France 1940 - Christmas game #2

 My second game of the break saw me in familiar territory (Chez Boss) but a period I've not done for a long time - WWII Flames of War. This was a fairly simple scenario as both Germans and French rushed to capture a couple of strategic villages controlling road junctions. The French has a large force of infatry tanks with armoured car support. I played the Germans with a cavalry regiment, some armour and a air support. 

The French deployed most of their infantry attacking the eastern village with their armour mainly held centrally apart from some armoured cars near the western village.  

I went for a simple plan focused on the objectives. The panzers with grenadier support would grab the western village while the cavalry moved up through the heavily fielded area around the eastern village. My sole "88" would sit centrally with the artillery looking for targets. 

Turn 1 was a good one for me - I recon moved my armoured cars right up behind Panhard's on the western end and took out a couple, effectively stopping the French attack in its tracks. The lack of reserve fire in FOW really makes a big difference. 

My armoured quickly followed up and by turn 2 I was in possession of the village with panzer IVs covering the main French counter attack routes.   

Over on the west I was able to infiltrate 3 units of cavalry through the fields / woods and by turn 2 I was contesting the second village. 

Centrally there was a disturbing occurrence as three French portee AT guns trundled up and wiped out the  "88", before in turn being bombed off the table by a Stuka attack.

Fairly late in the day the French decided to make a play for the western village as I was ahead 1-0 at that point. The Char B's deployed there shot-up my Panzer IVs but were unable to shift the infantry I'd got defending the village. 

A fun game even if the loss of the "88" was a surprise and the lack of effectiveness of my Stuka's against the heavily armoured French tanks was a disappointment. The French really do have rather better gear than the Germans at this time but have lower morale and on this occasion their lethargy cost them the game. 

   

Midweek WWII

This week I managed to sneak-in an addition game at Boss Towers, a quick WWII Flames of War set in Italy. I was the British on this occasion in a straightforward attack vs defence. 

I decided to play to play to the British strength, so covered one objective with 2 batteries of 25pdrs, 2 batteries of AT guns, and some infantry. The other objective was covered some infantry and a all my tanks (6 Sherman's) poised to counter attack.  

British gun line

The AT guns

The Germans split heir forces; Tigers + infantry in the centre, AT guns covering an objective on one flank and assault guns + infantry on the other.

Tigers ready to roll

Those who have played at Boss Towers will know there are always tasty snacks to hand, on this occasion a mixed savoury plater. 

Yummy

The Germans pushed forward after an initial bombardment whilst I sat back relying on my fire power to blunt the attack. Post deployment it was clear that the German right was weakly defended opposite my Recce units. So I quickly changed plan and advanced them rapidly to contest the Objective there.  

German attack stalls

Bren carriers win the day

The result was a marginal win for the British as the Germans made no real headway with their own attack.

Battle of Khota Baru 1941 - a Flames of War game

One of the Japanese landing beaches

Recently Roy hosted a game of Flames of War for the club, with the game based on the Japanese seaborne invasion at Khota Baru in Malaya. This was one of the first actions of the campaign and historically ended in a Japanese victory after some fierce fighting.   

The Scenario

The historic battle was a large affair so it was refought as a scaled-down action. The Japanese were required to capture one of two objectives near the vital  railway-line.

The Battle

The British defensive line with the gaps between the dense jungle covered by bared-wire. The Brits defended forward and shot down most of the Japanese force on the beach. On both flanks the Japanese eventually occupied terrain, but it was an expensive advance and the British line was only just turned.

 

British defensive lines



 

Japanese advance into cover

 

The Japanese light tanks break through to the coast road , turning the British first line, but with their infantry spent there is little likelihood of the tanks reaching the railway and the objectives.






Japanese armour advances, but alas in vein

The British commander chose to deploy a platoon of 40mm AA, keeping his Lanchester armoured. cars and two sections of Bren carriers in reserve . With a gun line of eight 25 pdrs and more platoons to come the Japanese did not have enough to support their toy tanks.

British artillery and AA

 

So history was reversed with the British scoring a notable victory. Post-match analysis was that the Japanese attacked too piece-meal and lacked the decisive punch to overcome the British defences.

 



Pacific Island Hopping - Flames of War

This week we completed our third game in the island hopping WWII pacific campaign. This saw the Japanese ejected from Saipan following a fierce struggle.

Campaign situation

A full battle report is at the end of the Flames of War campaign page.
Pacific campaign



The critical move

Flames of War Pacific campaign

 

For a change of pace a few of us are now playing an occasional Flames of War campaign featuring island-hopping in the Pacific during WWII. To avoid confusion I've created a separate page for this containing both the campaign rules and the battle reports which can be found here:

flames-of-war-campaigns

To wet your appetite here are some pictures of the opening game featuring a US Marines assault on a Japanese held island.

The Japanese defences

Marines storm ashore Ooh Rah

Marines capture the victory objective

Flames of War - early war after action report

This week I was absent so Roy kindly hosted a Flames of War clash between early war French and Germans.

The Scenario

Both sides had to take the crossroads  and hold one objective near their baseline, 50 points for each. The Germans , from Rommel's 7th Panzer ( Neil and Mike ) set up with their pioneers supported by Stugs on the left looking to seize the ruined church by the crossroads. Down the road and dominating the crossroads they placed their attached 88. On their right they placed their tank force, Mark IIs, IIIs and IVs  and Czech built 38ts , looking to destroy the French left and swing round on to the objective. The Priority Stuka attack would be used to remove the defensive screen if French SOMUAs on the ridge facing the German tanks.


The tanks advance

 

The French , Richard and John planned to rush their lorry mounted infantry to the village and occupy it, whilst the Chars B  crawled on to the crossroads  Meanwhile the two French artillery batteries would concentrate on hitting the Germans as they moved forward. The Germans took first move and came forward, Stukas arrived and a SOMUA brewed. ineffective firing started from the 38ts against the R35 platoon on the left, ineffective because moving reduces rate f fire to 1 and shooting over 16 inches from the target takes one point extra to hit and adds one to the enemy's armour.
Then the French moved, rushing a platoon of Panhards



French advance swiftly

Germans sneak around the church

 

 This continued for several moves, a mass of German pioneers headed for the church, French artillery pinned them and they could not unpin and advance for several moves, the German  tank force waited too long to move forward, destroying the Renault platoon whilst the Luftwaffe dealt with the Somuas.  French artillery got lucky and destroyed the 88 , freeing the crossroads which the Chars B eventually took.  Unfortunately the  dilatory nature of the German tank attack  which waited for the Stukas to clear a path meant that losses on their immobile tanks mounted and platoons started to pull out of the fight.  In the end the Germans conceded as , though they could challenge for the crossroads the units concerned were too vulnerable to remain in position .  So a narrow victory for les poilus.