Battle of Stowting : Operation Sealion

For our first game in the New Year a return to the Sealion campaign. The Germans are now driving North towards Canterbury up Stone Street the old Roman road. But with the amount of traffic restricted some columns have been forced to explore using some of the parallel side roads. One of these heads through Stowting where the British are looking to breakthrough and cut the German advance north.

A few special elements for the scenario. The Germans first wave in transport trucks are randomly strung out along the road through Stowting. The British will assault from the West/left. Germans reserves will only be able to arrive from one of the three roads. The objective for the British is to cut the road….the British also have two Homeguard units which are deployed again randomly in buildings along the edge of the road in ambush. The Germans have one hidden sniper on the table who needs to be spotted before he can be targeted.

The setup with the Germans now randomly deployed along the road, 

Some of the Germans only just make it onto the table

The British advance with armour

From the North

As the British advance the German infantry jump out of their trucks, in the foreground the infantry have driven a unit of homeguard out of the small brick building

Brits spreadout into the back gardens 

The leading Germans take up a defensive position around the church

British advance through Stowting Court towards the main road

Two German panzers manage to knock out the leading British tank as it moves towards the church

A Stug moves around the church

The second hidden homeguard were in the ‘white house’ but after snipping at the enemy German Pioneers are sent to sort them out

The British Beaverette enters the fray but is pinned down

British tanks move around the flank driving the Germans towards the centre of the table

They are followed up by British infantry

Who are then eventually able to cut the road. The battle came to a natural halt we judged it a minor British win, the Germans still have some fight left in them but the British have knocked out much of their infantry and have managed to cut the road 👍

Another fun game……

After some tidying up in the Dungeon I came across this old magazine at the bottom of a box. Great fun flicking through and amazing how I immediately remember all the pictures and articles ?

That’s it for now, we are heading to Vapnartak at the weekend so if anybody is going happy to catch up for a chat. I will also be selling off a few bits of unwanted stuff. And no doubt looking for a few bargains.

Thanks as always

Matt ♥️

Back to Blogging : Battle of Harrison’s Farm AWI

After a rest from blogging for a few weeks I have a backlog of battles to post up.

The first of these was just prior to Christmas. A non historical AWI, we used a simple scenario with each force split into an advance guard, main and rear element which would come on slightly randomly. The forces are broadly equal in size.

The battlefield set up rolling American farmland

The American advance guard moves quickly to secure the farm

But quickly the British counter

Both main forces arrive in the centre, the British form up along the road while the Americans move into the woods on the high ground

Little red markers designate ‘first volley’ the Americans here keeping their powder dry !

Both forces have some cannons, the small unit of American dragoons can be seen pulling back

The fight for the farm is hotting up

British dragoons attempt to outflank the farm

But the American rear guard arrives forcing them to turn down the road

Ouch hessian reserve brigade arrives

The turn of the Americans to try and outflank the farm

Fierce hand to hand fighting in the farmyard, the cavalry charge in but are then repulsed

More troops pushed forward to the farm

Volley fire along the road and from the woods neither side wanting to give up their cover

The Hessians can be seen approaching the farm from the rear

The British grenadiers become isolated and are picked off by the militia

The battle is in the balance at this stage

The hessians may make the difference ?

But the Americans are not done yet

The British make a bid to retake the farm, but are caught in the flank

After the long range duel in the centre and against the flow of battle the Americans get the upper hand driving at least two British units back from the road

…and suddenly the battle turns to the Americans the Hessians have arrived too late to make the difference 

The British infantry has taken a battering and will need to regroup.

A fun battle which remained close till the last couple of turns. A chance really just to get the majority of my AWI collection out on the table. There are a couple of units in the lead pile I should get around to some time ?

Well that’s a start to catching up….on the gaming, the Dungeon railway has been progressing well and I am very gradually filling in with modelling.

And occasionally a trip out in the hills although the weather has been variable !

Thanks for your patience and checking back in 

Matt ♥️