This is game 5 is replaying the scenarios from the Briton Publishers Operation Jupiter skirmish scenario book (Lulu PDF link). I am replaying them on a 4.5'x5' table using 20mm, my own Advance to Cover rules and a figure scale of 1 figure = 1 section. Background on why I am playing these is at the start of the first game post.
Scenario
Germans are dug in on a ridgeline. The British start in a nearby walled wheatfield and have 6 turns to dislodge them.
The empty table from the British wheatfield deployment area. The German ridgeline is in front of the trees. You will have to imagine a slope from the trees to the wheatfield. |
British
6 figures
2 Companies, each:
1 CO, 1 2" mortar, 1 PIAT and 9 figures
2 Churchill VII
2 Chruchill Crocodiles (flame)
German
The Germans. One day I will base the second Pak 40! |
4 figures
1 Company
1 CO and 9 figures
2 Pak-40
1 MMG
1 fire mission of 80mm mortars
Deployment
The Germans are in foxholes on the ridge. In the actual battle, the Germans were behind the ridge and the British simply overran them. So I setup the foxholes on the ridge.
A simple setuip - AT guns and MMG and platoons each in their own foxholes. |
The British - tanks will lead the way out the opening, infantry will follow. |
The tanks move out while some infantry follow. Other infantry race for the wall.
The British move out. |
More movement by the British. |
Two tanks out of action (one temporary). The empty foxhole was a German platoon |
The two empty large foxholes used to have Pak 40s/ |
The pinned British company in the foreground. |
End game. The British still have a a full company, half the tanks and a pinned company that could rally/ |
It may not read like a close game but it actually was. If one more tank had gone, or the British were less lucky in knocking out the Pak40s, it could have easily gone the other way. The British must have been using some good luck dice for this battle.
It was a fast game (always good) and I felt it could have easily gone either way. As with these "vignette" battles, a few lucky dice rolls can determine the game.
Excellent Shaun, I'm loving it!
ReplyDeleteV/R,
Jack
Thanks Jack. Although I have no idea when I will get to play the next one.
DeleteShaun, interesting to see that an advance over such open ground could come down to such a tight result.
ReplyDeleteAlthough open, units in foxholes are not readily seen until about 18" away, unless they fire (the scale is 1:900). So the anti-tank guns can wait until a shorter range to fire. Of course, with poor dice rolling, it would not have mattered if it was point blank range!
DeleteNice report, not an easy scenario!
ReplyDeletethanks Phil, yep, a few good dice rolls for the Germans and it would have been all over for the Brits.
Delete