Isengrim vs. Lires

Isengrim vs Lires, LW 100

German Panzergrenadier Company vs. British Infantry Comapany

OdeB:

 

German, Fortress Europe:

Formation: HQ, 3 x PanzerGrenadier Platoon (7xMG42, PzFaust), 7,5 cm Tank-Hunter Platoon (3xPaK), 8 cm Mortar Section (2x8 cm)

Support: 15 cm Nebelwerfer Battery (3x15cm NbW), Tiger Tank Platoon (3xTiger I), SdKfz 7/1 Quad AA Platoon (3xSdKfz 7/1 2cm quad)

 

British, Fortress Europe (from memory):

Formation: HQ, 3 x Rifle Platoon (or Motor Rifle Platoon) (full strength), 6pdr Gun Section (4x6pdr AT gun)

Support: 25 pdr Field Troop (4x25pdr), 25 pdr Field Troop (2x25pdr), Priest Field Troop (4xPriest), M10 SP Anti-Tank Platoon (4xM10 17pdr)

 

Both sides chose Defend, scenario: Dust-Up

 

The opposing forces deployed diagonally within their zones, Germans closer to the quarter borders, Britons deep into the defensive positions. Britons sent Achilles Platoon, Priest Battery and one Infantry Platoon to the reserve, Germans sent Tigers and AA platoon.

Lires won the roll-off for going first and chose not to do anything.

Germans started with moving one infantry platoon to each side, attempting a pincer move on the British wings. Left (western) wing platoon hid behind a hill, while the right (eastern) wing platoon moved at the double (Blitz + Follow Me orders) to cross a stream dividing two halfs of the battlefield, and hid in the orchard. Nebelwerfers managed to range in on the 25pdr battery, but only pinned it down.

In return, 25 pdrs started to “peel off” German artillery, killing one Nebelwerfer and pinning both 8 cm mortars too.

Both German artillery units failed to unpin, so the infantry moved forward uncovered. The platoon on the left wing failed Blitz so it rushed to the wheat field and shot at the 25 pdr battery, with little effect. It also tried to use cover of smokescreen laid by the 8 cm mortars, protecting it from 6 pdr fire. The platoon on the right wing reached houses on the southern side of the village next to the British positions, but had no clear shot.

In the third British turn, M10 (Achilles) platoon arrived and shot at the left-wing German infantry platoon, inflicting first casualties. 6 pdr guns and 25 pdr battery (direct fire) joined in, rest of the artillery kept pounding German guns (and keeping them pinned).

Having failed to call for reinforcement, Germans pushed forward with infantry only. The western wing platoon, crossed the river and assaulted the 25 pdr battery far in the north in a suicide charge, losing one to defensive fire but managing to reach the target. The eastern wing platoon entered three buildings on both southern and northern side of the village, leaving one too close to the British foxholes unoccupied. The western platoon lost some teams to the defensive fire but killed one of the 25 pdr guns but was unable to catch any further in a sweeping advance.

The stoic British were unimpressed. They called in another platoon of reinforcements (Priest battery) and started preparing an assault on the village. They did not pin the Germans down so decided not to charge yet. They also finished off the brave platoon leader (passed Last Stand twice) of the western platoon.

Tigers managed to enter the field but were able only to kill one infantry team from distance. Infantry in the village shot at the British infantry, managing to fail all 12 5+ shots. Nebelwerfers and Mortars either failed to range in or to do any damage to 25 pdr battery again.

The British infantry, supported by 6 pdrs assaulted the platoon occupying northern part of the village and, losing only two teams defensive fire and managing to push the Germans behind the southern line of buildings. At the western flank, M10s moved out to the side of the German positions and destroyed 1 Nebelwerfer in direct fire. Nebelwerfers failed the Last Stand and fled. Artillery also destroyed one of the PaKs, dug in in the central German position in a forest.

Germans pushed to the counter-attack in the village. Supported by Tigers and newly arrived 7/1 AA Guns, they managed to recapture the southern side of the village, killing some British infantry in process. The remaining platoon in the middle of the battlefield moved back to protect the objective and dug in.

This, however, led to exposure of the Tigers to Achilles fire. In an incredible shot, he scored 3 hits and destroyed two Tigers. Brits also managed to destroy 8 cm Mortar and – for sport – assaulted again at the infantry in the village, this time losing the assault and falling back to the northern side of the village.

At this point, Germans conceded the game.

8:1 for Piotr