Elliot and I decided to play 500 point meeting engagement with Battlegroup Overlord.
I chose Panzergrenadiers and Elliot took British Airborne. The army lists are below. In order to give the game a more Normandy feel we pushed the table size down to 4ft by 4ft. Combining this with as many hedgerows as we had – must make some bocage- we hoped that it would give us a game which wasn’t dominated by armour in the early turns of the game.
We placed four objectives. One is the church the other is a black truck on the German side of the table and the British have a Jeep and a fuel dump. The game begins with the Germans advancing their recce elements into the town and bumping into a British Recce jeep.
Panzer Division (Overlord)
(Officers: 4) Army Size: Platoon
507 / 35br
Forward Headquarters
28/3BR
3 men & SdKfz 251/3
Infantry Units
Panzer Grenadier Squad
26/3BR
Bipod MG34
Armoured Pzr Gren Squad
42/3BR
SdKfz 251/1, Bipod MG34
Panzer Grenadier Platoon
100/11BR
Regular
Anti-tank Gun
30/2BR
50mm PaK38, Medium truck
Tank Units
StuG III Battery
120/9BR
3 Stug III Gs
Artillery Units
Off-Table Mortar Fire
72/0BR
2 120mm mortars
Reconnaissance Support Units
Recon Platoon Command
36/2BR
SdKfz 250/10
Armoured Car
20/1BR
SdKfz 222
Logistics Support Units
Supply Column
8/1BR
1 medium truck
Additional Fire Support
Off-Table Artillery Request
10/0BR
2nd (4+)
Pre-Registered Target Point
15/0BR
6th Airborne Division
(Officers: 4) Army Size: Platoon
499 / 31br
Forward Headquarters Units
Forward Headquarters
24/3BR
Jeep
Comms Relay Team
14/0BR
Infantry Units
Airborne Infantry Platoon
147/15BR
Veteran
Light Mortar Team
0/0BR
PIAT Team
0/0BR
Anti-tank Gun
39/2BR
6 pdr, Jeep
Tank Units
Sherman Troop
130/9BR
3 M4A4
Artillery Units
Off-Table Mortar Fire
81/0BR
3 3" mortars
Reconnaissance Support Units
Recon Platoon Command
29/2BR
4 men and a Jeep
Additional Fire Support
Pre-Registered Target Point
15/0BR
Timed Typhoon Air Strike
Having more recce units the Germans follow up their recce elements with a Stug supported by a squad of infantry. The 222 move straight down through the cross roads and opens fire at the Para Recce Jeep – missing. (just visible by the two house with red roofs). The Recce Command in the 250 turns right but is hit by a mine which destroys it. (chit draw for capture of objective at turn end)
A half squad moves along the hedgerow towards the objective.
The British player only manages to bring on a Sherman which opens fire at the 222 missing it despite the short range and clear target.
The British player has selected the church as a preregistered target point and the 3” mortars land with a direct hit on the Stug which destroys it
Meanwhile the Germans start to advance using the fields as cover. The Forward HQ in half track forces it way through the hedgerow whilst the platoon command element follow up on 1st squad. Another Stug takes a shot at the Sherman as the infantry advance. The Panzergrenadiers in the 251 make it into cover of the building and the squad dismounts and moves into the building overlooking the British positions
British Sections arrives and opens fire on the Germans in the right hand house. This firefight would continue throughout the battle but whilst taking casualties the MG34 team hold out pinning and delaying the British infantry
The Paras direct the Sherman to fire on the house that is holding up their advance.
The Typhoon strike arrives and destroys the Forward HQ completely and also pins all of the infantry. This is may give the British the opportunity they need to take the village
Finally the Stug gunner hits the Sherman, combined with a mortar barrage that pins the replacement British para section – the previous section had been pinned and routed by the Panzergrenadier squad in the house. The British BR is reached
It was a very good game, finished in two hours. Elliot was unlucky to lose, he had caused me much more trouble than I had him but when his hand went into the pot for a chit it was harsh. The first three chits were all 5s. He was also unlucky with his morale rolls which saw a section route with only a single casualty having been pinned and then take a casualty with aimed fire. In contrast the German squads (MG and Rifle) were whittled down to just 2 men an passed their morale each time.
Great game. Now off to build some proper bocage J
No comments:
Post a Comment