William was going to join us in our weekly games for the next two weeks as it is the School Easter Holiday period. Of course that means only one period can feature on the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ this week. You guessed it of course, WWII! I decided on a pale imitation of a well known Michael Caine film with our game title giving a nod to the source, "The Seagull has Landed!" Set some weeks after a successful German landing under Operation Zeelöwe on the south coast Prime Minister Winston Churchill is visiting the works of Josiah Robinson & Son 'somewhere in the north of England' to view progress on a much anticipated secret weapon! Unfortunately some turncoat has betrayed this information to the Gestapo and a hurried raid has been put together under the direction of von Brecher with the objective of capturing Winston and stealing or eliminating the secret weapon and its inventor Professor Braenstawm...
The table layout showing both the Works in the distance and the Landing Zone of the strike force of Fallskrimjägers. And an AI generated topographical map Phil provided for me ~
Josiah Robinson & Son, the Empire Works, site of Top Secret weapon development overseen by Professor Braenstawm, the genius of his age ~
Winston giving his now customary greeting to the locals, just out of shot! While the Bishop of Matabeleland, enjoying a sabbatical, blesses local clergy and laity outside St Olaf's, all blissfully unaware of the drama about to unfold ~
On to the action via the now all too familiar anotated photomontage ~
"The Seagull has Landed!" Fallskrimjägers and Gestapo agents debus from their glider. Each squad can be placed 6" from the landing point, but then a throw of the Random Direction dice for each squad sees three back in the glider, yet to emerge.
Following on from the German deployment overseen by William and Phil, Captain Bykleigh deploys his Home Guard to defend the Works from attack while awaiting support from a column of Regulars. Will theybarrive in time or will the German reserves beat them to it?
The Fallskrimjägers make good progress in Turn 2, the run of the dice favouring the Germans.
By Turn 3 the Gestapo agents are also nearing the outskirts of the town, taking up positions along the hedge line.
To counter such a move a Home Guard Recce squad were peddling like fury to reach the hedge line first. They reach their goal but can they hold?
The remaining Squads await the oncoming Fallskrimjägers ready to give them a hot welcome!
A brisk firefight develops between the Recce Squad and the Gestapo agents. The outnumbered Home Guard are in a tight spot and see Pins Building up though initial losses are slight.
Unexpected rough going through a water meadow slows the advance of the enemy buying time for the Regulars to arrive, hopefully...
The supporting Smith Gun opens fire on the Fallskrimjägers as they struggle through the water meadows. Losses are so slight they might be firing onions!
The barrage fails to register any hits as the Gestapo cross the main road to assault the Recce Squad, but Pin markers may halt their advance.
The second Home Guard Squad dug in opposite the junction have taken four casualties. Their reduced firepower fails to stop the Fallskrimjägers moving on Bleak House Farm on their flank.
Mortar fire from both the 80 and 20mm mortars break the Home Guards' morale. The lone surviving Boy Scout runner makes for safety!
The Fallskrimjägers assault the Home Guard HQ position in Bleak House Farm. Bykleigh and his HQ are outnumbered and outclassed and inevitably succumb to their fate...
Von Brecher and his staff are caught under fire crossing the road! A Fubar results from a failed Order Test: they flee in Panic back into cover!
For a moment at least the crew of the Blacker Bombard have held up the enemy!
The loss of Bleak House Farm sees the flank of the Squad in St Olaf's threatened. They move to take up defensive positions! The situation is grave and no sign of those Regulars yet!
The Regulars finally have begun to arrive but the critical action is too far from their point of entry to be influenced quickly! So, like many an unsung hero before him, Professor Braenstawm moves forward in control of Tommy Adkins 01, covering the attempt to rush Winston to safety!
Taking advantage of the confusion caused by the surprise appearance of Tommy Adkins 01 Winston's car speeds away from the scene!
The escape route is threatened though by German reinforcements who have arrived just in the nick of time it seems!
Winston's driver is undettered, putting his foot down hard on the accelerator! The surprised Germans fail a test and unexpectedly stand aside allowing Winston to be whisked to safety!
In a final twist on the last Action Dice of the last Turn Professor Braenstawm is mortally wounded and Tommy Adkins 01 is captured to be hurried away to the Nazi scientists waiting with excited anticipation back in Berlin...
"They told us the British were retreating. They didn't tell us they left their monsters behind to guard the gates."
— Recovered diary of an unknown Obergefreiter.An Honourable draw to end the game. Winston is rushed away but Tommy Adkins 01 has been captured and Professor Braenstawm mortally wounded it seems. Home Guard losses are heavy and the town must fall to the Germans, but can it be held as more Regulars arrive...?
