Mein Gott - it's the Red Devils!

 

An Airborne Assault Blitzkrieg Commander scenario

 

Nik v Steve J: Dunster, Somerset: October 17th 2008

 

1500 points of British Paras against 1000 points of German Wehrmacht - all figures by Pendraken

 

Aerial recon:

 

 

 

Aerial recon shots show a supply dump next to the railway tracks with multiple roads into the village with outlying farms. Initial intelligence confirms that this village is well-defended by motivated elements of the German army. Its capture is vital to the Allied offensive as the momentum for breakthrough gathers - it is the crossroads that is the key objective.

 

Forces:

German Army = 1000 points

CO, 2 x HQ, FAO

6 x Infantry

1 x MG, 2 x Mortars

2 x StuG III long

2 x Pz IV long

1 x Wespe, 1 x Nebelwerfer

Breakpoint = 7

 

British Airborne = 1500 points

CO, 2 x HQ, FAO

15 x Paratroopers

4 x MG, 2 x Mortars

3 x Engineers

4 x 6pdr ATG + Jeeps

2 x 17pdr ATG + Jeeps

4 x 75mm pack howitzer artillery

Breakpoint = 15

 

Deployment

The Germans deployed a third of their forces into hastily-defended positions in the village - the two StuGs covering the road approaches with some infantry taking cover in one of the village houses. As the parachutes and gliders descended it was clear that the pilots responsible for the drop were right on the button - with each Para formation only deviating a tiny amount from its intended location.

 

The Paras had dropped in two identical formations - an HQ with 6 paras, two MGs, a mortar, 2 6pdrs and a 17pdr each (with their transports). The CO had 3 Paras and the engineers attached to him.

 

With the Paras dropped close to the crossroads (objective) on the left flank and onto the railway tracks behind the hill on the right flank, with the CO and his support in the centre, it was only the FAO who managed to drop behind the high ground he wanted to attain to be able to call in fire support most effectively.

 

 

From the off the Paras were able to manoeuvre into good positions to deploy ATGs into dominant fire zones and for the infantry to begin a fast move towards the objective.

 

 

View of the dropzone on the para left flank

 

The CO gathers his men around him

 

The Paras on the right flank begin to move towards the village from the railway tracks

 

With some good opportunity fire from the Germans there was some interruption to the early cohesion of the airborne forces; some impressive blundering didn't help much either! As the German reinforcements arrived it became clear that the British battleplan would need to adapt - the appearance of some German infantry to the rear of the Airborne CO stopped the sweeping advance to the village as this threat needed dealing with.

 

 

Surprise...

 

Meanwhile, back on the left flank the PzIVs and more infantry started to advance up the road towards the village as the Paras advance through the cornfield - some good exchanges of fire throughout - a real ebb and flow here as suppressive fire took effect on both sides

 

 

 

Ultimately weight of fire from the Paras at close range saw both StuGs brewed up and the PzIVs turning tail away from the battle - with the Germans past their breakpoint (on turn 5), the CO pulled his forces out - ceding the objective to the Airborne who started to dig in - preparing for the inevitable counter-attack.

 

Debrief

A great battle - really nice to bung dice with Steve again - and some great moments in the battle. Artillery from both sides was pretty ineffective and no-one got into combat - but lots of good manoeuvering throughout. Cracking stuff!