Massive Engagement in Tiny Botolph Claydon, Bucks

Hey all, we went a little crazy this weekend and decided to do a 4000 per side mega battle for Operation Sealion. I did my best to set up the board to look like Botolph Claydon, a small town just to the south west of Winslow in Buckinghamshire, and honestly, I think it looks pretty good given the limitations of a gaming board vs. real life. Here we're also starting to use our new kill markers so hopefully you can see the ebb and flow of the battle a bit better. We've decided to go with red painted BF and Wargames Factory bases to highlight the location of killed teams. Let us know if you think it works out!

Now, read on for the bat rep!

Botolph Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England. Summer 1944. KG VonThrock, resting up from recent campaigning, decamped in the small shire town of Botloph Claydon. Elements of the KG were stationed in town with the balance of Throck's forces a few miles down the old orchard road at Claydon House. Task Force LoonyRotny, noting the split in the German forces decided a lightning strike from the north and south could cut the two halves off and they could be destroyed in detail. Early in the summer morning, with artillery in place and reconaissance in place the allied armies struck. Lord Loon, a native of the region mustered the local Home Guard and marched them south from Winslow to support the attack. This is a 4000 point per side cauldron scenario with the Germans as defenders and the Allies as attackers.

Task Force LoonyRotny Loon Orne Commandos/Home Guard HQ: 1 CMD Rifle Team Combat Plt 1: 2x CMD 12x Rifle/MG Combat Plt 2: 2x CMD 12x Rifle/MG Div Support 1: Ind. Armored Plt. 3x Sherman V 1x Firefly Div Support 2: Corps SP AT Platoon. 2x M10C 17 pdr Div Support 3: Royal Arty, 4x 25 pdr guns Div Support 4: Naval Gunfire Support Div Support 5: Limited Air Home Guard: 3x Platoons 6 Platoons 2000 Points Ronty Vana's Czech Tank's HQ: T-34/85 Cupola & Escort Combat Plt 1: 9x T-34/85 Cupola & Escort Combat Plt 2: 5x T-34/85 Cupola Corps Support 1: 3x IS-2 Corps Support 2: 2x Decoy Panther A 4 Platoons: 1995

KG VonThrock Kampfgruppe VonThrock HQ: 2x SMG Command, 1x Schreck, 3x Tracks Combat Plt 1: 1x Cmd SMG, 6x MG, 4x Tracks Combat Plt 2: 1x Cmd SMG, 6x MG, 4x Tracks Combat Plt 3: 1x Cmd SMG, 6x MG, 4x Tracks Weaps Plt 1: Gepanzerte Heavy Mortar 4x 12cm Mortar, 2x Observer, 1x Cmd Weaps Plt 2: Panzergren Anti Tank Gun Plt 3x Pak40, 1x Cmd SMG 3x Tracks Div Support 1: 4x Tigers Div Support 2: 5x Panther G Div Support 3: 2x 250 Tracks 4x 250/9 Tracks Div Support 4: Armored Rocket Launchers 4x Panzerwerfer 42 w/extra crew Div Support 5: A/A Plt, 3x Quad 2cm Div Supoort 6: Heavy AA 2x 8.8 FlaK 36 w/extra Crew Div Support 7: Priority Air Support HS-129B Warrior: Dietrick VonThrockmorton (von Saucken) 12 Platoons: 3995 pts.

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

Table Set Up

Smexy Road Shot

Germans Deploy Defensively in Botolph

8.8's Stay Limbered In order to react to Allied Deployment

Tigers Set up in the Bloody Lane, scene of some of the worst fighting of the battle

Brit Arty and IS-2's deploy on German left.

Brit Commando's Deploy on German Front and Front Right.

Czech Tankovy Deploy to german Front/Left

UNITS IN RESERVE
Task Force LoonyRotny 5x T-34 1x Commando Company 1x Home Guard Company Sherman's M10's	KG VonThrock 1x Recce Team PaK 40's Quad Ack Ack 1x Panzer Gren Plt Panthers Mortars

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: Arty on the table was key, as was a good number of tanks to try and push forward and lock down at least one of the objectives early on. They held the balance of their Infantry in reserve to put pressure where it was needed when the time came for the final assault and kept just enough on the German Right to keep the Panzer Grens busy while the tanks and arty did their bloody work. KG VonThrock: I knew I had to hold and rely on my mobility to move assets to where the fighting flared up. I kepts the 88s Limbered and while I had my Panzergrens deployed I knew I could move 'em out quick with the tracks to where ever they needed to be. The small deployment zone for my guys here was helpful as I could mutually defend a small front.

TURN 1

88's move up to the left corner and right Panzergrens move up to the farm on the right.

Tigers take out a 25 pdr First Blood! And first use of our new Kill Markers!

T-34's move up into the field on the front left of the German Lines

Bottom Turn 1

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: Some spot on t38 shooting blast the arty spotter out of their nest but the range hurts the rest of the tank fire. However the rest of the commnados do not much,pinniing some panzergrens but doing nothing more KG VonThrock: Some tactical movement by the germans put them in good positions to hold off the commando advance. The rockets however leave much to be desired causing nothing but pinning on the is 2 front. Tigers blast at the arty scoring one cannon.

TURN 2

Recce Kills the Naval Spotter

Commando's advance on the town and push the panzer grens from the municipal building (train station)

88's deploy and panzer grens pull back, licking their wouds from the assault

Decoy Panthers and T-38's move up to engage the tigers

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr 1x Naval Spotter 3x Commando Team	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter 2x Panzer Gren Team

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: some arty open up now that they have unpinned but their small arms can not crack the tigers. The T-38's move up on the flank however they fail to hurt the german tanks. The commandos try to pin the grenadiers but fall short by 1 hit. The commandos assault and push the germans out taking the building and hoping for some cover next turn. KG VonThrock: 88's get set up and start taking shots into the t38s but doing nothing but bailing 1. Rockets take more shots at the arty but failed firepower leaves them pinned but uhnarmed. Concentrated fire to the naval observer ends him cold.

TURN 3

Panzer Grens counter assault the municipal building leading to the mutual destruction of both teams

Tigers and 88's take out 3 T-34's

M-10's Show Up

And, along with the IS-2's and T-34's do some real damage to the Tigers

End of Turn 3

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr 1x Naval Spotter Commando Platoon 1: DESTROYED 3x T-34	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter Panzer Grenadier Platoon 1: DESTROYED 2x Tigers

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: Now we get our free reserves when we fail! Which we do, but we bring in the m10's to try and crack the Tigers. They come on and score 2 hits followed by 2 bails. The T38s with 1s2s break 2 tanks leaving the tigers in danger. The commnados do litte except inconvenience the germans. KG VonThrock: No reserves but a unpin allows the germans to be aggressive and take their station back as they move in for the kill. The commandos pass saves and the machine guns cant crack the building but they are left pined. The tigers begin pounding the T-34s taking 3 out of action and bailing a handful more. The germans move in for the kill but whiff as the expert commandos take cover and return in kind killing 3 trays. However the support of a second platoon finish the commandos but the rest of the assaulting germans run.

TURN 4

Panthers Come on from Reserve

And pop their decoy friends

Home guard arrive! (maked by a bit of cotton to differentiate on the table.)

With the commando comrades, putting some real threat on the German left

Commando's on the front right move up to pressure the German Grens

And the IS-2's continue reducing the Tigers

Turn 4 End

Also... Turn 4 End

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr 1x Naval Spotter Commando Platoon 1: DESTROYED 3x T-34 Decoy Panthers: DESTROYED	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter Panzer Grenadier Platoon 1: DESTROYED Tigers DESTROYED 88's DESTROYED

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: 3 successful reserve rolls puts most of our army on the table and the commandos lead the home guard onto the table. The is2s move up to support the push as do the t38s however the smoke dropped by the rockets means that there is little chance to take advantage of the push. However, but the 88s die to the torrent of gun fire. The tigers also meet a grim fate as the Arty cracks 1 and bails a second. They fail their morale test and DIE! KG VonThrock: My Panthers Show up! This makes me quite the happy little Zeltbewoner (that's german for camper) 1 of tigers unpins as do the Grens. That lone tiger opens up on the M10's and Kills bot. The germans panthers come from behind crackingthe impersonators. the arty drop some smoke to slow the is2 destruction.

TURN 5

Small T-34 Unit shows up

Reserve Panzer Grens show up and assault the front left commandos, wiping them out

Rockets & Air Support Take a Bite out of the home guard and advancing commandos

Sherman's Show Up

And race towards the undefended objective!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr 1x Naval Spotter Commando Platoon 1/1: DESTROYED 3x T-34 Decoy Panthers: DESTROYED Commando Platoon 1/2: DESTROYED 5x Home Guard 2x 2/1 Commando Platoon	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter Panzer Grenadier Platoon 1: DESTROYED Tigers DESTROYED 88's DESTROYED

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: The naval guns, which have refused to range in under the 1iC, finally respond to orders, however the 2 half tracks roll the ridiculous box cars to bail (MUAHAHAH, French Dice for the Win). The t38s are less than effective on the panthers as shots ricochet off the heavy tanks. The arty fail to drop the covering smoke to help the shermans quick advance on the objective. KG VonThrock: Air support comes in again to strafe the home guard. The commandos take a beating losing many to poor saves and the home guard and commnados repeat the processs when the arty drop the shells. The panzergrenades charge the commnados crushing them under their tracks. Good turn me... Well, thanks me!

TURN 6

Panzers Grens Move up to respond to the Sherman Threat

Rockets do more damage to the advancing home guard

The Reserve Panzergrens stormtrooper up and get into the corner for the left objecting.

Right grens get out and defend the right objective.

Homeguard and Commando's Move up to threated the Left Objective

The Furball in the Farm Intensifies as the Panthers and 34's start trading kills

Carnage at the Bloody Corner

Shermans move up and score a Panzerwefer

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr 1x Naval Spotter Commando Platoon 1/1: DESTROYED 3x T-34 Decoy Panthers: DESTROYED Commando Platoon 1/2: DESTROYED 10x Home Guard 2x 2/1 Commando Platoon 2x T-34 from Small Platoon 1x Sherman 1iC DESTROYED	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter Panzer Grenadier Platoon 1: DESTROYED Tigers DESTROYED 88's DESTROYED 2x Panther 1x Panzerwerfer

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: The t38s return the favor smashing 2 panthers but again the enemy holds. The commnados move into position for next turn but lack the hitting power to do much as the arty misses and the 1ic gets smashed on a failed assault. KG VonThrock: I get my PaK40's and they head up to the hill infront of the town. Next turn I may just get some shots on the Shermans and 34's. My recce and command half-tracks hail mary a kill and two bails on the Shermans, NOICE.

TURN 7

Rockets score more kills on the incoming Home Guard

PaK40's on the Hill score more kills on the Shermans Forcing them to Flee

IS-2's, Homeguard and Commando's Move Up

Combat at the Bloody Corner Intensifies

As does the furball in the field

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr 1x Naval Spotter Commando Platoon 1/1: DESTROYED 3x T-34 Decoy Panthers: DESTROYED Commando Platoon 1/2: DESTROYED 15x Home Guard 5x 2/1 Commando Platoon 2x T-34 from Small Platoon Shermans DESTROYED 1iC DESTROYED 2x 2/2 Commando Platoon	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter Panzer Grenadier Platoon 1: DESTROYED Tigers DESTROYED 88's DESTROYED 3x Panther 1x Panzerwerfer

TURN 7 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: Commandos dig in and the Home Guard fail to, it must be a matter of training. The IS-2's eat a Panther but the advance is stalling as Throck firms up his defenses. KG VonThrock: We had some confusion on how to draw line of sight from Hills vis a vis interveining terrain. Can you see over buildings that are lower? Can you not? We decided to go with it, and the Sherman's paid with their steely hulls. My AA, and other assets begin to move into position to defend the objective on my Left.

TURN 8

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Task Force LoonyRotny 1x 25 lbr 1x Naval Spotter Commando Platoon 1/1: DESTROYED 5x T-34 Decoy Panthers: DESTROYED Commando Platoon 1/2: DESTROYED 15x Home Guard 5x 2/1 Commando Platoon T-34 Small: DESTROYED Shermans DESTROYED 1iC DESTROYED 2x 2/2 Commando Platoon	KG VonThrock 1x Armored Rocket Spotter Panzer Grenadier Platoon 1: DESTROYED Tigers DESTROYED 88's DESTROYED 3x Panther 1x Panzerwerfer

TURN 8 SUMMARY

Task Force LoonyRotny: Our assault failed, it's time to quit the field and lick our wounds. KG VonThrock: PaK 40's and my 1 remaining Panther take out 4 T-34's as my arty continue to blast the home guard and commandos.

That was an awesome game. That many points, I thought would be unwieldly, but the game really scales well at the 4000 point per side level. I don't think most force orgs could go higher than that and still remain manageable. My panzer grens put up a great fight and when those Home Guard, Shermans and Commandos all showed up on one turn threatening both german objectives at the same time I thought I was sunk. Really great game by Rotny and Loon. When you win, and you thought you were going to lose, you know you had a close game and this one was the closest, hinging on multiple critical die rolls and deployment decisions. It really highlighted how critical movement is to the game. A great time was had by all. ~Throck.

Generated by WWPD's BatRepper Software.