Tuesday 6 December 2022

Somewhere in Normandy 1944 : Part 1

Not based on any historical battle but a couple of chances to get the 15 mm Normandy collections out on the battlefield this weekend. The first of the two battles saw two relatively small forces playing across the Battlefield.
Americans have the advantage in numbers the Germans quality. We had two objectives each to hold and two to potentially capture. We used very slightly simplified bolt action as the opponent is only an infrequent gamer. To make the battle pacy we kept to the 28 mm measurements, this seemed to work really well and was adopted for the second battle as well. The picture above after the initial first moves, Americans arrive from the left the Germans opposite. The objectives are marked, the stream is in spate so only crossable by all troops at the two bridges.
German Panzer supported by a heavy machine gun seek to take the high ground
American infantry move to take the damaged Farm House
More American infantry advance towards the village setting up an AT gun on the bridge. All hedges were classed as bocage so block line of sight.
German armour strength is on the left by the village
A Sherman Firefly manages to get stuck attempting to cross the bocage in second turn where it remains for the rest of the battle !!!!!!!
But early American success some lucky rolling saw a PzIV knocked out as it pushed through the woods
Whilst the American infantry advance towards the village, the AT Gun waits in ambush on the bridge
Tough fighting near the road junction
In the distance one of the Sherman’s has brewed up
American infantry pushing towards the bridge with the objective just beyond 
At the other end of the battlefield a single Sherman has broken through and is approaching a second objective but they are not on their own
Americans break across Main Street in the village but the objective may be frustratingly out of reach ?
Panzer Grenadiers are able to pull back into the woods to contest the second objective
Battlefield littered with burning Sherman tanks
In a brutal finale the one of the Panzers drives right through the American infantry in the village scattering them before they can make a dash for the objective.

A fun and tightly fought battle, an American win by virtue of them holding their own objectives, but the Germans were able to regroup to get back and hold their own objectives. Really enjoying getting the WWII collection on the table 😀

I am now in a head to head contest with Mr Bickley as to who can find the best second hand book, completely unexpectedly I found this in Carlisle on Sunday. Particularly relevant as I am painting up Peninsular figures at the moment !

I am sure many of you have this book anyway but it is packed full excellent colour plates and descriptions

Back to you David…😀

27 comments:

  1. Very nice looking table and game , Matt....I would have called that a draw personally but maybe the Americans had achieved a bit more, offensively, than the Jerries? Nice looking book find, too....well done!

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    1. Thanks Keith technically with the Americans holding their objectives they had the advantage at the end.

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  2. Table and units look great. Using 15's really helped with game scale anesthetics. Congrats on the book.

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    1. Thanks Joe I agree the 15 mm scale gives lots of scope even on a 6x4 table.

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  3. Game looks fab, Matt! You play WWII with Bolt Action in both 15mm and 28mm? Like Joe, above, I do like the scope that playing WWII in 15mm provides. WWII skirmish gaming is good too!

    Nice book find. I collected a copy of TSR's Boot Hill from ebay this week. I thought this was a good find too.

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    1. Thanks Jon yes, nice to get the 15mm forces on the table. We played Bolt action mainly because I didn’t manage to re read our other rules. It works pretty well with both scales and gave a quick enjoyable battle. Especially when using full movement and shooting ranges.

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  4. Nice table Matt, I think the scale is a better fit for Bolt Action. There must have been much shouting and cheering when the Firefly got stuck!

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  5. Nice game, Matt, always enjoy your AARs! As to books, what did you pay for it? I got mine ages back in an Oxfam shop in Perth for £4. But, no second hand bookshops about nearby, so you are safe. The best Charity Shop find I saw last month was all four volumes of Battles & Leaders of the Civil War for £6.

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    1. Thanks David, you got me on price thing it was £4.99 but charity a good cause, I’ll keep my eye out for more 👍

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  6. A fine looking game there Matt, splendid table and toys too of course. A damn good book sniff there, I picked a copy up a while ago now.

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  7. nice looking battle and another cool book. You are on a roll with good book finds

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  8. Another beautiful table and great-looking game. That third photo almost looks real at first glance.

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    1. Thanks Lawerence very kind. I guess I have my own sense of what a wargame should look like and I aim for that. I have however seen many set up with much more detail. Flexibility and playability are key for me.

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  9. Agree, excellent looking table sir!
    Best regards

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  10. Looks like fun Matt, nice to see the varied scale for a change.
    Cheers
    Stu

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    1. Thanks Stu I have enjoyed pulling the German force together so it has been fun getting them on the battlefield 👍

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  11. Really nice action there Matt and as always, wonderful terrain and figures etc. Good find in the charity shop and if you can get it, the Blandford book on the Peninsular War is superb as it shows the troops in worn campaign dress.

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    1. Thanks Steve I will look out for the Blandford book , you never know !

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