunner that picked out several of our men. We tried to move around but the time just wasn’t there. We had to withdraw. We also had big problems with our weapons that got stuck continouesly or ammunition that were duds. this missin was a great loss.

Mission 10 - Cavalry Charge
As we moved towards the Front line we were attacked by ENEMY Cavalry who charged us at full speed. We found our position to be very unfavorable so we swiftly took cover in a wooded area and could let our firepower lose on the charging cavalry. We managed to stop the charge and killed a lot of Romanians in the process. Sudently Romanian Armored support appeared so we had to withdraw to better positions. The Tanks moved passed our forces bur suppresed our firering MMGs and finaly took out them. In the meantime we managed the stop the remaining Romanian cavalry and we do consider this a success. The Romanians were stoped. Narrow victory.

In total the Russain side won the campaign by 2 points. It was great fun and I highly recomend SASL played in this manner. I gives you a lot of fun in new situations.

See you in the next GSASL campaign.

141 Russian Cavalry BTN in Bessarabia 5 - City Defence

2008-08-07T20:33:00.003+01:00

Briefing

5 July 1941. Our orders for today was to defend the city of Bratuseni.

After Action Report

07.00 Our orders in the defence of Bratuseni was to cover the suburbs, screen and slow down the Romanian advance. We had established two defencelines to slow down the Romanians if they broke through the first line. It seams that the Romanians chosed a different way into the city at first but then there was a few units approaching, but they must have been reconing units. We had some skirmishing fights before a group of Romanians attacked a building block to the south east of our first defence line. They attacked in such a way that they must have benn berserk or something. They managed to get a long way before we could wipe them out. Our OBA support was useless today as they were canceled almost immediately. Fortunately we didn’t get that much Romanians in our sector but this could have been a disaster.

Losses: A SWT TEAM

Trophies: Captured a ATR 20L

Log details: AC=3, Romanian RE 4/5 at start, Russian RE= 5/6,

141 Russian Cavalry BTN in Bessarabia 4 - Cavalry Night Raid

2008-08-07T20:23:00.004+01:00

Briefing
4 July 1941. Our orders for today was to make a night raid into the ENEMY lines and create a stirr up.

After Action Report
04.00 We approached the roamnian lines and were a bit behind the front line. Our scouts had discoverd to camps containing Tanks. This could be a night camp for an Armored Battalion or a depo for service of the Tanks. We devided our Capmany into two groups to be able to make a surprise attack.

At 04.15 we hit the first camp. A week sentrie force were guarding the camp and was swiftly taken out as was some tank crews trying to get to the tanks.

At 04.20 the other camp was attacked. The first base was neutrulised rather quicly and we started to get those tanks out of action. We moved the rest of the first groups forces swiftly to the second camp to assist in the attack. The second camp also had a weak defence force that was easy taken out of action. The Romanians never had a chance to counter attack and we could get to work on those tanks as well.

The job was quickly done and we could start our return at 05.00 when the light strated to show it self.

Losses: No Losses

Tanks destroyed: 4x R-35(f), 3x LT vz 35(g), 1x FT-17C(f), 1x R-1(t)

Log details: AC=3, Romanian RE 2/3 at start, Russian RE= NA,

141 Russian Cavalry BTN in Bessarabia 3 - Countermove

2008-03-20T10:40:00.006Z

Briefing

3 July 1941. Our orders for today was to flank our positions and search for Romanians entering our beloved Moldavia.

After Action Report

Company diary B Rota 141 Cavalry Batalyon 176 Strelkovaya DivisiyaCommunication are reestablished with Battalion HQ. We moved in on our flank and setup positions to surprise any Romanians daring to come this way.

9.30 Our positions were taken control of. Now the Romanians are welcome to try come this way.

11.30 No Romanians yet but we can hear tanks rumbling so they must be near by.

15.00 First Romanians were spotted. A short fire fight broke out with the surprised Romanians. We took Prisoners and killed of some woods. A Romanian R-1(t) were spotted. He had obviously problem with his CMG as he stopped and tried to do something with his tank a safe distance from our weapons.

Nothing more happened as the Romanians withdrew.

Losses: None

Trophies: 20 men and an officer captured

Log details: AC=3, Romanian RE 5/6, Russian RE= 4/5,

141 Russian Cavalry BTN in Bessarabia 2 - Recon Rescue

2008-02-18T09:34:00.005Z

Briefing
2 July 1941. We are to go out on a rescue mission. Elements of the 4th Infantry Btn have been cut-off and are now behind the enemy front but are attempting to get back to friendly lines. It is our objective to find them and take them back.

After Action Report
Company diary B Rota 141 Cavalry Batalyon 176 Strelkovaya Divisiya
Comunication are broken with Battalion HQ. I have sent Mladshiy Leytenant Fedorov to search for Battalion HQ an reestablish communication link. We are in the meantime trying to rescue some trapped recon units.

9.00 We moved on in from the river and started our search. We immediatly fell uppon an 47 INF Gun who oppened fire and caused a lot of time and losses. It took a lengthy fire fights and finaly concentrated fire to take the crew out. The Gun took out an AC and immobilized the other. At 11.00 we captured the Gun.

9.30 To the south Mladshiy Leytenant Suchov had little reistance and found elements of the recon unit. Together with the recon units they turned north for the other survivers of the recon Platoon.

9.50 Mladshiy Leytenant Suchov together with division Mladshiy Letenant Kratscho found more Recon units and were told were to find the last group. Mladhiy leytenant Suchov gathher a small force and went on searching. They stumbled into a minefield and lost some men but went on.

10.40 They found the gruop of the recon unit. They were wounded and slowed he retreat down.

11.30 Mladshiy Leytenant Suchov made it back and we could hear heavy Romanian Armor approaching not to far away. Huridly we turned all our forces to the east to safety.

Losses:
KIA: 2x Battalion SWT teams and Platoon commander Mladshiy Leytenant Antonovich.
MIA: 1x Battalion Crew
Eliminated: BA-6 and crew
Immobilized: BA-6 with crew (fate unknown)

Trophies: 1x 47 INF Gun, 1 x LMG

Log details: AC=3, Romanian RE 4/5, Russian RE= None,

Bessarabia Campaign 141 Cavalry Coy

2008-01-03T18:37:00.000Z

The new GSASL campaign has started and here is my first AAR.

After Action Report

PREVAILING ATTITUDE: Advance

Friendly ELR: 2

Friendly SAN: 3

Friendly RE: 2/3

ENEMY ELR: 2

ENEMY SAN: 3

ENEMY RE: 6/7

ENEMY AC: 4

Russian VP: 24

Romanian VP: 12

The Romanians were attacking and our orders were to fall back to the Prut River without any significant losses in lives. As we were positioned on a woody hillside with bad sighting locations we moved backwards as fast as possible setting up small spotting nests and to put up delaying actions making the withdrawal as safe as possible. It started out good and by Turn three we had got in positions and made our first contacts with the Romanians.

We discovered some infiltrators in the area and fire fights broke out nearly encircling a part of the company. Two T34 M40 from the 188th Tank Battalion arrived and was pushed forward to help slow the Romanians down as more and more Romanian AFVs appeared. Brave Russian soldiers managed to get in some good shots with ATRs that took out an OA vz 30(t) and immobilized a LT vz 35(g).

The Romanians moved in more troops and AFVs and we had to abandon the delaying positions and move as fast as possible over the river and establish a defensive position. In the process a T60 M40 had problems and was caught up by a LT vz 35(t) and destroyed. The men in the T60 tried hard to fight back and gave their lives to the retreating men. We managed to get across and no more men were lost in fighting although a platoon leader and a squad were taken prisoners when the bridge was blown into pieces prematurely.

My company is in good shape and we are awaiting further orders from Division HQ.

Kapitan Holmquist

New GSASL Campaign - Bessarabia

2007-12-02T08:57:00.000Z

In the next few days the playing of missions of the new GSASL Campaign - Bessarabia will have started. As the long going GSASL Campaign portraying the US Rangers ended last month Charles Kruzshak and Hans Mielants revealed that they were planning a new and much shorter Campaign. Recruiting started and now it's time to get going.

The Campaign will have Companies on both side, the Romanian and the Russian and the side with the most points at the end will be the winner. The Campaign portrays the battle in July 1941 and will end at the end of next year.

I will participate myself as both the Commander of the Russian 2nd Rifle Battalion of the 389th Rifle Regiment in the 176 Rifle Division and as the Company Commander of the B Company in the 141 Cavalry Battalion in the 176 Rifle Division. I will post AARs and reports on my blog.

To the Bessarabia Campaign Site: http://www.mielants.com/Simulation/GSASL9

2 BTN in Ruhr 3 - Flak Hunt

2007-11-14T20:00:00.000Z

This was sadly the last mission with the US Rangers. Date is now 15 April 1945 and the war has almost ended. This last mission was going to be a tough one, clearing the town of Darmstadt. Lots of houses was supposed to house a lot of Flak Guns. Lots of intense house fighting to be expected.

After Action Report

PREVAILING ATTITUDE: Hold
Friendly ELR: 4
Friendly SAN: 2
Friendly RE: 4/5

ENEMY ELR: 1
ENEMY SAN: 5
ENEMY RE: 2/3
ENEMY AC: 2

Darmstadt houses a lot of Flak that annoys our Air Force. We are to move in and clear the city. The Germans have low moral but could stubbornly fight back and slow our progress down. We intend to move carefully and clear building by building not spreading out to much.

We moved towards the VPO and met first resistance. It was swiftly taken out and the first Gun was captured. Next we approached the VPO with the main force while half of Bravo Company moved in a north westerly direction to scout out the buildings block by block. Approaching the first VPO we got a leader in Alpha company KIAd by sniper fire.

We then moved in on the first VPO building and the boys started to fight for the control. The Germans resisted well but we managed to get the VPO section by section. The Germans really gave us a hard time an the progress was slow. Room by room had to be fougt for but the Germans surrendered group by group. Only fear kept them from surrendering directly. The Nazi propaganda had made its way but war tiredness finaly got the better out of them.

After securing the VPO we moved further out in the city to look for more Flak. The VPO housed two and there were more to be captured. When the game ended we had cleared pretty much a third of the city and more Flaks were out of action. It was a close one but we managed to capture a lot of Germans making he day a good day for the Rangers.

This was it with the Rangers. It has been a truly great time to be part of the US Rangers GSASL Capmpaign. There are a new campaign lurking in the dark so stay tuned for the next GSASL experience.

Signing out Major Holmquist, US Rangers 2 Battalion commander TF Holmquist

2 BTN in Ruhr 2 - Crush and Clear

2007-09-02T13:01:00.000Z

The date is 7 march 45 and we are attached to the 38th Infantry Regiment moving near Altenahr west of Remagen. Our orders are to clear the area west of the river Rhine of supply columns and depots of the German 5th Fallshirmjäger Division.

After Action Report.
We had a clear picture of our segment. To be able to stop all columns we had to move fast due to the fact that the terrain gave the Germans protection.

We moved in on the rear of the column and destroyed that part swiftly. As we moved forward we encountered some heavy resistance in the village. That made our troops hesitate a bit, which was enough for the front of the column to escape. Now fierce street fighting took place and the company commander had to encourage to troops to make the result we wanted faster.

The resisting Germans were neutralized and several prisoners were taken. Depots in the city were captured and we moved forward to take up positions on the Hills.

Lessons learned:

Watch out for the PSKs and PFs. They have a great chance of destroying your vehicles.
Command Rules sometimes makes it hard to move forward.
Street fighting will always be bloody.

2 BTN in Ruhr 1 - Hammer and Anvil

2007-08-08T22:03:00.000Z

After Hurtgen Forrest we were withdrawn for some R&R. We engaged some German Patrols that we throw back. The German Ardennes Offensive failed and we moved back into Germany and the Ruhr area. By the end of February the 309th Infantry Regiment had been cut off after entering Ruhrberg and the 2 BTN were called in to the rescue.

Alpha company moved in on a northern rout while Bravo took a more southern path. We had a level 3 Hill in front of us with a Forrest on its hill sides. German sniper activity took out two of our leaders, one from Alpha Company and one Artillery spotter. Any OBA assistance was out of the question now.

We managed to clear the Hill and moved on. The 309th moved towards us and clearly took some casualties. After more fighting we met up with 309. Together we cleared the sector and took up positions at the river bank, awaiting any German counter attack. It never came. Our mission was completed.

2 BTN in Huertgen Forest 3 - Clearing the Hill part2

2007-07-16T20:51:00.000Z

Unfortunately we didn't make it. It was a to tough assignment to take the bunker. The approach was through pretty open countryside and our mortars jammed all the time. This ment that we laked enough smoke screens. Our men was constantly pinned down and we pace forward was too slow. In the end we managed to get a bir of the bunker i heavy closa combat but the time run out. Other will have to finnish the work.

2 BTN in Huertgen Forest 3 - Clearing the Hill

2007-05-05T21:56:00.000Z

We have been chosen to assault the bunker. This is a tough assignment that will be costly to the TF. The bunker is surrounded by wire and minefields and the defenders will be hard to break down. I will try to attack on two fronts. The attack need to be protected by smoke screens so the accompanying battalion mortars come in handy. I'll be back as soon as we are making some progress.

2 BTN in Huertgen Forest 2 - Taking the foothill part 2

2007-05-05T21:46:00.000Z

Mission successful. We managed to clear the town with only minor losses. As we carefully approached the town the Germans opened fire. We had to tread carefully not to give them easy shots. As the Germans started to break and had too few leaders to manage the rallies we attacked at surrounded the defending Germans. A lot of prisoners were taken and we could clear the town. We are now a step closer to attack the Hill 400.

2 BTN in Huertgen Forest 2 - Taking the foothill

2007-04-04T20:02:00.000Z

The Battalion has got it's new combat orders. We are to clear the town of Bergstein and move as much as possible uphill to prepare the final assault on the Bunker. This is the beginning of the fight for Hill 400. The opposing force is the veteran 275th Infantry Division. It's been depleted and reinforced with badly trained units. There is snow on the ground being a bit of a bugger but we can count on some Air Support.

This is an interesting approach to playing GSASL. The TFs has been given different sectors of the same map and the TF that gets the best result will be the one leading the assault on the Bunker on the Hill. We have all to sharpen our strategy to get the honour to make the assault.

2 BTN in Huertgen Forest 1 - Clearing the position

2007-03-18T15:39:00.000Z

We were ordered to clear the Kall Trail and the area around Vossenack. Warnings were issued that minefields and booby traps could be scattered in the area.

As we entered the area we discovered that the germans had positioned SPGuns in good firing positions. We had some trouble taking them out but eventually managed. This process slowed us down and wasn't improved by heavy rain. Unfortunately we lost some men during his clearing mission. The rain made the fighting a close combat fighting and a bloody one it was. At the end we couldn't clear our sector fully but we had made some progress. We just have to clear the sector bit by bit.

2nd Ranger BTN in Belgium 3 - Infiltration Busters

2007-02-18T22:45:00.000Z

Mission over and AAR time.

We got some heavy fighting this time. We run into a lot of elite Assault Engineers infiltrating behind our lines. We managed to catch up a lot of them and take them out of this war.

The Rangers cleared the hill of infiltrators who ran towards their own lines. Inbetween them and their own troops laid our MLR held by the 47th Infantry Regiment. They forced their way through our lines and the 47th took heavy casualties. The Rangers took up position were the 47th left holes and the MLR could be reestablished. The Rangers showed their usability in special situations and had hardly any losses while the Assault engineers suffered greatly.

The Assault could be held off and the sector stabilized.

2nd Ranger BTN in Belgium 3 - Infiltration Busters

2007-01-28T17:41:00.000Z

We have got our orders for the next mission. We are to move to the East to Roetgen and intecept Assault Engineers of the 347th Infantry Division who has infiltrated behind the battled 47th Infantry Regiment’s line. As these are elite forces we are expecting some heavy fighting. Additional ammunition and some artillery support has been granted. If we can break theses elite units back we can permanently stabilize this sector.

SASL Player Aid

2007-01-21T20:38:00.000Z

The rules of SASL are somewhat complex and hard to remember sometimes. As a help remembering automatic actions and other importent sections a great QRDC has been developt by Daniel Johansson. The QRDC can be found on the Swedish ASL forum http://forum.aslsweden.com//index.php?showtopic=680
Use the one at the bottom.

Mark Drake has updated the map table with the new ASLSK maps. You can find it on his site and it includes VPO value table.
http://www.freewebs.com/heavymetaldrake/asl.htm

AS I find useful links for SASLers I'll include them on my link section.

2nd Ranger BTN in Belgium 2 - Recon encounter

2007-01-12T20:59:00.000Z

AAR from our mission Recon encountered.

On our way to General Gerow's V Armored Division we run into a German Recon unit that attacked us immediately. They were mounted on SPW 250/1 and SPW 251/1 halftracks with several recon vehicles attached. As we moved down the road they stormed down the hillside towards us. We spread our forces along the roadside and tried to as god positions as possible, both with god LOS and coverage. Going downwards the German halftracks didn't have any problem with the vast amount of wire fences that were al over the open field. When they reach the lower ground they got into problems and several of them bogged down. This made it easier for us to pin them down and to take out several of the recon vehicles.
A new German recon unit suddenly emerged from the woods further north but they never imposed a threat to us. After some heavy fighting we had stopped them and at the field in front of us there were wrecked vehicles and even some in panic abandoned recon vehicles. Our journey to Hürtgen Forest could continue.

2nd Ranger BTN in Belgium 2 - Prelude

2006-12-27T16:50:00.000Z

New orders have arrived. We have been attached to CCA/5th Armoured Division and we will move to Northeast Belgium and act as a reserve to General Gerow’s V Corps fighting in the Hürtgen Forest. Any German disturbances will be fended of promptly. Due to the fact that the front is not consolidated we expect to encounter recon elements from LXXIV Corps’ Aufklährungsabteilung.

GSASL mission Recon encounter will be conducted.

2 BTN in Belgium 1 - Night Interrogation Part2

2006-12-13T20:34:00.000Z

The heavy fighting in the dark continued for a while. We managed to creep up and knock out a Pz III/IV with one shot. This made the Germans a bit indecisive and we took advantage of the situation. More prisoners where taken and the fighting diminished and the Germans had to withdraw. Miraculessly we came out of the fight without loosing a single man. A few wounds including the mission CO. We know this is only the beginning and we wount be as fortunate in the days to come.

2nd Ranger Battalion in Belgium 1 - Night Interrogation

2006-11-29T20:54:00.000Z

As my first posting I decided to write about my current SASL campaign. It is a GSASL campaign where I am commanding Task Force HOL in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. As I progress I will post my reports as a regular item in this blog. I hope you will find it interesting.

We have just left Brittany after smashing the Germans and find ourselves in Belgium and the Ardennes Forest. Our first mission is to move along the German lines and try to determine the number and identity of the German units in front of us. We are to set out on a Patrol in the night and try to capture and interrogate German units. The mission played is (8) Patrol with some changes like night and interrogation rules.

AAR: At 0200 we went on a Patrol towards the German lines. When we turned around a corner of a road leading towards the German lines we encountered a German Patrol. We moved into the woods and tried to set up some traps in the wooded area on the hills as we knew there were some panzer's around. A few Germans went right into our trap and we managed to capture them. They turned out to belong to the 7th Army and the 347th Infantry division. Fierce fighting are taking place at the moment as we are trying to stop counter attacks.

To be continued .....

Blog launch

2006-11-28T20:08:00.000Z

Welcome to my blog. This is a blog dedicated to SASL. It will contain various articles regarding SASL like GSASL, AARs, rules, play aids, development etc.

I have wanted to put together a blog for SASLers and ASLers for some time. I hope to be able to contribute to the SASL/ASL community. I’ve been playing SASL for several years and could call me a veteran. My first blogging will be on my ongoing GSASL campaign. Come back in a few days time for more on that subject.