Tough NUTS!

NUTS! - THE SCENARIO

I managed to get in a game of NUTS! squad level WW II combat on Saturday. We were using Old Glory's 25 mm, including a couple of their vehicles, in the scenario. It was a squad of German Panzergrenadiers with a light MG and a Pz IV H tank (me) against and American infantry squad with a Bazooka Team and an M4A3 Sherman tank (Brad S.).

I didn't realize how unprepared I was for the scenario (a simple "sweep the area" action). With my squad of Panzergrenadiers, light MG and PZ IV H tank I felt pretty good going into the fight. Unfortunately, as with a lot of the command-and-control type games I have been playing recently, things never go according to plan.

WHAT HAPPENED

On the westrern end of the line my Grenadiers rolled up the American flank, pushing them all the way to the house on the back edge of the table. In the center of the table, near the village, the Americans were slow to advance so the Germans were able to secure very commanding positions overlooking the road. On the eastern flank, the American tank was playing cat-and-mouse with my troops and tank over there.

As we progressed, rolling for activations each turn, the Germans kept getting the worst of it - never getting to activate more than one or two men at a time, and only getting one activation for the Pz IV the whole game!

With his western edge collapsing, and his forces in the center pinned down into poor positions, the American commander decided on a bold move - rapidly move his armor out into the open to surprise the Pz IV and hope for the best.



It worked! The Pz IV commander didn't see the American until it was too late. The Sherman manged to get off a lucky shot which disabled the Pz IV and forced the German crew to bail out. Without the tank, the Germans had nothing to stop the American tank from rampaging. And since the scenario called for either side to sweep the other out of the area, it meant the Germans would be forced to retire from the battlefield.



AFTER ACTION

Once again the command-and-control issues haunted me. Without getting better dice rolls to afford me more activations I was doomed. Only getting one activation for the Pz IV the whole game!?! I guess I can't feel to sorry for the crew if they can't take care of themselves.

Also my Germans definitely need some Panzerfausts or Panzerschrecks to give them some anti-armor ability.

All in all it was a very fun game - Brad is a fun opponent. The command-and control issues make the game very enjoyable and challenging. I just hope my luck begins to turn with some of these games, or I might just develop a complex or something...

Until next time - cheers!

Dan