Way, way, waaaaaay back in the mists of time before the plague, Martin and I decided we'd like to play some Early War Chain of Command. We bought armies and even settled on a campaign - Fighting Withdrawal from the 2016 Summer Special.
Then the world changed. We managed a couple of warm up/practice games between lockdowns but the plan to play the campaign remained bubbling in the background. We collected the terrain, consulted Google for images and made some buildings and other bits and pieces.
Finally however the stars aligned, diaries were free, jabs were administered and the first game could take place!
The first scenario sees a British force counter attacking as the Germans cross a partially demolished bridge. A British win shortens the campaign - giving the Germans less time to push on to Dunkirk.
The British have an Early War platoon (slightly different to the one in the Blitzkreig supplement as the campaign predates that) and just an adjutant as support. The Germans also have a single platoon and no support. Their are some restrictions on the German deployment that aren't entirely clear from the campaign - but after a little discussion and some feedback from the web we settled on.
- Play the Patrol Phase as normal for Attack and Defend with British as attackers
- The Germans have two squads and a Senior Leader *available* to deploy but subject to the usual rules and the effects of a preliminary barrage (so deploy on a 4+)
- The end of a turn ends the bombardment and allows the deployment of another squad (and the option of deploying the mortar or the other senior leader) subject to the usual deployment rules
- Another turn ends makes the final squad available (plus whichever of mortar/SL wasn't deployed in the previous turn - in reality the absence of an adjutant makes this likely to be the second SL)
Clearly it's possible to interpret the rules in other ways but this seemed to make most sense to us. Limiting the German forces across the canal and encouraging the British to attack.
The field of battle. The hill with road represents the end of a bridge over the canal that the British have partially destroyed - the Germans are feeding infantry over the wreckage in an attempt to establish a bridgehead. The Second Battalion of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiment are tasked with throwing them back.
The drainage ditches provide light cover but are no obstacle to cross.
Knowing my best bet was to strike before the turn ended and more Germans arrived I deployed aggressively
All three squads were soon up to their waists in ditches.
Martin had managed to get one Jump Off Point out on his right flank and likewise deployed a squad into the ditches.
My plan was to hold up the left with smoke and a single squad while concentrating the fire of my two other squads on a single German squad by the bridge. Ideally I'd race across the open ground and capture the JOP.
I deployed some smoke to cover an advance on my right, but left the MG team exposed to be sniped at by two Brens.
More smoke tried to cover my left.
But the Germans soon started adding shock on that flank.
But this left my centre squad free to target the Germans by the bridge.
Though they started to take casualties in return.
The pressure on my left was mounting so I deployed more smoke, completely screening that flank. This would allow the Germans some respite (and possibly to advance) but it seemed sensible.
Unfortunately at around this point Martin threw three sixes and the turn ended and all the smoke went away! This was worrying and I considered withdrawing at this point - the Germans were still at full strength and my numerical advantage had just disappeared.
However I decided to stick around and see what unfolded. Fortunately some good shooting finally pinned the Germans by the bridge. Martin didn't bring another squad on to reinforce them so I decided to seize the day. Emboldened by a double phase the British squad on the right broke cover and sprinted toward the pinned Germans on the end of the bridge.
Disastrously the second roll was all 4s, 5s and 6s!
The squad was left in the open mere feet from the German guns!
Martin's third squad pushed up on the German right of the bridge.
Fortunately the German shooting, hampered by pinning did little and I was able to press home the charge!
It was touch and go and not nearly as one sided as I'd hoped but the British wiped out the remains of the German squad and their Junior Leader fled toward the bridge.
Soon after this I had the opportunity to end the turn. A double edged sword as it would mean the last German squad would become available.
First however the advanced British squad on the bridge turned their guns on the Junior Leader who had unwisely decided to stand and spray them with his MG instead of seeking sanctuary. This, along with capturing the JOP with the turn end, sent German morale plummeting to two (though mine was at a fairly fragile five).
This also meant Martin lost another JOP - the one nearest the bridge meaning his last squad had to deploy on the far right of his line.
Now we were at difficult decision time. I needed to try and drive Martins morale to zero, but with no easy to take JOPs and three full strength German squads in attendance I couldn't see how.
In the meantime German fire had driven one of my sections from the field and reduced the other in the ditches to just four men.
My (frankly rather desperate) plan was to advance the squad on the bridge, deploy smoke to cover the left flank and reduce German fire and then try and "snipe" with Brens to kill the MG team (and hope for a JL) to try and break the Germans. Like I say, desperate. I also decided that any further casualties would mean I should withdraw.
And so the squad on the bridge advanced tactically to draw a bead on the Germans in the ditch.
Smoke protected the last squad (though they could draw line of sight to the German MG team)
At this point Martin, seeing the threat on his flank and feeling the pressure mount decided to go on the offensive. Hurling hand grenades the Germans rushed the men on the bridge.
Sadly for Martin on a single hand grenade found it's mark.
The defending British were wiped out in the resultant combat - however they did enough damage to wipe out the MG team *and* kill the Junior Leader.
Both of us would now need to toll twice on the bad things chart!
British morale tumbled to just three.
The loss of the MMG team had no effect on the Germans!
However with a high roll for the effects of losing his JL the German morale finally collapsed!
The narrowest of narrow victories to the British. Almost any other result in the combat would have seen me withdraw. It felt a bit odd that the Germans had two undamaged squads across the bridge facing a mere four British rifles and a smoke mortar but we reasoned they felt cut off by the recapture of the end of the bridge and worried by the British threat.
I am however a bit concerned by the butcher's bill and concerned it will come back to bite me later in the campaign - no such worries for the Germans who just get an endless supply of brand new troops for each game!
Really great to finally get the campaign underway. Really tense game too - I think the early turn end could have transformed things and when my charge across the open ground came up short I was convinced I was in for an ignominious defeat.
Great game with good company - well worth the eighteen month or so wait!
Now on to try and hold the line at Risqouns Tout!
