Part 2 - That is totally Belgium.

26 April, 1940. Scenario 79: Battering ram at Kvam – Kvam, Norway (Fall of the West, Map 56)

From the playbook: In an effort to shore up the crumbling defences in southern Norway the British reassigned the 15^th Infantry Division to lead the defence in the Gudbrandsdal Valley on 23 April. The 15^th consisted of regular troops originally destined for the BEF in France but transferred to Norway in great secrecy. The German advance up the Gudbrandsdal Valley was led by Colonel Landle’s 345^th Infantry Regiment of the 196^th Infantry Division. The First Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry established a blocking position at Kvam on 24 April and the Germans assaulted on the following day. The initial German assaults were repulsed with heavy British losses but not without the loss of several German AFVs as well. On 26 April the 345^th renewed their assault with infantry only and were able to penetrate between the defending companies, forcing a British withdrawal in the evening.

Dan took the defending Brits and James attacked with the Germans. The British deployed a high line at row 5 on the right, using the woods in front of the train station on the right, the houses around objective 5 in the middle and the hedges and fences on the left with a mortar team sat deep. Germany placed the infantry gun on the road leading to the foxhole in L7 and deployed the rest of the troops on the right amongst the brush, shielded by a wooded area.

Early on the German infantry gun along with Lt Lauerbach move into the foxhole at L7 along with the MG team already there and begin pounding the British forces in the building along the road. The Brits break and look to be facing early elimination when the IG jams and Sgt Casey’s men arrive at the treeline open fire on Lauerbach’s position, allowing the men in the house to recover.

Meanwhile Sge Pfeiffer on the German right move out of the brush and into the wooded area on rows K and L but five time advances in the space of one cycle through of the German deck puts the pressure to move firmly on. The Allies also see events that bring the British hero in to play and allows a secret objective to be drawn.

Back at the foxhole at L7 things take a turn for the worse for the Germans when the infantry gun is eliminated, Lauerbach attempts to get his men firing again but a sniper trigger breaks him for the second time and he is eliminated. Moments later another sniper event causes light wounds tp the rifle squad in the foxhole and within a single turn the left and central areas are brought under control by the defenders.

The allies then move their men up the hill and dig into a position ahead of Pfeiffer’s. The Germans tamely attempt an attack but the defences are too strong. Further time advances come around and the Germans, unable to find a way through, withdraw, bringing the game to a close for an allied VP victory and a third straight win for Dan.

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10 May, 1940. Scenario 75: Sturmgruppe Granit – Fort Eben Emael, Maastrict vicinity, Beligium.

From the playbook: Positioned directly in the path of Army Group B’s invasion route for Fall Gelb, Fort Eben Emael was considered one of the strongest fortresses in the world. The fort’s elimination was crucial to the success of the German operational plan. In a daring coup de main assault 77 German paratroopers, designated Sturmgruppe Granit, landed in gliders on top of the fort, subduing the defenders and neutralising the fort’s large guns within 30 minutes. The assault, coupled with the successful capture of nearby bridges over the Albert Canal, cleared the way for Army Group B’s advance into Belgium. The fall of the west had begun.

Dan took the attacking German’s and James, looking for his first win of the war, took the defending Belgians. German deployment is specified in the scenario. James placed his Belgians in bunker positions and hoped for some fire cards.

Germany took the first turn and immediately placed a 9 hindrance smoke grenade in between the Germans in L7 and the Belgian machine guns in the bunker at M6 and then began moving through the brush toward Cupola 120. It was not long before bunker at C6 was isolated by and the Germans moving in from I7. A brutal melee ensued wiping out the Belgians who had been broken when the bunker was destroyed and giving Germany control of objective 3. It was a rough start for the defenders.

Back at Cupola 120, the guns at M6 desperately fire on the parachute unit moving towards the high VP target and manage to break it. Smart use of the light wounds action kept the German unit unbroken and allowed for the capture of the objective the following turn, swinging the points towards the axis.

A brief moment of hope for the defenders as reinforcements arrive on the right of the map and the Belgian 75mm gun comes into play. German movement towards the left of the map draws the defending units out of the objective at M6 but a quick change of direction allows the Germans to easily subdue the bunker and capture the objective. With the casualties now racking up and the elimination of two bunkers meaning the eliminated units wont be coming back, the fort looked to be ready to fall. Germany pressed home their advantage after rolling on the support table and gaining 150mm artillery support. Bombardment began and the Belgian reinforcements were broken and then routed off the map.

With Belgium occupying objectives 1 and 4 and being pounded with artillery and squeezed from both sides (and worried about the flamethrower that another roll on the support table had brought into play for the Germans) and surrender imminent it was clear that there was no way back. The fort had fallen. Time advanced signalling a bloody German victory and Dan’s fourth straight victory.

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4 games in and Dan is unbeaten whilst the axis and allies are on 2 wins each.

Next time we stay on 10th May for scenario 75, Sturmgruppe Beton.

Thanks for reading,

D&J