Normandy - Chain of Command

Given it was the 5th of June, it seemed mandatory to have at least one Normandy themed game at the club night. Using 20mm (the one true scale for WWII) and the excellent Too Fat Lardies Chain of Command rules, the engagement saw a platoon of hardy British airborne pitted against a platoon of German panzergrenadiers, supported by a Stug IIII assault gun.

The battlefield - British from the top right with Germans deploying up the road from the bottom right 

Tactically, the British (ably led by Dave) got the better of the patrol phase, containing the Germans in their deployment corner. Both forces had very high morale and counted as aggressive troops, but the Paras were considered elite, which as it turned out, made them very hard to kill. The Germans won the initiative and deployed two infantry sections and the Stug.

The Stug III deploys, with infantry probing ahead in the background 

Perhaps predictably, both sides made a beeline for the houses in the centre of the table, and a section from each side took a building. However the German commander (your correspondent) was taken slightly unawares when the Paras lived up to their aggressive reputation, and close assaulted the German held building with a second section. This opening contact turned out to be very bloody (and involving a ridiculous number of dice); with the Germans taking 50% casualties, but the Paras coming off worse with 70% losses and being forced to retreat (assaulting defenders in hard cover is a tricky thing it appears). 

The Panzergrenadier squad on the left heading for a bloody encounter with the Red Devils 

With both sides reeling slightly from the clash in the centre, the action moved to the German right flank, as the Paras began to move up another section and their platoon headquarters. Unbeknownst to the German Stug commander this HQ team contained a PIAT (Projectile Infantry Anti Tank), which, to be honest, I've always regarded as a bit of a joke as an AT weapon. This is not apparently the case in Chain of Command, as the PIAT proceeded to hit the Stug twice in quick succession. Luckily for the Germans, both hits failed to penetrate the assault gun's side armour, but left the crew understandably shaken and immobile for two turns. 

The lucky Stug, with the PIAT team in the distance

In the centre, the Paras in the house opened up in the surviving Germans from the close assault, and inflicting further casualties, forced them into a headlong retreat to the woods and this mauled German section played little part in the rest of the fight. Meanwhile the two surviving German sections dug into the hedges and shell craters on the right and proceeded to expend a prodigious quantity of lead in an attempt to blunt the British advance. A critical result of this firefight was the elimination of the British platoon commander, forcing the lone PIAT to retreat, removing the immediate threat to the Stug. From this point the fight became one of attrition, as the combined firepower of four MG42 teams began to slowly whittle away at the Paras, and the Stug was able to move up in support and add its MGs to the fight. Despite a huge amount of firepower, the Paras still proved tough to kill. 

The Germans dig in and pour fire on the advancing Paras

Shortly after this we decided to call the game. The Paras had taken control of most of the tactically important areas of the field, but were worn down by sheer German firepower, and lacked an effective means of dealing with the Stug. It was agreed that it had been a minor German victory - at least on points. Terrain and Brits from Dave's collection (figures mostly Platoon 20) and the Germans were supplied by Simon (figures from Britannia Miniatures).

Other games on the night included a fairly bloody game of Dux Britannia, a fight on the North West Frontier, and some Roman legionaries duffing up a group of eastern types (using Impetus).

Roman Auxiliary Cavalry 

Confronting the Eastern barbarians

Dux Britannia 

Delaying action at Marnach - 16 December 1944

As if to prove there is no scale in which we won't play WWII, one of Thursday night's games saw a 10mm game set during the opening phase of the Battle of the Bulge on 16 December 1944. The unsuspecting American infantry company was concealed in the small town of Marnach, and was to be assaulted by Kampfgruppe Cochenhausen (i.e. II Battalion, 304th Panzergrenadier Regiment).

The battlefield - Marnach at the far end.  

The Germans deployed in three companies, with two on the right flank and one, slightly more exposed, moving up the main road to the left. The first few turns were pretty uneventful, with the Germans advancing quickly towards the crestline in front of the town. The Panzergrenadiers on the left, arguably due to a degree of impetuousness on the part of the company commander, cleared the ridgeline, and heedlessly ploughed forwards, seeking out the hidden American forces suspected to be in the town. In short order they discovered a series of American defensive positions,with US infantry waiting in ambush. However the Americans must have been half-asleep as their opening volleys failed to have much effect. This marked the start of several rounds of attrition as the Germans attempted to close with the Americans skulking in their foxholes.

Having located the enemy, the 2nd and 3rd German companies moved up  in the centre and on the right. The Kampfgruppe commander at this point realised he could not see over the ridgeline in order to direct artillery onto the Americans and thus moved macht schnell up the road to a better vantage point. The centre company began to bring fire onto the Americans as the 3rd company on the right flank maneuvered in the limited space available to assault into the town.

Closing to assault 

While the US commander started to look a little queasy at the number of angry men in grey coming towards him, the US defense settled down and began to inflict casualties on the Germans, slowing the left and centre lines of advance to a crawl. This was aided by the dismounting of several machine gun equipped recon teams into the houses behind the main defensive line. The left hand German company was being whittled down and as it assaulted the dug in infantry was quickly reduced to half-strength. The 3rd company on the right fared better, managing to to break into and clear several of the defended houses on the outskirts of Marnach. However this came at the cost of almost 50% casualties. 

At this point we decided to call the game. The US infantry had done well, slowing the German advance to a crawl and inflicting heavy casualties in return for relatively light losses. If time had allowed the following turns would have seen the arrival of two US Sherman platoons and a Panzer company, but it seemed unlikely that they would change the overall outcome of the battle - the US forces would have probably succeeded in delaying the Germans for long enough. 

The game was fought using Battlefront rules from Fire and Fury Games and using Pendraken miniatures (I think).

Incursion Comes to Blackwolf

Last night saw an entertaining Grindhouse Incursion game between Pete and Andy. Andy mounted a very effective 'overlapping fires' policy with 2xHMG and 2x'Grunt' APEs, neatly sidelining Pete's one Blitzhund with a roof 'cave in'.

However, Pete managed to sneak a few of his Bombie Zombies up to a couple of Andy's APEs, weakening them enough for a mass Zombie rush.

The game ended with Andy managing to push is last remaining HMG APE to successfully close and lock the second of the three doors he had to seal, before marching into a red mist of HMG fire shreaded Storm Zombie, almost reaching the last zombie entry door, before being finally swamped. A fine hour for the 7th, despite the eventual German win!

Last stand of the HMG APE!

Phil T. 23rd Sep 2011

PMZ Campaign: Hamburg

Report from General Schlemm,
commanding First Parachute Army
The battle for Hamburg, dated April 30th 1945

Having withdrawn to the Elbe, I have had little time to prepare my defences before the inevitable British attack. I still have the Panthers of the 101st Pz Brigade and I have also been allocated two companies of JgPanthers from the training schools, unfortunately they have little fuel or ammunition.

My right is resting on a large lake where I have placed a force consisting of Stugs and Panzer Grenadiers of the 116th Pz Divn supported by Volksturm and one company of JgPanthers. The 553rd Volksgrenadier Divn is holding a line of hills on the left with attached Stugs and JgPanthers. In reserve is the remainder of 116th Pz Divn with the Panthers.

The British attack is beginning on the right. Here a single infantry battalion supported by JgPanthers holds, then throws back an infantry division supported by Sherman and Churchill tanks. Meanwhile a second British division is occupying a village on the far side of the river but is unable to cross due to heavy fire. Unnerved by this unexpected reverse, the attack appears to be faltering.

Now the British airforce attack in strength and they renew the attack on the right with another division, meanwhile sending amphibious units across the lake. The defending battalion has taken heavy losses, and at last retires, forcing the JgPanthers to retire as well. Taking advantage of this development, an armoured division is advancing on the left while the division in the centre has at last forced its way across the river.

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The view from behind the German positions. The units defending the right have retreated, leaving the British in control of the village. Many British units are queing to cross the river. Some units of the 553rd Volksgrenadier Divn are holding the high ground against the British armoured division on the left. The reserve Panthers and Panzer grenadiers are about to move into action.

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The Volksgrenadiers are retreating from the British armour, their single battalion of Stugs destroying many of the new Comet tanks before being itself destroyed.

I order the 116th Pz Divn to counter attack but they have been met by a wave of British armour and infantry.

German units are retreating all along the line with only a Panzer Grenadier battalion still intact, defending the supply centre.

Reports are confused but the Panthers appear to have retreated. Comet tanks are reported near my command post ..... ......... attacking ... ......... heavy fire ...... ..... overrun ........... ............

This was the final report by General Schlemm before his capture by our forces. With the destruction of First Parachute Army, and all available reserves being committed to Operation Spring Awakening in the East, there were no forces available to prevent us entering Berlin in early May. The British army is now occupying the Seelow heights while negotiations continue with the Soviets.

PMZ Campaign: Troyes 3

Report from General Fortsch,
commanding First Army
The third battle for Troyes, dated April 15th 1944

I had ample of time to dig in along the river line, anchoring my left on a large lake and my right on some wooded ground protected by minefields. Unfortunately my request for reinforcements had been denied so I was lacking armour, having only the 2nd Panzer Division with a reduced battalion of Panthers and some companies of StugIVs. The Jagd Panthers have been reallocated to another sector.
The Americans attacked initially on the right against the wooded ground with an armoured division. Leading the attack were some new Pershing heavy tanks. Fortunately they were stopped by the minefields in front of the concealed Panthers who made short work of them. This attack having been halted, the Americans then attacked the village in the centre with a second armoured division, the village was protected by a battalion of the 352nd Infantry division. This battalion held out for some time, delaying this attack.

The Americans then launched two attacks, an infantry division attacked on the left, driving back the 352nd Infantry from the river and a third armoured division attacked on the right, supported by intense airpower. Eventually this assault took its toll on the few remaining tanks of 2nd Panzer and it was forced to retire.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 2nd Pz Divn has retired on the right, the Americans have yet to exploit this. The 352nd Inf Divn is holding out on the high ground and left of the road but they are soon to retreat. Some units of the 272nd Volksgren Divn can be seen in the centre.

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With our forces retiring, it was left to the 272nd Volksgrenadier division to hold the line which they did gallantly. However the American armour had now crossed the river and the 272nd were unable to prevent them overrunning the Corps command centre.

Realising that the position was compromised, I ordered the withdrawal of the army towards Metz.

PMZ Campaign: Gorzow

Report from General Dietrich,
commanding Sixth Panzer Army
The battle for Gorzow, dated April 8th 1945

As part of operation Spring Awakening, I had been given the task of driving the Russians back from the borders of the Fatherland. The Fuhrer had allocated all the armoured reserves to this attack and great things were expected, we were not to disappoint him. Poor weather had grounded the Red airforce so we attacked under a ferocious artillery bombardment which however proved fairly ineffective. I had been promised all available aircraft, but apparently the bad weather made them ineffective as well. The Russians were occupying a line of hills with a large area of wooded ground in front of them.

The 1st SS Pz Division attacked on the right with the few tigers available, their task being to outflank the main defences. The 3rd SS Pz Division with attached PzIVs advanced through the woods. On the centre left the 16th Panzer Division with its Panthers and half of the Jg Panthers advanced cautiously against the centre of the Russian position keeping concealed as much as possible. The 232nd Pz Grenadier Division with PzIVs and the remainder of the Jg Panthers swung round the left flank.

The 1st SS engaged T34-85s at the far side of the woods and confidently outmanoeuvred them, destroying many in the process. These Soviets now came under pressure from the 3rd SS advancing through the woods and were forced to withdraw.

Meanwhile in the centre the 16th Pz had taken up position behind a crest line and awaited instructions. On the left the 232nd PzGren were advancing rapidly and beginning to push the Soviets back through the woods on that flank.
At this point the Soviets committed their reserves, Guards with sherman tanks against 10th and 30th SS. As soon as they did this, the 16th Pz attacked in the centre, slowly driving yet more T34s off the high ground. Meanwhile the 232nd PzGren were emerging from the woods into the Soviet rear area. The guards fought a bloody battle with the SS at close range, both sides eventually losing most of their tanks and being forced to withdraw.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 1st SS is advancing on the right having driven off the T34s. The guards have moved forwards to oppose them. The 3rd SS have moved through the woods on their left. 16th Pz have moved up onto the high ground and are about to drive off the T34s and Polish infantry in front of them. The 232nd on the left are advancing into the soviet flank. Wrecked Soviet units can already be seen streaming to the rear.

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The 16th Pz had now cleared the high ground and were advancing directly into the centre of the Soviet position at the same time as their remaining units were being surrounded by 232nd PzGren. At this point the Soviet command knew all was lost and began a headlong retreat. We pursued them as far as Lodz, where we were forced to stop for lack of supplies. We had retaken all the ground lost since February. It is rumoured that the Soviet front commander has been shot and that I will receive another addition to my Knight's Cross.

PMZ Campaign: Lodz

Report from General Graser,
commanding Fourth Panzer Army
The battle for Lodz, dated Mar 20th 1945

I deployed the newly arrived Grossdeutchland division on my left, with its flank protected by a large lake. The 16th Pz Division was in the centre on a line of hills, the 72nd Infantry Division on the right with its flank protected by wooded ground.

The Soviets began their attack in the centre with the Guards tank corps with its JSIIs, ISU152s and new SU100s. This attack was driven back mainly by the Panthers of 16th Panzer. On the right, the 72nd Infantry kept the Russian infantry at bay.

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The view from behind the German positions. The Panthers on the hills have driven back the Russian guards in the centre although some of 16th Pz have retired with considerable damage. Grossdeutchland on the left have made a tactical withdrawal.

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The Soviets then attacked on the left with a Polish division supported by tank brigades and the Red airforce. With the 16th Panzer occupied by a renewed attack by the guards, Grossdeutchland began to give ground. Russian infantry then used amphibious vehicles to cross the lake. The guards were again driven back but the Poles broke through and overran the main supply dumps.

I considered the position to be untenable so requested permission to withdrew towards Gorzow. Taking no reply as an affirmative I immediately withdrew.