MW 1650pts Canadian Tank Coy vs German Aufklarungschwadron in Cauldron

The Table

 Back again with Quentin for some more MW action. This time helping him test out a list for an upcoming event in the States. I've made some changes to my Canadian Tank coy and am keen to put some lessons learned to use.

Canadians
Canadian Armoured Coy from Italy (CT)

OC Sherman w/.50cal
2iC Sherman w/.50cal
x1 HQ Sherman w/.50cal

x3 Shermans w/.50cal
x3 Shermans w/.50cal
x3 Scout Carriers
Full Canadian Infantry Platoon
x2 Priests
Limited Hurricanes

Germans

German Aufklarungschwadron (CV)
IC/2iC SMG Panzerknackers w/halftracks

Full Aufklarungschwadron Platoon
Short Aufklarungschwadron Platoon
(Part of which is KG'd with the 2iC)

x2 Pak 38's (Combat attached)
x2 8-rads
x3 PzIV G, x1 PzIII M
x3 Hummels (Proxy'd by Stug's)

Deployment

 Deployment was fairly kind to me this game. Being random for Cauldron, it can be tough to make a plan before the game, but I was lucky and everything except one Sherman platoon wound up on one flank. I chose to deploy both Sherman platoons and the Infantry and try to play the shooting game until my reserves arrived.

German Turn 1

Canadians take up firing positions

Since the Canadians deployed mostly out of line of sight to the Germans and kept their tanks well spread out, the Germans opt to range in on the Infantry platoon to try and thin them out. They successfully range in, but cause no casualties.

Canadian Turn 1

Here I am...

 The Canadians begin by getting some air support - Just 1 plane, so I go for a high density target to try and get a hit if I can range in, but to no avail. The pilot fails to aquire a target.

Sherman platoon #2 sights and knocks out a Hummel

 On the opposite flank, Sherman platoon #2 takes shots at the exposed Hummels and knocks one out!
This, however, exposed them to counter fire from the German Panzers.

German Turn 2

The German Panzers return fire. Even with concealment and long range, they manage to knock out 2 Shermans and the survivor runs away. The Hummels re-range in on the Infantry and get a pin, but no further damage.

Canadian Turn 2

The RAF returns for another strafing run

 The Canadians receive air support yet again, but this time they get 3 planes! Targeting an exposed Pak38, the bombs knock out the Pak as well as a PzIV!

1st Platoon opens up on the Panzers

 With the Panzers now exposed after firing on 2nd platoon, 1st Platoon opens up and knocks out a PzIV.

Knocked out!

 German Turn 3

1st Platoon taking return fire

 The Germans begin by calling up their 8-rads from reserve. They take up a position close to the Canadian Infantry and try to link up with their forces inside the cauldron. Meanwhile, The Panzers manoeuvre to return fire on the Shermans of 1st platoon, knocking one out, and bailing another as well as the OC.

Canadian Turn 3

The Hurricanes return

 The Canadians continue to receive air support in the form of a single Hurricane, which again, go for high density targets, but the bombs bounce this time. The 2iC platoon of Shermans arrive and flank the recently arrived 8-rads, which fail to disengage and are wiped out. 1st Platoon remounts and repositions to get shots on the Hummels, but miss.

German/Canadian Turn 4

The RAF is relentless!

 German turn 4 saw the 2iC KG as well as the small Aufklarungschwadron platoon arrive from reserve, only to be picked apart by the Canadian 2iC platoon in combination with the Scout Carriers.

The Canadians receive aircraft yet again and manage to knock out an infantry stand and a halftrack, but miss the PzIII M.

German Turn 5

With the Canadian 2iC platoon, scout carriers and Infantry about to move in on them, The German armour repositions for one last shot at the Shermans of 1st platoon. They score a couple of hits, but they are bounced. They fail to stormtrooper away from return fire, leaving them exposed.

Canadian Turn 5

1st Platoon's commander returns fire on the Panzers

 No more aircraft this turn for the Canadians, but the damage had been done. 1st Platoon returns fire on the exposed Panzers and knocks out the platoon, placing the Germans under half company strength.

The repositioned Canadian OC knocks out another Hummel

 The Canadian OC repositions himself to take a shot at the Hummel platoon and takes one out.

The Canadian Infantry push the Germans back

The Infantry assault finally goes in, and after the 2iC had reduced much of the defensive fire, the Canadians manage to push back the German infantry defending the objective, killing the German IC in the process.
With no command structure remaining, the Germans fail Company Morale on the top of the next turn.

5-2 Canadians.

Conclusion

Cauldron is a very tough mission for both the attacker and the defender. I have found it to be a tricky mix of offense and defense and knowing when to be cautious and when to press the attack. Thankfully, the Random Deployment was in my favor this time around and I was somewhat able to concentrate my fire on sections of the German army and slowly pick apart the biggest threats before advancing on the objective.

I feel like I was a little too aggressive with 2nd Platoon early on in the game by going after the Hummels. It was lucky that I managed to take one out and exposed them to a lot of return fire (4 shots from PzIV's and a shot from the PZIII M). Quentin rolled well for his return fire and did more damage than I had anticipated, costing me a platoon. Looking back, I should have kept them hidden for a little while longer and kept the threat of flank shots from either Sherman platoon. Instead, it allowed him to deal with one platoon with his whole force before turning to face the other part of my army. Lesson Learned.

Other than that early misstep, I feel like I handled his reserves well and picked the right time to finally make my move on the objective.

I look forward to our next battle!