The Listening Post

Part 3: Breakthrough

The third scenario in this series uses the optional observation/spotting rules, and gives players control of more troops than in the first two parts.

Background

The Americans meet the rest of their airborne platoon, and all have to sneak their way behind and through enemy lines, to meet up with the British troops which are engaging them. Although the Germans do not expect enemy to be moving behind their lines, the British anticipate the breakthrough and are ready to help the Americans with it.

Terrain

The unlabeled terrain features are the same as on the first map. Woods are heavy, orchards are light woods. The river is impassible except at the road (a bridge) and the ford.

The two ruins and the large building (a stone house) have second story windows facing the road, and provide medium cover. The light hedges around the house don't block line of site, and provide light cover. The small outbuilding near the road provides light cover.

American airborne forces:

Morale: Veteran
To be played by the American player in the previous game.

All troops left after part 2, including any reinforcements whether they were deployed or not. (That's one additional squad of 12, if the reinforcements were not deployed)

Allies, engaging the enemy

Morale: Green
To be played by a second Allied player. We used British troops because it was convenient. Comparable American squads are fine.

2x rifle section of 10
- 2x SMG: squad leader, asst. leader
- 7x SMLE bolt-action rifle
- 1x BREN LMG
- d4 grenades
2x light tank or armored car (Stuart Honey, Daimler Mk 1, etc.)

Germans

Morale: Veteran

2x rifle squad of 12
- 2x MP40 SMG: squad leader, asst. leader
- 9x bolt-action rifle
- 1x MG34 LMG
2x light tank or armored car (Panzer II, Sdkfz 231, etc).

Setup

British troops engaging the Germans deploy first, to the West of the North-South road and out of line of sight of the road. They are considered spotted.

Germans deploy second, East of the North-South road and no closer than 24" to the Eastern board edge. They are considered spotted.

The Allied Airborne forces deploy hidden (on-table) on the East table edge.

Goals:

The primary goal of the American airborne units is to carry any remaining code materials to the Western board edge. Code materials are carried as in the second scenario.

The primary goals of the British units are to hold their position and to work with the Airborne units to help them through the enemy line. Their secondary goal is to capture the stone house.

The Germans are engaged in defensive combat with the Allies in the West, and do not expect enemy behind them. Their primary goal is to hold their position, and to prevent any code materials from reaching the Western table edge.

Special rules

The Axis are not expecting enemy from the rear, and should act that way. They may not make fire orders against any Airborne troops until they are spotted by at least one Axis unit, or until they fire on the Germans.

Game End

The game ends when the American troops all reach the Western board edge, or are killed.