Editors Note:
The significance of the 6th of June 1944 cannot be overemphasised in its importance as the beginning of the final chapter of the Second World War in Europe and its immeasurable contribution to the Allied powers victory over the Axis powers as a whole, leading in the wake of their defeat to the establishment of a new democratic World order that faces significant challenges today as the generation that landed on the beaches of Normandy grow fewer every year.
Our county here in the south-west of England was in the co*ckpit of the invasion of Europe in 1944 with the US 28th and 4th Infantry Divisions training here and sailing from its ports and harbours and with the 101st Airborne flying from its airfields on the eve of D-Day, and with US troops training for landing on Utah Beachin April 1944 off Slapton Sandssuffering more casualties (749 killed and 200 wounded) during Exercise Tiger at the Battle of Lyme Bay than they would lose on D-Day itself.
Historical wargaming has a very unique capability of vividly retelling the story of the sacrifice made by 'The Greatest Generation' and allows those of us involved in the hobby, and in this instance the Devon Wargames Group, to pay our own tribute to their sacrifice with deep respectful gratitude that, whilst enjoying the games we play, everyone gets to walk away from the table, hopefully with a deeper appreciation of their efforts that freed the world of tyranny.
JJ
SCENARIO
The Allies have left the Normandy beaches behind them and are now pressing South and East to liberate more of occupied France. An American force is approaching a village which their scouts inform them contains a not insignificant German force comprising infantry and armour.
The village itself covers the western side of the board. To the East are fields and woods. A road runs North to South through the centre and separates the village from the woods and fields to the East. Any armour on either side must enter within six inches of this road. The Americans close in on the village, their infantry sections are supported by an armoured platoon.
ACTION
The Americans' initial approach is tentative. They manage to set up a mortar concealed in a farm yard in front of the village. An infantry section advances down their far left flank, concealed by woods and an M5 Stuart tank positions itself on the road at the north side. The Germans quickly react calling for armour support and two Stug IIIGs appear together with a Pzkpfw 35H with 32cm rockets attached to its sides.
The Stugs open fire on the Stuart tank and successfully knock it out. At this point one of the German players rolls four sixes. Not only does this mean it is the end of the turn and he will also be able to start the next phase, but it requires a dice roll on the random events table. The result is torrential rain which reduces visibility to just 18". Far from ideal for the German defenders who want to throw everything they have at the advancing Americans as they close in.
The Germans use this opportunity to run a section out from the village to take position behind a stone wall surrounding a field on their right flank. A PaK 40 gun is set up on the crossroads where the village street meets the north south road. The Americans continue to probe and a scout team separates from the section on the Eastern side and moves up through the woods. The Germans set up their command halftrack in woods on their base line near the Eastern end of the village and two Marder IIIs position themselves to the East of these woods. Perhaps wisely, the German side decides to spend a COC dice to end the turn. As a result the torrential rain ceases and visibility immediately improves.
The Americans have brought more armour in the form of two M4 Shermans and another Stuart into the fray. They also use a COC dice to move a friendly jump off point on the Eastern edge (their left flank) 18" towards the enemy positions. It is concealed behind woods and from this they launch two more rifle sections to support the one earlier deployed. These units emerge from the woods to target the German section positioned behind the stone wall.
As they break cover, they are hit by rifle and LMG fire from the German section they were hoping to dislodge. In addition to this a tripod mounted HMG in on the first floor of a building overlooking the woods also opens fire. All three American rifle sections start to take casualties and shock also begins to accumulate.
While this action has been taking place on the Eastern side, German and Allied armour has been engaged in a long range slugfest with the Americans losing two Shermans. The Marders are unscathed, but the two Stugs have taken some damage and shock and one is forced to pull back. The Germans now take this opportunity to fire all the rockets from the Pzkpfw 35 H and all watch in wonder as they all end up evrywhere except where they were aimed. Fortunately there was no live stock in the fields where they land.
At this point in the game with most of the American armour completely out of action or with engine damage, and the infantry assault on their left flank being robustly repulsed, it looked like the Germans would carry the day and retain control of the village. However, the Americans were not yet beaten. As their infantry units are forced back into the woods, two LMG teams are deployed from the jump-off point behind the woods together with a Bazooka team.
From the cover of the woods the LMGs target the German infantry behind the stone wall and inflict casualties and shock. At the same time the American mortar team in the farmyard successfully targets the German tripod HMG in the building causing a casualty and some shock. The Bazooka team target the nearest Marder and hit its more vulnerable side armour. Instead of using the Marder's mounted LMG to return fire, both Marders continue in their long range duel with two newly arrived Shermans on the North edge of the board.
When the German section behind the wall is forced to retreat due to excess shock, the two American LMG teams are able to turn their attention on the tripod HMG in the building. Eventually the HMG team breaks together with a section with a senior leader who were in the same building. Meanwhile the Bazooka team, having knocked out the first Marder start to target the second one beside it. Again hitting it in its weaker side armour.
It was now clear that with most of their armour knocked out or incapacitated and with two infantry sections breaking (including a Senior Leader), the German position was no longer tenable and a victory was awarded to the Americans.
A big thank you to Jason for planning the game and letting us use his wonderful models, buildings and terrain. He got the scenario beautifully balanced and was an excellent and very patient co-umpire.
Mike
