Operation Sealion LCG

[Arctic Blast]

Just wanted to say, it's nice to see this back, Juggalo. [:)]

[TAIL GUNNER]

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

Just wanted to say, it's nice to see this back, Juggalo. [:)]

Many thanks.[8D]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 2:

Heavy artillery strikes pepper the enemy HMG unit and cause casualties and disruption. The leading StuG unit nears the enemy position while 1st Company trails behind.


Also led by a StuG unit, 3rd Company travels west along a road and identifies several Home Guard units in the surrounding countryside. Artillery strikes are called on these positions, while the StuGs take pause and fire on a half-strength Rifle Platoon that is blocking the way.

2nd Company arrives on the scene, and will trail 3rd Company until a strategic crossroads is captured.



[center]The hills have eyes![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 3:

1st Company approaches the enemy HMG platoon while the StuGs approach the small village of Trottiscliffe directly from the south. A Rolls-Royce Armored Car and some Rifle troops open fire on the StuGs, but the shots merely bounce off. The StuGs return fire blasts the armored car into scrap metal.
The paratroops are unable to dislodge the enemy HMG unit with direct fire and remain terribly exposed.

Further south, German artillery strikes effectively disable several Home Guard units, but the British reciprocate in kind when their own artillery shells began falling among 3rd Company's advancing units.
III Platoon and the Company's attached HMG platoon each take a 1SP loss.
Through the carnage, the StuGs and an attached Motorcycle Platoon race forward and eject an enemy HMG unit from their road-blocking position.



[center]1st Company exposed![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 4:

1st Company continues to be stymied by the lone half-strength British HMG unit. German HMG, StuG, and small arms fire are all ineffective. As a last-ditch effort, two of the paratroop platoons attempt an assault on the stubborn British unit, but it too fails.

On the southern route, 2nd and 3rd Companys make some headway, but a half-strength company of British Rifle troops guards the strategic Crossroads and must be dealt with.

Also, a company of Motorcycle Troops and two squadrons of armored cars arrive. They will advance on a dirt road to the south of 2nd and 3rd Company's position towards a small hamlet known as Little Comp.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 5:

1st Company finally finds a small sliver of success as the pesky HMG unit is assaulted and destroyed. However, another hidden half-strength Rifle Platoon opens fire on the paratroops as they slowly advance on Trottiscliffe.

The British are also doing a remarkable job of delaying the German advance near the Crossroads. 2nd and 3rd Company again make little headway as German units began bottling up behind the lines.



[center]The advance slows to a crawl![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 6:

But with the help of well placed artillery strikes and a strong German resolve, both fronts suddenly break the stalemate and claim their first objectives.

1st Company bursts into the town of Trottiscliffe after an artillery strike and expels the dazed and understrength British defenders with brute force. However, several of the enemy's understrength Rifle Platoons remain in the area and must be dealt with. III Platoon draws garrison duty and will defend the newly conquered town.

To the south, the British garrison guarding the Crossroads is largely destroyed by well-aimed small arms fire.

The Motorcycle troops and armored cars also make good progress and begin reconning the next objective.

The Plan (Phase 2)

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 7:

1st Company takes several parting shots at the British defenders still mulling about Trottiscliffe as they turn toward the southwest and begin their drive on Wrotham. III Platoon stays behind and takes up positions within the village itself. The area is nearly secured.

2nd Company wheels around to the northwest and will meet 1st Company at Wrotham, while 3rd Company begins their drive to the southwest towards Borough.

The armored cars have already spotted, and engaged several entrenched British units near Borough and radio for artillery strikes on the enemy positions.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 8:

The Germans continue their advance against minimal resistance but are somewhat slowed by several roadblocks and minefields.

3rd Company is momentarily surprised when a suicidal 4SP British Engineer Platoon bursts from some trees and charges directly towards them. However, the Germans quickly regain their composure and eradicate the hapless unit with concentrated firepower.



[center]Armored cars probe the enemy's defenses![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 9:

1st and 2nd Company units join-up near Moat Farm and soon come under fire from a Home Guard unit entrenched in Park Farm to the west. The British unit is more than an annoyance than an actual threat, but must be dealt with as it blocks the way.

Further south, as 3rd Company engages and destroys a Rolls Royce Armored Car, the Germans own armored cars successfully engage another depleted British Rifle compay near the town of Borough. The Motorcycle troops will soon enter the fray as well.



[center]1st and 2nd Company converge![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 10:

The Home Guard unit proves to provide only token resistance as it comes under suppressive German HMG fire and then quickly surrenders when three StuGs charge their positions to finish them off.
The rest of the German units relentlessly push on and close within 1km of their objective.

The southern advance also gains ground, but is slowed yet again by a damnable British roadblock.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 11:

2nd Company takes a southern advance on Wrotham and comes under ineffective fire from the small garrison. 1st Company, led by the StuGs, plans to assault from a northern direction.
The StuGs have unfortunatley mired themselves in a hidden minefield, but luckily escape damage.

Down south, 3rd Company and the recon units find success as they decimate the garrison at Borough and claim the village for Germany.



[center]Two-pronged assault![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 12:

1st and 2nd Company's advance on Wrotham slows to a crawl as the small, but determined enemy garrison mounts an effective defense.
A previously hidden British Rifle Platoon hiding in some buildings to the south of Wrotham ambushes the advancing 2nd Company and causes a 1SP loss to II Platoon.

Meanwhile, 3rd Company and the recon units mop-up remaining British units near Borough and resume the advance west.

The Germans are falling behind schedule, and must double their efforts to secure the main objective.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 13:

1st Company clears the northern approach to Wrotham while 2nd Company engages an understrength British Rifle Platoon to the south. Within the town square, a British Captain is spotted leading the defense.


3rd Company continues the advance west while the armored cars recon the area ahead.
Another devilish roadblock impedes the German's progress, and I. Battalion's Engineers are rushed to the scene to clear a path.



[center]A spirited defense![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 14:

As HMG fire peppers the British units in Wrotham, 2nd Company advances and engages the weary defenders from close range.
The defense bends, then breaks under the enormous firepower directed their way.

Captain Geis and his 1st Company paratroops seize the initiative and assault the city center.
After a brief firefight, the Germans claim yet another English township as a prize.


Further south, 3rd Company and the recon units press ever westwards.
Several more of the enemy's Rolls Royce Armored Cars and an Engineer Platoon are spotted off in the distance, but should pose little threat to the German advance.

The German armored cars approach a large Canning Factory, and occupy it after discovering the British garrison has abandoned their positions.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 15:

1st and 2nd Companys secure the town of Wrotham by either destroying the remaining British troops or taking them prisoner.


Meanwhile, 3rd Company and the recon units find their advance slowed by roadblocks and small bands of British troops near Ightham that resist until the end.

The tight German timetable is in jeopardy.



[center]The westward thrust delayed![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 16:

3rd Company and the Motorcycle troops effectively clear the area near Ightham of British resistance, but are forced to concede that they will not be able to advance as far west as High Command had planned within the scheduled time.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 17:

The Germans continue to secure their zone of operations by engaging several small British units scattered throughout the area.


German dive-bombers also make an appearance, and add further misery to the beaten enemy.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 18:

Despite not achieving their main objective, High Command is pleased to find that British strength is waning.
Major Gause reports that most British units were half-strength, and that they have resorted to using worthless weapons such as the Rolls Royce Armored Cars.



[center]Cursed roadblocks![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Conclusion:

Final Score: 524 - Minor Victory

Too many delays. The British units were small, but numerous and in good defensive terrain. For some odd reason most British Engineer units abandoned their positions and charged banzai-style when sighted!

German I Battalion losses(SPs):
2 Parachute Infantry Platoon
1 Machinegun Platoon

Other German losses(SPs):
1 Motorcycle Platoon


British losses (SPs):
7 Rolls Royce Armored Cars
2 OML 3-inch Mortars
36 Rifle Platoon
9 Engineer Platoon
14 Home Guard Platoon
5 Machinegun Platoon
2 Commander 2
4 Commander 2 (mot.)


Total British losses (SPs) to date:
50 Mark VI Light Tanks
13 A13 Cruiser Tanks
2 A13 CS Cruiser Tanks
7 Matilda II Infantry Tanks
7 Rolls Royce Armored Cars
61 Trucks
43 Carriers
20 2pdr Portee Anti-Tank Trucks
30 OML 3-inch Mortars
1 OQF 18-pounder Field Guns
20 OQF 2-pounder Anti-Tank Guns
4 OQF 3-inch Anti-Aircraft Guns
28 OQF 40mm Anti-Aircraft Guns
6 OQF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Guns
6 OBL 6-inch Howitzers
51 Carrier Rifle Section
529 Rifle Platoon
24 Commando Platoon
92 Engineer Platoon
53 Home Guard Platoon
4 Anti-Aircraft Machinegun Platoon
80 Machinegun Platoon
4 Regimental HQ
31 Battalion HQ (mot.)
2 Commander 1 (mot.)
26 Commander 2 (mot.)
24 Commander 3 (mot.)
8 Commander 2
3 Commander 3

Received 3 replacement points. 9 of the 12 paratrooper platoons are at 5 SPs. HMGs at full strength. Engineers remain at 4SPs.
Total Battalion strength is 88% of TOE.


Onward soldiers!
Only 36km to London!