Relax soldier, Paris has fallen. You deserve a rest!
Force Grubber versus Hades Rangers in an armoured engagement
La Fiere Bridge; Scenario 19
As a set scenario in the D-Day Overlord campaign book the battlefield was laid out as near as possible to the map in the book as page 128. The US Airborne forces were detailed in the scenario description. The Axis forces were mostly detailed in the description, the remainder of the 900 points were chosen as follows:
a) 2 x Reg Stug III ausf G c/w shurzen side armour.
b) 1 x Reg Kubelwagon c/w MG42 as the transport for the Axis Captain officer.
c) 1 x Kattenkrad for the Sniper team
d) 3 x Ostruppen squads of 5 men c/w a LMG.
The opening phase of the scenario was notable as the Allied player approx half his troops on the field as either dug in or within buildings – all were hidden. Most notable we the 57mm AT gun almost by the bridge (and proved to be a bit of a surprise to the Axis forces). As the Axis player, decided against having any troops arrive from the reserve as the tracked vehicles could still move through the flooded areas as it was only classed as rough terrain, along with infantry on foot – all with single moves. The wheeled vehicles had to remain on the roadway.
Turn one: Leading the way the Axis Captain sped forwards in the Kubelwagon by urging the driver onwards deliberately driving into the minefield – which turned out to be an anti-personnel minefield only… However the hidden AT gun decided to shoot at the Kubelwagon and scoring a minor hit managed to hit the vehicle and blew off one of the rear driving wheels so immobilising the vehicle. As the Kubel slid to a halt, the Captain within activated and using the MG42 applied 3 pin markers to the crew of the Allied AT gun. Having located the Allied AT gun and mortar the remainder of the Axis forces arrived and with the tracked vehicles making single moves in the flooded area then firing with HE shells causing a number of Allied squads causing multiple units to have pin markers. The Allied forces in response when realising they were mostly out of range tried to use their mortar against one of the smaller tanks but missed, in response the Axis mortar started to zero on the Allied mortar team. The 88mm Flak gun fired at the large Inn type building near the Allied start line as within which were numerous squads. Unfortunately the 88mm missed this time and alerted some of those within of the need to relocate and not to bunch up…
Turn two: the Allied player using the Major activated numerous units near to the bridge and tried to hit one of the 35R tanks but the shell bounced off the front armour much to the frustration of the Allied forces. In response both 35Rs and the H39 focused their MMGs on to the Airborne AT gun killing two of the 3 man team and overloading it with pin markers. Both mortars continued to exchange shots as zeroing in to their targets. The three Osttruppen squads advanced through the rough terrain (as single moves) and fired with the longer ranged MG42, halting just out with the range of the Airborne team with the BARs and making their rolls applied enough hits and pin markers to cause the Airborne team to disperse with their hands in the air.
Turn three: realising the Airborne strength was with very close ranged weapons the Axis team deliberately hung back and relied upon superior fire-power and their better armour to concentrate their fire on the main Airborne Squads all out with the bazooka range… Using all 5 tanks with their MMGs, the LMG of the squads depleted each of the larger US Airborne squads focusing on the bridge.
Turn four: the Allied reserves now started to arrive at the bridge but only filled the now vacant spaces in the Allied line… The Axis forces called in an artillery strike which failed to arrive on time… The Axis sniper completed and excellent shot by killing the Allied Major as he was seeking to motivate his remaining squads. The Axis armour remained stationary using their MMGs to rake the Airborne troops causing three small squads to flee/surrender.
Turn five: The last of the Allied forces were drivin from the table and the game.
Conclusion: allowing the Axis player to have items/weapons which can; either easily in most cases and only just in some, out range the Allied team’s weapons was an easy recognise and greatly affected the tactics used – one of standoff and shoot and have enough forces able to move up to the bridge on the final turn. In this instance the vehicle mounted MMGs proved a good investment well spent…
Brin July 12th, 2019
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Robo's Raiders versus Kampfgruppe Markt Grun in an armoured engagement
advance patrol, 3 Shermans scouting the country side met a a group of pazers . Squad commander brew 2 panzers the retied to report to HQ
Robosraiders July 10th, 2019
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Force Grubber versus 52nd Highland Div in an armoured engagement
The Black Baron
With the table set up the intended advance of the British Division commenced. Not even having chance for a cuppa tea the British drove straight into the ambush of the Tigers – with fur and teeth flying in all directions the following occurred.
Turn one: with all three Tigers in ambush (remembering the Whitmann special rule) the slaughter commenced. First on to the table was the Command Cromwell tank; the nearest Tiger allowed it to advance at a run so well within the point blank range then fired at it – the shell punched straight through the front armour of the British tank with the explosion lifting the turret straight off. The second Cromwell tank advance slightly more cautiously and fired, wildly missing the nearest Tiger – the Tiger rotated its turret and returned fire also easily killing the second Cromwell. The last Cromwell tank advanced but was checked by Whitmann whose first shot blew off one of its tracks and caused a turret jam, the second shot set hit and set the tank on fire, but amazingly the crew managed to extinguish the flames but were left with a completely immobilised tank. So at the end of turn one all three of the British tanks had been dealt with.
Turn two: the first of the Bren Carriers arrived and raced up the road. Whittman’s Tiger set to ambush waiting for more British tanks – shortly a Firefly arrived and was hit twice by Whittman and destroyed. Another British Cromwell arrived and moved forward and fired at Whittman but the shell seemed to unfortunately bounce off the thick armour of the Tiger. The nearest supporting Tiger fired and knocked out the advancing Cromwell. The last Firefly arrived on the table and advanced also firing wildly. The last Tiger then fired and immobilised the Firefly.
Turn three: the first Bren Carrier raced forwards and became temporarily stuck in the rubble obscuring the road. Another Bren Carrier arrived and advanced forwards. Whittman finished off the remaining Fire-fly tank leaving only the immobilised Cromwell on the table. The two supporting Tigers proceeded to eliminate the transports on the table.
Turn four: more Bren Carriers arrived and along with the existing ones were all destroyed by the Tigers by a combination of pinning them with the hull mounted MMG and destroyed with the main gun.
Turn five: called a halt to the game as the British player had no more tanks and no means of effectively scoring points as most of the exit routes were blocked by burning vehicle wrecks.
Conclusion: having three Tigers already on the table massively swings the potential for an Axis win, if maybe one Tiger started on the table with the ability for two more to arrive as the British tanks were arriving would have made the scenario more of a challenge. The ability of Whittmann’s to fire twice from an ambush effectively doubles the offensive capability on the table thereby making it as if 4 Tigers were present. So even from turn one the British player is massively disadvantaged as they can only bring their armour on one at a time in the first turn, so allowing the Axis player to concentrate fire on single units.
Brin July 10th, 2019
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Aaron's Heros versus Skulls and Bones in an armoured engagement
Sherman’s vPIV’s with Avery lucky Sherman charging into a village and knocking out 2 P IV
lesliea July 6th, 2019
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Slyforce versus machecoulbattalion in an armoured engagement
Slyvore July 6th, 2019
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ParaFraiz versus machecoulbattalion in an armoured engagement
Fraiz July 6th, 2019
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Germany versus USA in an armoured engagement
Hard fought battle between the 12th Panzer company and a Sherman and M10 tank company.
In the end all 3 Pz IV’s were burning wrecks and the StuG’s crew abandoned their immobilized vehicle and fled back to their lines.
PatrickL July 4th, 2019
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Steve versus Tarnyas in an armoured engagement
Axis win by tabling the allies
Wraithbrood July 4th, 2019
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Kampfgruppe Markt Grun versus Robo's Raiders in an armoured engagement
Tank units in support of the Fallschirmjäger of Kampfgruppe Markt Grun engaged & destroyed multiple Shermans, designated as part of Robbo’s Raiders. x2 kills were by a Tiger, who suffered upwards of 10 hits, but continued to fight on! Victory to Kampfgruppe Markt Grun!
Panzermonkey1 July 3rd, 2019
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