We chose the 'Blitzkreig' scenario this time with the British attempting to hold out until support arrived (simulated by the British having to use two CoC dice to bring on the support and win the game). Dave had to exit two groups from my table edge to win. I had 10 support points and Dave, who used the same list as last time, had 12.
Thinking about the objectives I went for the basic DLI list and used four support points on minefields and barbed wire to close the table down and hopefully reduce Dave's attacking options. Four more points were spent on a 2pdr anti-tank gun rather than the Matilda as the deployment of the gun is much more flexible than the tank. The final two points I spent on a pre game barrage as this had worked well in our last game to slow Dave's attack down.
Somewhat surprisingly the Germans failed to bring anyone on table in their first turn due to the British barrage so the British deployed No. 3 section, the 2" mortar team and the Sergeant on the outskirts of the village on over-watch:
The first of the Germans appeared behind the three story building in the middle of the table:
The Panzer II failed to react quickly enough and the 2pdr Anti-tank gun got off another shot brewing up the tank:
On the right the DLI deployed No. 2 section in the orchard but they took five(!) casualties from the Germans in the house which also wounded the corporal:
Another German section appeared in front of the building the first German section had occupied:
More accurate fire from the DLI 2" mortar team obscured most of the German's visibility severely limiting their ability to fire:
The Germans decided that it was time to try to advance so the squad in front of the building rushed forward out of the smoke towards No. 3 section. They take heavy fire though from No.3 section and No.1 section which deployed in the wood on the British right:
The Germans also brought on another Panzer II on the British right. No.1 section's Boys Anti-tank rile took a shot at it but missed:
The Germans deployed their last squad to the right of the house but, due to smoke and the walls and hedges, they couldn't see anyone to shoot at:
In the centre the Germans who had rushed forward were pinned down:
On the right the No.1 section had taken casualties from the Panzer II's HE fire but the Boy's Anti-tank rifle had killed the tank's driver:
The newly arrived German squad dashed forward to try to engage No. 1 section and support the Panzer II:
The support for the DLI was close now but they had taken losses with No, 2 section in the orchard being broken. No. 1 section fell back through the wood to avoid the advancing German squad and the fire from the stationary Panzer II:
No. 1 section continued to fall back:
The Germans followed them up but failed to advance very far:
At this point the support for the DLI arrived and the position was held!
Before the game I felt I had more chance in this game as I could win without having to break the German morale if I could defend for long enough.
The pre-game barrage, minefields and wire worked well delaying the appearance of the Germans and limiting their line of attack, None of the Germans got anywhere near exiting the table and I managed to keep the British force morale reasonably high despite taking losses. The ideas I got from the blog (basically to put smoke down over half of each German unit and shoot the other half using the 'sniping' ability of the Bren gun worked well in reducing the damage my troops took. I think I also used the senior officers much better than usual. For the Germans I suspect that picking such a small expensive force limited the chance of Dave being able to get units off the table as he didn't have that many units. Despite advising me in our last game that the anti-tank gun was much better than the Matilda Dave assumed I'd pick the Matilda again so the gun was a surprise to him!
It was nice to get my first win after the Blitzkrieg supplement came out but I feel it is all uphill for the British still in general!
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