We had a great game on Friday – a straightforward attack and defence game set in Normandy. The US forces consisted of an Armoured infantry platoon defending, supported by an 81mm mortar battery and entrenchments for one section. Pitted against them was a Heer platoon supported by a PzIV, Sdkfz 251/1 and an additional senior leader.
The game played across the table with the farm effectively in no-mans land.
The Germans scored poorly on their additional move dice and moved a patrol marker only once before kick-off. The US forces centered their defence on the lateral road to the left of the table and extended to the small wooded area. The Germans ended with two JOP in line with the wooded area and a single JOP behind the barn (the plan being to deploy the PzIV and 251 from the road at that end.
The Germans immediately deployed a section to the front of the woods but were foiled by the Americans deploying their MMG section dug in. The Heer troops thought discretion was better than valour in the face of to dug in .30cals and withdrew into the lane out of sight of the Americans.
In the meantime the Germans deployed a section behind the barn with a senior leader in an attempt to flank the US forces. Again this was forestalled by the deployment of a US section in the fields behind the farm. A firefight then ensued which the heavier German fire was gradually beginning to tell.
To compound matters the PzIV then arrived and commenced shelling the US section from the farm yard.
The US the deployed a bazooka from ambush only to find they couldn't actually get to a window to fire on the tank. The team then spent two phases stumbling through furniture (and a little looting?) before they were able to get into a firing position. They then fired and missed! Their second shot then panicked the driver who slipped his clutch preventing the tank from moving for a turn. In reply however the turret gunner placed a well-aimed round through the window killing one of the team and pinning the other.
With things deteriorating for the US side they them called up mortar support which duly landed on the German section behind the barn pinning them. The US then deployed their second section in a sweeping advance through the orchard and moved up the .30cal section toward the road.
The Germans knowing they would be destroyed by the combined fire of the two section launched a heroic assault on the .30 cal section only to be cut down to a man leaving only the platoon senior leader standing.
The Americans despatched a scout team to seize a German JOP only to be assaulted and killed by the surviving senior leader (who was also wounded in the action. The US section was then hosed by fire from the 251/1 MMG and dismounted rifle team. Things were looking bleak for the Americans.
The Germans, with two turns on the trot, then used a CoC die to end turn – taking a morale hit from broken section and Panzerschrek team but freeing up the section pinned by the mortars. This section then assaulted the, by then, pinned US section in the field who were annihilated for minor loss to the Germans. The US were down to 4 morale.
The Halftrack prepares to move through the farmyard….
Things were looking good for the Germans when disaster struck. The Sdkfz251 with MG team and Junior Leader aboard advanced through the farm yard with the Platoon Lieutenant following behind. Seizing his opportunity the US Corporal in charge of a 5 man HQ rifle team in the farmhouse bedroom ordered two men to drop grenades into the passing vehicle.
One grenade bounced in and caused three hits to the vehicle resulting in a cataclysmic explosion which destroyed the vehicle, killed the MMG team and the trailing Senior leader!
The Germans managed to lose 6 morale in one go – the attack collapsed…..
By cruel irony the only US casualty from the detonation of the halftrack was the US Junior leader. Still Silver Stars all round I feel (and I was the German player!).
is back from Council of Five Nations.
