Ad Hoc 96
Ad Hoc '96 in was held in Linköping in Sweden on the 29:th and 30:th of June. Having never been to an ASL tournament before I arrived not really knowing what was awaiting me... Anyway, Ad Hoc wasn't arranged as a tournament, but as an ASL happening and mustering 13-14 guys, including if I remember correctly 75% of the Swedish World Cup team (in ASL of course, nothing silly like soccer or so...), namely Patrik Manlig, Nils-Gunnar Nilsson and Klas Malmström (whom also handled everything).
My first game was with Klas Malmström. He suggested something from the Rout Pack scenarios and I picked #8, Victoria Cross, and was allowed to play the IJA. IJA set up to to defend a wood road on half of board 37 (?) against nasty Aussies (Hi Mark!). Allowed one HIP MMC only, I put it almost in front where it would void the Aussie VC unless detected. The intial attack by Klas was plagued with 5 box cars during two turns and the IJA didn't allow anything to touch them. Losing an AFV to an MG CH on turn 3 and rapidly approaching the max CVP loss limit Klas had to yield two turns later. This scenario looks tough on the Aussies who have to figure out the proper way of attacking two 88* guns + FATs in PTO terrain.
After waiting a while for someone else to finish we enrolled Stefan Zetterling for a threesome in Triumph at XXXX-Fjell (BB13). After rolling for sides I got to defend the lvl 3 hill hexes as German, with Klas attacking as French and Stefan taking the Norweigan attackers. Losing only little ground to the French and holding of the Norweigans things started to turn when Stefan had to leave and left Klas being able to coordinate the two attacking forces. After some furious fighting in this game was decided on the last CC in the last turn when my German german squad succesfully won a 1:1 situation against two French HS on my last lvl 3 hill hex. A fun game that had a fanatic Frenchie attacking a german hero.
Finishing that game twenty past eleven in the night I couldn't pass up the chance to play Patrik Manlig in "any small scenario". I selected Tiger 222 from TOT, and got the Germans. SLAM! I got _thouroghly_ whipped. We finished the whole scenario (all turns played) in 70 minutes... Ugh! No comments except that it was quite an experience playing with someone whom didn't refer to the RB. Or any attack table either....
The next day I missed the Straying TC for SMC driving in unknown city and got lost. Arriving as the last I got to guest play one player turn as Russian in To the Square with Stefan Zetterholm against Andreas Klint. In this turn I only managed to malf the T-34/85 MA for the Armor Leader and to loose another T-34/85 to a PF CH. A TK# like a million... Some infantry DR's went the right way at least. At this point Patrik had finished with another game and was looking for a new. Feeling like the third wheel I volunteered again. Sure.
After a quick visit to the McD*nald we selected The Bridge at Cheneux (KGP7), both having picked up KGPII earlier that week (neither of us had played it yet). Rolling for sides I got US this time. The US side get 17 747's and a handfull of HS and SW's to attack ten 658 augumented by two of those those nasty AA HTs (IFE 20), and another AA HT, two guns and three HMG/MMG. US must control all buildings and the bridge to win. After some initial rubbling of the village Patrik setup with what looked like three killer stacks, and all vehicles defending from behind. One AA Ht was placed to defend the bridge. The US attack from two directions, the smaller and closer force is already in the village while the larger must attack from the south. The village attackers sat up heavily in the middle with only 1.5 squads guarding the flanks. The southern was forced to go through the wooden area to avoid the central killer stack.
Unknown to me the two guns (one ART 105 and one AA 20L) was placed centrally in the Orchards as well (HIP).
My village attackers got nowhere for three turns and I had lost my sniper due to the German SAN. After very intensive house to house fighting the Germans slowly had to yield (on turn 5 or so) in the village, and was threatened to be flanked by a HS+Baz and 9-1,747/MMG to the north. The southern prong had reached the woods driving away the guarding 658s, except for the LtMtrs and minor fire support to keep any ideas of counter attacks away while I was in the woods. Planning to withdraw the villager some of the 658's got caught in the open on the road leading to the bridge. Ha! I stormed forwards and inflicted some casuallties as well as breaking some additional units.
Then the situation stabilized and the southern attack was beaten up by those IFE 20 attacks and killer stacks. Sending my 9-2 with 2.5 squads + a Baz in direction of the bridgen the main body (or what was left of it) rallied and the Wounded Heroic 9-1 came back with a vengence (snake eyes) and broke the killer stack in the middle. One AA hat got recalled and the other run out of gas leaving the southern section without much heavy support. I got three squads+a MMG locked in Melee for three turns against a single 658 in the village though.
At the end my troops had the remaining gun crew engaged in Melee and besieged the final 2 stacks in the village. I was throwing all my units at them to no avail; all whom came adjacent was broken or killed (- a kingdom for a Banzai!). Some intense fighting in the woods close to the bridge finally eliminated the Fanatic defenders (a HS and newly generated 8-0 leader) on the next to last turn. A Fanatic US HS sprung forward and run to the bridge, survived the Def fire by the defending AA Ht and reached the other side! Wow - one bridge pocketed!
My 9-2 and hero + a HS converged on the final enemy stronghold in the village from this new direction (from the bridge) and promply got pinned/killed except for the Hero (whom died in an solo attempt to take the house). On his final turn Patrik advanced with the one of the two remaining 658s locking an adjacent 747 in melee, leaving a 658/8-0 in the house. My last Prep Fire seemed to achieve nothing untill the 8-0/658 both where broken by a 2MC, leaving the last building open for me to take.
Needless to say this was a very intensive game and incredibly exciting till the end. This was seven and half hours hours of sheer fun and learning.
Everybody were extremly friendly and the whole event was a enjoyable, and it is very rewarding discussing setups with other players! The occasional "snake eyes" scream enhanced the atmosphere as well.
Thanks to Klas and everybody else there - I'll certainly be back next year!