British Airlanding Company versus German Festungkompanie

Operation Unicorn

Seize and Hold mission for Flames of War

I brought my adhoc German force over to Jamie's house for some 4th of July fireworks. Jamie ran his British Air Landing Company complete with 4 gliders assaulting Unicorn bridge. I played the unaware Germans which I built a force using the Festungskompanie out of Earth & Steel modeled after the 716 Infanteriedivision. We used the Seize and Hold scenario.

 

Here is the setup:

Holding one objective is a platoon of grenadiers and a unit of Luftwaffe 88mm guns. In a strong defensive position between the canals is another grenadier platoon and the company headquarters. On the far side of both canals is a battery if 15.5cm guns and a unit of 3.7cm flak guns.

Just after midnight the gliders landed. 3 out of the 4 gliders reached the area and 1 of those 3 crash landed killing just under half of the platoon. The other 2 gliders landed perfectly. Captain Mott lead his troops out of the gliders and after some fierce hand-to-hand fighting took the positions away from the German defenders.

 

A unit of Tetrarchs have appeared on the board just on the other side of the town as the Coup-de-Main.

The Germans, trying to organize themselves, load up the 3.7cm flak guns and try to get them over to the action but the trucks are not navigating the woods very well at night. A well, placed observer tries to find the tanks in the night but can only hear them and not see them.

 

Turn 2

 

The Paras on the glider which landed off the table arrive behind the Tetrarch platoon. They start heading towards the objective. In their way is an HMG nest which is neutralized without much effort. A small detachment of Paras occupy the building covering the bridge. 

 

 

 

The Germans get a platoon of grenadiers which arrive just down the road from the positions held by the Paras in the trench lines. They try to make it into the woods overlooking the Paras position but are not fast enough to get the entire platoon under cover. The flak guns are still having problems getting the trucks out of the woods.

 

 

 

Turn 3

 

The small artillery platoon arrives on the board for the Paras, They arrive on the heals of the grenadier platoon which just made it onto the field. They are very impetuous and after firing some of the teams charge the grenadiers. This turned out to be a bit much as the grenadiers beat them back and almost wiped out the entire platoon. The Tetrarchs supported by the infantry platoon come to support their artillery unit.

Just after this combat morning breaks and a unit of 4.7cm anti-tanks guns roll onto the field behind the Tetrarchs which they bail one of the airborne tanks. The spotter can now see the tanks and call in the artillery. The battery is able to bail another Tetrarch. The grenadiers, hungry to eliminate the airborne artillery, charge the remnants of the force but are unsuccessful. A combination of defensive fire and bad hand-to-hand skills (or die rolls) result in most of the grenadier platoon being killed.
Hauptman Lewis gets his troops going out of their trench line and moving to cross the canal. The flak guns are slowed by the ford but are trying to get into the fight.

Turn 4

1 of the Tetrarchs remounts and they use their speed to get to the rear of the anti-tanks guns. After their murderous fire the anti-tank platoon abandons their guns and runs. The Paras in the trenches fire upon the floundering grenadiers killing one more team.

A platoon of Stugs arrive on the fair side of the field between the canals. They double-time up to the bridge. They are hoping to make a difference in this fight. The Hauptman gets the grenadier platoon to get to the bridge and starting to cross. The Trained artillery are still not making a difference as they range in on the Tetrarch platoon but do not score any hits.

Turn 5

The Paras outside the trench lines try to occupy the buildings of the town but are finding entering the buildings is harder than it looks. The Paras in the building covering the bridge open up on the infantry in the open. This was devastating to the Germans as they fail 5 of 6 saves and the platoon runs.

The Ost Platoon for the Germans arrive next to the battered grenadier platoon just outside the Paras trench line. This is the last chance for the Wermacht. All of the firepower (flak guns, Stugs and artillery) are ineffective. As the Germans last hurrah, the Ost Platoon tries to assault the Paras trench line and contest the objective. In the Paras defensive fire they obliterate the platoon and the rest run away.

Wrap up

This was a 6-1 victory for Jamie! Great job mate!

The Paras did not lose a single platoon but some were badly damaged. On the other hand the Germans lost 3 grenadier platoons, 1 Ost platoon, 1 88 platoon and 1 anti-tank platoon.

This was a very fun game and a great scenario!! I took a different force than I told Jamie earlier and this proved to not phase him. Thanks mate for the great game and looking forward to the next one!!