Dawn Attack Mission

Dawn Attack By Craig Courtis Dawn attack simulates the confused fighting as the attacker tries to exploit a breakthrough and the defender launches strong counter attacks to halt the advance. The Dawn Attack uses the Night Fighting (page 113 Flames Of War), Meeting Engagement (page 104 Flames Of War), and Dawn (page 113 Flames Of War) special rules. Attacker Late yesterday afternoon after heavy fighting your division broke through the enemy lines and your company is in the vanguard exploiting the gap. You have been advancing all night and now, as dawn approaches, you are near your objective- strategically important ground which will allow you to cut off the enemy’s escape route and thus seal their fate.

As the first rays of dawn light up the sky you regroup and prepare for one last push to cut off the enemy forces. Your orders are to capture one of the two objectives and thus cut off the enemy formations trying to escape the noose. Defender Yesterday was a day of bitter fighting and the front has started to collapse. Division has hastily gathered your company, the only available reserves to plug the yawning gap in the line. As dawn approaches you at last arrive at your start line only to find that there are no prepared positions and the enemy is, at most, only hours away away.

You have counter attack and recapture strategically important territory and hold it long enough for the forces around you a chance to escape and form a new defensive line. Your orders are to seize one of your objective points before the enemy seizes one of theirs and cuts you off. Setting Up Dawn Attack uses the same deployment conditions as a Free For All mission (page 106 Flames Of War). The Attacker picks a long table edge to attack from. The Defender defends from the opposite table edge. Both players, starting with the Attacker, place two Objectives within 8"/20cm of the opponent's table adge, at least 8"/20cm frm the side table edges. Deployment Both players, starting with the Attacker, then take turns placing Units within 12"/30cm of their own table edge until all of their Units are deployed.

Winning the battle A player wins if they end their turn Holding one of the Objectives that they placed on the opponent's side of the table. Attacker: You have captured your objective despite strong enemy counterattacks and thus have driven a wedge into the front lines, which will be exploited by the follow up troops. Defender: Your counterattack has been successful, you have halted the breakthrough and forced the enemy onto the defensive, thus giving your comrades time to fall back, dig in and shore up the battered line.

Campaign Results- Next Mission If playing the game as part of a campaign use the following table to decide the next battle. Result Next Mission Notes Stunning Victory ~ Attacker Free For All The situation remains fluid and your advance continues at breakneck speed. You continue to run into more enemy forces being rushed to the front. Major Victory ~ Attacker Contact Enemy forces are encountered piece- meal to try to stop your advance. Minor Victory ~ Attacker Breakthrough The enemy has recovered and is scrambling to form a solid line. However small gaps remain which you maybe able to exploit with a flanking force. Stunning Victory ~ Defender No Retreat You have held long enough for your forces to prepare solid defensive positions. Major Victory ~ Defenfer Bridgehead The front line has stabilised and you have managed to dig in but the enemy. Minor Victory ~ Defender Rearguard Your counterattack was unsuccessful. The enemy has swept aside your blocking position, your orders are to continue to withdrawal but to deny the enemy ground in the process. Notes: This game is a slightly modified Free For All to allow for a few more tactical options, especially for Infantry. This mission was used in TAGCON 2005 (under version 2 of the Flames Of War) and was enjoyed by all players. (Updated to the latest version of Flames Of War by Wayne)