"Beeilt euch, schnell, die Tommys sind da!"

Tuesday this week was the last chance in the school summer holidays for William to join Phil and me for a game here in GHQ, so as a treat for him I laid on a WWII game set for D-Day, 6th June 1944...

The dawn of D-Day... the Allies first wave approaches Dagger Beach (fictional of course). The objectives are :-

1. Clear the beach and establish a beach head, for a (very) minor victory.

2. Clear the Germans from the most forward ruins along the 'Rue de la Plage', for a clear minor victory.

3. Drive inland and clear the town of  'Pendeux', for a major victory; "La Libération est proche! Peut-être, Peut-être pas?"

Starting position for the Allied landings on Dagger Beach  prior to the initial offshore bombardment. Phil and William took command of the Allied landing force leaving me to take charge of the German defence forces. I should say at this juncture that I can't recall ever winning a game set around D-Day as the Germans...perhaps this time? Shall we see how things turned out?

Supported by a second surviving Sherman DD and a Sherman Flail Tank Major P.J.Robinson sends his men forward to neutralise the central German anti-tank gun emplaced at the end of the sea wall. German fire is heavy but ineffective!

Supported by the Sherman DD which survived to reach the beach troops of the South Staffords under LtCol W.D.'Lucky'Watkiss rush forward to seize their initial objective. Once more German fire proves ineffective. 

On the Allied left the cunningly camouflaged anti-tank casement is struck by the 'Flying Dustbin' fired from the Churchill AVRE and knocked out without firing a shot!

The German troops manning the sea wall defences and serving the emplaced anti-tank gun at the sea wall's end are not the best and must have been stunned by the initial Naval bombardment as they fail repeatedly to register any hits! You may be seeing a pattern emerging here? 🎲

Back on the Allied right the surviving Sherman DD knocks out the second casement enfilading the beach head. In the centre troops hurry to attempt to neutralise the Tobruk and clear a way through the surrounding wire, all the time under enemy fire from all around. Men fall but their comrades press forward.

Having knocked out the anti-tank gun in the left casement the Churchill AVRE makes short work of the sea wall. The South Staffords surge forward to engage the stunned survivors before they can recover!

The Sherman Flail Tank breaches the wire, taking advantage of the very poor performance by the anti-tank gun crew! Heavy Allied fire is beginning to take its toll on the defenders.

The South Staffords decide to bypass the stubborn Tobruk defenders, leaving it to the Royal Engineers and their Flamethrower team! The last remaining strongpoint along the beach head falls as survivors surrender!

Having neutralised one Casemate the Sherman DD makes light work of the open anti-tank  gun emplacement. The wire is breached and despite their losses the first troops in this sector are off the beach!

The survivors from the sea wall fall back beyond Rue de la Plage and take up positions in a once Grande Maison now reduced to rubble. It's not all over yet despite early Allied successes.

All is not going smoothly though for the Allies on their left as the ruins of  Raunslie-les-Bains, another hamlet along the coast road, are occupied by dug in troops of a higher quality. Hastily they try to contact their supporting inland artillery. Sadly the local Maquis have destroyed the phone lines in the area! 🎲

German reserves make slow progress towards the front. Conflicting reports from the beach area are confusing as to where the break out is most severe! It would seem that Bikelbürger is being found wanting!

At German HQ confusion reigns with communications disrupted and refugees beginning to block vital roads. The early Allied success in establishing their beach head has put the Germans on the wrong foot.

Congestion in and around Pendeux is not aiding the German command in managing its response to the ongoing fighting at the front. Morale is crumbling first around the Grande Maison ruins and then at Raunslie-les-bains.

Casualties streaming from the front line to casualty clearing stations add to the disruption faced by the Germans in responding to unfolding developments. It seems that the Allies have established a viable beach head [a very minor victory remember] and are driving inland to clear the built-up areas along Rue de la Plage [a clear minor victory]. If German Morale collapses widely then Pendeux may be liberated!

The 120mm mortar battery proved ineffectual when communication was finally established from the hard pressed defenders...

While the 150mm battery was never called into action despite repeated efforts to establish contact... 🎲🎲🎲

Well, there you have it, another German defeat. I found it hard to throw anything above a 3 right through the game while Phil and Will were more successful with the dice! Especially failing to inflict significant initial losses and later to contact artillery supports made the fight for the infantry doubly difficult. The rules were Rapid Fire Reloaded which William got to grips with under Phil's patient guidance! We all enjoyed the game I think, though William probably the most in besting Grandad, again...