Normandy Campaign-Saint Auban-sur-Mer

This past week, we had our 2nd battle in the Normandy campaign at Saint Aubain-sur-Mer with German Kp.5.IR.736.ID.716 (zug #2) defending against a platoon from the British 3rdID/2.

Here are some photos of the table set up, we played the 3rd scenario from the CoC main book "Attack and Defend".  In this game the Germans are tasked with defending the regimental headquarters of IR716 just on the outskirts of Saint Aubain-sur-Mer in a walled chateau. This is bocage country, so lots of hidden movement possible as well as hard cover all around. 

Gestapo officer, Colonel Puntanesca

Bocage Alley

Overview

British attacking from the left

We played the patrol phase on P-Y's ap, this worked very well.

I felt Jur got the better of me in the Patrol Phase

Forces

British 3rd Infantry Division (platoon #2)

FM 8

Supports 6

Standard British Rifle Platoon

Sherman

German Kp.5.IR.736.ID.716 (zug #2)

FM 10

Supports 3

Standard German Grenadier Platoon

Sd.Kfz. 250

The Game

The Brits advance is rapid, they make excellent use of their smoke and advance their green squad through the field with support from their blue squad behind the bocage in hard cover. The Germans counter by placing their yellow and green squads behind the stone wall of the chateau.

The Brits also deploy their blue squad to advance on their right flank, unfortunately the Germans can not get their third squad on the table to counter as the Brits have had multiple back to back phases. They have also deployed their Sherman to the centre.

The Germans move their yellow squad to counter this threat on their left flank but as you can see their green squad is taking a pounding.

The Germans finally get their MMG armed Sd.Kfz 250 in close range but it does little to the British blue squad behind the hedge that has now denied the German left flank JOP to them.

The German green squad beats a tactical retreat, this is a campaign after all.

The Brits have brought up their Sherman behind the bocage , they can now rain HE on the German blue squad that has deployed behind the charteau wall to counter the threat on their right flank. But the Germans have 2 CoC dice and spring an Ambush with their Panzerschreck team. They are pretty close but the Sherman is obscured, they need a 8 to hit, they roll 2d6.....two 4's. The ATW makes quick work of the Sherman with their 13d6 AP against the Sherman's 6 armour. Jur rolls a 6, the Sherman blows up....the British FM is plunging. 

The German blue squad JL has taken a hit, the German SL runs to get in command range.  They fire at the depleted British green squad in the field.....

.....they break and fall back interpenetrating the blue squad behind the bocage , shock piles up. The British FM falls to 4 while the Germans are at 8 still. The players have lost 11 figures per side, it has been a bloody battle. The Brits withdraw to fight another day.

Butcher's Bill

British Platoon #2 (3rd ID)

FM 4

5 dead, 3 missing

CO -1

MO -2

German Kp.5.IR.736.ID.716 (zug #2)

FM 8

3 dead, 2 missing

CO +1

MO +1

Tactical Decisions

yet to be decided!