Operation Sealion AAR#3 Fallschirmjager!

With the exciting new para drop front opened up by WWPD in their global campaign Operation Sealion, I was champing at the bit to get my 1st FD into the fray.  My wife volunteered to meet me with her Welsh Guards Rifle company in the farm land of Hertfordshire.

Here is a short story I wrote up to go along with the Bat Rep. 

Both of us made up our companies without knowing the others list.  We set up the table first and then rolled for a mission getting No Retreat.  Since we both had infantry companies we rolled to see who the attacker would be.  Sierra's Guards getting that honor.  These lists are generated using Easy Army.

Fallschirmjager Kompanie (Grey Wolf)

Fallschirmjägerkompanie HQ  p.33	2 1 3	Cmd Panzerfaust SMG team Panzerschreck team 8cm GW42 (Stummelwerfer) mortar	180
Combat Platoons
Fallschirmjäger Platoon  p.33	1 9	Cmd Panzerfaust SMG team Rifle/MG team	275
Fallschirmjäger Platoon  p.33	1 6	Cmd Panzerfaust SMG team Rifle/MG team	195
Weapons Platoons
Fallschirmjäger Machine-gun Platoon  p.34	1 4	Cmd SMG team MG42 HMG	150
Fallschirmjäger Light Gun Platoon  p.34	1 2	Cmd Panzerknacker SMG team 7.5cm LG40 recoilless gun	60
Regimental Support Platoons
Fallschirmjäger Anti-Tank Gun Platoon  p.35	1 4	Cmd SMG team 7.5cm PaK40 gun	240
Divisional Support
Fallschirmjäger Artillery Battery  p.36	1 1 4 2	Cmd SMG team Staff team 10.5cm leFH18/40 howitzer Observer Rifle team	240
Air Support  p.172	3	Sporadic Air Support Ju 87D Stuka	100
Company Points:			1440

Guards Rifle Company Welsh (Hell's Highway)

Guards Rifle Company HQ  p.25	2	Cmd Rifle team	40
Combat Platoons
Guards Rifle Platoon  p.25	1 1 1 6	Cmd Rifle/MG team PIAT team Light Mortar team Rifle/MG team	185
Guards Rifle Platoon  p.25	1 1 1 6	Cmd Rifle/MG team PIAT team Light Mortar team Rifle/MG team	185
Weapons Platoons
Guards Mortar Platoon  p.26	1 2 4	Cmd Rifle team Observer Rifle team ML 3" Mk II Mortar	155
Guards Anti-tank Platoon  p.27	1 1 4 4	Cmd Rifle team Troop Carrier OQF 6 pdr gun Loyd Carrier	160
Brigade Support
Guards Armoured Recce Platoon  p.23	3 1	Cromwell IV Challenger A30	440
Divisional Support
Armoured Car Platoon  p.31	2 1	Daimler I Daimler Dingo	125
Field Battery, Royal Artillery  p.34	2 1 1 1 4	Cmd Rifle team Staff team Observer Rifle team OP Carrier OQF 25 pdr gun	210
Company Points:			1500

I combat attached out all the HQ assets as well as the HMG platoon to my two FJ platoons.  Leaving me with 5 platoons and 1 airsupport.

German Deployment is all across the board with my large FJ platoon strung out all the way.  Pak 40s are intermingled with excellent firing lines.  All in prepared positions.

My Right flank

 My Left flank

 View from the Welsh side.  Sierra has everything on the table.  25pdrs set up behind hill.  Mortars on the edge of the wood in the bottom right.  Rifles center and Right with Cromwells, Recce and 6 pounders.

25 pounders loading smoke rounds

 Observers wondering how the Rifles are going to get over there!

 6pdrs hitching a ride to the front

Attacker has the first move.  Sierra moves her Daimlers and her Dingo up towards the bridge area in the village.  Everything else follows with her main force going up the right side.  Smoke drops and the wind direction is perfect.  Right across the front!  Paks are blind.  No shooting other than smoke bombardments for the Guards.

Pretty uneventfull as the paratroopers wait in their foxholes for the Welsh to close into the killing ground.  But the Luftwaffe makes an appearance!

 And takes one out!

More maneuvering.  Daimlers remove GTG on a couple teams in LOS.  25 pdrs unpin.  Send more smoke down range keeping the Paks and some HMGs shrouded.  One Cromwell gets up on the bridge in town and spots a Panzerschreck and scores a hit with the main gun sending the team to meet the maker!
 The Welsh are closing fast on the German Left flank.

The Luftwaffe swoops in again!  Taking out another Gun and the staff team this time.  

 The HMG on the hill is like HELL YA COME GET SOME!

 Or not.....  Damn this Island is foggy!

The Guards press on getting into assault range as they cross the river.  More smoke keeps the FJ from being able to fire.  And otherwise they keep silent not wanting to give away their GTG status just yet.
Recce is busy removing some of the GTG to enable the arty observers to be range in on something.


Reserves arrive in the form of 10.5s.  They set up immediately and observers move at the double to get into better positons.

 One of the Pak 40s cant resist and decides to take the shot at the Cromwell on the bridge.  Its a Kill!

More smoke!
The Welsh left moves up behind a hedge out of range of the defenders just to keep pressure on the other objective.   The Right side Cromwells get into position to cross the river, 6 pdrs take up long range firing positions in cover.  And the Infantry tries to push ahead but gets pinned by a bombardment from the 10.5s.

No airsupport this time!   But the 2nd platoon makes it on and head to the front.  They know their friends are somewhere in that smoke.

The left flank holds position.
The right flank flounders in the river a bit making little progress as they try to maneuver to allow for covering fire and the Cromwells to get across.  They finally make it but one Pak 40 decides its time to make their presence known.  And the Challenger bites it.

No Air support and No Reserves.
Aside from moving the 2nd FJ platoon up farther and the one PaK kill no other action.  Anyone who isnt shrouded in smoke doesnt want to give up GTG just yet when everything they can shoot at requires a 6+ atm.


After being pinned and getting slowed by the river the right side is still not in assault range.  (Turn 5) But both the 25 pounders and the mortars drop smoke making it possible for them to close in.  An assault will happen next turn!
The whole front is blanketed.  The Welsh Right

 The Welsh Left

 View down the middle.

View from the German side

Turn 6 arrives and the Welsh make their move.  Finally in assault range with both the Cromwells and the infantry.  Smoke is in place as well.  But they are not able to pin!   Everything that can shoot shoots.  Even the Dingo and the Daimlers give it a go.  But Sierra's boys only manage 4 hits.  So close.  But she goes for it anyway.  Its turn 6 and we decided to go for max 8 turns.  (Smoke removed for clarity)

 Welsh Left flank.  The 2nd platoon decides its time to turn up the heat and heads across the river.

 Defensive fire....  HMG, SMG, and 2 Rifle/MGs get to shoot needing 5+.  And they pull it off stopping the Infantry.  No kills though.  The Welsh have Matrix like reflexes.

 The Cromwells have a go next.  But they both miss their swings!  And the Fearless FJ charge forth with the 2IC and his Panzerfaust in hand.  They finish of the tanks and consolidate back around the objective.

The Luftwaffe makes its final appearance and swoops in on the mortars that have been smoking everything in site all game.  One is shot down by the DINGO!!  But the other carries on and takes out one mortar.

 Its now turn 7 and the Welsh rally to assault again.  This time defensive fire doesnt stop them.Their charge takes out the Rifle/MG team and then the 2IC!  Who gets hit twice and then fails  his Warrior saves!

 The Welsh consolidate onto the objective but the FJ still contests with the HMG on the hill.

By now its the end of turn 7 and the FJ reserves are pouring over the hill and hedges to retake the objective.  With little hope of holding on Sierra decides to retreat to fight another day.  The FJ are victorious!

 View of the field as the Guards call it a day.

6-1 Victory for the Axis.

Aufklarungs additions

Ever since I picked up Earth and Steel Ive been facinated by the Aufklarungs Lehr and now the 3rd edition Panzerpah out of Grey wolf.   With recon and transports getting a serious buff in V3 its actually much more competitive as long as you take the right balance of support option.

Anyway I recently finished up a full Heavy Platoon of 8-rads, a Light panzerpah platoon, some transports and a pair of 8cm mortar half tracks to add to my list.  here some pics of the finished product.

I added some Panzer Lehr decals to a bunch of them to add some flavor.  The base coat is the Battlefront Late war german spray.   And all the camo is airbrushed with Tamiya Green and brown. (if anyone wants the actual color codes let me know.)  The Tamiya paint works alot better in the airbrush.

 Just realized I forgot to paint the spare wheel cover German camo beige.  Ill have to hit that up later.

I used some European dust pigment around the wheel wells and tires to add a little bit of weathering.

 Love these mortar halftracks.  They come in the HQ for the Lehr list which kinda sucks because you cant combat attach tank teams.  But in the new Gepanzerte Aufklarungsschwadron list they are apart of a Heavy Platoon that can make combat attachements!  Woot!

 Leaving church after sunday school.  Yep thats the new Battlefield rural church.

Finally these Half tracks are for towing my Nebs.  Or other arty.  Might come in handy for repositioning 105s that are Immobile for utilizing that Breakthrough ability.  :)

Thanks for looking.

Rob

Operation Sealion AAR #2

The sun was just coming up over the Wiltshire countryside as elements of the SS-Freiwilligen panzer grenadier kompanie finally were given the ok to put down their shovels and take a rest. The following day their over zealous CO marched them north well beyond the rest of the Axis advance leaving them well behind British lines... More specifically right in British lines. The only up side to their predicament was that they were able to take control of several British defensive strong points and then dig in around them during the night. The SS was tired and isolated but they had concrete walls, deep entrenchments and obstacles to give them some hope of holding out until the rest of the German forces caught up.

  Click here to see the SS Company List compliments of Easy Army

 Several miles away to both the North and the South, British Armored Recce was closing in. Cromwells from the Guards Armored division charged across fields and pastures. A flight of precious Typhoon fighter bombers screamed over head. The Germans had over extended and HQ had released the fast moving company to isolate and cut them off. Speed was of the essence.

  Click here to see the British list Compliments of Easy Army

The Mission:  Surrounded
The Setup
British Sexton SP guns set up behind the hill in the far North East corner. With the 2IC leading a Rifle platoon through the woods in his Cromwell.
On the south side the Company Commander with 2 Cromwell platoons and armored car platoon press forward!

But the Germans are well prepared having spend the night digging in and turning the British fortifications against their creators!  Three strong points with plenty of Pak 40s and Fausts....   Bring on Tommy!

The British CO cant turn back now his orders were clear.  Take back the village and eliminate the SS unit there!  Tally ho!  Typhoons swoop in taking their chances with the flak nests.  Its imperative that airsupport get in as many runs as possible before friendly forces get too close.

The Germans in the trenches hunker down as 2 Typhoons swoop down rockets primed and ready.
The British recce and Armor presses forward over the fields closing on the Germans from both sides.

Shots are fired but to the British commanders dismay none find their mark.  They are too late and the Germans are well fortified.  The Flak Nest opens up with its Quads and tears the Typhoons apart!

The advance must continue.  Cromwells and Infantry push forward.  The 2IC trying to encourage his Rifle platoon to take out a pill box on a hill surrounded by Barbed wire!
The Germans hold their breath as their CO lowers his arm and gives the command to fire.   Pak 40s score some long range hits on the Cromwells.

The Germans take a heavy toll on the advancing armor before a brave Corporal in a Dingo pops up and opens fire with his AA MG to take out a Pak 40!

The efforts of an SS mortar platoon are able to hold back the British advance in the South keeping the Brit tanks in AT sights for longer than they would have liked.  Iron Cross to them!

With concentrated fire from the Daimler's Dingos and Cromwells in the south as well as SP arty support the Brits are able to weaken and pin the West Strongpoint.  The CO orders all platoons to Assault!  They would hopefully link up with the 2IC and his Riflemen coming from the north if they survived their assault on the hilltop pill box.

The first assault by the Rifles is pushed back by the defensive fire from the Pillbox.  And heavy casualties are taken.  But the Guards are unflappable and throw themselves right back at it!  A well placed satchel charge finishes it off.  As the Rifle men climb past the Pillbox they see the carnage below...

Although the SS holding the position are wiped out to a man they gutted the Brits Armor.  The CO perished along with both platoons of Cromwells.  Their burning hulks littering the area.  Through all the smoke and fire a pair of Daimlers manages to get to the objective!

The German CO charges forward Panzerfaust in hand leaping atop a bogged down Challenger, opens the hatch and fires it down inside before leaping off amidst a fiery explosion!

Seeing the objective in the hands of the Brits the other fortified platoons rally and start charging down the communications trenches to contest it!
The Daimlers along with the remnants of the arriving Rifle Platoon manage to hold of a wave of German MG teams.  On the North side the SP arty decides its time to join the fight and rolls forward.

The SS keep coming.  Determined to hold the village they ignore casualties.  They know the Brits are on the verge of collapse and press home their attack!

The Daimlers miraculously beat back another wave oblivious to the fact that their Rifle MG reinforcements have been cut down around them.  The smoke swirls around them and the 2IC realizes hes in charge and very much isolated.  Watching from his vantage point he realizes they cannot hold and orders the withdrawal.

Result:
SS Major Victory 5-2

Great game that started out real bad for the Brits but with some luck turned out to be a really close game!  Props to my opponent  Daniel for a fun time.  Neither of us knew what the other was bringing for lists and it was a real good challenging match.

And we had to do it!!!
DINGOS ATE MY BABY!!!

Operation Sealion The rumble of German steel could once again be heard in the rolling farmlands of Wiltshire. A Panzer Kompanie had managed to find a break in the determined British lines and surged forward attempting to make a breakthrough! But the fields and farms of this peacefull countryside are not as empty as they appear... Mission rolled for was Breakthrough

PanzerKompanie HQ 2X StuG IV (Confident Vet) 3X Stug G 4X Panzer IV H 3X Puma Gepanzerte PGrens with Faust and 3.7cm 251 15cm Nebs with 4 launchers and PaK 38 Sporadic Air Ju 87G 1490 points

British Rifle Company HQ Rifle teams (Confident Trained) Rifle/MG platoon #1 PIAT/LT Mortar Rifle/MG platoon #2 PIAT/LT Mortar Rifle/MG platoon #3 PIAT/LT Mortar Carrier Patrol Anti-Tank Platoon 3X 6pounders HMG Platoon Heavy Mortar Platoon CHurchill Croc platoon with 3 Crocs AT Platoon SP with 2 M10s 1490 points

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

The Panzers are preparing to push towards the objectives while the Brits swarm in from either side attempting to seal the gap.

UNITS IN RESERVE
PanzerKompanie Panzer IV Platoon	British Rifle Company Rifle Platoon Crocodile platoon M10s

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

PanzerKompanie: The Germans attack with everything but one platoon. Hoping to make use of a Recce move and gain an early advantage with a Blitzkrieg attack. British Rifle Company: Rifles, 6 pounders, Heavy mortars and HMGs in prepared positions with commanding fields of fire on the German advance.

TURN 1

Pumas get ontop of the objective!

Pumas Burn

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
PanzerKompanie	British Rifle Company

TURN 1 SUMMARY

PanzerKompanie: Puma's get Recce move followed by normal move and make it to the objective. Rockets fire a salvo at British Rifles missing. Air Support comes into the area and strafes the same platoon managing to pin them. Panzer Grens move towards the now pinned Brits in their Halftracks. StuGs push towards the center objectives hoping to reinforce the Pumas. British Rifle Company: Brits get reserves. Crocs lumber into the fray! Rifles stay dug in hoping to weather the next bombardment and air attack again. Knowing that if they do not knock out the Pumas the fight is lost the Brits order a Heavy mortar bombardment and succeed in knocking out the one Puma contesting!! The newly arrived Crocs score a long range hit on another Puma forcing a morale check which is failed! Seeing off the immediate threat of a German early win.

TURN 2

Pumas Burn!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
PanzerKompanie 1 MG team	British Rifle Company 1 Croc

TURN 2 SUMMARY

PanzerKompanie: StuGs race forward trying to contest the objective lost by the Pumas but cannot quite reach. Panzer Grens advance and then dismount using Stormtrooper to line up for an attack on the dug in Brit Rifles. Air support screams in again this time taking out a Croc! Rockets manage to range in and pin the rifles and HMG platoon causing several casualties. Company CMD and 2IC head to take on the British Heavy mortars on the right flank. British Rifle Company: Crocs advance firing MGs at the Panzer Grens as they pass. Scoring a hit! Heavy Mortars drop a bombardment on the StuGs but dont manage any hits. Brit rifles on the right flank move into a forest to defend the 6 pounders from the advancing German CO and 2IC. 6 Pounders open up on the other StuGs advancing on the objectives but score no hits.

TURN 3

Here they come lads!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
PanzerKompanie 3 MG Teams	British Rifle Company 2 Heavy Mortar teams 3 Rifle MG Team

TURN 3 SUMMARY

PanzerKompanie: StuGs again move forward, one bogs trying to take a short cut over a hedge. Reserves arrive and double time up the left flank to prepare to get side shots on the approaching Crocs. PGrens Launch assault under cover of smoke against pinned rifles but are forced back in defensive fire after pulling in a Brit HMG! CO and 2IC open up on the Heavy Mortars managing to take 2 out. British Rifle Company: Its Do or die and the Brits push hard with everything. Crocs keep heading towards the objectives taking shots at the StuGs but none find their mark.

TURN 4

Brit fury takes its toll

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
PanzerKompanie 3 MG Teams Puma Platoon	British Rifle Company 2 Heavy Mortar teams 1 Rifle MG Team 1 Croc

TURN 4 SUMMARY

PanzerKompanie: StuGs park on the objective and turn to face the charging Crocs (For whatever good it does!) Panzer IVs take shots at Crocs managing to Bail one. No Air Support Rockets drop a bombardment on the Crocs and HMGs but to no avail British Rifle Company: With no teams close enough to contest the objective the Brits fire everything they have at the StuGs. The Heavy mortars reduced to just two tubes range in but cant bring the pain. Knowing they cant win the battle they turn to doing as much damage as possible. Newly arrived M10s from reserve chew up the Panzer IVs leaving 2 burning in the fields.

German foces manage to seize and hold the objective utilizing their highly mobile forces. (5-2 Axis Victory)

Generated by WWPD's BatRepper Software.

May the 4th be with you!

Well as the name of the blog suggests I am also a Rabid starwars geek :)  This past weekend was full of opportunities to get out and have some fun!  May the 4th being Star Wars Day and May the 5th being Free Comic book day .  My wife and I belong to the International Star Wars costuming group known as the 501st Legion and there are I think 90 Garrisons now all over the world with almost 6000 active members.
For Free Comic book day we take part in an annual event at our local Comic shop to promote reading and to raise money for a local childrens charity.  This was our 3rd year taking part.

 Heres a shot of our whole group.  The costumes cannot be store bought and are all custom made to meet strict criteria for membership with the Legion.

 Note to self:  Never tell a Wookie you ate the last cookie....

According to the store owner over a 1000 people came through during the day.  And Im pretty sure we posed for about that many pictures lol.  Young and old everyone lights up when they see their movie Villians and heroes come to life.  Its always a ton of fun.
And in the process of making everyone including ourselves smile we also raised over $600 for the local childrens charity!

Thanks for looking and May the Force be with you! :P