"Ulster says "oh dear" - Operation Kathleen in Assault Gun" Topic

We have started playing Operation Kathleen/Green, the hypothetical German invasion of Northern Ireland – using the assumption that the Republic of Ireland became fascist in 1933 under Eoin O'Duffy of the Blueshirts (as it very nearly did in reality – see TMP link )

We are fighting the battle with 6mm figures using Assault Gun rules link )

Day 1 – September 1st 1940. Paratroops land near Banbridge (some landing on the Bann and suffering casualties) and also near Londonderry – they capture Eglinton airport with the help of local IRA units. The ones near Banbridge are fairly ineffective and keep themselves out of harms way.

The main German invasion comes East from Monaghan into DOwn and Armagh. The Luftlande division takes Armagh and bumps into the concentrated British 53rd Division outside Portadown. The British get the worst of the subsequent encounter and withdraw to Portadown-Lurgan area. Meanwhile a reinforced mountain division is heading into County Down and cutting off Newry.

The Irish contribution (2nd "Spearhead" division and assorted IRA units) have taken an undefended Strabane and Omagh against weak RUC/Home defence forces. Enniskillen and Derry are now isolated.

Thus day 1 has ended with strong Axis gains against, what is effectively 2 weak british divisions with a lot of extremely weak RUC/Home guard units. However, the British have strong reinforcements and with tough fighting could save the day yet….

To be continued in 3 weeks time

Oh, dear…

Interesting game – please keep us all informed of the progress – pictures next time would be great.

Is it just me?

Why do I find this sooooo uncomfortable?

Hi John – I too feel uncomfortable around some wargames, don't know why by some of the modern stuff I wouldn't play. This post I don't have a problem with, the IRA was never a fascist organisation and (hypothetical) working with the Nazi's was just a tactic. I am sure republican Irish would not have collaborated with the Nazi's beyond helping them gain 'independence.' It is true it would have been bad for the nationalist communities, but any occupying power would eventually be a force against Irish nationalism.

Yeah, I just try to focus on the alternative history aspect (the combat in the UK) and just enjoy the "fiction".

Pictures would be nice.

Regards

John, I'm not from the UK and it makes me a bit uncomfortable. As close as they came in WWI to taking German support, this is just a tich to close to the bone for me.

Not that I'm saying "you shouldn't be doing that!" just that it's not something I'd throw in with. Of course, I don't play SS or Commissars either, so maybe I'm a bit too touchy.

Don.

Gm,
I thought no-one agreed with me!
I'm about to embark on a Arnhem based project, and the thought of painting up SS, tiger 1s and 2s makes me shudder!

Well, we all live in Northern Ireland, so it's our own homes that we are happily invading/defending. Anyway – we have played another 2 days in our next session:

Day 2 – 2nd September 1940 The days starts with a Royal Marine landing (historically a brigade was kept at readiness to do just this in 1940) near Dublin. This distracts potential Irish Army reinforcements, but the rest of the Paratroops heavy equipment lands at Eglinton airport. Meanwhile GHQ send elements of the Canadian 1st Infantry division to Northern Ireland. Most to Belfast, but some to Londonderry.

The day starts with some cagey recconnaisance but by the afternoon a full scale attack on the now Isolated Newry captures it, as it was only held by a weak RUC unit. The German Mountain Division continues to advance towards Belfast where the Northern Irish horse are sacrificed delaying them long enough for the 53rd division to leave Portadown area to rush to the defence of Belfast. Apart from Newtownards, where there is an airfield, all the towns in counties Down, Armagh and Fermanagh are now only held by local RUC/Home Defence.

Meanwhile the Irish Spearhead division and German paras (now with some heavy weapons) start to attack Derry in earnest, but make little headway. A determined British counterattack penetrates to the edge of Eglinton airport but cannot reach the besieged maiden city.

Day 3 – 3rd September 1940 More Canadians land as reinfocements – again mainly they end up in Belfast, which is now very strongly held.

German and Irish forces capture most towns South of Belfast and Lough Neagh. Lisburn and Enniskillen fall without a fight. Portadown is taken with a considerable fight. Lurgan and Banbridge are now isolated with resolute RUC/Home Defence repelling attacks, but without relief it will only be a matter of time before they fall.

Meanwhile, a British brigade is ambushed and surrounded South of Omagh by Irish Army and IRA units. It is attacked continually all day long and, although it inflicts heavy casualties on the attackers, it is eventually overcome.

Outside Londonderry, the British attack towards Eglinton is blunted by artillery fire, although advances are made across the Sperrin hills further South. In the city itself, Spearhead manage to force their way into the Southeast of the city. A Canadian counterattack utterly fails to co-ordinate their artillery and air support and cannot dislodge them.

Day 3 ends with the British holding most of Derry and everything North of a line from Eglinton to Lough Neagh and across to Newtownards. The Germans/Irish have Captured all of counties Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone and the majority of county Down.

As the game stands now, Derry will likely fall as will the Isolated towns in Armagh/Down. The Germans might make some headway into Belfast, but attacking to the East and West of the city would be easier. Next, and final game, will be in about 3 weeks time.

Wow. That's a fast campaign.

Wow. That's a fast campaign.

Northern Ireland's not very big – only about 100km across. And Assault gun is big scale rules: 2cm = 1km.

Why do I find this sooooo uncomfortable?

I'm really curious about this. Why? Is it because it's part of the UK being invaded – do the French wargame the German invasion? Or is it the presence of the IRA – who actually did launch a border campaign in the 1940s with minimal success?

Perhaps the presence of the Pond makes me feel okay here in the US but I find the scenario interesting.

Regards & Next Round!

Kerpod

Its thr IRA I find unsettling,I Lost a relative to the murdering scumbags, now our spineless government is toadying up to the ing pieces of that the Catholics didn'nt want, the Protestants didn't want, none of the kids wanted, but thought they acted on behalf of Ireland to murder men, women, and children, that the US, and Hollywood treat as romantic, freedom fighters, that Noraid gave millions of Dollars to 'help the good ole boys' Remember 9/11? terrorism comes home? THATS TERRORISM, not nice, is it? Thats why I'm uncomfortable with this. Sorry, I know its a game, but hey, ignore me.

Well you have to realise that there are many different versions of the "IRA" in Ireland. The first is the ones that won the war of independence against Britain. They then became what is the Irish Army today. A splinter of the losers in the Irish civil war the called themselves the IRA and fought a border campaign and mainland bombing campaign before giving up in, I think the 50s. They are now known as the workers party and confine themselves to coming last in elections and manufacturing North Korean super-dollars. They are derisively called the "stickies". Then there is the provisional IRA that was active in the 70s and 80s before packing it in in the 90s and entering government here as Sinn Fein. There are two more IRAs that emerged in to 90s that have largely rejected the political path and still get involved in violence – continuity IRA and real IRA.

So, that's five different IRAs. None of which like each other and fight each other as much, if not more, than they fight the British. The ones in my scenario would be none of the above, but a government sponsored group essentially part of the official Irish army.

I've lost relatives to the Germans, but I don't find them too unsettleing to wargame either for or against. Maybe it's recency – like tragedy plus time = comedy. Perhaps tragedy plus time = suitable to wargame

Any update on the final game?

Hopefully towards the end of the month.

I had a relation nearly beaten to death by Terrorists, needing months in hospital to recover.
These terrorists were the Black and Tans.
However you will be glad to know I have a platoon of Black and Tans in 20mm.
Long live War gaming.

Day 4: Sept 4th 1940. By now all the British reinforcements have arrived. The 1st Armoured division has concentrated in Belfast as have most of the Canadians, with the exception of one brigade and the divisional artillery, which are in Londonderry. The day starts with the Irish armoured cars driving off the RUC to the West of Derry, and then entering the South-West of the city which another RUC unit abandons. In the East of the city, a strong assault on the Canadian infantry by a combined force of Irish regulars and German paratroopers is repulsed, largely through the support of most of the RAF.

West of Belfast, the Germans continue to inch Northwards, and take Aldergrove airport against yet another RUC no-show. The surrounded RUC in the towns of Banbridge and Lurgan continue to hold out against numerous assaults.

Day 5: Sept 5th 1940. Banbridge and Lurgan continue to hold against constant assaults, with only the former finally falling as the day ends.

Two key events decide the game on this day: Firstly, the German assaults in Londonderry eliminate the final Canadian Infantry – only the artillery remains and it is almost destroyed by the end of the day. The city is effectively in Axis control (to be be re-named Berlinderry!). The whole of the RAF remained committed to this battle, and the Germans also committed their entire air assets, which are ineffective due to the RAF fighters. The air force inflict heavy losses, but it is not enough.

Meanwhile to the East of Belfast, a German reconnaissance sends some RUC men packing and uncovers a gap in the line. The German tank battalion promptly exploits this gap, driving up to the coast at Holywood and effectively cutting off Bangor. More seriously, German forces on the shores of Belfast Lough will close that port. With Derry also closed, the British supply will be reduced to the one remaining port at Larne. German forces are also closing in on the West of the city with an assault taking control of Divis Hill.

The British send cruisers from 1st armoured division to eject the Panzers, but the Germans commit infantry and armoured cars to support the Panzers. These in turn are attacked by the Canadians in Belfast, and a large battle develops between Belfast and Newtownards, which itself is under attack from the unfortunate paratroops that landed on the river Bann. The British also recall the portion of 1st armoured that had been sent on a probe into the Sperrin mountains to the North-West of Lough Neagh (and where it had routed an IRA unit) – Vickers tanks attempt to re-take Aldergrove airport, but this assault is broken up, with the help of artillery support.

The tank and infantry battle outside Belfast goes badly for the British – the Germans are too strong, and the British do not have sufficient support. With Newtownards about to fall, the Germans have sealed off Belfast.

The position of the British is now bleak. The 61st Infantry division in the North-West is a shadow of its former self and can only try and halt German attacks from Berlinderry. The 53rd Infantry division is still strong, but is committed to the defence of Belfast. The 1st Canadian division is in ruins, having been eliminated in Derry and shattered in the battles outside Belfast. Finally, the 1st armoured has lost its concentration and the overall supply situation is poor, with only Larne port left.

The Axis are in better shape, although their supply situation is now critical – with none left in the North-West and barely enough for a few concerted attacks in the East. German and Irish losses have been light, with the exception of the 7th Airborne, which has been badly damaged in the city fighting for Derry.

The game is declared an Axis victory, with the British unlikely to try and hold Belfast and expected to evacuate through Larne. Probably a key factor in the game was the British over-reliance on the RUC to hold important positions. While the RUC could be an annoyance, their holding on in Banbridge and Lurgan was more to do with the Axis reluctance to commit supply and more than token forces to the attacks. The British player was also slightly unlucky in rolling dummy counters for many RUC units, which were immediately removed from the game (if you were a reserve constable on a bike and an armoured car hoves into view, you might do the same!).

To conclude – fascinating and enjoyable game, played over 3 days, with each day lasting 3-4 hours. The game showed how terrain can channel lines of attack – vast areas of Northern Ireland are rough/swamp. Either side could have clinched victory, which shows from a historical perspective what pie-in-the-sky an actual German invasion of Northern Ireland would have been – without the active support of the Irish Free State.