Editors Note: Continuing with our 80th D-Day Anniversary theme for this month's club meeting, some of the chaps got together to run a clandestine attack on a German D-Day gun battery with overtones of the attack on the Merville Battery on the eve of the landings.
If you missed the first AAR in this series of games you can pick it up in the link above.
In addition, if you would like to read about the other D-Day inspired game run at the club this month then I attach a link to Nathan's, 'Stumpy's Wargaming Blog' where you can read his AAR on his 'A Walk in the Park, Le Mesnil Patry' game using Rapid Fire Reloaded, link below.
JJ
Scenario: 0200hrs, 5th June 1944. The Normandy coast.
A German gun battery threatens the landing ships due to arrive later that day. The battery is patrolled constantly, with dog handlers and sentries roaming all over the site.
Main objective: Destroy 2x 88mm guns with dynamite.
Secondary objective: Destroy 2x munitions dumps to prevent supplies being sent to reinforce other positions on the coast.
British paratroopers chose to attack the site from three different directions (each a corner of the table), the ‘characters’ carrying dynamite entering nearest each gun emplacement and other men (troopers) acting as diversions and support.
Maintaining stealth for as long as possible, the officer crept down a slope and despatched three sentries in succession without raising the alarm level unduly. He was able to plant the dynamite on the more exposed gun and retreat towards the nearest munitions pile before it went off. Supported by a trooper with a silenced pistol, they removed two sets of guards who had come to investigate…
On the opposite corner, the Sergeant was leading his group stealthily across a field to attack the second gun in the bunker.
Without complete detection, he placed a charge.
To his surprise it went off before he could make his escape and he was in line with the bunker aperture as it went off. The main objective had been achieved.
Fortunately he escaped serious injury, and was able to continue into the compound towards the munitions piles.
By now of course the element of surprise had been lost.
The German officer led the counter attack through the trench works, taking shots at targets of opportunity on the adjacent hill as the third team of paratroopers tried to suppress German reaction to the explosions.
Despite his better aim, the German officer’s pistol failed to deter the troopers on the hill, and they were able to eliminate a pair of sentries and a dog handler to relieve the pressure on the sergeant who was going for the munitions.
Keen to achieve the secondary objective also, so as to give their comrades the best chance possible for a successful beach landing later that day, the British men fought to the bitter end.
Despite a well marshalled response by the site’s guards, the attack was a pyrrhic victory with both objectives achieved in the end, despite almost total losses of men on both sides.
This game was really good fun to watch as the two sides tried to outmanoeuvre each other.
My thanks to Mark, Matt, Lawrence, Rob and Paul for playing out an entertaining game in good spirits.
Lovely looking table and very realistic terrain. It sounds like you had loads of fun.
ReplyDeleteSacrificed for the greater good, a better chance for the later landings. Both objectives achieved. Lovely looking table, interesting scenario and nicely painted figures.
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