Wargaming from Hertfordshire & Beyond!

Monday, 29 August 2022

"Poland 1939; Mayhem in Myslenice"

Our indefatigable correspondent had hardly any time to rest after last Sunday’s trip to “somewhere in the Middle East, when he was ordered to Poland in the dark days of September 1939. With the Nazi hordes pouring across the frontier and ominous signs of troop movements across the Russian border, General Maczek’s elite 10th Mechanised or “Black Brigade” is attempting to re-group south of Krakow to continue an effective defence. At 09.00 hours on September 5th, the German armour of the 2nd Panzer resumes its attack towards the village of Myslenice. Waiting for them are Vickers “E”s and cannon-armed TKS Tankettes, together with one of the two TKSD tank destroyers assigned to the Brigade.

Knowing that time was not their friend, Dave’s Panzer IIIs and IV advanced quickly taking advantage of the cover provided by the dried upriver bed. Chris’ PzIIs appeared more sluggish. Maybe they were wary of the solitary tankette that appeared to be facing them.

As ever with this period the early exchanges of gunfire proved inconclusive, until one of the Vickers took a round that set it on fire.

That seemed to open up the northern flank for the Germans who resumed the advance. However, Phil’s tiny TKS lurking on the edge of the forest proved almost impossible to spot, being both small and low profile.

The effectiveness of its 20mm automatic cannon however belied the vehicle’s diminutive size, and soon the mighty PzIV was burning. The other German tank commanders began to look nervously around them.


Chris’ Panzer IIs proved slow to act, courtesy of damage caused by the TKS and the second Vickers E. This allowed the Poles to concentrate on Dave. Although he managed to charge his PzII off the table in accordance with his orders both Panzer IIIs took fire and were destroyed.

In both cases the Poles benefitted from fortuitous “double six” hits which gave them additional strike dice. Rob’s roll of three 5s and two fours when his TKS fired into the flank of the lead MkIII was the last straw for the demoralised Germans.

The day belonged to the redoubtable 10th Mechanised.


The scenario was adapted from one covered in “Skirmish Campaigns” book ”Poland ’39, the Black Brigade”. A few more vehicles were added and obviously infantry and artillery ignored for a game of WAT. The 20mm TKS again proved its worth, reminiscent of the historical exploits of Cadet Roman Edmund Orlik. On September 18th he destroyed two Pz35(T)s and a Panzer IVD, and on the 19th a further seven 35(T)s. One of the great “what ifs” of the campaign must be “what if the Poles had rebuilt more than 24 TKS with the 20mm cannon….?

Simon

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