DLC '45 West #05: Celles

[VPaulus]

Please post here your comments about this scenario.

[sgocart6298]

Hi Paulus;
Spelling Error:
"Historically, the town of Celle marked the absolute farthest westward penetration of
Germany forces during the Battle of the Bulge."

Should be German

Ron

[Kamerer]

5) Celles– beta 1

Level: Field Marshal
Prestige: Begin: 1,150. End: 1,675. Net: +525
Result: MV 16/6
Replacements: None

Core changes: None

Problems:

• • MV screen at end: “Germany’s forces,” or “German forces…”

General impressions/comments:

• • Having taken too much damage at Houffalize, I brought two Stukas and one 190G to soften the armor on cloudy turns. Much less costly.
  • Celles was no problem. I was up to Dinant with Panzers, but not fully deployed to take it (artillery, infantry) as the scenario ended. A DV would have required three more turns while doing so and deflecting the British counterattack at the end.

[ThvN]

Celles, beta1

Colonel, Imported Core. DV 16/16.

Prestige before/after deployment: 11272/8901
Prestige on last turn/incl. victory bonus: 6341/8841

The first playthrough resulted in an MV on turn 16 as I could not reach Dinant and was forced to make a defensive line north of Foy Notre Dame against another British armoured wave.

On the first turn the weather was good and I immediately spotted the British around Pierreux (36,3), who sat there while I attacked them, so I can't comment on the trigger for their attack as I tripped it only later on (Celles). Same goes for the British forces around Ciney (20,3), I found them before reaching Celles so I could finish them off before the wave around Loyers (7,3) started to come at me. The British armour is very tough to deal with because of the initiative cap and lack of air support, but I managed (for the replay I brought out my old Elefant and sent it along the northern route).

Along the middle and southern route the going was better, but those M36 Jacksons and M18 Hellcats can really ruin your day. The American counterattack through the middle of the map cost me valuable time, but wasn't overpowering because I managed to catch some of them mounted up each time.

I was surprised at the lack of American mobile artillery (no Priests, just a 155mm GMC), so if the counterattacks needs to be made tougher this could be added (or switch the trigger locations for the British/American counterattacks?). Both times I met the bulk of the American attack at roughly the same point, around (24,15) on the map, although some single halftracks made it further than that. The only British group that attacked me each time was the last group around Loyers, the rest were already toast by the time I conquered Celles.

On the second try I captured everything (the whole of Dinant only on the last turn), I still found the going pretty tough, but my first playthrough gave me the much needed edge to prevent the worst surprises this time.

As an extra observation, I notice that these early maps have no American light tanks on them (M5 Stuart), and I've not yet seen Priests either? Light tanks would be nice speedbumps, especially in the snow (INI cap would still make them dangerous).

[tmgiles1]

I played this several times on col. Level with a standard core. and as far as I could get was an MV at Celles on turn 15 or 16. Unfortunately to do it, I had to take heavy loses and ultimately it makes more sense to play conservatively, take the loss and maintain prestige and forces. Especially given the next scenario is supposed to be difficult. After an MV I ended with 118 left and several units destroyed. I started Bastogne with 2600 before even beginning to rebuild. On the other game, I took the loss, but maintained my forces and started the next scenario with 4650. I think there should be a greater prestige dump for a MV in order to maintain momentum when playing with a standard core.

[ThvN]

It is a tough scenario indeed, and as with all winter scenarios the weather can cripple your advance. If it is any consolation, the outcome doesn't really matter for the campaign path, I believe. A Loss or MV nets 2500pr, a DV 3000pr, but all have the next scenario set the same: Bastogne (Siege). Getting a DV can be a Pyrrhic Victory.

When testing, the second time I played it I managed a DV on Colonel difficulty on the last turn. I first got an MV and knew where the opposing forces where located, and tailored my core composition & deployment to make better use of this information. But without some load/save activity and with worse weather it would have been another MV. For a better player it would be possible on General, I suppose.

EDIT, just found out the closed beta section is still not moved to open beta, so I will post this in the relevant thread.