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 15th Infantry Division to lead the defence in the Gudbrandsdal
Valley on 23 April. The 15th 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 345th
Infantry Regiment of the 196th 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 345th 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.
* * *
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.
Maybe Dan should just play the Axis till, say, June '44 then switch to the Allies. That would give a pretty accurate series of results :)
ReplyDeleteHa... From game 3 onwards we have been allowing the loser to choose which army they use. So I (Dan) will definitely be the Belgians in the next game
ReplyDeleteWhy the hate for the belgians? They make a damn fine waffle.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Dan will be the Belgians next time.
ReplyDelete