FoW: Operation Sea Lion - Free for All

I'm posting this Sunday night instead of the usual Monday morning so I can submit this batrep before the Operation Sea Lion deadline ends.

Friday saw my final battle for WWPD's Operation Sea Lion campaign, this one was between my Guards Tank regiment a German Panzer company. We both had 1750 points and my force was as follows:

Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk (Guards) Guards Heavy Tank Regiment

Soviet Late-War

Platoon	Qty	Unit	Points
Headquarters
Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk HQ p.45	1	KV-85	110
Combat Companies
Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Company p.46	5	KV-85	555
Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Company p.46	5	KV-85	555
Corps Support Companies
Strelkovy Company (Guards) p.26	1 7	Cmd Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team	160
Artillery Battalion (Guards) p.138	1 1 1 4	Cmd Rifle team Staff team Observer Rifle team 122mm obr 1938 howitzer	170
Air Support p.141	5	Limited Air Support Il-2 Shturmovik	200
Company Points:			1750

While the German forces were as shown below:

Panzerkompanie Tank Company

German Late-War

Platoon	Qty	Unit	Points
Headquarters
Panzerkompanie HQ p.73	2	Panzer IV H	180
Combat Platoons
Panzer Platoon p.73	5	Panzer IV H	450
Panzer Platoon p.73	4	StuG G	380
Weapons Platoons
Panzer Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon p.75	3	Sd Kfz 7/1 (Quad 2cm)	120
Divisional Support
Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Platoon p.77	1 4 6	Cmd Panzerfaust SMG team Sd Kfz 251/1 MG team	230
Rocket Launcher Battery p.169	1 1 1 3	Cmd SMG team Observer Rifle team Kubelwagen 15cm NW41	105
Heavy Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon p.171	1 1 2 2	Cmd SMG team Kfz 15 field car 8.8cm FlaK36 gun (8 crew) Sd Kfz 7	185
Air Support p.172	3	Sporadic Air Support Ju 87G Stuka	100
Company Points:			1750

The mission was 'Free for All' with the Soviets defending. The terrain layout can be seen below. I put one unit of KV's on each flank with the artilley in the centre and the Strelkovy on my left ready to enter the buldings. The Germans mirrored my deployment with Stugs on their right with the Grenadiers and AA, the Pz IV's were on their left flank. The centre was held by 88's and nebelwerfers plus the HQ.

The view from the German right flank

The view from the German centre

The view from the German leftflank

The view from the Soviet centre

The view from the Soviet right flank

The Germans went first and, thankfully, as the mission used the Meeting Engagement rule they were denied artillery bombardments and air support. They moved up the AA trucks hoping to catch my infantry in the open but had forgotten that they only got the 8" extra range against aircraft so were out of range. The grenadiers moved round their right flank heading towards the ruined buildings. On their left they moved the Pz IV's into firing positions. Everyone else stayed put and shot but could only manage to bail one of my left flank KV's.

My air support arrived but was shot down by combined fire from the 88's and AA trucks. I moved my infantry into the building with the aim of threatening the objective on that flank. I moved up a couple of the far left KV's up to the small wood to get them into cover. Unfortunately my fire was worse than the Germans and I did no damage but I did range in on one of the 88's.

The German right flank at the end of turn 1

The Soviet left flank at the end of turn 1

The German left flank at the end of turn 1

Turn 2 saw the Germans continue to move round my left flank with their half tracks and AA trucks. All their tanks also moved forward to get into short range where possible. Their aim was to Stormtrooper back out after shooting leaving me to shoot at long range. Luckily for me the KV's armour proved too much for the German 75mm guns. But they did manage to pin my infantry with the nebelwerfers. They also got air support and the Stukas dove in on my left flank KV's hitting two but failing the firepower tests. Successful Stormtrooper rolls saw all his tanks pull back to long range except on their left flank.

My air support arrived and again was shot down by German AA. I also failed to unpin my infantry. I was pretty happy with my positions so I stayed put and shot. My right flank KV's managed to knock out one of the PZ IV's and my artillery knocked out one of the 88's.

The Germans continue their outflanking manoeuvre 

The tank duel continues

As it also does on the other flank.

Turn 3 saw the Germans fail in their request for air support. The tanks maintained position to maximise fire. While the grenadiers dismounted and moved forward to get into position to assault my pinned Strelkovy. Fire from the Grenadiers combined with support from the half tracks killed two bases. Things were not looking good for my infantry. But the German 75mm guns again proved ineffective only managing to bail one KV. But the Grenadier assault went in and after some bitter fighting managed to push back the Strelkovy inflicting heavy casualties.

I managed to call in air support again and targeted the pinned 88. I failed to remount my KV and couldn't unpin my Strelkovy. But my right flank KV's knocked out two more Pz IV's forcing a check which they failed. I also managed to knock out one of the Stugs. The Sturmi's dove in on the 88 hit and the 88 failed it's save so now the German left flank was completely open.

The tough armour on the KV's means only one bailed out tank

The German left flank objective is wide open now

The Grenadiers have the beating of the Strelkovy

Turn 4 saw the Germans get their air support and his Stukas targeted my left flank KV's hoping to stop them contesting my left flank objective near the building. His only hope now was to finish off my infantry and hope to claim the objective before I could take his unguarded left flank objective. Worried about more losses he pulled back his stugs into cover except for one which bogged. He also pulled back his HQ tanks hoping to protect his left flank objective. His infantry and AA trucks opened up on my Strelkovy and some excellent dice rolling saw him wipe them all out. His plan to take my left hand objective was working. Sadly for him despite his Stukas hitting two KV's he again failed his firepower rolls.

My air support failed to arrive this turn although I did remount my bailed out tank. My right flank KV's moved up but their progress was hindered by bad going and their slow speed. I repositioned my left flank KV's so that they were better positioned in case his Grenadiers decided to try and assault me to clear the objective. What fire I had did no damage.

The German's pull back

My KV's prepare to be assaulted by the Grenadiers

My right flank KV's look to grab his unguarded objective.

Turn 5 and no air support for the Germans. Their HQ tanks move into cover so they can contest the left flank objective. The AA trucks move forward hoping to get a lucky flank shot on the KV's. While the Grenadiers consolidate to get ready for an assault. His bogged Stug remounts and moves forward hoping for a lucky hit on a KV. But again all the German shells bounce off my armour. The nebelwerfers drop smoke on on of the KV's to protect his Stugs.

I call in my air support and target his CIC near the objective. I double move the right flank KV's, one more turn and the objective will be mine. My CiC's KV shoots at the German 2iC knocking him out. My other fire does nothing but my Sturmi hits, the CiC fails his armour save and I make the firepower roll knocking his Pz IV. At this point the Germans concede. He has nothing close to contest the objective and can't clear out my KV's contesting the other one.

The final positions on my left

The unguarded objective with the knocked out HQ section

An interesting game, the Pz IV's and Stugs were no match for my KV's and the 88's proved to be much less of a threat than I thought. But those grenadiers were nasty with all their machine guns. So my final battle for Operation Sea Lion and a win for the Allies 5-2. Lets just hope we've hung on to London.

Operation Sea Lion: Letters from Cletus 12

Time for the last post in the 'Letters from Cletus' series.

WESTERN UNION
Washington D.C.
7/14/44

Dear Mr & Mrs Carter,

Please find below the content of a Telegram we've received addressed to you.


HAVE LOCATED CLETUS+WOUNDS VERY SERIOUS+DOCTORS OPERATED FOR TWELVE HOURS+THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT CLETUS+++++ MESSAGE ENDS

The message was cut short due to an enemy air raid knocking out a communication station in England. We regret that have no further information on who sent the message or on the fate of the Cletus mentioned. We hope you know the originator of the message and can contact them for further information.

Western Union regret that we were unable to fully transmit the message in this instance.

Yours sincerely,
A. N. Williams
(Bureau Chief, Washington D.C. Office)

Letters from Cletus 11

Time for the penultimate 'Letter from Cletus'. This one talks about the climactic Battle of London and what happens to Cletus and the Prof.

Dear Mr & Mrs Carter,
My name is Professor Jolyon Peregrine Montmorency Mountjoy but I believe your son, Cletus, usually refers to me as the Prof. No doubt you will have heard what happened to Cletus through official channels but I felt I couldn't leave it at that. So here is the story of that fateful day.

We had just arrived at our assigned sector in London when we encountered a German tank company probing our defences. Our tanks covered both flanks, our centre was held by artillery and an infantry company started to take up position in the buildings on our left. The German dispositions mirrored our own. The initial exchanges were inconclusive but as the German armour moved forward on our right flank the fire from our tanks destroyed the bulk of their unit forcing the rest to withdraw. Fire from our artillery and air support had knocked out their 88's as well leaving their left flank undefended.

Sadly things were not going so well on our left flank. Our infantry became pinned by enemy fire and the Germans moved up their infantry and assaulted. After a savage struggle our troops were forced back only for them to be wiped out to the last man by machine gun fire. Luckily our tanks on the right had swiftly moved forward to exploit the opening left by the retreating Germans. Seeing their flank about to be turned the Germans pulled back and we were victorious.

It was a few hours later that fate took a hand. The Russian officers had been joined by the sector commanders for a strategy meeting. I was there to help translate if needed and of course Cletus was there to keep me safe. The meeting had barely started when a German soldier burst in on us and started firing. He must have been left behind when the Germans pulled back. Everyone hit the floor and the guards returned fire mortally wounding the German but as he fell he threw a grenade at us. The cramped confines of the room meant that the blast would be devastating. It was then that Cletus saved us all. He grabbed his back pack and dived onto the grenade using his pack and his body to shield us. It was the bravest and most noble thing I have ever seen.

I was wounded in the explosion and passed out. When I awoke in the Aid Station Cletus was nowhere to be seen. I asked where he had been taken and was told that he had been very badly wounded and had been evacuated to a Field Hospital. The intense fighting in London has necessitated large numbers of the wounded be moved out of London and because of this I have been unable to determine whether Cletus' survived or not. I realise it may be unkind of me to ask but no doubt you will have heard of Cletus' fate from your War Department. I beg you to write me as soon as possible if you have so I may know whether to grieve or rejoice. Although I know that it will be of little consolation if the news is bad but Cletus has been submitted for a medal due to his selfless heroism.

I must close now as I have to write to Mary so she may learn what has happened to her husband. It is not a task I am relishing

Your obedient servant,
Jolyon Mountjoy

Tomorrow's post will see the fate of Cletus revealed.

Operation Sea Lion: Letters from Cletus 10

WWPD's Operation Sea Lion campaign is coming to an end on Sunday and I plan to do a series of three 'Letters from Cletus' over the next three days to round things off. What follows is the first letter of the trilogy.

Dear Ma & Pa,

I got some news I hope you'll be real happy about, Mary and I just got married! I know this seems real quick as I've only known her a few weeks but I'm sure she's the one. But I'm getting ahead of myself so I reckon I better explain what's happened.

We got word a few days ago that we were being moved out to aid in the defence of London. Seems the Generals think that a big push is coming real soon from the Nazi's. Word is that the Royal Navy and the flyboys been hitting the Nazi supply ships in the Channel real hard and that iff'n the Nazi's don't take London real soon their attack is going fail on account of them running out of stuff. 

I managed to ring Mary at the hospital to tell her we was moving out and I might not be able to see her for a while as we was likely going to be in combat. Then out of the blue she says she thinks we should get married! Well you coulda knocked me down with a feather. I asked her if she was sure and she said she was. Then she said that she loved me and she knew I loved her and what with the war and the chance that either of us could get killed she thought it was silly to not get married while we could and risk losing everything we had together. So I said yes I'd love to marry her and she started crying and laughing at the same time and I felt so happy like I was fit to burst.

We couldn't have got it done without the Prof's help though. When I told him Mary and me was getting married I expected him to say that it wasn't a good idea or that we was rushing things. But he said it was the smartest thing I'd ever done and that Mary was just the girl to sort me out. I asked him to be my Best Man and he said he'd be honoured to stand at my side. Apparently you have to get your C.O.'s permission to get married and you've got all these forms to fill out. But the Prof pulled a few strings and got everything sorted out real quick. I guess Russkies ain't that fond of regulations neither.

Even though we was getting ready to pull out the Russkies did everything they could to help sort out the wedding. They got a big tent set up where we could hold the service and then use it for the reception. They even sorted out some decorations and food. But if you ask me I reckon the Russkies was more interested in meeting the nurses Mary had invited to the wedding than helping me get hitched.

The big day arrived and I was more nervous than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Than I saw Mary walking down the aisle towards me looking like an angel in this beautiful wedding dress. The service was a bit of a blur but I remembered all the words and didn't make a fool of myself for once. She looked so beautiful, I couldn't stop smiling all the way through the ceremony I was so happy. Then the Chaplain said 'I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride'. I was just about to kiss her when all hell broke loose with the officers running in and shouting that the timetable had changed and we were moving out right now and to load our gear into the trucks. Mary just looked at me and gave a sad little smile and said 'go on husband, get out of here'. I grabbed her and gave her a quick kiss than ran to grab my gear and get onto the truck. I just made it as the truck was pulling out. I looked back and I just caught a glimpse of her waving goodbye I hope it's not the last time I see her.

The trucks took us to the train station were boarded a train for London, not the honeymoon I'd hoped for. That's where I'm writing this letter to you from. I have to finish now as the Sergeant's coming round to collect our letters. 

Please add Mary to your prayers. Your loving son,
Cletus.

Tomorrow's letter will be about Cletus' role in the Battle for London. As for Sunday's letter you'll just have to wait and see.

Operation Sea Lion: Letters from Cletus 9

Time for another letter home from Cletus to his family. This one is a bit different.

Dear Ma & Pa,

Hope you are are all well. I'm fine, in fact I'm great, I'm terrific and everything's wonderful. I've met this girl, her name's Mary and she's a nurse at the hospital where the Prof was bring treated. Remember I told you I'd got a 48 hour pass to go see the Prof, well military hospitals don't like visitors cluttering up the place so you ain't allowed that long to talk. I'd planned to stay the night in the local army base and come back and see the Prof the next day before I headed back to my unit. But that ain't what happened.

My time visiting the Prof was up and Mary was just going off duty so she offered to show me the way out. As we were walking out she said she'd heard all about me from the Prof. Seems he couldn't get to sleep one night so Mary had sat and talked to him when she could. She said that night shifts are kinda boring when everyone's asleep and she was glad of someone to talk to. The Prof had told her all these stories about me and she'd wanted to meet me to see if they was all true. I told they probably was but I ain't really that dumb it's just that things go wrong around me sometimes. She just laughed and said she didn't think I was dumb at all, in fact she thought I was kinda sweet.

I didn't know what to say to that, you know how I git all tongue-tied around girls. So I asked her if she knew somewhere I could get a good meal. She said she did and told me to follow her. As we walked along she asked me how long it had been since I'd had a home cooked meal. I had to think, it seems like a whole world ago since I sat down to eat with you all. I worked it out and told her it had been about a year near as I could figure. So she said that was far too long and said it was about time I'd had some good English home cooked food and that she was going to cook me a meal. I told her she didn't need to do that what with the rationing making food scarce. She just said nonsense and that she wouldn't take no for an answer. She sure is a feisty little thing.

We soon got to her place, she called it a cottage. It was a cute little place with a big garden full of vegetables, she even had a few chickens out back. No sooner had we got inside than she shoo'd me out into the garden and told me to pick some peas and dig up a few potatoes. I had to laugh it was almost like being back home with you ordering us all about while you got to cooking. I brought the vegetables in and she set me to peeling and chopping while see busied her self about the kitchen. Before I knew it the meal was ready, it wasn't as good as your cooking Ma but it was still good to have a home cooked dinner.

After dinner we just sat and talked. I told her all about you and what it was like back home and growing up on a farm and she told me all about her family. Her Ma and Pa was killed in an air raid back near the start of the war. She does have a brother in the RAF though, but he was shot down and taken prisoner last year. The next thing we knew it was getting light, and we realised we'd talked through the whole night. I told her I better leave so she could get some sleep but she wouldn't hear of it and told me I could sleep in the spare room. So I did.

I woke up a few hours later to the smell of breakfast cooking. I went down stairs and found Mary in the kitchen. I hardly got through the door before she sat me down at the table and told to me to eat up. There was lots of good food but she had these black things she'd fried up called black pudding. I asked what they was but she said it was best not to ask so I didn't. The rest of the day is a bit of a blur. We went out into town and she showed me the sights and I bought us lunch in a restaurant. Then we went to see a new John Wayne film at the cinema.

Before I knew it, it was time for me to head back to base. Saying goodbye to her was real hard to do. I didn't want to go. But she told me to stop being silly and to get on the train. I turned to go but she grabbed me and gave me a big kiss right there on the platform. Then she told me that if I didn't write her every day I'd be in big trouble. I just said yes ma'am. I wanted to say more but the train started pulling out so I had to go. I got halfway back to base before I realised I'd completely forgotten about visiting the Prof again. I hope he forgives me.

I've written to Mary lots now and even seen her a few times when I could get a pass. I've enclosed a photo of her. It's not the best but you can she how she's real pretty. I've got to go now, I'll write you again next week.

Your loving Son,
Cletus

P.S. How do you know when you've found the right one?

Mary's the cute one on the right in the middle row.

FoW: Operation Sea Lion - Fair Fight

Wednesday night saw another of our Operation Sea Lion mega games. This time it was mine and Dave's Germans vs. Adam's Canadians and Mazz's Soviets. We'd decided to go for 2,500 pts a side and the battle took place in Worcester. This report will be a bit more vague than usual as with four people playing I didn't always catch what went on in the other half of the table.

I took the following:

Feldherrnhalle Armoured Company - Reluctant Trained

FHH Panzerkompanie HQ - 2 Panthers

FHH Panther Platoon - 3 Panthers

FHH Panther Platoon - 3 Panthers

Volksgrenadier Platoon - 2 Assault Squads and 1 MG Squad

FHH Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon - 2 Mobelwagons

While Dave had

Panzerspahkompanie - Confident Veteran

HQ - 1 Puma

A/C Platoon - 3 Pumas

A/C Platoon - 3 Pumas

A/C Platoon - 3 Pumas

Schwere Panzer Plt - 3 Tigers

AA Plt - 2 Sd Kfz 7/2?

The Allies had Adam's 

12th Manitoba Dragoons - Confident Trained

Armoured Car Squadron HQ -  2 x Staghound I & 2 x Staghound III

Armoured Car Platoon - 3 x Staghound I

Armoured Car Platoon - 3 x Staghound I

Armoured Platoon - 3 x Sherman V & 1 x Firefly VC

Anti-tank Platoon (SP), Royal Canadian Artillery - 4 x M10C 17 pdr

Field Battery (SP), Royal Canadian Artillery - 4 x Sexton

I'm not entirely sure what Mazz had I think it was as follows:

Strelkovy Batalon (Red Army) - Confident Trained

Strelkovy Company (Red Army) - 3 Plts

Strelkovy Company (Red Army) - 3 Plts

Tankovy Company - 5 x T-34's

Tank Destruction Company (Red Army) - 4 x 85mm obr 1939 gun

We decided on Fair Fight for the mission and the initial set ups can be seen in the pictures below.

Our lef flank with their objective by the field wall

The centre

Our right flank with their objective between the walls

Their left flank and our objective

The centre from their side of the table

Their right flank with our second objective

As we were the attackers Dave used our recon moves to get his Pumas forward to get into good firing positions. But we lost the roll and the Allies got to move first. This proved disastrous for us as Adam's M10's moved forward and blew apart our right flank Puma's. Elsewhere the Soviet infantry and guns stayed put while the armour and a/c's moved forward and shot but did no damage.

We kept stationary on the left flank to maximise our shooting but only managed to knock out one of the T-34's. In the centre the Volksgrenadiers advanced on the village while the Mobelwagons headed over to support the right flank. The Tigers and Panthers took up firing positions on our right but did no damage.

Our left flank at the end of turn 1

The centre at the end of turn 1

Our right  flank at the end of turn 1

Turn 2 saw the Staghounds try to turn our left flank backed up by some Shermans while the M10's advanced on the Panthers on our right flank. In the shooting phase the M10's knock out one of the Panthers and bailed another but the Staghounds  & Shermans on our left fail to damage the Pumas. In the centre combined fire from artillery and Staghounds knocks out two Pumas forcing a morale check which they fail.

On our left flank the Pumas shoot back at the Staghounds and five hits see all three Staghounds destroyed. While the left flank Panthers knock out two more T-34's forcing a morale check which they fail. In the centre the Mobelwagons manage to knock out a Staghound while the Tigers knock out two more destroying the platoon.

Our left flank at the end of turn 2

Turn three sees the Shermans fire on the Pumas but to no effect. In the centre the Mobelwagons pay for their attack on the Staghounds by attracting enough fire to knock out one and bail the other. While the M10's knock out another Panther causing a morale check which they fail.

Our fire is largely ineffective this turn but the Volksgrenadiers in the village managed to knock out one of the Soviet ATG's.

The centre at the end of turn 3

Our right at the end of turn 3

Turn four sees the Shermans trying and failing to knock out the Pumas but the Firefly does manage to knock out one of the Panthers with a long range shot. The M10's now move round the wood on our right to start to threaten the objective.

The Pumas continue to do well and knock out one of the Shermans. In the centre fire from the Volksgrenadiers knocks out another ATG.

Our left at the end of turn 4

The centre at the end of turn 4

Our left at the end of turn 4

Turn five sees the Shermans continue to try and knock out the Pumas and again fail. But the Allied artillery does bail one of the Panthers. In the centre more Staghounds move forward and knock out the last Mobelwagon. While the M10's continue their advance on the objective and manage to knock out a Tiger with their shooting.

The Pumas are again successful with their shooting and knock out another Sherman forcing a morale check which they fail. The Panther remounts and they all move forward to avoid the artillery. In the centre fire from the CiC's Panther and the Volksgrenadiers knocks out the last two ATG's and they also knock out a Staghound with a Panzerfaust round.

The left at the end of turn 5

The centre at the end of turn 5

The right at the end of turn 5

Turn six sees the Allies only having the infantry left on their right flank so they decide to advance their left flank infantry to contest the village. While fire from the M10's on the Tigers is ineffective.

The Panthers advance and proceed to whittle down the Russian infantry with Mg fire killing two stands. In the centre the Volksgrenadiers open up on the advancing soviets but only kill two stands. Fire from the Tigers only bails two of the M10's, they just can't finish them off despite their poor armour.

Our left flank at the end of turn 6

The centre at the end of turn 6

Our left flank at the end of turn 6

Turn seven sees a successful assault on the village by the massed soviet infantry which forces a morale check which they fail. I also have to now make a company morale check which I also fail losing us the game.

So a win for the Allies 4-3. It was a fun and bloody game that could have gone either way. The M10's led a charmed life but it was the masses of Soviet infantry that just overwhelmed us in the end. We couldn't pour enough fire onto them to cause ten hits and pin them.

Operation Sea Lion: Letters from Cletus 8

Time for another letter home from Cletus. This week he encounters one of the most effective killers of the war.

Dear Ma & Pa,

Hope everyone back home is fine. I'd like to say me and the Prof was both ok but it ain't the truth, we've both been real sick.

It all started about a week ago. We'd moved to a new bivouac area closer to where our next operation was going to be. We'd been there a couple of days when folks started to get bad stomach pains and the runs. We all blamed the cook cos his food ain't so good. But it got worse and worse. Folks couldn't get to the latrines on account of everyone needing to go at the same time so folks were going wherever they could. The smell was worse than Uncle Jethro's pig farm in summer. Then the Prof and I started to get the stomach pains and they was real bad, like to double you over with the pain. The runs was real bad too, worse than I ever got from eating green apples and there was blood in it too. That's when I got real scared cos I know that ain't good. Then some doctors arrived in camp, I guess someone must have called them in. They took one look at the state of us and the camp and moved us all out to a field hospital, said we'd got something called Dystentery.

When we got to the field hospital they cleaned us all up and gave us some sulfa drugs and lots to drink. Some of the worst cases they stuck a needle in their arm which was connected to a bottle of something. I think they called this a drip. I asked one of the orderlies about it and he said it got fluids into the blood for those that couldn't drink enough. Most of us got fixed up pretty quick but the Prof was in a real bad way on account of his being so old that they moved him to another hospital.

After a couple of days we was given the ok and sent to a new camp where someone had moved all our equipment. But we had new tents and cots and stuff cos the old ones was in a real bad way cos of the runs. Turns out it weren't the cooks fault after all. Seems someone else had bivouac'd in the same area a bit upstream from where we were and their latrines were badly sited and fouled the stream where we got our water. The Docs said we was lucky we just got Dysentery cos we could have got much worse. But I'll tell you we sure didn't feel lucky.

We weren't cleared for combat yet so I managed to get a pass to go see the Prof. I was real worried about him cos I hadn't heard anything about how he was doing. I sure was relieved when I got to the hospital and they told me he was going to be ok. He'd lost a lot of weight but he said they'd told him he was going to be released in about a week. I knew he was alright when he started complaining about the food. He said they was giving him lots to eat to get his weight back up but it all tasted like baby food. They wouldn't let me stay long but they said they'd tell my unit when he was discharged so I could come get him.

That's all I got to tell you this time. I'm ok now so don't you be worrying about me.

Your Loving son,
Cletus

FoW: Operation Sea Lion - Dust Up

Thursday night saw me take a trip over to Dave's for another Operation Sea Lion battle. It was a 1500pt game between my Soviets and his Panzerspähkompanie. My force was the usual:

Guards Heavy Tank Regiment - Fearless Trained
Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk HQ - 1 KV-85
Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Company - 5 KV-85
Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Company - 5 KV-85
Priority Air Support - Il-2 Shturmovik

While Dave took:

Panzerspähkompanie - Confident Veteran

HQ - 1 Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma

Panzerspah Plt - 3 Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma

Panzerspah Plt - 3 Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma
Panzerspah Plt - 3 Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma

Heavy Tank Plt - 3 Tiger 1E

Motorised Artillery Battery - 4 10.5cm leFH18/40
AA Plt - 3 Sd Kfz 7/2

We rolled for mission and got Dust Up, with me going first. The terrain was set up as shown below.

The initial layout

The view from Dave's quadrant.

We both had delayed reserves so I started with five KV's and the CiC on the table while Dave went with his artillery, AA and Tigers on table.

My starting position

Dave's starting position

I'd originally planned to attack the objective between the river and the ruin but Dave's Tigers had it covered. So I decided to threaten the village and wait for my reinforcements. On my turn I moved up two of the KV's along the road to the village.

Dave surprised me by advancing his Tigers. I was expecting him to hold with them and wait for his Pumas to arrive. No one had LoS so no shooting this turn.

I start a cautious advance towards the village

Turn two lifted the restrictions on air support so I called in my Sturmis onto his artillery. I stayed where I was everywhere else as i waited to see what Dave would do with his Tigers. My Sturmis survived the AA fire and knocked out a gun.

Sturmis attack.

Dave continued his advance with his Tigers and repositioned his AA. His artillery ranged in on one of my KV's but did no damage, a trend that was to continue throughout the game.

I'm going to have to move next go as he's ranged in.

The repositioned AA now has better coverage on the guns

Turn three saw my Sturmis fail to arrive for a change I also failed to get any reserves. Elsewhere I moved  two KV's towards the village. They then took pot shots at the artillery observer in a house by the ford but missed.

Dave got his reserves and three Pumas arrived and immediately took cover behind a house ready to threaten one of the objectives. The Tigers shot but did no damage.

The Pumas hope that the Tigers will knock out the KV covering the objective.

My slow advance on the village continues. I'm being very
careful not to expose my tanks to his Tigers.

Turn four and I get my reserves. Sadly being slow they plod towards the objective at mere 8" a turn. Elsewhere I move my CiC into position to get a shot at the Pumas and the KV's near the ford manoeuvre to get a shot at the Tigers. Sadly I can't make any firepower rolls and do no damage to either the Pumas or the Tigers. My Sturmis attack the artillery again but miss.

Dave makes him reserves roll again and three more Pumas arrive. They zoom 16" forward to threaten the rear of my CiC's KV. The Tigers reposition to engage the KV's near the ford and knock one out in the shooting phase. Dave throws caution to the winds and does a double move with the Pumas that came on last turn that puts them next to the far objective. That's a nasty surprise for me. I didn't expect a 32" move and if I don't get rid of them next turn it's game over. The Pumas threatening my CiC rain shells off his armour but can't penetrate.

The Pumas race forward to grab the objective.

The skirmish at the ford hots up

My reserve KV's plod towards the objective in the far wood

Turn five and time for the Sturmi's to save the day. Sure enough they arrive and position for an attack. This lightning dash forces a rethink and the KV's reposition. My reserve KV's advance and manage to knock out two more guns with some good long range shooting. My CiC fires on the Pumas threatening him but can only bail one of them. But the main event is the air attack I roll the dice and it's two kills and a bail so I live to fight another turn. The remaining Puma makes it's motivation roll so it's not over yet.

Dave again makes his reserve roll and yet more Pumas arrive. But he fails in his remount attempts. The newly arrived Pumas also move up threaten the CiC. The Pumas that were near the CiC race forward to grab the objective. His shooting does no damage again.

The aftermath of the Sturmi's attack

 

The reserve Kv's advance but are 2 to 3 turns away
from threatening the objective.

If my Sturmi's can't clear out these Pumas it's game over.

Turn six and I call in the Sturmi's successfully but they can't range in on the Pumas. As I have nothing nearby which could knock out the Pumas I concede.

Dave played this one really well, using his superior numbers and mobility to catch me out. At the start of the game I knew I had to stay near the objectives to protect them but I couldn't resist moving forward to attack and that ultimately cost me the game. Another win for the Axis forces and my third loss in a row. Just as well Stalin's not in England or I'd be getting my pistol handed to me!