Battle for Selstead : Operation Sealion

Like nearly everybody in the uk I have been suffering from a late Christmas / New Year cold. The worst has hopefully passed so I feel up to blogging again (I have struggled through to do some painting though 🙂). The first battle of the year sees the German forces in South east Kent pushing north up the A260 from Hawkinge. The British frantically attempting to block all the potential break out routes have rushed a small force to the village of Selstead.

We would play a fairly simple breakthrough scenario, half the British would be set up on the battlefield the Germans objective to break through beyond the village. With much of the ‘modern’ Armour employed in other areas this will be a job for the infantry with limited support. Ten units per side 👍

British infantry have reached the village, I randomised which units were available for this first phase

The British have managed to locate a working Matilda I, it will be hard to knock out but only has the limited firepower of a Vickers MG, not sure where the casualty is being taken ?

The German eye view North up the A260 into the village

The German infantry is support by a Sd.Kfz.231 (8-Rad) armed with auto cannon and machine gun

The British move forward into the gardens to contest the village

More British infantry to the west of the village supported by a  Northover projector the Matilda heads into the fields away from the 8-Rad

Having waited hours for an ambulance will the casualty now need to queue ? Sorry modern day political sarcasm creeping into the blog 

The Germans have pushed towards the centre of the village where they unlimber their supporting 75mm this proves very effective at targeting the British defenders at close range. As does a medium mortar which I didn’t get a shot of set up behind the farm buildings.

British reinforcements arrive the local Home guard, but a random event causes them to flee off home after only a couple of turns ! One British infantry unit is late to battle field field and things are looking bad !

The British do have an Armadillo which successfully targets the German armoured car, it can’t quite knock it out but over several successive turns it is immobilised while the crew put various vehicle fires out.

Germans in force in the village

The Germans have a single antitank rifle team who hiding behind the wall take repeated shots at the Matilda which is preventing their infantry advancing across the fields. Eventually they hit the fuel system, setting the tank on fire and the crew are unable to put it out 🙁 the way is now open.

I missed a bit of the action here in the excitement of battle. The Northover projected manages to direct hit the 75mm killing the crew, but it has already done the damage. With time pressure the Germans run forward upto the road and the gardens.

But the British defence line is now almost non-existent and they have no more infantry to plug the gaps.

To the west the Germans are now advancing across the fields.

To secure a full victory the Germans needed just one more turn but the die was against them. The British have put up a spirited defence but we judged it a minor German victory as they have the bulk of their forces still engaged in the battle and pushing forward. The British have nothing left and are about to be over run.

A fine first battle for 2023, I have been busy painting and will blog that up soon.

Matt 😀