Chain of Command "30 days to Dunkirk" Game 4 "Attack at Essar's"

Dave and I played the fourth game in Jerry's PSC last night with Jerry umpiring. I took the Germans again and was tasked with attacking the village of Essars in an attack and defend scenario.

For the first time in the campaign the Germans had access to the mighty 7th Division Schutzen Platoon which has one LMG per team giving them fearsome firepower so I chose to take them as a fresh platoon. I rolled better on the support as well, selecting a Panzer IV, preliminary bombardment, Shabby Nazi 5th Columnist, Shabby Nazi sniper and a Sdkfz 251 for one squad of the platoon.

The Irish only had a starting force morale of 8 while the Germans ended up with 10 so it was going to be a tough task for Dave to withstand the German onslaught.

Jump off points ended up pretty much as expected:

The Germans began by positioning one squad behind the hedge opposite the farm and bringing on the Panzer IV with both going on over-watch:

The Irish were finding it hard to deploy through the bombardment with a single section managing to make it through and deploy in the farm:

Irish attempts to deploy into the woods next to the farm were hindered by a very persuasive nun telling them their were orphans in a church nearby that needed saving. The Irish were easily persuaded by the large, stubble-chinned nun and didn't arrive:

The mortar team and the Feldwebel join the squad behind the hedge and exchange fire with the Irish in the farmhouse. Superior firepower and support from the Panzer IV quickly cut the Irish down despite them being in hard cover:

The Panzer IV advances along the road, expecting an Irish AT gun to pop up at any moment. The Shabby Nazi sniper can be seen in the background lurking in the woods:

The AT gun appears and fires at the Panzer IV hitting, dazing the gunner for a phase and inflicting some shock on the tank. Return fire from the tank and German section on over-watch nearby kill a couple of the crew in return:

The Panzer IV is hit again but to little effect. It races off the road out of sight of the AT gun:

The Irish finally see through the Nazi nun disguise and dispose of 'her':

Now the Germans know were the British AT gun is the Hannomag arrives on the other road with the final German squad:

The Irish deploy in the woods now the nun has been dealt with. They don't seem keen to advance though.....

Another German squad and the Leutnant deploy on the left to push forward and threaten the AT gun and a mortar team. The mortar team is quickly cut down reducing Irish force morale further:

The Leutnant leads his men forwards with the Hannomag in support:

The squad reaches the hedge line and the Panzer IV and Hannomag move up. The Irish deploy a section in entrenchments to try to stave off this attack:

Again overwhelming German firepower obliterates the British even though they are entrenched:

Irish force morale collapses and they are forced to withdraw:

As I suspected a tough game for Dave, the British list is considerably worse than the German Schutzen one and with a patient approach (learned in part from my last couple of games against Gary!) the Germans can set up fire support, flush the British out and then kill them with superior firepower especially when you add in the barrage and shabby Nazi tricks.