On the 31st March 2012, the GMG club based in Kildare, hosted the first
Kampfgruppe Normandy Big Game. Players consisted of GMG club members, members from The Guild (
http://www.guildwargamers.com) forum, Will Townsend from
Plastic Soldier Company and Warwick Kinrade, the author of the rules.
Players met on the evening before the game to be given their team briefings, assigned additional forces to their battlegroups, plot their plans for the day and set up the initial forces ready for the game the following day. Alot of time was also spent oogling over some very pretty toys!
The forces arrayed for battle consisted as follows;
German Forces
Player 1 – Lt. Welsch
Armoured Grenadier Platoon
Sniper
Panther Squadron
Assault Pioneer Section
HMG Team
Panzerschrek Team
Medium Mortar Team
Grille
Player 2 - Lt. Gerstenmeier
Armoured Grenadier Platoon
Sniper
Panther Squadron
Assault Pioneer Section
2 x 88mm Flak
HMG Team
Panzerschrek Team
Medium Mortar Team
150mm IG with Tow
FAO
Player 3 - Feldwebel Dibbern
Dismounted Grenadier Platoon
Sniper
StuG G Squadron
HMG Team
Panzerschrek Team
Medium Mortar Team
Pak 40
Player 4 - Feldwebel Brasche
Dismounted Grenadier Platoon
Sniper
StuG G Squadron
HMG Team
Panzerschrek Team
Medium Mortar Team
Pak 40
FAO
Player 5 (Commander) – Hauptmann Philips
BGHQ
Forward Signals
Despatch Rider
Dismounted Grenadier Platoon
FAMO
HMG Team
Panzerschrek Team
2 x Heavy Mortar
1 x High Priority Request
1 x Low Priority Request
2 x Supply Trucks
20mm Flak in truck
FAO
2 x 105mm Battery
Panther
StuG IIIG
3 x Puma Armoured Cars
Sdkfz 234
The German forces came in at 1671 points and for its 'Top Secret' extras, they chose a Tiger I, a battery of Nebelwerfers and a Registered Target Point. They also drew an
MG Bunker and a minefield, plus an additional FAO from the random support card deck.
British Forces
Player 1 – Lt. Peter J. Chell
Infantry Platoon with Additional Section
Sherman Tank Squadron with additional Sherman
17-Pounder A/T Gun with Carrier
Recce Command in Dingo
2 X AEC MKIII Armoured Cars
2 x HMG Team
Player 2 - Lt. C. Price
Infantry Platoon with Additional Section
Sherman Tank Squadron with additional Sherman
6-Pounder A/T Gun with Carrier
Combat Engineers
3 x 3” Mortars
FAO
Player 3 - Lt. John Reed
Infantry Platoon with Additional Section
Sherman Tank Squadron with additional Sherman
6-Pounder A/T Gun with Carrier
2 x HMG Team
Player 4 - Captain John Higson
Infantry Platoon with Additional Section
Sherman Tank Squadron with additional Sherman
Churchil MKVII
Churchill AVRE
Churchill AVRE Bridgelayer
Combat Engineers
3 x 3” Mortars
FAO
Player 5 (Commander) – Captain D.W. Browne
BGHQ in White Scout Car
Despatch Rider
Forward Signals Radio Truck
Infantry Platoon with Additional Section
Sherman Tank Squadron with additional Sherman
Armoured FAO
Sexton Battery
3 x Staghounds
WASP
3 x High Priority Requests
3 x Supply Truck
M10
M10 Achilles
Carrier Platoon
Artillery Support
25 Pounder Battery
5.5" Battery
4.2" Mortar Battery
The British force came in at 1790 points and for their additional random units they drew another Despatch Rider, a Registered Target Point and a Churchill MKVII.
The British (thanks to an earlier game) had also gained a a supply of APDS rounds for their 6-Pounder anti-tank guns and the ability to utilise their 4.2" mortar battery in a counter-battery role. The Germans however found that the Tiger, looking menacing on the outskirts of Tilly, was immobile due to a transmission failure...
Both sides were given a nominal 100 point morale value.
For the British the objectives were five set point - Tilly, Saint Pierre, Limone Farm, Hector Farm and the bridge over the Seulles. For the Germans they had to hold off the attacking enemy.
On the first turn the Germans had available all their initial defender (the two Panthers squadrons, four section of Panzergrenadiers in half-tracks and the Combat Engineers were held back as a counter-attcking force) while the British had only their recce on table. The British had assigned each player a sector of responsibility, before the Germans deployed their defenders, and the players would be limited to bringing their forces on to the table through these defined areas. This had the effect of forcing a degree of pre=planned order of march on the British before the players had time to see the German defence set-up.
At the start of the game, the 20' x 6' table as presented to the players, looked as follows;
Looking towards Tilly with Saint Pierre in the distance.
Tilly itself.
Limone Farm and the Tilly-Lingevres Road.
Saint Pierre and the River Seulles.
With the initial forces deployed, the players retired for the evening to the pub to await the Saturday morning and the commencement of hostilities.
The attack on Tilly-sur-Seulles began on a misty morning, the low cloud would last all day and the British troops on the ground would be without any air support (all KGN Aircrafyt morale counters counted as a single morale point as no aircraft could be used). With the German forces deployed, forming a defence line along the entire front, the British first moves were to deploy a heavily reinforced platoon to the east opposite Saint Pierre. With all the Churchill AVREs in support, the British hoped this would give the Germans the impression of a concerted and deliberate river assault. For the British, this well supported attack was a feint to hold the dfenders of Saint Pierre in place. Meanwhile other British forces arrived slowly onto the battlefield and at the western end of the battlefield Captain D.W. Browne directed the Carrier Platoon forward, supported by the Staghound armoured cars, and they raced over a dirt track through the fields heading for Limone Farm. On the Tilly-Christot road, the Recce Commander in his Dingo tried, in vain, to direct mortar fire onto a German '88' deployed at the road junction. The rounds veered off but one did score a direct hit on a stationary Puma that promptly caught fire and had to be abandoned.
In response to the initial British moves the Germans needed to do little. Their artillery spotters called in mortars on the approach of the Carrier Platoon and some of the carriers screeched to a halt as the men bailed out to take cover. The rest of the artillery proved of little effect, the German Werkstatte unit started to try and repair the Tiger I. The Germans seemed content to sit and wait for the British attack.
The British continued to build up forces on the eastern flank, and now two more platoons with support arrived in the centre opposite Tilly. These began the long walk towards the town, and as the Churchill Crocodile arrived, a long range round from the immobile Tiger, bounced off its armour rattling the crew. In response the British launched the first of their planned artillery strikes, pounding the town of Tilly. It was a forunate round that landed amongst the German crewmen working to repair the Tiger. The crew and the FAMO would not be repairing anything else... More mortar stonks tried to catch the '88' but again to no avail. Two of the carriers from the Carrier Platoon raced into Limone farm and took positions in the farmhouse capturing the first objective, while two freshly arrived AECs along with some Machine Gun teams took Hector Farm unopposed. With two objectives secured, the British felt rather confident.
As always this confidence was short lived. Hector Farm actually turned out to be the Registered Target Point for the German artillery and a salvo of Nebelwerfers screamed in and impacted around the farm causing the British their first casualties and destroying one of the parked AECs. Along the line the Germans began to open fire and light, but mounting casualties began to accrue.
The British once more funnelled on more troops, yet still Lt. Peter Chell's platoon had not appeared. With four of the British units on the table, the Germans could only wonder where the fifth was to deploy and act as the tipping point. Once more artillery fell on the German lines, causing units to take cover and causing casualties. Finally the '88' at the road junction was knocked out. A good few losses once again restored British confidence and the advance continued in the centre while both flanks halted. Fighting commenced around Limone Farm as the Germans tried, in vain, to dislodge the two sections from the Carrier Platoon.
The Germans were now able to roll for their reinforcements (they needed to score '10' rolling a
d6 and adding the turn number, as it was turn four, they needed to roll a six and Fred duly did the job!) and to much consternation to the British a gaggle of Panthers and Panzergrenadiers arrived to attack Limone Farm. Once again more shellfire hit the British and things looked a little dicey for the British commander.
Captain Browne at this point called an 'O' Group and conversed with his officers. Something was needed to break both German morale and weaken the line. With that in mind, Lt. Chell submitted the first of two fire plans for a concentrated artillery barrage on the German lines. As little advances, the German line was pounded by every available artillery piece the British had to spare. Even including some very heavy support from HMS Rodney which landed around the Bridge, one round causing a Stug to be flipped on its side from the blast. Along the line rounds slammed into German positions, especially those in Tilly, and a direct hit killed a German FAO team hiding in an attic. As the dust settled, to add insult to injury, a British Firefly from Lt. Price's force put a round at long range into the Tiger, causing it to catch fire and the crew to flee for their lives.
A cloud fell over the German players and now it was the turn of Hauptmann Philips to gather his subordinates around him...
The Germans fought back with avengance. Artillery rained in on the British centre but thankfully did little, but opposite Saint Pierre a Nebelwerfer salvo caught several of the tanks and soon two Shermans and the bridgelayer were out of action. Bolstered by this more German troops then arrived into Tilly with yet more Panthers and the fighting continued at Limone Farm as the British began to pull back on the eastern flank and set up a defence line in expectation of a German counter-attack.
Once more it seemed the Germans may still yet gain the upperhand.
But then the British came back with another heavy attack. Yet more artillery rained in, slamming into Tilly causing heavy casualties. Then the British troops in the centre surged forward, with several Shermans even jumping the road to make a bold attemot to outflank the town, this forced the Germans to rush troops into buildings at the rear of Tilly from where they prepared to ambush this bold, but somewhat suicidal move by the British.
Opposite Saint Pierre the ARV went into action and quickly put out the fire on the bridgelayer, and once more it rumbled towards the Seulles river as on the west and in the centre the British plan now came into action as an all out attack was launched, while the on the east they held. The Germans now hit back, and knocked-out several of the roaming Shermans from their positions in the houses. Meanwhile one of the newly arrived Panthers burst into flames with an engine fire and the crew scrambled out of the tank. Finally the Germans retook Limone Farm but as they tried to push through the bocage artillery fire from the Sextons disjointed the attack, though one Panther did manage to knock out the Achilles in an unequal duel.
Once more it seemed as if the Germans had restored things... But oddly the British commanders looked strangely smug...
Once more the British implemented one of Lt. Chell's fire plans and a deluge of artillery struck the Germans centred on Tilly. The Germans that had ambushed the roving Shermans could now be seen and were subjected to a heavy mortar barrage causing heavy losses, while the last sacrificial Sherman promptly scored a hit on an approaching StuG. Shell fire pounded into Tilly as a group of British engineers raced into the town to take the hotel (another objective) and they attacked a stationary Panther with a flamethrower and demolition charges. They failed to destroy it, but the crew thought better of it and ran for the rear!
In the centre the British poured fire onto the remaining Germans defenders in the first houses and killed the last ones. In the church yard the lone 17-pounder crew calmly unlimbered and at very long range put an
AP round through the side armour of another Panther, it began to burn and then exploded as the ammo cooked off. Yet more artillery rained in around the bridge, killing an
MG team, but crucially destroying the German supply truck that was racing off to resupply the StuGs in Saint Pierre.
Not everything went the British way and the advancing Bridgelayer was finally put out of action for good when an Panzerscreck team in the woods ambushed it and knocked it out (no mean feat as they had to beat the frontal armour value of ten and Johan rolled an '11'). The Germans now tried to get some stabilise their line and tried to move their troops, hindered by their own minefield ironically. With incoming shellfire all the Germans could manage at Limone Farm was an intermittant long range duel, not the rampaging attack required. Saint Pierre remained safe, as the British now moved around it, but the troops, low on ammo, could do little to help. So it was up to the defenders of Tilly to save the day. The German commander called up his artillery... The spotting round landed squarely in the mass of advancing troops... and then his radio went dead. He tried again... no response from the Nebelwerfer battery. He tried with the 120mm mortars... again no response. Hauptmann Philips could only watch in dismay as his attempts to contact his artillery failed one after the other. At such a crucial moment, with British infantry moving in the open fields and orchard, he was unable to contact any artillery!
Some efforts did suceed however. The bold British engineers in the hotel were quickly despatched with close range fire and the remaining rampaging Shermans was quickly dealt with by another StuG.
Things were quickly reaching a tipping point, yet neither side knew in whose favour!
The end game now arrived... Though neither team really knew who would break first, the British knew that a turn of bad artillery fire could spell the end for them. With that in mind an all out attack was launched. British troops raced into the streets of Tilly, close range firefights took place eliminating the last few shellshocked defenders in the frontline. Tanks and artillery pounded the Germans around Limone Farm and managed to knock-out another Panther. At Saint Pierre the British tried to move on the bridge but only managed to lose a Firefly to yet another hidden Panzerscreck team. With a couple of morale chits to pull, the British nervously dun around... and pulled out two 'Gun Out of Ammo' chits! These were duly placed on the remaining '88' that was covering the main road. The British then managed to roll two '1's and that 88 crew just kept finding ammo...
To force the issue the British launched another sacrifical Sherman. He popped out into the road and the '88' which was covering it, popped off a round and missed. Then a StuG also on covering fire, tried and brewed the Sherman. This was the chance the British needed and a Firefly moved out and destroyed the StuG in return.
Around Tilly the fight continued as the British fired all they had. It was then that an artillery salvo scattered and landed on a German half-track carrying the engineers. The resultant blast, which also caught Hauptmann Philips, saw a morale chit taken...
The German CO announced that the German defenders of Tilly had gone over their morale total, and the German forces had to withdraw... Tilly had fallen to the British!!!
The final scores were as follows;
British - 78 morale
Germans - 102 morale
It was closer than those scores suggest, as the British counter pot was virtually all high counters left, and another turn could easily have seen the British go over '100' morale points. But it was not to be and the British stole a hard fought victory that ebbed and flowed to each side for the whole game.
Thanks to all those who attended, everyone made a real effort and it was a brilliant event. Thanks to Johan and Warwick for doing loads of photos, and to Warwick for providing instance rule explanations - Having the rules author at a big game makes life so much easier!
From left to right;
Thomas, Piers, Gary, Skip. Fred, Sean, Will, Cyril, Johan and Warwick.
2,000 pts