ncc1701e

FINAL SITUATION
Here are two views of the battlefield without FOW. Looks like a single Panzerschreck team won the day...

MINUTE 16
In the center, still no sign of the enemy. Why sending so many smoke? I am blind. I am sure there is something I do not see.

On the right, there is no opposition to my assault.

But, pressing the button to give my orders, a bad surprise awaits me

MINUTE 15
Disaster! A mortar round almost decimate the team that has never reached the house.

At the exact same time, my mortar is finally arriving not so far of their objective.

Just to see the Germans falling back.

This is the signal for my attack on the right side.

Same thing on the left, this is time for my attack, time is running fast now...

Still no sign of the enemy assault in the center. This is a little bit strange.

 
 
 

MINUTE 12
What are the Germans doing? On my left side, they are now following back from the hill apparently going to the halftrack.

My 60mm mortar team is back still unable to aim correctly. Green guys !!?

On the right, my teams are in overwatch position ready for the assault.

In the center, more smoke appears... 😨

The overall situation with my halftrack going on the left to support the incoming assault.

To counter an advance in the center, I count on three teams. One on the left, one in the center and the lucky team covering the right side.

I am ordering a Hunt move to the team in the woods to move it inside one of the house of Obj1.

 

MINUTE 1
And this is it: baptism by fire 😕I hope my men won't suffer of my mistakes... On the right, the squad is nearly approaching the woods without opposition.

In the center, my team is quickly going to the house to have a LOS on German's AOA2.

On the left, no opposition so far.

One could think that these men are exposed but in the two following screenshots you can see that the ridge is protecting them


Overall situation at the end of the first turn. No enemy detected so far, not a single shot. On the right, I will detach one team to take a good overwatch position and monitor the second objective and the plan of the enemy to take the first one.

MY PLAN AND MY INITIAL MOVES
My avenues of approach are the exact opposite of the Germans. Since I think the enemy will try to flank me, I will advance on both sides of the map with splitted squads (one on each side). The center will remain quite weak but I am convinced that the enemy will not try to assault directly Obj1.

As a young green lieutenant, my goal is to preserve as much as possible my men. As such, I will try to carefully plan my moves. Since this is my first PBEM, I can say that I am strangely much more careful than against the computer. Self preservation?

ENEMY AVENUES OF APPROACH

AOA1 (Green axis)
The green axis has the advantage to be masked by a ridge and can perfectly be used to advance on my left flank. On the other hand, terrain is pretty opened thus the advance will have to be careful and slow.
AOA2 (Blue axis)
This is the most unlikely axis in my opinion since I have direct LOS from the Obj1 houses to this avenue of approach. I am pretty sure @JoMc67 will try to flank my troops using AOA1 or AOA3 axis.
AOA3 (Orange axis)
The orange axis is the most important threat in my opinion. It is covered by both a ridge and a wood. This is surely the axis that will be taken by the enemy troops to attack on my right flank. I will have to reinforce my right flank at all costs.

Based on this excellent blog: http://battledrill.blogspot.com/2015/11/mett-t-analysis.html from @Bil Hardenberger, I will try to conduct my first METT-T analysis.
MISSION
This mission is simple, my main goal is to hold the two objectives in my zone. This is a meeting engagement so I will have to reach Obj1 at the beginning of the scenario and destroy the enemy to reach Obj2 that will be surely occupied at the end of turn 1.
ENEMY
Intel is indicating that German is starting with a Reinforced Infantry Platoon followed by some Heavy Weapons coming at turn 5 and one Halftrack at turn 10.
TERRAIN
The two objectives are located at a bottom of a V formed by two hills on the left and the right side. There are quite good lines of sight across the map. Controlling the flanks should give me some overwatched positions on the two objectives.

TROOPS
I have a Reinforced Infantry Platoon but many composed of "green" soldiers. I am expecting the same reinforcement that the Germans.
TIME
I have only 20 minutes to reach both objectives plus 5 minutes extra possible.

In honor of the imminent release of CMSF2, I figured I would get a heads start on the time honored tradition of complaining about every new release by making it into a fun game!
I give you, CMSF2 BINGO!

All in good fun of course.

Year 1941 on the eastern front:
Year 1942 on the eastern front:
Looking forward to 1943, 1944 and 1945... 🙂

Interesting AAR @ncc1701e and @JoMc67.  Thanks for posting.  I'm looking forward to following the next one. 

I think this little fight had an unsatisfactory conclusion... 15 minutes is never enough time to complete a scenario, especially one as small as this... it is a tad artificial.  I am in favor of leaving plenty of time for scouting, decision, maneuver, and then execution... 15 minutes barely gives you enough time to scout properly on a map of this size. 
I wouldn't feel bad about how you handled this action, I think you did a fine job, and you had the opportunity to maul your opponent and roll over him... if only you had given yourselves enough time.  Though I think given more time your opponent would have fought this one very differently too.
Your self critique is on the mark... so not a lot to offer you other than what I wrote yesterday.  I hope to see another AAR from you in the near future as this was quite fun to read.
Bil

It shouldn't be that complicated, basically keep them within visual distance of each other, and ensure they stay in C2 range of their leader (not always possible or desirable)... if you are interested and don't mind a little reading, I go into this subject in detail on my blog in the Platoon Leader series.  Especially in the Approach March and the Platoon Scouts sections. 
Try not to get too scientific with tactics, it is more of an art than a science and there are exceptions for every rule.
Bil

I'm no great shakes and I've not as yet done anything other than played against the computer in combat mission. But I tend to go with whatever distances and positions I can get away with so long as those keep the C3 chain intact to some degree. For what that constitutes I refer you to the thread on C2 and information sharing that @MOS:96B2P posted, also the thread that @Josey Wales posted about unit morale and etc.
 

Distance is really about communication, and thus depends on terrain.

You can see the C2 connection in the UI - LOS, spoken, far, etc. 

Generally speaking, you want all of a unit to be able to see each other, or at least all of them being able to see their HQ - otherwise when (for example) your forward scouts come under fire, you won't have the ability to respond, and they'll just get isolated. The closer they are (the better the C2 link), the faster they'll share spotting information, and the better they'll react to threats.

This means that distance is terrain dependant - in close woods they may have to be very close indeed, whereas open terrain allows them to spread out a little.

The best guide on how C2 works in Combat Mission:
 
In terms of how much space a unit can be reasonably expected to command, that comes down to "frontage"

 
That gives you a very rough idea of the amount of space a given unit was expected to be responsible for - it's not necessarily how far apart they're spaced, since that's more terrain dependant than anything.

Thanks all for your support. Let's continue.
MINUTE 9
I forgot to mention that my 60mm mortar team was able to shot one single round that I have never seen coming back to Earth before been shot at by what seems to be a HMG. They were suppressed almost immediately.
MINUTE 10
On the left side, more Germans are coming my way. You can see in the foreground one of the team of the squad protecting Obj1. This team has LOS on the woods on the right of the screenshot if some Germans want to assault Obj1 using this path.

In the center, my 60mm mortar team is now useless and even fleeing



In the woods, on my right side, I have resumed Germans' hunting...

But, my own LMG is now deployed and can return fire. Great! 🙂

Even if my 60mm mortar are pinned, I gave them the order to area fire the enemy position. Will see how this will turn out.

And, I have received this guy. I am wondering what can I really do with this one. Hopefully, the Germans don't have Javelins... Oups wrong game...🤣

 
 
 

MINUTE 7
Looks like the situation is developping a little bit.

On my right wing, I can spot some Germans going in my direction. Looks like my men in the woods have been spotted. ☹️

Same thing on my left wing, more Germans are coming to support the one in the last screenshot of above minute 6's report.

In the center, my 60mm mortar team is almost deployed. I say almost because the turn did finish just 5 seconds before the deployment is complete. I am losing time here... 😕

On the left wing, still no opposition. Here are three screenshots with my overall positions.

MINUTE 4
On the right, the progression into the woods is going well. No opposition has been found and this is worrying me. @JoMc67 is surely waiting for me


In the center, as @IanL pointed out, I have forgotten to give my team a 30 seconds pause. I was thinking this was done by the Target Briefly. One newbie mistake, one 🙈🙊🙉 Thus, the team left the house immediately without supporting by fire the other team on the right that is under fire! 😨

By chance, the other team has reached its destination without any casualty. I think I am lucky.

For next turn, I will start to carefully progress into the woods. I am sure the Germans are setting up an ambush there.

Here is the overall situation. Still no casualties so far...

 
 

MINUTE 3
On the right wing, the squad is starting its progression into the woods, hoping to be unseen from the Germans.

On the left wing, teams are continuing their approach, one team is stopping to watch while another is doing some quick moves forward.

In the center, I am concerned that I am a little too weak. As such, I have send the rest of the squad to support the single team in the house. One team will be on the left side while the other on the right side of the objective. But, the right team gets shot at from the position I have seen them coming the previous turn...

I decide to use for the first time the new "Target Briefly" (I come from CMSF1 🙂). I am asking my team in the house to area fire during 30 seconds, with Target Briefly, and to
run out of the house to avoid return fires. Will see if that works.

Here is the overall situation at the end of the turn. Still no casualties so far...

 
 

MINUTE 1
And this is it: baptism by fire 😕I hope my men won't suffer of my mistakes... On the right, the squad is nearly approaching the woods without opposition.

In the center, my team is quickly going to the house to have a LOS on German's AOA2.

On the left, no opposition so far.

One could think that these men are exposed but in the two following screenshots you can see that the ridge is protecting them


Overall situation at the end of the first turn. No enemy detected so far, not a single shot. On the right, I will detach one team to take a good overwatch position and monitor the second objective and the plan of the enemy to take the first one.

Oh boy, what did I have accepted? This is my first PBEM on any game and this is of course my first PBEM on CMBN. @JoMc67 has convinced me to leave CMSF to go back in time. And, I must say this is very entertaining for me. 😃
The year is 1944. The scenario is named Meet Med Hills QB-245. This is a meeting engagement with two objectives that are closed to each other. Both sides is having a Reinforced Infantry Platoon to start with. Reinforcements (Heavy Weapons) is coming on turn 5 and one Halftrack is planned for each side on turn 10.
We agree on these 'house rules' that will make the game a little more realistic in our opinion:
No Pre-Planned Arty (or Area-Fire from Ground Units) on Turn 1 of a Meeting Engagement, or from Defender. Player will need to Call-In Arty normally (Attacker in Attack/Defense Games are exempt and can use Pre-Planned Arty). FO & HQ Units will need to Spot or have knowledge of Enemy Units or Icons on Battlefield to Call-In Arty (click on your Unit to see if it spots Enemy Units or Icons). Once that knowledge has been obtained then it can call in Arty Anywhere at Anytime on the Battlefield w/o restrictions. Players will let the Computer AI choose what Targets to shoot at (player can't choose Targets, but can still use 'Area-Fire'). Player can still use Smoke at anytime and any Location on the Map. All Units can only check LOS (and thus use 'Area-Fire') at its exact Location at beginning of turn. Players Can't click on Enemy Icons or Units during a Game (there will be some accidents from time to time). You can Area-Fire anywhere on the Map...However, the Area-Fire has to be at the closest point possible to the Enemy Unit/Icon (this includes Direct HE fire from Onboard Arty...Smoke can still be anywhere on map)... Basically, this means a Player can Area-Fire 100 meters away (if that happens to be the closest point), or 10 meters (if that happens to be the closest point). Vehicle Smoke Dischargers (not Smoke Shells) is controlled by the Computer AI, and not by the Player. We are currently at turn number 12. More to come very soon...

Based on this excellent blog: http://battledrill.blogspot.com/2015/11/mett-t-analysis.html from @Bil Hardenberger, I will try to conduct my first METT-T analysis.
MISSION
This mission is simple, my main goal is to hold the two objectives in my zone. This is a meeting engagement so I will have to reach Obj1 at the beginning of the scenario and destroy the enemy to reach Obj2 that will be surely occupied at the end of turn 1.
ENEMY
Intel is indicating that German is starting with a Reinforced Infantry Platoon followed by some Heavy Weapons coming at turn 5 and one Halftrack at turn 10.
TERRAIN
The two objectives are located at a bottom of a V formed by two hills on the left and the right side. There are quite good lines of sight across the map. Controlling the flanks should give me some overwatched positions on the two objectives.

TROOPS
I have a Reinforced Infantry Platoon but many composed of "green" soldiers. I am expecting the same reinforcement that the Germans.
TIME
I have only 20 minutes to reach both objectives plus 5 minutes extra possible.

I love seeing bravery.
I recall early in CMBN playing a game where a flanking force got the jump on me and even through I was rushing reserves to the bocage line on my left flank it was going to be tight. We all know what happens to troops that are running across and open field towards an enemy sitting and waiting in said bocage. My one team on sentry duty was already down to half strength and as the fire came in and the enemy approached one of the two remaining guys gave up an started surrendering. The lone soldier left held it together and got off a few more shots hitting one of the enemy squad. The wavered and then turned and ran. The next turn my reserve arrived and secured the area.

MINUTE 11
Looks like I am not the only one to receive some new toy for Christmas.

On the left side, more and more Germans are reported.

In the center, smoke detected. If @JoMc67 goes all-in, I think I am doomed with my weak center. I am planning to fallback and delay his actions with the three teams there. The goal of my double envelopment is exactly what @Bil Hardenberger has pointed out: destroy the enemy after surrounding them.

What I love is when one guy is wounded while throwing a grenade and that this grenade is exploding killing his friends.