Normandy

 Somewhere in Normandy, a scenario from Nick Skinner in Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy, looking at command and how you enterpretate it on the table top, I have just looked enterpretate up to ensure I spelt it correctly and it is 'archaic', much like me actually and the great majority of wargamers, I digress. A first look at the scenario and you get the impression the Jerries are up against it, they are defending with a weak platoon, two squads and very little support although they do have a Pz IV but it does not appear until turn three or you can use a COC die to bring it on faster. The British have a full platoon, a mortar barrage and a Sherman with no delay. 

The battlefield from the German edge.

I have now fought this twice, the latest game last night, this time I swapped the Germans for command of the British, I also used my Airborne figures as they hardly ever see the light of day. I decided to probe both flanks of the enemy position, I also quickly got my senior leaders involved, one on each flank in order to keep things under control, the Sherman also made an appearance but well back out of panzerfaust range. The Germans had a squad on their right near the two bombed out houses and another along with a MMG in an orchard in the centre. 

My left advance.

The Jerries are waiting.

The firefight began and Billy (my opponent) began to win, helped by several double phases, I eventually managed to get the Sherman up and fling some HE into the orchard, but it was slow going. I did not want to have my squads shot to bits and rendered useless so I withdrew the one on my left, it was too late for the other as it became pinned on the edge of a small copse. I have never been a fan of the mortar barrage but now felt compelled to bring it down, it would be a test of the system under V2. To Billy's horror I got devastating fire, my first roll killed off the sniper team, after that it dealt out a couple of headaches and a finger cut to the infantry and the MMG. The second round did nothing at all and then Billy played a CoC dice and ended the stonk, well that was a big change from V1, I basically got nothing out of it and lost my final shot, yes I was lucky and unlucky but them's the breaks.

The Sherman arrives.

The barrage hits.

German armour arrives.

 I now brought on my third squad and also brought the Sherman a bit closer, I had also managed to unpin my right hand squad and concentrated all my fire on the MMG, this was wiped out and forced Billy to withdraw the remnants of his men in the orchard, he pulled them back towards the crossroads which was the ultimate British objective. I now advanced and reorganised my attack by capturing a Jump Off Point and moving the Sherman up cautiously to take a house under HE fire, my infantry also manouvered to eventually bring the last German position under concentrated fire. To help I managed to get my PIAT team on table and they were sneaking forward to get into a position to fire at the now arrived Panzer.

Billy was now down to four command dice and rolled four sixes, his luck with double turns had vanished and reverted to me but this time he rolled for reinforcements and all of a sudden his two squads were back to full strengh, he got a six. This was going to make my assault on his position costly so I threw caution to the wind and moved the Sherman up, the Panzer interrupted but merely scratched some paint on the Sherman, the return fire caused the Panzer to blow up and kill its Leader. German morale fell to zero and it was game over.

The Orchard falls.

Everyone to the left flank.

The end.

A very good little fight with some nice twists, my devastating bombardment and consequent failure, we also had a medic revive a wounded leader, a first for me, sadly he was German, I also feel that the Jerries need that tank and should keep a COC die for it. The lines of sight are poor due to bocage type medium obstacles, clumps of trees and the orchard, so caution is required. I realise now my biggest mistake was not taking advantage of suppressing fire.

Oh, and I played the Germans in the first game and although putting up a desperate defence I was beaten in the end. One to remember and play again.

I am playing away next week so not Chain of Command but a visit to Matt in Penrith for what I am sure will be a good day.