1940, Somewhere in France

Our regular Tuesday game should have been at Phil's this week but my foot is still not cooperating I'm afraid to say, so Phil gamely volunteered to pop over to GHQ so we didn't miss another week. We decided on a WWII game using my small 1940 collection and Bolt Action v3 as our rules. Now, I don't have a copy of these, but fortunately Phil does. {I didn't buy a copy, viewing the price asked as frankly just short of usuary!} We've had a few trial runs with the pre-released rule snippets so hopefully we would cope! As ever then an annotated photomontage follows to carry you into the action somewhere in France, 1940, on the road to Dunkerque. The outnumbered British forces must deny the bridge crossing to the advancing Germans to enable the supporting French to take up new defensive positions and more British soldiers to be lifted from the beaches. Six Turns, with a possible Seventh, would see night fall and a British victory if they still held the bridge ~

The 3" mortar fires on the advancing Germans to open proceedings...

...close, but no cigar! The Germans advance through the barrage!

The emplaced 2lb Anti-tank gun opens fire on the lead German Panzer 38T...

...scoring a hit! Superficial damage, but the tank is immobilised, effectively blocking the road to its supporting tanks. 

The bren gun team fire on the leading German unit; no casualties result from the fire but the first Pin Marker appears.

A bottleneck is quickly developing for the attacking Germans with the road blocked by the immobilised 38T and the supporting infantry squad pinned.

British engineers have done what they can to fortify the ridge line overlooking the bridge. The Vickers MkVI tanks advance towards the bridge to deter the German advance.

Further along the ridge the line is lightly defended by machine guns and a supporting infantry squad. Their 2" mortar team will be used to put down covering smoke.

The German advance is developing on their left as they plan to flank the British right and force a withdrawal.

The 80mm mortar scores a series of direct hits on the British left. One machine gun are destroyed and the crew killed, with the remainder fleeing after failing their morale check!

The first German squad has reached the banks of the river. The engage in a desultory firefight with the entrenched British on the low ridge.

The immobilised 38T is knocked out by the leading Vickers Mk VI. It goes up in flames and is hastily abandoned by it's crew! An important moment in the fight for both sides.

The 3" mortar lays down fire on the German squad nearest the river...

...they suffer minor losses but pick up more Pin markers. The assault just became that little more difficult.

Under the cover of the smoke shells from the 2" mortar the leading Vickers Mk VI crosses the bridge. It's companion is less enthusiastic it seems, while the loan Matilda MkI engaged the German machine guns targeting the infantry on the British left 

Despite the best efforts of the British infantry the German attack is gaining dangerous momentum on their left. The Commander arrives to coordinate what he hopes will be the decisive attack.

British reinforcements arrive in the nick of time but crucially are caught in the open, suffering losses and gaining Pin Markers in number!

A German squad occupying ruins on the British centre are laying down a bothersome fire on the enemy. Losses are slight but Pin Markers are mounting. Coordinating the British defence is becoming more difficult.

Just as the balance is moving to favour the Germans their PAK38 anti-tank gun is hit, it's crew killed and the gun destroyed by the 3" mortar!

The British reinforcements are suffering mounting casualties but crucially they are holding up the German assault on their right flank as Pin Markers mount on the attackers.

The German attack is becoming harder to coordinate at squads fail to rally or to pass Order Tests due to the number of Pin Markers despite the presence of the commander in the front line!

Chaos grips the German tank force. One is destroyed, one fails five consecutive Rally Tests and the command tank is held up by the fire from the British 2lb Anti-tank gun on the ridge.

Losses on the British left have been substantial, but with the tank chaos the Germans cannot press home the advantage there. The survivors cling on grimly and lay down nuisance fire on the distant Germans.

Turn Seven sees the last chance for the Germans unravel with a succession of British Command Dice drawn from the bag! Phil concedes at this point, knowing his force has spent itself despite best efforts. His plan was sound, the British defence desperate, but the loss of his 38T's proved decisive! A win! But for my foot I might have done a lap of honour!!!