Sunday 27 August 2017

Operation Sealion : The Battle for the Western Heights

The Western Heights is a militarised area on the outskirts of Dover, fortified during the napoleonic period there are a mixture of gun emplacements, batteries and redoubts. As the Germans close in on the Harbour they must force their way through or risk having a pocket of resistance in their rear. The main target is the Harbour but this secondary objective must be taken first. (For this scenario I have considerably reduced the defensive capacity of the Western Heights but I think this is fair on the basis that the Germans would have bombed it to hell prior to the invasion)

The area is well defended by the Royal West Kent Regiment, but they are being attacked from all sides reports are coming in that Germans are pushing east towards Dover from the Warren area but also direct assaults are coming into the Harbour. Captain Mercer has been ordered to the Heights to stabilise the position. The two units on duty have already dug in along the forward trenches but Mercer has only been able to pull together a rag tag force as a relief. Particularly lacking in artillery he is hoping the Germans aren't heavily armed. He has called in additional support but a second Bren Gun carrier has been delayed and won't arrive until turn three.

The Germans consist of the veteran 143rd Mountain troops, pioneer squads including a flamethrower to clear out any stubborn defence......the Germans can't mess about the area must be cleared to allow the Harbour to be captured. 

The battlefield is quite contained a few military buildings and a series of trenches and dug outs which should make good defensive positions.

The Royal West Kent Regiment have deployed an infantry unit in both trench sections
The german infantry advance on mass, machine guns and mortars laying down covering fire while the veteran gerbesjager and pioneers break through the wire
Captain Mercer arrives from Dover in the nick of time pushing his infantry forward supported by the Bren Gun carrier, the smith gun is slowly rolled into position by the fence it is debatable whether this will be of much help ?
 In the other trench the forward unit has been spooked (random special event allowing the german commander to send them incorrect orders) the Brits have also pulled forward a spigot mortar !
More of Mercers infantry rush forward whilst a Vickers sets up close to an air raid shelter 
In the enclosed southern trench section it is getting nasty.
The smith gun is now in place but nobody is sure how to fire it
Close quarters firing in the trench whilst Captain Mercer orders another unit forward
German pioneers are breaking through the barbed wire and other infantry have made it into the northern trench
In the southern trench the Dover lads have seen off the first wave of attack but veteran gerbesjager are just about to rush the trench
More Germans have made the Northern trench...it is brutal fighting up close.......but oh no the flamethrower is being brought up to clear out the defenders
Finally the second Bren Gun carrier has made it through from Dover army camp, but with the Germans now gaining the protection of the trench the additional fire support may not be enough
Sorry this was a shot just to show how lovely the trench looks.......
More work for the British, charged in the trench it is man on man, brutal the Brits have no chance........
But from nowhere (lucky dice rolling) british cold steel wins out and the gerbesjager unit is driven off.......exhausted the remaining Brits brew up.......
Both gun carriers are now in play firing into the trench but other than keeping the Germans heads down they do little real damage
The defenders are now getting thin on the ground, another unit of pioneers has made the trench
Then to the German commanders horror a stray bullet hits the fuel tank of the flamethrower it explodes in a terrifying cloud of gas and flames
Thinking the moment has come Mercer charges the german officer, leaping into the trench they fight one on one, both men are killed in the ensuing combat.

All hope has now gone for the defenders the Germans have too many troops in the trench, leaderless the British start to pull back into Dover preparing for a last stand around the Harbour and Castle.

A very enjoyable game, the trench system isn't mine but Steve had recently completed it so we wanted to get it into play. The scenario was perfect for this πŸ˜€

29 comments:

  1. That was fantastic, real to and fro. Next stop Dover

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    1. Ready for the 9th something a little larger as the Germans look to cut Dover off from the rest of Kent......πŸ˜€

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  2. Splendid stuff Sir, the lads may be getting the worst of it but they are certainly giving Jerry a run for their Deutschmarks.

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    1. Thanks Phil.....my only disappointment was the flamethrower didn't get to fire before he blew up ! Next time😬

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  3. Amazing, simply amazing. Figures and terrain very impressive.

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    1. Thanks yuo're very kind......I can't take credit for the trench which is a mates' but he is trying to sell it to me ! πŸ€”

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  4. Great report Matt, the campaign is really heating up now.
    Cheers
    Stu

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  5. Dean nailed my impression as well. Amazingly detailed, visual treat. Terrain is outstanding and the trench system is (literally) to die for.

    Great job! Oh, well told BatRep too!

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    1. Thanks Jonathon.....my mate is trying to get me to buy the trench ?

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  6. Just superb Matt, the intensity of the gaming is really stepping up a notch too.

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    1. Thanks Michael...it did feel the enclosed fighting in the trenches was brutal, l guess as it should beπŸ™‚

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  7. Cracking looking table . A very smart trench indeed.

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  8. A fine game there! Time to deploy the Mk1 Stiff Upper Lip I think...
    Where did you source the Nissan huts please?

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    1. Yep need to dig in in Dover........I can see some brutal fightin in and around the Harbour ! The Nissan Huts are sarissa precisson

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    2. Thanks for the info Matt.

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  9. Ah the usual compliments on your great terrain and figures, your friends trench system is lovely!
    Well written AAR and a good close game to boot.
    Nice to see some of your new items like the Smith Gun and the Spigot Mortar getting a run...
    Cheers!

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    1. Thanks the new guns didn't prove very effective, luckily the Germans didn't have any armour ! Hopefully we'll see the trench again soonπŸ˜€

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  10. Great looking game and nice aar, you need to buy the trench!
    Best Iain

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    1. Might have to mortgage the house though ! But it is tempting

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  11. As always your terrain is outstanding, what a pleasure!

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