The Big Cat Hunt - or so the British Thought

After yet another week’s R&R our reporter advanced about 1600 years and 4,300 km west to appear in Normandy in 1944. The British were still battering against the bulk of the German armour around Caen, taking fearsome losses in the process. Would today be any different?

The British entered the fray with a Firefly and M4 to the North, 

and the M10 Achilles and 2nd Sherman M4 to the South.

The Germans moved a MkIV into a wood in the north, whilst the 2nd MkIV crawled cautiously to face the British in the South. 

The mighty Tiger I advanced slowly, belying its “big cat” name and reputation. The umpire mused that its sluggish progress rather reminded him of his own cat’s demeanour.

The tanks began to trade shots, but to little effect. By the traditional “turn 3 drinks break” everything was still intact, thanks to pretty dire dice-rolling. Then Chris’ southern MkIV lost two dice and appeared to be in trouble. Dave went a-hunting with his Sherman as Chris retreated to lick his wounds and try to recover. 

Rob’s Tiger threw caution to the wind and crawled forward hampered by his slow turret. Even then, a flank shot from the Achilles did nothing. The Brits needed to get round Rob’s rear. A nasty prospect indeed! Phil decided to charge out and punch through the German lines. Result, a flank shot from the 2nd MkIV and one “Tommy Cooker” left a blazing wreck.

Back with Dave we witnessed the unusual sight of a Sherman ramming a MkIV. Cue two points of damage to Chris and an abandoned German tank.

In the centre the Firefly and Achilles tried to take on the Tiger. Tony elected to leave the Umpire to roll the “hit dice”, but more poor rolls saw the Firefly destroyed at point blank range by Rob. This left a complete mismatch of the paper-thin side-armour of Achilles vs the frontal armour of the Tiger. More British cries of despair.

With just a solitary M4 left to contest the table vs a Tiger and MkIV, “honest Simon” awarded the victory to the Germans.

I guess Phil, Dave and Tony experienced how 22nd Armoured Brigade felt after facing 101st Heavy Panzer Battalion in Villers Bocage.

Simon