Chain of Command, May 1940, Attack on the Canal at Avelette

This scenario was semi-fictional, based on the Royal Ulster Fusiliers hasty defense of the canal at Bethune, covering the Calais in Mat 1940. We used Scenario 3, “Attack & Defend”. The Germans (Rob & Steve) had 10 support points and had selected an MMG, an extra infantry section and a Red Dice. The British (Dave & Mal) also had 10 support points (5 + 5 from the Force Rating differences) and had also selected an MMG, with entrenchments and most crucially, a 3” Mortar Battery and FAO.

Not knowing where the Germans might come from, the Brits deployed their Patrol Markers, 18” in, strung across the center of the table. The Germans initially went for a bold right flank concentration, then bottled it and went with patrol markers strung 8” apart, just right of center on their baseline. The subsequent Patrol phase yielded Jump Off Points (JoP) for the Brits well placed to defend the canal on both flanks, as well as overlooking the Bridge. The Germans got rather pushed back into the center and center right wooded area.

The Germans opened with a massive initial deployment. Green section pushing wide to the East, to threaten cross at the lock. Blue section pushing West, to try to exploit a sunken barge as a crossing. They then had Red & Yellow sections push for the central house, overlooking the destroyed bridge.

The Brits were very laid back in response, only deploying Red section at the lock keeper’s cottage garden and the FAO into the lock keeper’s cottage. While Red section commenced hosing down the German Green Section’s advance, the FAO called down an accurate barrage on the German Red & Yellow sections in the center.

This barrage tied down the German Red & Yellow sections (and also killed quite a few, as a result of a mistake by the umpire!!). As a result the German Green section started to suffer, so the Germans countered by deploying their 4^th Infantry section and their tripod mounted MMG, in the woods overlooking the lock, to provide long range fire support.

As a result the German Green section did manage to work their way up to an abandoned barge. The British Red section was also beginning to suffer, from the sustained attention of 4 MG34s and 10+ rifles, so they deployed their Vickers MMG in the lock keeper’s garden, which successfully suppressed the German Green section.

However, this close range fire fight and the continued long range attentions of the German MMG, had thinned out the ranks of British Red section and the Vickers crew, as they were left with one man manning the MMG, one man on the Bren and one rifleman, all held together by the Corporal and Platoon Sergeant!

As the Germans were still threatening to push the barge off the canal bank, the Brits hurried forward Blue Section into the lock keeper’s garden. These reinforcements soon started to sweep the decks of the barge and shortly the German Green section broke.

On the German left, the German Blue section crept forward to the hedge overlooking the canal, West of the bridge. They confirmed the presence of the reported sunken barge, spanning the canal and not seeing any British this side of the bridge, they made a dash for the barge.

However, the British Yellow section lay in wait, behind a hedge on the other side of the canal. As the Germans scrambled along the barge, the British opened fire, causing the Germans to rapidly fall-back, with both sides settling into a vicious firefight. But it was clear that the Germans weren’t crossing here without support.

Calculating that the British had no more reserves, the German commander called for a redeployment of the MMG, platoon mortar and support section, to the left flank. However, the British FAO spotted this movement and started to ‘walk’ the mortar barrage South down the road, threatening to pin-down this movement. The Germans then decided to withdraw, to seek further reinforcements.

The Brits had succeed by an economical deployment strategy (Red section holding the table on their own, for some time!) and a very well placed mortar barrage, pinning two German sections. The Germans had a really tough mission, but were hampered by their initial JOP restrictions. Another CofC Patrol Phase reminder to think not only about your own JOP geometries, but also those of your opponent!?