Chain Of Command: Normandy Campaign Game (3) - Initial Troop Deployments

The jump-off position touching "Grey House" is a God sent gift and is quickly exploited by First and Second Squads from 16 Platoon. First Squad's Bren team is deployed the second floor with its Rifle Section half in "Grey House" and stretching across to "Brown House".

The Plan: 

Second Squad deploys behind the hedge to the left of "Grey House". First Squad should provide covering fire while Second Squad will manoeuvre down the British left flank (see below):

A sniper team deploys ad-midst the wreckage of "Ken's Tank" formerly of the 9RTR. The sniper fubnnction function is to take a pop at anything German moving down the British Right flank with the hope of hitting a German NCO (see below):

The German's meanwhile have a MG42 Team, in hard cover on their baseline, gulp. The first of many I expect to see today no doubt (see below):

The "Mortar Man" (FOO to you and me) takes up position in the second floor of "Grey House". I have high hopes for this off-table support asset although in an urban setting it could as well be a curse (see below, second floor, man standing up in a full length coat):

In the opening exchanges, first blood goes to the Brits as a lucky Bren strike kills two Germans of the MG42 Team despite its hard cover. A great start, I just hope the dice stay with me for the rest of the battle: (see below)

Finally  the last action in the 'opening stage of the deployment' is 16 Platoon's 'two inch' mortar section. This is a useful smoke bellowing piece of kit bestowing cover and breaking line of sight. You cannot have too many of these useful little things to hand (see below):

The British are still holding off table their Third Squad, a senior NCO and a PIAT Team (which unless I see a Tiger coming down the street they will stay off table drinking tea and smoking cigarettes). The British Right Flank still needs to be secured. This is being Third Squad's role when (or if) they get on table. Nothing can be said to be 'for certain' in "Chain of Command" which is one of its 'strange attractions' to me.

Next: The German Counter-Attack

Chain Of Command: Normandy Campaign Game (2) - Infiltration of the Enemy Frontline

Chain of Command: Patrol Phase

The scenario allowed the Germans to deploy their picket screen just under half-way across the board (see the line of crosses below). The Allied (British) player advanced from the baseline 1d6 x (twelve inch) moves. The tricky bit is keeping a continuous string of patrol counters as they cannot wander more than twelve inches from another friendly unit. Then both sides moved alternatively until all the patrol counters became "fixed" as they came within twelve inches of an enemy counter. Thankfully I rolled a decent "4" and could advance away from the baseline to extend my deployment area options (see below):

As seen fro the British baseline, the "Tommies" have almost made it to the ruined houses, which is rather alarming for the German player (see below):

As seen from the German baseline, the Germans had concentrated their efforts against the British right whee they attacked last time. I think their intention was to pin the British right flank but they gave me an opening in the middle, which on the advice of 12 Platoon commander I took with "both hands" (see below):

Now the fiddly bit, one by one I convert the four patrol counters into three jump off points through a complicated byzantine trigonometrical process involving sticks. Thankfully other better, more capable  souls were in charge of the process. The result is shown below, with the key point being the small Allied circle in the "Grey House". This allows the British a 'route one' into a 'hard cover, two story' position (see below):

The Germans on the other hand are forced back to the 'hard cover' position on their baseline and one left side (dangerous looking for the British right flank) out-flanking position in the hedgerow (see below, top left side of the picture):

The British jump-off positions without the clutter of the patrol markers (see below):

The British have a clear advantage moving into the deployment phase. The German player realised by a combination of fortuitous dice throw (the "4") and his fixation on the British 'right flank' the Tommies are about to deploy in strength in 'hard cover' in the middle of the battlefield.

Next: The Deployment Phase

Note to Self: GHQ site - Napoloenic Ship Catalogue/Painting Reference

Useful as the GHQ site shows a painted example of each of their Napoleonic 1/1200 ships, click on ship to see gallery example:

http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/napoleonic-micronauts-battle-sails.html

Note: Good as a reference chart for my Navwar Ships

Chain Of Command: Normandy Campaign Game (1) - 16 Platoon Takes Charge

Every now and again wargaming Nirvana comes along and here was one such moment, the opportunity to slip into an ongoing wargaming campaign. In particular a WWII Chain of Command Normandy Campaign, just too good to miss.

For the bigger picture see:
Normandy Campaign Posts: 

I was relieving a spent British infantry platoon (#12) with a fresh unit (#16 platoon) advancing through the Normandy bocage through the ruins of a French village.

It also meant after a fifteen year wait my Platoon 20 British Infantry get on table:

• 3 x Fighting Squad of ten men (six rifles, a three man Bren section and a NCO) 
• HQ section (Lt, NCO, two inch mortar team, PIAT team, sniper team [attached], FOO team [attached]). 

Seeing as I was proud of their paint job this usually meant the kiss of death to any wargaming unit, I started the game with some trepidation (see below for the "16 Platoon" boys):

The briefing told me that we were going to attack a village with a strange sounding name, almost like a wine. The umpire then told me that I was going in because the last platoon got badly mauled and were "hung up on the wire"  (see below):

The most despairing sight was the shattered remains of a Churchill tank (nick-named "Ken's Tank" after the luckless driver from the 9RTR) which had not lasted very long at all before being "brewed-up" by a crack German Anti-Tank team. The ease of its demise convinced me to rely on 'off-table' rather than 'on-table' support (see below):  

The key to the position, said the retiring 12 Platoon NCO (now acting Platoon Commander), is two dirty big ruined houses that dominate the center of the battlefield. Get to them first and you can dictate the course of the battle (see below):

The German's had a picket line strung out to the British right flank, dominating the clear ground to the right of the road leading through the center of the village. The bodies of 12 Platoon's Bren and Mortar teams still remained unclaimed in hedgerows, off to the right/bottom of the photograph (see below):

Chastened by 12 Platoons ordeal, 16 Platoon was going to try and infiltrate as far forward to the ruined houses as possible (see below, the Allied Patrol Markers have been place on table):

Next: Run Tommy run, before Jerry gets his gun!

I can see the sea!

From actions furious fought on The Brown Sea to sailing peacefully along in formation in The Blue Sea (see below):

A majestic display of Royal Navy might a 74 (HMS Thunderer), 80 (HMS Canopus) and another 74 (HMS Implacable).

The sailing formation is especially posed for the camera ;)

The Dual Revisited (5): Closing Rounds

The Le Franklin's masts and rigging are now in a poor and sorry state of affairs (see below):

Her only hope is to try and pull away, clear the fallen rigging from her decks and hope for a change of wind or sea state to escape. HMS Thunderer meanwhile has other ideas and gives Le Franklin a medium range broadside, but misses (see below):

Undaunted, with a deft turn of the helm HMS Thunderer comes about with the intent of causing more mischief aboard the labouring Frenchman (see below):  

A stern rake to add to the Le Franklin's agony. The French crew morale is plummeting (see below):

The final act of the drama ensues, a short chase is on as HMS Thunderer mercilessly pursues Le Franklin, the Royal Navy captain is obviously thinking of the prize money at stake (see below):

The Frenchman sees the Royal Navy gaining, with no hope of rescue, the French Captain eventually "strikes her colours" to signal surrender and preserve life (see below):

So ends the min-epic sea drama. Two - nil to the Royal Navy so far!

The Dual Revisited (4): Deadly Fire

The British 'master gunners' unleashed hell, bit missed the rather large French battleship (see below, argh, don't roll a one):

The Frenchman sees his chance, but he too misses (see below)

This time the range is so close nobody can possibly miss (see below):

The British fair better in the exchange and use their superior seamanship to good effect setting up a bow rake (see below):

"Deadly Fire" ensues (see below):

One rather bedraggled and sad looking French "ship of the line" starts thinking of "going home" (see below):

Next: An interesting "morale test" to follow.