18.64MB - View From The Trenches

Germans may have called the 37mm ATG "doorknocker",
but we use them more as door-stoppers.
(A playbalance note: if players end up preferring
the 37L ATG to the SOL, then you might want to
consider having the crew pass a TC before each
Deliberate Immobilization shot; in the midst of
battle, it would be remarkable that anyone would
try to simply stop rather than kill the iron monster.)
The "Paw of the Tiger" is a great teaching
scenario. The T-34s and T-43s are vastly superior
to the PzKw IIINs and equally inferior to the Tigers.
Appended, players will find two ASL reworking~
of COI scenarios, including the infamous
Scenario 14.
After Action Report-Timoshenko's Attack
These notes continue the series of commentaries
in the Clinic pertaining to the scenarios published
with the previous installment of the column (Vol.
23, No. 3 in this case). The intent is to provide the
ASL player with one of numerous possibilities for
defensive setup, attacker initial placement, and basic
tactical approaches for both. Having had several
months to examine your own approaches to our
Clinic scenarios, the reader can compare his findings
with our summation.
GERMAN: 8-1 leader, two squads and a LMG
in 10T6; 9-1 leader, squad wlth HMG on first floor
of 10US. Place a squad and LMG in 2241; the 9-2,
two squads, LMG and MMG in 2243; squad and
LMG in 2248. Place a squad and LMG in 11Q1;
8-0 leader radio and squad in 11W3. Put the rest
of the force in reserve.
RUSSIAN: Fairly straightforward. Group 1
attacks on Board 11 ; Group 2 attacks Board 22; and
Group 3 on Board 10.
ATTACKER'S TACTICS: If the radio is on
Board 1 1, your best bet is still to use the open terrain
for the tanks, but to use independent movement once
you have to button up. Board 10 is very tough to
assault, so be bold for the first two turns and try
to get the German to overcommit there. Board 22
is the one you're most likely to win on with whatever
group you use. Try to outflank the initial German
line and press forward fast.
DEFENDER'S TACTICS: Don't forget that the
LMGs and the 50mm MTR are valuable anti-tank
weapons. Have your screen fall back slowly while
your reserves throw back any infiltrating attackers.
Most importantly, don't commit too much to any
one board. Time and again players will find that
the German player wins handily on two boards only
to lose the whole scenario on the third. This scenario
*
may well require repeated play before you form an
opinion.
COPIES
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1
CONTEST #I35
You have emerged, after several minutes
of furious cat-and-mouse maneuvering in
KNIGHTS OF THE AIR, as an almost certain
victor over the despised Zeppelin airship. Just
one more hit from your trusty Camel's machineguns
and you will send that engine of destruction
plummeting to its doom. A glance at the
flat needle of the fuel gauge gives warning that
your next shot must be sure for you to have
time enough for only one more pass. Your
objectlve In Contest #I35 1s to position the Sopwith
Camel in ~ts next move where it has the
best chance of inflicting that final hit upon the
Zeppelin, thus presenting you with a win. A
draw is unacceptable.
There 1s a hitch, of course. Not only must you
make your fl~ght preparation, but you must also
complete your move before the Zeppelin moves.
This requires some foresight on your part, since
your final position in relation to all possible
Zeppelin positions must be considered. (An
important reminder: the Zeppelin fills three
altitude levels with its marker showing just the
middle level. This means that you may shoot at
the airship from two levels above or below its
altitude setting.)
The Zeppelin's nose is in hex 1807, pointing
south, at an altitude of 18473 feet. Your Camel's
in hex 1717, polntlng northwest, at an altitude
of 18454 feet. The relative positions of these two
crafts are shown in the diagram to the right.
Your mission is to shoot down the Zeppelin. Fill
in the spaces indicated for flight preparation and
write out the maneuvers you plan to use to get
into position to do this.
The answer to this contest must be entered on
the official entry form (or a facsimile) found on
the insert of this Issue. Ten winning entries will
receive merchandise from The Avalon Hill
Game Company. To be valid, an entry must in-
clude a numerical rating for this Issue as a whole
and a listing of the three best articles in the judg-
ment of the contestant. The solution to Contest
135 will appear in Vol. 23, No. 6 and the list
of winners in Vol. 24, No. 1 of The GENERAL.
.'