Lockdown Crossfire – Kiwis in Italy – Two Battle Reports

Bruce Stewart played through his Lockdown Crossfire – Kiwis in Italy – A Crossfire Scenario twice and shared some narrative and photos from each. Bruce games with 1/56 figures and 1/48 – 1/50 vehicles.


Order of Battle

Note: Bruce used a smaller order of battle for these games than is given in the scenario description. Play testing showed they needed more.

Defender Order of Battle

  • 1 x PC (+1)
  • 3 x Rifle Squads
  • 1 x HMG
  • 1 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar1
  • 1-3 x Snipers2
  • Morale: Green
  • Command & Control: Okay / Commonwealth

Notes:
(1) Mortar Ammunition supply (both sides) 4 plus score of 2 x D6 (keep secret)
(2) German Snipers throw a D6 1,2 = one sniper , 3,4 = two snipers , 5,6 three snipers (keep secret)


Take one, Lieutenant Mulder defending

In this engagement I began by smoking buildings I suspected of concealing the German HMG. I then probed the left flank through the haystack field with my first platoon. This revealed two snipers , a rifle squad and the HMG, but left my platoon in tatters.

Upon regaining the initiative I began my mortar bombardment of the HMG position.

Next I dispatched Spiers to activate “I” company, which after a couple of pins he finally made it.

Once the mortar had dealt with the HMG position I sent a second platoon under cover of smoke to take out the two rifle squads in the house directly behind the HMG position. One of the defenders was no fire and the other suppressed so I took a chance and cleared them out by storming them. My right flank also got stalled but I was able to clear the village of German defenders.

It was a fun battle that took around 90 minutes.

Lockdown 1-01 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-01 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-01 Leutnant Mulder deployment
Lockdown 1-01 Leutnant Mulder deployment
Lockdown 1-02 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-02 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-03 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-03 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-04 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-04 kiwi deployments
Lockdown 1-05 opening moves
Lockdown 1-05 opening moves
Lockdown 1-06 opening moves
Lockdown 1-06 opening moves
Lockdown 1-07 storming
Lockdown 1-07 storming
Lockdown 1-08 storming
Lockdown 1-08 storming
Lockdown 1-09 right stalled
Lockdown 1-09 right stalled

Take two , Lieutenant Sadler defending

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I used a similar modus operandi as the first battle only this time Spiers got himself killed!

A combination of the middle squad capitalising on a mortar strike eliminated the HMG team.

Although unable to move from their prone position on my right flank “I” company were able to tie up the rifle squads in the vineyard and house directly in front of them.

I used my middle platoon to storm the empty MG building and crossfire the Germans in the vineyard. One last german fire team attempted to retreat but was caught in the open.

Lockdown 2-12 Leutanant Sadler in his spotter plane
Lockdown 2-12 Leutanant Sadler in his spotter plane
Lockdown 2-00 Leutnant Sadler deployment
Lockdown 2-00 Leutnant Sadler deployment
Lockdown 2-01 opening kiwi deployments
Lockdown 2-01 opening kiwi deployments
Lockdown 2-02 smoke if you have em
Lockdown 2-02 smoke if you have em
Lockdown 2-03 flushed out the MG
Lockdown 2-03 flushed out the MG
Lockdown 2-04 kiwi right flank
Lockdown 2-04 kiwi right flank
Lockdown 2-05 spiers suppressed
Lockdown 2-05 spiers suppressed
Lockdown 2-06 pressure on the mg
Lockdown 2-06 pressure on the mg
Lockdown 2-07 right flank stalled for the rest of the game
Lockdown 2-07 right flank stalled for the rest of the game
Lockdown 2-08 mg eliminaited by mortar fire
Lockdown 2-08 mg eliminaited by mortar fire
Lockdown 2-09 pushing through the village
Lockdown 2-09 pushing through the village
Lockdown 2-10 germans falling back
Lockdown 2-10 germans falling back
Lockdown 2-11 mopping up
Lockdown 2-11 mopping up

Observations and conclusions

The objectives were take the town and eliminate the german defenders. And the reverse for the kiwis. In both cases I killed all the German defenders. I’m not the most proficient crossfire player and it seemed quite easy to win. On reflection (after battles one and two) I think there should be more German defenders with a bit more command control flexibility . Definitely both german defenders liked the scenario and enjoyed the game. With beefed up defenders would make it more challenging for the attacker. I recommend adding one additional rifle squad and PC to the German defenders if you play this scenario. Means the defenders can have two platoons each with two squads.

We didn’t have casualty objectives for the defender but is a possibility. I assume with the abstract nature of cross fire a number of the “dead” have just taken to their heels.

Also no moving clock as it was a test game to play over the internet.

Both games the defenders got 3 snipers , all deployable just short of the wooded ridge start point. So that helped make things difficult for me

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