Kampgroup Thomaz had retreated to the next settlement in line, a place that The 139th Borcester's translator callled "Makan Jamil Limaqhaa Shay1". Another Hasty Assualt, but this time, Lt Col Antrobus, their commanding officer, had thought more than one step ahead, and had brought trucks. Admittedly, Antrobus is the sort of chap who shoots the regimental sheep for Sunday lunch, then moans about a lack of mint sauce. Okay, so the trucks were definitely 'borrowed', but his men did not have to struggle across the desert on foot this time!
He also brought 60lber artillery (off table) and mortars, with the express aim of getting shots on target and removing some of the Jerry anti-tank guns that had so caused issues last time.
Antrobus had split his forces into three sections, right of centre, a mortar platoon, an Bofurs 40mm gun battery, two carrier platoons and the Humber were tasked with attempting to pin the right centre at long range. The infantry and HMGs were mounted in trucks, and made good progress across the far right flank, supported by 3 Crusdaers and 3 A13 MkIIIs, which were slighlty more hesitent after the drubbing the armour had taken on previous occasions, especially as an 88 was positioned in the fornt of the settlement, while PAK 38s held both the left and right. Any of these was fairly certain to end the carrier of young tank commanders (permenantly)
Kampgroup Thomaz must have had shares in the local barbed wire producers! They also say snuggly bewteen three marked minefield, some of which might have been dummies. The 139th Mortars spat out shells accurately onto the 88 in front of the village, much to everyone's shock. The Bofurs could just see the left hand German infantry platoon, but could not secure any hits initially due to the Germans prparing high quality shell scrapes.
Gunner Milligan and his 60lbers spits out accurate, pre-registered fire on the right-hand of the village, catching the whole German defensive line, causing hits on all units, including their commander (area marked by big dice, hits by smaller die). The British mortar, despite taking retaliatory hits from the 88, manages to silence the massive AA guns, much to the relief of everyone in a vehicle!
The 60lbers had been ordered to repeat fire on turn 4 on the same aim point. The results, devastation of the German defensive line! (Last time, they could not hit for toffee, and then Phil saved them all). The PAK38 is eliminated, giving British armour the opportunity to push right forwards.
Support troops send their Humber and Bren acrriers forwards to lay in support fire while teh mortars and 40mm open up the left of the line. The British tanks move up to a position where they can support the assualt, and Antrobus's trucks hove into view (encouraged by much stick waving by the Lt Colonel, a man who thoroughly believes that a waved stick will encouage any commoner to do his bidding).
The Germans try to rush and reallocate their final AT gun battery, an infantry platoon and a HMG platoon, but their front line is getting hammered by British mortars, 40mm AA and Tank MGs. The second Pak38 battery could wreck haoc here.
Turn 6, and a smoke barrage from Milligan et al arrives on the same preregistered positions.
(Artist's Impression)
Allowing the 139th to debus and move right up to the wire, nice and snuggly like. A whispered conversation between Sgt Major Archer and Lt Col Antrbus about who forgot to invite the combat engineers ensued, as the army wire clearing manual was dug out and a discussion had whether Universal Carriers were classed as AFVs and could crush the wire. Simple answer, no, not their job, and they refuse to move!
An 13 MKIII has been eliminated by the arriving PAk38, but the MGs of the 8th Hussars had spat as fiercly as a catfight and eliminated the German's last heavy gun. One A13 had bravely wandered forwards to investigate the minefield, onlty to stop at the edge and radio back to it's HQ (No, f*** that, that's a real minefield), which also stopped the brilliant plan Antrobus had devised of getting the remaining five tank platoons to crush the wire.
Turn 7, and the Hussars finally listen to Antrobus, and two platoons break through the wire, leaving a gap big enough for Antrobus to order the 139th to assault the remaining German platoon in the trenches en masse. The Germans are eliminated, and the bold and plucky Brits swarm forwards into the village, which is now only held by an HMG platoon and a German infantry platoon. Note the rucks have sensibly pulled back.
Thomaz realises that his days are numbered, as his entire flank is eliminated apart from reinforcements, and it is better to fight again another day, orders his boys to pull back, sealing a win for the British.
Somehow, on the third attempt, I got the force composition and tactics for the British assault (roughly) correct. A lack of combat engineers slowed me by a turn; read the rules Will. But getting a good line of approach, repeated lucky artillery and mortar strikes that eliminated the Paks and Flak, and a good, well-supported, assault, all worked out really well for me. I only lost one tank platoon, took a suppressed infantry stand on the assault, a few hits on the mortars, and a hit on the Humber. I got really lucky, one dodgy dice throw and I would have stalled the whole assault manouever or not killed the anti-tank assests sitting pretty out front. Good game, and Kampgroup Thomaz, I am sure, will be looking for revenge soon.
1 "Nice place for a tea shop" - think the translators have had enough of Antrobus's bluster.
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