Operation Sealion - Game 2 - Bouncing the Rheins

Background
With the Taunton Stop Line comprehensively breached, the remnants of 'A' Company, 1st Battalion Somerset LDV, are in full flight from the enemy. They have bumped into 'B' Company, who were somewhat late to the previous battle, and have been amalgamated into the Company. 'B' Company is trying to perform a fighting withdrawl to the remainder of the Battalion located near a pumping station and windmill.

The 1st & 3rd Kompanies, II Battalion, 3rd Fallschirmjager Regiment, have been ordered to persue the enemy and prevent them from reaching the GHQ Green Line main defensive position by the Mendip Hills.

1st Battalion Somerset LDV OOB

1 x CO (CV8)
3 x HQ (CV7)
10 x Infantry
1 x MG
1 x 3" Mortar

II Battalion, 3rd Fallschirmjager Regiment
As per the previous game, but with the addition of;
1 x FAC (CV7)
1 x Bf-109

Terrain

The battle was to be fought over the Somerset Levels, so was completely flat bar the small hill for the windmill. The battlefield was criss-crossed by small Rheins (think small drainage ditches) which would count as Linear Terrain.

Deployment

The British LDV deployed in the centre of the table, with 'B' company forward of the main line to represent them trying to perfom a fighting withdrawl. The Fallschirmjager would begin off table and arrive using mobile deployment.

An overview of the table, with the FJ along the bottom edge.

The almost obligatory shot along the long road to safety.

'B' Company.

'C' company are by the windmill with 'D' Company by the pumping station.

Turn 1

The 1st Kompanie moved swiftly onto the table, pushing across a rhein and entering the wheatfield on the right flank. 3rd Kompanie likewise moved smartly forward, nearing the long grass by the windmill hill, covered by their MG and mortar.

With the enemy close, two platoons of 'B' Company made an initiative retreat towards their own lines, then the command promptly failed their command roll. This failure of command was repeated by 'C' & 'D' Company's as well as the CO. Paralysis seemed to have gripped the LDV. Not a good start to say the least.

The end of Turn 1

3rd Kompanie advance.

1st Kompanie have entered the wheatfield.

Turn 2

As 3rd Kompanie renewed their advance, the MG and a platoon of 'C' Company used opportunity fire from the windmill, but failed to cause any damage. Combined fire from III Kompanie saw the loss of the MG and a platoon suppressed. 1st Kompanie failed their command roll, but the CO got through, leading to them advancing and coming under opportunity fire from 'B' Company to their front. Some hits were registered and fire from the I Kompanie saw 'B' Company's MG and a platoon suppressed, with another platoon forced back suppressed. The FAC failed to get through to his air support and the CO tried but failed too.

'B' Company continued to make an initiative move withdrawl with units that were not suppressed, then failed their command roll, leaving them somewhat exposed. 'C' Company moved a platoon onto the hill who were suppressed by opportunity fire from 3rd Kompanie. 'D' Company held their position and the CO tried to get through to 'B' Company but failed.

The end of Turn 2.

3rd Kompanie use fire and manouevre to engage the enemy on windmill hill.

1st Kompanie are giving 'B' Company a torrid time.

'B' Company struggle to reach safety along the road, whilst 'C' Company know they are in a fight, having taken casualties already.

Turn 3

The FAC managed to get through to his Bf-109's, who on their strafing and bombing run KO'd a LDV platoon, suppressed another and gave a sprinkling of hits across a number o platoons, including 'C' Company HQ. In a impressive series of actions of combined fire, 1st Kompanie reduced 'C' Company to one platoon and 'B' Company had ceased to exist.

Having sustained such overwhelming casualties the LDV Battalion CO ordered what units that remained of his command to surrender to avoid further unnescessary loss of life.

The Bf-109 arrives.

The strafing and bombing run has lots of targets.

The end of Turn 3 and the game.

The FJ close in on the LDV.

3rd Kompanie ready to assault windmill hill if required.

1st Kompanie ready to advance after causing such devastating losses to the LDV.

The remains of 'C' Company.

'D' Company who didn't contribute to the battle.

End of Game

Well another quick and brutal win for the Fallschirmjager. I thought it would be tough for the LDV but expected them to cause the Fallschirmjager som eproblems, but alas 'twas not to be.

Post Game Thoughts
Despite another crushing win, I still enjoyed the game as being part of a campaign, it helps generate a campaign narrative. Once again BKCII gave a great game with some of the excellent BKCIV additions. So as always some thoughts on the game:

• Against opposition such as the LDV, the Fallschirmjager are truly formidable, with excellent command & control as well as an awful lot of firepower at their disposal. As with the last game, the FJ got off to an excellent start and simply didn't let up. It didn't help the LDV that they failed all of the first Turn command rolls, something from which they never recovered.
• It was nice to have the Bf-109 in the game, adding another dimension, but one that wasn't too powerful given that they only have 3 attacks. Still it contributed to the German victory and might make an apeearance next game.
• For the first time I didn't use the built in AA stats for the British. To be honest I've never truly understood these as at Company level, what actual AA support was there? Whether this would work in say 1944 is another matter, but for this game it felt right.
• I had planned on using smoke for the British in some for or other to represent their use of 2" mortars, but completely forgot. This might have helped stave off the inevitable, but we will never know. I think the rules for AFV smoke would work well as set out on p15 of BKCIV. I think there are rules for this in BKCII, but don;t have the book to hand. I need to see if the German 50mm mortars fired smoke as if they did, that could be useful for the next game.
• With two easy wins for the FJ, their next test should be a lot tougher, as they will come up against the GHQ Green Line (or what there is off it at this stage of the invasion) and regular British Infantry Units. I expect both sides to have more support, with some artillery and air likely to feature and the outside chance of some armour. I need to go away and work up the next scenario in detail first.
  

Before the next game I need to get a move on with the additional FJ units required. They have been based and the bases painted, but I haven't done the uniforms etc yet. At least the British are complete for the moment. With the weather set fiar for the next week and some house work beckoning, it will be a week or two before the next campaign game will most likely be played. So until next time...