D Day Campaign - Day 2, the beach head expands

This weeks report actually covers only a single turn but 2 weeks play. As 21st Panzer vs the 6th Airborne has gone into a third week that will appear in the next blog. Turn 2 saw the US 4th Infantry attacking 709th Infantry at Ravenville and UK 3rd Infantry attacking 716th Infantry at Benoville. 

Benoville

The British attacked in strength with armoured and air support against Germans using a canal to cover one flank. The Brits advanced steadily with their armour leading the way. Their cause was helped by taking out the Pak40s guarding one flank early on. 

Benoville

The British were able to apply steady pressure with their Stuarts especially effective at wedeling out the enemy.   Despite managing to take one of the objectives they were unable to take the second in time.   

Typhoon launches an attack 

So a draw for the British, who will need to attack again next turn. Special mention to the Stuarts who proved highly effective and even bagged a StuG III. 

  Ravenville

The US force was a pretty large one due to the  high proportion of infantry units. The Germans spread across the field whilst the US focused all the armour for an attack on one side with infantry looking to infiltrate the other - classic envelopment! 

Ravenville

The US armoured punch was successful in overwhelming the defenders on the eastern objective. They had a chance but fluffed their overwatch shooting and got swamped. In the west the US advance was slower but the artillery proved deadly to the Germans and blasted them off the objective there.   

With about half the turns used up the US held one objective but crucially had destroyed all the German AT weapons apart from hand-held.  With nothing to stop the US moving at will the Germans withdrew. 

So after 2 turns the US forces are advancing on St Marie Eglise whilst the British must reattack Benoville having stalled there. Orne River remains in German hands meaning 21st Panzer can operate north of there.