The Battle for Burmarsh : Operation Sealion

For our next battle we have moved back to the gradual inland movement of the main German forces the 109th Infantry Regiment in the area around Dymchurch. With the main beach landing area secured but the unloading of forces inevitably being disrupted, small ad hoc  Kampfgruppe  are being pushed forward to secure the route inland. One such group has been ordered to probe and secure the hamlet of Burmarsh just a mile or so inland from Dymchurch where fighting and resistance is still taking place.

 

The front line as it currently is since the landings early morning, previous battles marked in orange

German Infantry spread out across the fields, supported by a single Panzer II which is advancing towards the Church

German commander has jumped out of his Kubelwagon to watch the attack. Whilst the infantry have dragged forward a 75mm gun which they are preparing to fire

Infantry to the west of the road set up heavy support weapons and start to bombard British artillery on the other side of the pub

Looking down the road towards the church

On the allied side British infantry have arrived and are pushing forward through the church grounds

They have also set up a strong point at the road junction where they have pulled a 2lb antitank gun into position, they are also supported by two Vickers tanks, one of which can be seen heading towards the back of the pub

But for the British things go bad early......the Panzer II takes out their second Vickers as it pushes forward in front of the church, it can be seen burning above

The Germans continue to advance and are able to pin down the British defenders whose fires gradually slackens

One unit of the defenders has at least made it to the shelter at the back of the bus, hoping to rush down the road, but the machine guns of the Panzer turn towards them and without the covering fire of their Vickers Tank the infantry are doomed

The British antitank gun kept up a steady fire through out but pretty much to no effect, eventually though they managed to knock a track of the Panzer, it could still fire but was now immobilised unit the repair crew could be brought forward.

The german commander remained close to the road, a fierce fire fight takes place across the pub garden but the german eventually get the better of it

By the church the british have been gradually taking losses and are unable to make any significant impact on the advancing enemy

At this point after the allotted time it was a clear victory to the Germans, whilst only a few units had been completely knocked out the British units were close to collapse and they could hold the road junction no longer.

A very fun game, introducing a new player to bolt action within the context of my ongoing campaign 😀