Monday 19 February 2018

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 πŸ˜€

16 comments:

  1. Another great looking game! Love scenery and terrain!

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    1. Thanks Michal peoples kind support encourages me to keep looking to improveπŸ˜€

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  2. Immersive and inspired report, wonderful pictures...I don't know why, but I love these cows, they add a lot!

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    1. Thanks Phil I should really get some dead animals but not sure how it would look ?πŸ€”

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  3. Love the photo of the sheep. Brilliant snap shot!

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    1. They just happened to be walking past at the time πŸ˜€

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  4. More marvellous mayhem Matt. I will be sad to see day one go, bet the Brits won't though ;~) None the less bring on day two!

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    1. Thanks Phil I am planning to do some sort of summary to wrap up day one ?

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  5. Roll on Day 2 and the plucky Brits thrashing the vile Hun! Time for Brexit 1940 I think! As ever a wonderful game, so much to admire in your vision and energy.

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    1. You’re very kind David, day two will allow me to widen the scope of the invasion inland. We may still see some fighting in the coastal areas as the Hun have not achieved the complete domination as they had hoped. I need some hop fields and a windmill though.

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  6. As always a lovely looking game and splendid narrative, I'd have thought the stuff would have achieved more? The Russian farm transplants seamlessly to Kent, I hadn't noticed till you pointed it out!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain....day two will be about the breakout from the bridgehead. As for the terrain there is obviously more in common between Kent and Latvia than I thought πŸ™‚

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  7. Great looking game as expected Matt!
    Love the B&W shot of the Matilda rolling into action! Nice.
    But what...a PAK36 taking out the queen of the battlefield you need to check those rules :-)

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