Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1999 08:21:11 -0500
From: Mark S Walz
CH 53 At the Cross Roads. The setting is Poland August of 1920. Ten Chinese 337s with a mg and decent leadership must clear a crossroads of 3 Polish squads which are reinforced in the nick of time by 2.5 more squads (axis minors) The scenario is played on boards 43 and 38. It is currently 4 and 3 pro Pole according to ROAR.
This scenario is very short only 4.5 turns and I was able to play it four times in under 3 hours. Does that mean I enjoyed the scenario ... No, it means I was curious enough to try and figure out how to win as the Russians. Ivan must cross about 17 hexes to get to the crossroads then blow the Poles out of the immediate area. The Russian tried to go left, right, and straight up the middle ... all to no avail. The problem was that the Poles could break an odd squad here and there and fall back. The Russians generally couldn't return the favor. So by the end game you had seven or so squads trying to pry out 4.5 squads from the cross-roads. The Russians never had enough left in the right place to form a wave. Perhaps that could carry the day. Time precludes a flanking maneuver so it comes down to surviving a fire lane and or some 8-1 attacks and 6-1 attacks. Inevitably one of the Polish squads isn't tied up in CC or wins the CC for the victory. That is if the Russian even gets there. The fourth time I played I added Russian balance and used the attack that was most promising in the first three games. Run straight up the road then form a line on the left close on the cross roads. After that it is bayonet time. Still a loss for the Russian.
My final opinion against seasoned ASL players take the Poles and concede the balance. The scenario looks like it will be a good teaching scenario for my son. Fun scale ... I give it a 3.
