Scenario 21: Holding The Road
Intro: The campaign continues with the next scenario in the sequence, surprisingly enough, nmely Holding The Road. This scenario sees the Germans reacting to the XXX Corps thrust towards Nijmegen, Eindhoven and, ultimately, Arnhem by attempting to sever the narrow corridor the Allies have created. The German high command are throwing in kampfgruppen of various strength and ability to cut the corridor and to deny both the airborne divisions and Guards Armoured Division their much needed supplies. In response the overstretched units of XXX Corps, the 82nd and 101st Airborne are forced to act as a fire brigades rushing to deal with each threat as it emerges. They must fight off the Germans and hold the road open.
Often the first to be aware of the arrival of the attacking kampfgruppen were the Line of Communication troops; the Royal Army Service Corps drivers, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Pioneer Labour Corps soldiers, the Royal Artillery logistics train, etc. For many of them, being caught in an attack was an unnerving experience, something they weren't trained for.However, as the circumstances dictated, they were often called upon to fight too.
The Forces: The scenario brief states that "any combination of German or Allied forces from any relevant force selector options can be deployed for this game, but the Germans have a considerable advantage in strength given the nature of their objectives; a 3:2 ratio in points values so I had 1200 points whilst Richie had 1500 points.
The Allies: I went for a mixed force; one third of my units would start the game on the table, in and around the centre. The remaining two thirds would be in reserve and wouldn't be able to deploy till turn 3(which meant the Germans would be just where I want them.....right?) So my force was split with two 9 man sections of Line Of Communication troops, a platoon commander,2nd Lt Martin Blenkinsop, plus runner, a Forward Artillery Observer plus radio operator and a veteran medic. These would set up in the terrain in the centre of the table and, hopefully, just maybe, hold off the Boche long enough for the cavalry to come to the rescue. The cavalry, in the case, were a platoon from the 101st Airborne led by 2Lt Charles "Chuck" Morris with three squads; two armed with rifles, SMGs and a BAR whilst the third, six men strong, had two LMGs and a BAR plus I had a jeep with a HMG (which, to my undying shame, I had to proxy with a US infantry jeep with an MMG on it....oh the shame, oh the ignominy. Why, if my horse hair shirt wasn't at the vets getting cleaned you can bet I would be wearing it in repentance. For the moment I'll make do with sack cloth and ashes, the big fashionista that I am) In support and, indeed, carrying one of the squads on it's engine decks was a British Sherman V from the Isle Of Sheppey Border Horse.
The Germans, the fiends, had an SS Aufklarungs platoon (these are historically themed units available in the Campaign and are one of the reasons I love the new campaign books...anyway, before I get too carried away..) which consists of squads made up of 5 men each who are/can be armed to the teeth and mounted in 250/1 half tracks. These can be accompanied by 0-2 Sd.Kfz 222, Sd.Kfz 231 and 0-2 250/7 half track mortar carriers, Panzer III H,J, L, M or N, Panzer IV G, H or J or 0-1 Tiger I. As Richie had just finished building and painting his new Jagdpanzer IV we agreed he could take that in place of a Panzer IV. So, what the wily Krauts had was seven squads under a 1st Lt with one squad in an Opel Blitz (another transport option open to the Germans), a Jagdpanzer IV and a Tiger I....a bloody Tiger I....which looked awesome.
Scenario Specific Rules and Victory Conditions: Victory conditions: The Germans must install a road block not just cut the road. To represent that they must have at least three unpinned units within 12" of the centre of the table at the end of the game all of which must have clear line of sight to the road, the Allies must prevent this.
Deployment; The Germans deploy from either long table edge but not closer than 12" to each board edge. They could deploy their whole force in turn 1 and any German forces left in reserve did not need to test to enter the table. The Allied reserves cannot deploy till turn 3 and must test as normal for deployment. They can deploy from either short table edge.
If the Germans have not achieved their objective at the end of turn 6, roll a dice, on a 1-3 continue to turn 8 otherwise they have shot their bolt and withdrawn......yeah right :D
Often the first to be aware of the arrival of the attacking kampfgruppen were the Line of Communication troops; the Royal Army Service Corps drivers, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Pioneer Labour Corps soldiers, the Royal Artillery logistics train, etc. For many of them, being caught in an attack was an unnerving experience, something they weren't trained for.However, as the circumstances dictated, they were often called upon to fight too.
The Forces: The scenario brief states that "any combination of German or Allied forces from any relevant force selector options can be deployed for this game, but the Germans have a considerable advantage in strength given the nature of their objectives; a 3:2 ratio in points values so I had 1200 points whilst Richie had 1500 points.
The Allies: I went for a mixed force; one third of my units would start the game on the table, in and around the centre. The remaining two thirds would be in reserve and wouldn't be able to deploy till turn 3(which meant the Germans would be just where I want them.....right?) So my force was split with two 9 man sections of Line Of Communication troops, a platoon commander,2nd Lt Martin Blenkinsop, plus runner, a Forward Artillery Observer plus radio operator and a veteran medic. These would set up in the terrain in the centre of the table and, hopefully, just maybe, hold off the Boche long enough for the cavalry to come to the rescue. The cavalry, in the case, were a platoon from the 101st Airborne led by 2Lt Charles "Chuck" Morris with three squads; two armed with rifles, SMGs and a BAR whilst the third, six men strong, had two LMGs and a BAR plus I had a jeep with a HMG (which, to my undying shame, I had to proxy with a US infantry jeep with an MMG on it....oh the shame, oh the ignominy. Why, if my horse hair shirt wasn't at the vets getting cleaned you can bet I would be wearing it in repentance. For the moment I'll make do with sack cloth and ashes, the big fashionista that I am) In support and, indeed, carrying one of the squads on it's engine decks was a British Sherman V from the Isle Of Sheppey Border Horse.
The Germans, the fiends, had an SS Aufklarungs platoon (these are historically themed units available in the Campaign and are one of the reasons I love the new campaign books...anyway, before I get too carried away..) which consists of squads made up of 5 men each who are/can be armed to the teeth and mounted in 250/1 half tracks. These can be accompanied by 0-2 Sd.Kfz 222, Sd.Kfz 231 and 0-2 250/7 half track mortar carriers, Panzer III H,J, L, M or N, Panzer IV G, H or J or 0-1 Tiger I. As Richie had just finished building and painting his new Jagdpanzer IV we agreed he could take that in place of a Panzer IV. So, what the wily Krauts had was seven squads under a 1st Lt with one squad in an Opel Blitz (another transport option open to the Germans), a Jagdpanzer IV and a Tiger I....a bloody Tiger I....which looked awesome.
Scenario Specific Rules and Victory Conditions: Victory conditions: The Germans must install a road block not just cut the road. To represent that they must have at least three unpinned units within 12" of the centre of the table at the end of the game all of which must have clear line of sight to the road, the Allies must prevent this.
Deployment; The Germans deploy from either long table edge but not closer than 12" to each board edge. They could deploy their whole force in turn 1 and any German forces left in reserve did not need to test to enter the table. The Allied reserves cannot deploy till turn 3 and must test as normal for deployment. They can deploy from either short table edge.
If the Germans have not achieved their objective at the end of turn 6, roll a dice, on a 1-3 continue to turn 8 otherwise they have shot their bolt and withdrawn......yeah right :D
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| Suggested terrain layout from the campaign book |
Across the road from the ruined houses the olive green truck burned fiercely. The canvas canopy on it's back had been consumed by the flames and the wooden crates of ammunition the truck had been carrying were now also being consumed by the voracious flames. the ammunition, bullets and grenades for the main part, was now detonating; the bullets whizzing off in all directions whilst the grenades exploded, adding to the carnage. Above the blazing vehicle a dense cloud of smoke was rising into the overcast sky .
Crouching in the ruined buildings by the road, 2Lt Martin Blenkinsop, RASC, gripped his SMG and attempted to see through the smoke and beyond the burning vehicle. In the treeline, through gaps in the smoke, he could see the low, ugly, squat shape of the tank that had fired at the truck carrying him and his passengers; mostly drivers, mechanics and cooks, a medic and an artillery officer with his radio operator who had hitched a lift, as well as the ammunition to the Guards Brigade only 5 miles up ahead. An alert sentry (Blenkinsop had posted him in the cab's roof hatch) had spotted the tank just before it opened fire. Fortunately that first round had missed and, despite the driver swerving into a shallow ditch, Blenkinsop and the rest of men, had managed to scramble to safety in the ruins before the next tank shell hit the truck. They were safe for the moment but now what.
A cough behind him drew his attention; it was the artillery officer "Lieutenant?..." he said. "Blenkinsop, Second Lieutenant Martin Blenkisop, Royal Army Service Corps, sir" replied Blenkinsop. "Captain Brown, 12 Heavy Regiment, RA; pleased to make your acquaintance" replied the artilleryman, a short, stocky, dapper looking figure in a neatly pressed uniform wearing glasses and carrying a swagger cane. "Lieutenant Blenkinsop, we appear to be in somewhat of a pickle. Have you noticed the Boche infantry with that tank? There aren't many of them but they appear to be heading our way, no doubt intent on mischief; how many men have you? Blenkinsop paused and considered "Twenty, sir, including myself; twenty one if we count that lance corporal from the RAMC" he said. Captain Brown turned and looked at the lone Royal Army Medical Corps NCO. "We shall have to discount him for the moment; he isn't armed." said Captain Brown "I want you to split the men down into two groups, each under an NCO. Send one half through to the other side of this ruin with me and keep the other here with you. My radio operator has managed to contact my regiment and we should get some artillery support providing they aren't too busy elsewhere" he grinned sardonically at his comment. "We are going to have to hang on and hope someone will come rescue us, Lieutenant Blenkinsop. Our chaps and the Americans are scattered all along this route so hopefully we won't have to wait long; my regimental HQ has made brigade aware of our situation; lets hope we can fend of the Jerry till they come, eh?"
Some of the artilleryman's confidence rubbed off on 2Lt Blenkinsop however a nagging doubt lingered. "Sir, my men are only armed with rifles; we can't do much against a panzer with them". Captain Brown smiled at this "We have the might of the heavy guns of the Royal Artillery to assist us, Martin. I have every confidence they will show you why they are nicknamed the Long Range Snipers; we just need to keep the Boche infantry amused; now you crack on and quickly; can't keep the Boche waiting" and he turned away and made his way over the rubble through a hole in the wall to where his radio operator crouched by his radio set.
Blenkinsop felt a bit better knowing that their plight was known. Calling in the two NCOs from the group of soldiers, his raised hopes flagged once more; they were both older men in their 50s and both, he noted were from the Pioneer Labour Corps and both wore the 1914-18 Star ribbon on their battledress and one, the shorter oif the two, a stocky, fierce looking little man, even had an MM ribbon too! However they held their rifles like they knew what to do with them and didn't appear too flustered by the current situation. Blenkinsop adopted a confident air and addressed the one with the Military Medal ribbon "What's your name, corporal?" "Corporal Johnstone, sur!" he replied in an Irish brogue. "Jolly good, Corporal Johnstone, I want you to take eight of the men through to Captain Brown and defend that part of the building and you, corporal?" "Corporal Haddock, sur!" This reply also in an Irish brogue "Corporal Haddock, jolly good; you will remain here with me and these chaps here; please distribute them as efficiently as possible, will you? "Right you are, sir" replied the older man and he started shouting directions at the eight men left behind. Blenkinsop couldn't help admiring their professionalism; these chaps certainly knew their stuff; already the troops n the ruin were returning fire under the NCOs direction. He could hear Cpl Haddock's profanity peppered target indications "Fer fecks sake, lad, I said shoot him, not scare him; try again and don't fecking miss this time or you'll have me to answer too; that''s it!! Now don't gawp. reload yer fecking rifle and keep firing!! Jesus, Mary and Joseph!!"
Crouching in the ruined buildings by the road, 2Lt Martin Blenkinsop, RASC, gripped his SMG and attempted to see through the smoke and beyond the burning vehicle. In the treeline, through gaps in the smoke, he could see the low, ugly, squat shape of the tank that had fired at the truck carrying him and his passengers; mostly drivers, mechanics and cooks, a medic and an artillery officer with his radio operator who had hitched a lift, as well as the ammunition to the Guards Brigade only 5 miles up ahead. An alert sentry (Blenkinsop had posted him in the cab's roof hatch) had spotted the tank just before it opened fire. Fortunately that first round had missed and, despite the driver swerving into a shallow ditch, Blenkinsop and the rest of men, had managed to scramble to safety in the ruins before the next tank shell hit the truck. They were safe for the moment but now what.
A cough behind him drew his attention; it was the artillery officer "Lieutenant?..." he said. "Blenkinsop, Second Lieutenant Martin Blenkisop, Royal Army Service Corps, sir" replied Blenkinsop. "Captain Brown, 12 Heavy Regiment, RA; pleased to make your acquaintance" replied the artilleryman, a short, stocky, dapper looking figure in a neatly pressed uniform wearing glasses and carrying a swagger cane. "Lieutenant Blenkinsop, we appear to be in somewhat of a pickle. Have you noticed the Boche infantry with that tank? There aren't many of them but they appear to be heading our way, no doubt intent on mischief; how many men have you? Blenkinsop paused and considered "Twenty, sir, including myself; twenty one if we count that lance corporal from the RAMC" he said. Captain Brown turned and looked at the lone Royal Army Medical Corps NCO. "We shall have to discount him for the moment; he isn't armed." said Captain Brown "I want you to split the men down into two groups, each under an NCO. Send one half through to the other side of this ruin with me and keep the other here with you. My radio operator has managed to contact my regiment and we should get some artillery support providing they aren't too busy elsewhere" he grinned sardonically at his comment. "We are going to have to hang on and hope someone will come rescue us, Lieutenant Blenkinsop. Our chaps and the Americans are scattered all along this route so hopefully we won't have to wait long; my regimental HQ has made brigade aware of our situation; lets hope we can fend of the Jerry till they come, eh?"
Some of the artilleryman's confidence rubbed off on 2Lt Blenkinsop however a nagging doubt lingered. "Sir, my men are only armed with rifles; we can't do much against a panzer with them". Captain Brown smiled at this "We have the might of the heavy guns of the Royal Artillery to assist us, Martin. I have every confidence they will show you why they are nicknamed the Long Range Snipers; we just need to keep the Boche infantry amused; now you crack on and quickly; can't keep the Boche waiting" and he turned away and made his way over the rubble through a hole in the wall to where his radio operator crouched by his radio set.
Blenkinsop felt a bit better knowing that their plight was known. Calling in the two NCOs from the group of soldiers, his raised hopes flagged once more; they were both older men in their 50s and both, he noted were from the Pioneer Labour Corps and both wore the 1914-18 Star ribbon on their battledress and one, the shorter oif the two, a stocky, fierce looking little man, even had an MM ribbon too! However they held their rifles like they knew what to do with them and didn't appear too flustered by the current situation. Blenkinsop adopted a confident air and addressed the one with the Military Medal ribbon "What's your name, corporal?" "Corporal Johnstone, sur!" he replied in an Irish brogue. "Jolly good, Corporal Johnstone, I want you to take eight of the men through to Captain Brown and defend that part of the building and you, corporal?" "Corporal Haddock, sur!" This reply also in an Irish brogue "Corporal Haddock, jolly good; you will remain here with me and these chaps here; please distribute them as efficiently as possible, will you? "Right you are, sir" replied the older man and he started shouting directions at the eight men left behind. Blenkinsop couldn't help admiring their professionalism; these chaps certainly knew their stuff; already the troops n the ruin were returning fire under the NCOs direction. He could hear Cpl Haddock's profanity peppered target indications "Fer fecks sake, lad, I said shoot him, not scare him; try again and don't fecking miss this time or you'll have me to answer too; that''s it!! Now don't gawp. reload yer fecking rifle and keep firing!! Jesus, Mary and Joseph!!"
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| Captain Brown considers his charges plight. The British Line Of Communication troops, the FOO and the Medic set up in the ruins |
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| The British await the German assault |
The Jagdpanzer growled slowly forward, tracks rattling and squeaking, eager for more prey. Either side of it the SS Panzergrenadiers advanced, firing occasionally at the British soldiers hiding in the ruins beyond the burning truck. Peering over the top of his hatch, the Jagdpanzer commander, SS Oberscharfuhrer Minge, kept a wary eye open for enemy armour. There had been plenty of reports of the Tommy Cookers in the area and though he wasn't unduly worried by these Sherman, he knew that some of them had been fitted with a more deadly, more potent anti tank gun and, not having a turret, his assault gun had to rely on seeing and firing on the enemy first, no matter what they were armed with.
For the moment though, the panzergrenadiers were the ones doing the shooting. Their commander, Leutnant Steinker kept in the lee of the Jagdpanzer. His men, what few he had, were advancing alongside the assault gun on this side of the road and, beyond the ruin, two more squads accompanying a Tiger were advancing on the British. Already Scharfuhrer Bittman's squad had reached barn across the road from where the British were hiding and, soon, another squad would be roaring up that road in a truck to take the British in the flank; encircling the Tommies and crushing them in a vice.
Once they took the ruin, the plan was to hold it till dark and to carry out mining of the road and verges then withdraw but for now, he had to focus on clearing the ruin first; shouldn't be too difficult with my men, he mused.
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| The Germans deployed on both sides of the table, quickly making their way towards the poor British hiding in the ruins |
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| The 5 man SS Aufklarungs squads are pretty tasty, totting plenty of fire power. Richie deployed a team towards each corner to act as speed bumps for my US Airborne |
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| He also deployed a tank either side of the table. In this case a bloody huge and menacing Tiger 1 which is very nicely painted |
As they crouched in the ruins, the British troops stared goggle eyed. The loud voice of Cpl Haddock bawled out "Right lads, don't be frightened, it's only a fecking tank!" A Scots voice from the remaining troops came back at him "Aye but it's a fucking Tiger tank, Corp! We've only got rifles!!" Haddock's reply came back like a shot "Well shoot the fecking infantry, you Scots git; all of you, open FIRE!!" Beyond the garden wall in the woods they had watched as the huge, menacing bulk of a Tiger tank appeared. Either side of it camouflage clad Panzer grenadiers advanced towards them. Abruptly the Tiger stopped and it's gun roared; the 88mm round smashing through the ruined walls, sending a cloud of dust into the air which coated the soldiers inside, blinding them momentarily. Then it's machine gun opened up and one of the drivers fell back screaming, his right arm hanging limply by his side, blood oozing from a gash in his upper arm. Lance Corporal Yorky Dwyer, the RAMC medic, crawled over the rubble to the wounded man. "Alright lad, lets have a look at yer" he said, grasping the wounded man and dragging him into the cover of the rubble. Behind him desultory shooting came once more from the British troops which brought a hail of German fire in response. Dwyer, a veteran of North Africa and Normandy harboured no illusions; this was going to end badly. Having finished bandaging the soldiers wound, he pinned the man's sleeve to the front with a safety pin and stuck a cigarette in the soldiers mouth and lit it. "Relax, lad; won't be long now till John Wayne and the bloody cavalry turn up"....
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| As the German truck with a squad mounted in it attempts to rush the position, it's all that the poor drivers and cooks can do to put a pin on it |
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| ...meanwhile the Tiger makes it's menacing presence felt... |
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| ...much to the consternation of the British.. |
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| ...and still the Panzergrenadiers close in on both sides |
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| The noose tightens. SS Panzergrenadiers close up behind the barn across the road from the tiny British force. |
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| ...and the German reserves rush in to administer the coup de grace |
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| ...and things begin to look desperate indeed for the British fighting from the ruins |
Halting them he had gone forward to assess the situation. There were British holed up in a nearby ruin, fighting it out with the Germans. The Tiger tank and troops bearing down on the ruin weren't his immediate concern; there were two groups of Krauts nearby, either side of the road, he had to deal with them first. He detailed off PFC Kaminsky with two .30 cals to keep one of the groups busy and led the other squad behind a nearby ruin to outflank the second group. "Okay Let's go, men; let them have it" As the paratroopers advanced they fired at the group of Germans in a small copse of trees. One of the Germans fell to the ground as their MG42 sprang into life in reply....
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| Sgt Banner directs his men towards the enemy |
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| PFC Kaminsky and his squad start engaging the enemy |
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| ...who are quick to respond... |
Hanging onto the back of the British Sherman as it rumbled towards the Germans, the paras of the 101st tensed themselves as the prepared to dismount. 2Lt Charles "Chuck" Morris bawled at them over the noise of the tanks engine roaring away inches beneath their feet "Corporal Paton, as soon as we dismount, take your men straight at the nearest enemy; there's some in that copse of trees. Mallarkey, Armstrong; you stay near me till we can get a clear sight of the tank destroyer!" This last was directed at two men carrying a bazooka and a rocket case. The one carrying the bazooka gave the Lieutenant a thumbs up. "Stand by!!" Morris shouted as they passed the last of the belt of trees that had screened their advance. The Sherman slowed to a crawl and the paratroopers dismounted rapidly. As they did the Sherman's gun barked out...
"Achtung, panzer right! Traverse right!!" screamed Oberscharfurher Minge into his intercom. The Sherman's round had passed close over head and he knew he couldn't allow it a second chance. Even as the Jagdpanzer turned slowly, so slowly it appeared to Minge's mind, he could hear the crew carrying out their reload drills and at last, heard the gunner shout "On!". "Fire!" Minge shouted. The tank destroyer rocked back on it's tracks as the gun roared. Minge saw the round ricochet off the Sherman "Reload!!" he screamed...
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| Oberscharfuhrer Minge's tank destroyer trades shots with the Sherman from the Isle Of Sheppey Border Horse as both miss with their initial shot. |
Cpl Johnstone of the Pioneer Labour Corps watched the truck screaming up the road. "Wait for it lads; wait for it..." The truck careened forwards. That driver's after an Iron Cross thought Johnstone; I wonder if they award them posthumously as that's how he'll get his' He roared at the top of his voice "Fire" and a fusillade of shots rang out, riddling the truck, but still it came on, screeching to a halt near the British troops. Glancing behind him at the approaching Tiger, Johnstone shouted again "Right lads, off we go; let's give them bastards in the truck one more volley then we run" The troops needed no second bidding, leaping forward and letting loose another, more ragged volley at the truck then they started running down the road as the Tigers machine guns opened up on them. Most of them fell but Johnstone tripped and fell head long into the ditch by the road and lay there panting...
Captain Brown watched in horror and dismay as the tank's machine guns cut down the soldiers by the truck. Bastards, he thought, German bastards! He gritted his teeth and drew his pistol. "Okay, Bombardier Moreland, smash the radio; we're infantry from here on in" He felt bitterly angry; due to the pressure from the Germans all along the corridor, his regiment had only been able to fire a short, fairly ineffectual barrage before being tasked elsewhere. He checked his revolver and indicated to the bombardier to follow him. The bombardier, armed with an SMG, nodded to his captain and followed, the SMG held at the ready. The two men crawled towards the gaping doorway in the ruin, keeping low to avoid detection by the Tiger's crew. Reaching the doorway they peered out. Outside a squad of SS Panzergrenadiers were heading for the doorway to the house next door. Angry and embittered, Captain Brown calmly stepped out of the ruined building, levelled his revolver and opened fire at point blank range, the bombardier joining him. Two of the Germans fell but the three others swung their weapons round and returned fire. Brown felt a stab of pain high in his shoulder and spun around before falling onto the prostrate body of Bombardier Moreland....
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| Captain Brown and Bombardier Moreland attempt to gain some revenge for their fallen comrades |
Obersturmfurher Wentzel ordered his driver to turn the Tiger onto the road. With the British in the ruins crushed he now turned his attention to the Sherman. The gunner reported "On!" the instant the Sherman was in his crosshairs. "Fire" ordered Wentzel. The 88mm gun barked out it's shot and the Sherman blew apart! Smoke and flame billowing form it's shattered hull.
Firing another burst at the Germans in the copse, 2Lt Morris screamed at the squad forward of him. "2nd squad, start pulling back; we'll cover you!" As Cpl Paton acknowledged his order, Morris opened fire on the nearest German position with his Garand rifle, his radio operator adding to the firepower with short bursts from his Thompson....
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| The remaining Panzer Grenadiers move into the ruins;as the Tiger turns it's attention to the Sherman, cutting off the road in the process |
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| The Sherman destroyed, the US paras start to withdraw |
And with the destruction of the Sherman the Allies had shot their bolt. That was as uphill a struggle as I have ever had. Right from the off the Allies were on the back foot. With two sections of Inexperienced Line Of Communication troops armed with only rifles, even led by my old Basic Training NCOs, I was hoping against hope that my FOO could pull off a shock with his artillery barrage. Alas, it was not to be, surprise, surprise.
As ever we forgot to use the Tiger Fear rule and I'm kind of glad in a way as it was already proving hard to get any effect on the advancing German troops; having to take a leadership test every time would probably have resulted in my troops spending the game on a Down order. As it was by turn 3, when, thankfully, almost all my paras and the Sherman turned up, the British troops goose was all but cooked. Still, never say never, eh?
The Germans under Richie's command, were incredibly effective. Those small veteran Aufklarungs squads are certainly difficult opponents to deal with, especially when you only have rifles!! They had a very good, very simple plan; two speed bumps in cover either end of the table whilst the remaining squads and the tanks advanced on the road. Once the Tiger got onto the road it was goodnight Vienna and a well earned victory for Richie and his SS Panzer Grenadiers. It was great to see both his Jagdpanzer and Tiger on the table, very nice kits very nicely painted and Richie's Tiger will be getting yet another kill ring on it's barrel.
Looking back, it's difficult to say if I would have done anything differently. With my Sherman and Paras not coming on till the third turn I had no time for subtlety (not, dear reader, that you should be fooled by that statement into thinking that I would ever employ subtle tactics in a game of Bolt Action or any other for that matter :D ) so it was more down to deployment. I guess I could have brought all my units onto one edge but that would have left the Germans at the far end with time and space to move into the centre and reinforce the troops already there.
If we were to play this again, I think the only change I would propose would be for the Allied reinforcements to be able to arrive on turn two but with, perhaps, a -2 to their leadership roll. But who knows, with Fortress Budapest due for release, we're collecting the materials for making a winter battlefield or two so it will be some considerable time before we revisit this scenario.
So, all that remains to be said is thanks as ever to Richie for hosting the game, for being such a good opponent and thanks to you for stopping by and reading what I have written. I appreciate it.
pip pip,
Jimbob
Wonderful account....
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill, glad you liked it. We'll be fighting the next Hell's Highway scenario soon...ish where the Allies will have superiority in numbers....mind you, they will have me rolling the dice 🙄
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