Operation Martlet – Push through Fontenay (Second British Attack)

This is the second game from the Too Fat Lardies Operation Martlet campaign.

The earlier attack on Fontenay had severely reduced the troops available to each side but the Germans had been hit particularly badly because the British were able to buy additional squads, not an accptable option available to the Germans as they could only have rifle groups and no LMGs.

After the initial patrol phase the British deployed their Vickers and a reduced section into the upper floor of the barn so as to give covering fire for the advance through the orchard. A further section was deployed along the hedgeline to the left and right of the orchard.

The Germans in response deployed a section into the farmyard and a forward observer into the upper floor of the farmhouse who promptly brought in a very accurate mortar barrage onto the barn, pinning the occupants. The British in response used accurate Bren fire to kill the forward observer, thus ending the barrage.

The British crept forward two sections into the orchard and tried to advance the section on the right. In response the Germans opened up with a tripod MG42, causing the section to rush back into cover.

  

Lessons had been learned from the previous game and the Brits made good use of  tactical movement, covering fire and Bren accuracy to reduce the effectiveness of German fire.

Even when the Germans deployed a second section of two LMG teams into the woods on the left of the British advance it was unable to have any significant effect upon the British advance in the orchard. 

 

Covering fire from an elevated position in the barn successfully eliminated the flank threat from two German LMG teams.

 

The Brits in the orchard now prepared to assault the farmyard by throwing smoke grenades. 

However, the Germans had built up a good supply of CofC dice and were able to end the turn thereby removing the British smoke and exposing a single squad to point blank fire from two LMG teams.  

The Germans proceeded to throw a series of 5 double sixes (double phase) hosing down Sarge and his unfortunate squad for six consecutive turns. The Brits were very lucky to lose only 4 men and avoid a broken squad.  Having failed to decimate the Brits the Germans thought better of trying to defend the farmhouse from two sections and  so bugged out leaving the British in command of the battlefield.