The Battle for Frogholt :Operation Sealion

As invasion day gradually draws to a close (I do need to move the campaign on somehow to day two !) where the Germans have broken through they are starting to move inland. Having captured much of Hythe they are looking to consolidate the bridgehead along the line of the A20. One of the key junctions is at Newington where there is a small settlement called Frogholt. Another opportunity to introduce a new payer to my Sealion campaign. A small force of Germans have been ordered to capture the junction and the settlement. The British will look to keep the road open to allow reinforcements to be brought in from the north. Both forces have managed to find some armour support the British provided by the Royal Tank Regiment. Frogholt itself is a small settlement set back slightly from the A20 behind which the ground rises up onto the South Downs.

British infantry supported by Bren Carrier work their way into Frogholt in the distance they can see the Germans at the junction with the A20

Tally ho ! Plenty of cover behind the buildings as th British advance

.....but germa infantry supported by a small unit of Fallschirmjager who landed earlier in the day have been ordered to take the village

More german infantry advance through one of the paddocks

A single Matilda II arrives from the RTR in Lyminge 

The german have already taken the A20 junctionwere they are unlimber great a Pak 36 under the watchful eye of the propaganda crew

The RTR has also managed to get a Vickers Tank into the area which is advancing rather bravely/foolishly towards the road junction

Germans are now rushing forward into the village supported by a single Stug

Germans in the paddock are now pinned down behind the hedge unable to advance 

After exchanging shots between the Matilda and the Panzer 35(t) the British tank scores a direct hit

The road is now open on the right flank for the British 

In the village the Stug has been fairly ineffective

As the camera rolls the Pak 36 has an easy target and knocks out the Vickers (hidden in this shot b the tree)

On the Germans left flank the only hope of holding back the advance is a lonely Panzer I it is no match for the Matilda but is able to pin down the infantry advance

As always we play with a random event generator.....this had little effect until the heavily pinned down german infantry in the paddock were ordered to assault the Bren Gun carrier, the german commander then rolled 3x6’s followed by another 6 ! And the carrier went up in flames

At this point the Pak 36 also scored its second direct hit on the Matilda more 6’s and the Matilda went up in smoke

The only remaining armoured vehicle the Stug now pushed forward to attempt to push the dwindling British infantry out of the village

.....but all not lost the Brits advanced in the centre and through the ploughed field

Despite being pinned down by fire from the Panzer I they are holding on..... (at this point at the end of six turns the British were marginally in front but the dice gods decreed we had to play a further turn !)

The superior Germans numbers were able to tell as they advance into the scoring zone.........

A final shot of the A20 road junction, its job done the Pak 36 team can re limber for the advance towards Canterbury.

Such a fun game close but wth so few troops left a British victory wouldn’t have been fair. The collection grows and it is nice to see the Russian farm buildings work quite well in rural Kent. I do plan to draw day one to a close fairly soon 😀