Norway 1940 : The Road to Dombas

A second battle from last weekend. A useful set of scenarios again from Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy No 100. My collection isn’t quite big enough to play the full scenario and campaign as listed so I have adapted for the figures I have and to make sure it is a balanced combat. The first scenario is based around the German defence of Hagevolden.  

The background for the mini campaign is well covered in the article so I won’t list all the details here. In essence the German troops have been dropped into the heartland of Norway to capture the railway junction at Dombas but with limited supplies and reinforcements the small force has been cut off. The Fallschirmjager have dug in around Hagevolden, the Norwegian forces are on the attack and must force a way through. 

We had ten units a side with fairly small units. The Germans have managed to recover  75mm gun from their supplies, the Norwegians have an early lend-lease French tank. (There we’re some French tanks later in the campaign but probably not at this early stage)

The Paratroopers taking cover in the woods

Machine gun dug in together with a spotter for their Howitzer

The Norwegian infantry advances down the right supported by Madsen machine gun unit

Slow moving and poorly armed the R35 has little to fear from the Germans, the rest of the Norwegian infantry moves across the snowing fields towards the farm

The Norwegians on the right come under fire through the woods and the advance starts to stall in the distance their mortar has laid down some covering smoke for the attack

The rest of the Germans dug in around the farm

A textbook flanking attack down the right as the Norwegians push over the small road bridge and frozen stream

They are met in the woods by fierce resistance despite being pinned down

The Fallschirmjager put up a a withering fire

Things get nasty with hand to hand fighting amongst the trees brutal stuff both sides take casualties but the advance is being slowed

German casualties are mounting around the farm where they are targeted by mortar and infantry fire

The Norwegian officer pushes over the bridge in support of the remaining units on the right

With the assault on the right stalling the Norwegians order a more determined advance across the open fields

The defensive line is now very thin 

But the Germans have held the woods and can pull their only remaining unit back into the centre

As the Norwegians make a break for the road (final turn gamble to secure the objective) the R35 pushes forward but it is too slow moving and the Germans jump out of the way

We had the option for a one extra turn but the dice were with the Germans. So a minor victory to the Fallschirmjager who held the line but it had cost them dearly and all but one of their units were combat ineffective by the end of the battle.

A fun game very hard fought. Would like to develop a few more scenarios in this theatre but my troops are slightly limited. I need some Norwegian ski troops so if anybody is aware of suitable figures let me know. I have plenty of early British but perhaps a few French ? Next up some painting progress and yesterday we put on a SYW at Pendraken HQ to help celebrate their 30 year Birthday celebrations.

Thanks for popping by 😀