Operation Sealion LCG

[TAIL GUNNER]

I. Battalion is next tasked with crossing the Darent River and seizing several key objectives to the southeast of London.

Other German units assisting I. Battalion include two squadrons of the ever-present StuG IIIBs, two batterys of 75mm Mountain Guns, a battery of 20mm AA Guns, and a full battalion of 150mm Guns for long-range artillery support.

1st Company, recon assets including armored cars and Motorcycle troops, plus a company of Panzer IVDs should arrive shortly.

Luftwaffe support is minimal.

The German plan calls for a two-pronged assault.

The Plan: (Phase 1)

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 1:

The StuGs once again lead the way on both fronts, and promptly get themselves in trouble.

On the western advance, 2nd Company's StuGs reveal a 4SP Rifle Platoon holed up in the small village of Seal. As the StuGs try to manuever around the British unit to block their path of retreat, they slip into an enemy minefield and become disrupted.

The StuGs attached to 3rd Company's northern advance fair worse. While approaching the village of Kemsing from the south, a 4SP unit of British Engineers fires on the German armor and torches one. The two surviving vehicles are badly shaken and will need some time to recover.

Artillery strikes are called on both enemy positions to soften them up, but it is an auspicious start to the battle.



[center]Scratch one StuG![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 2:

Artillery strikes effectively disrupt the enemy units, so 2nd Company takes advantage of the situation and violently expels the British Rifle Platoon from the village of Seal.

3rd Company fans out to prepare an attack on the suppressed Engineer Platoon in Kemsing and exact revenge for their StuG comrades.

The 75mm Mountain Guns are used in a direct-fire mode, targeting several of the enemy's HMG and AT assets entrenched in the hills overlooking the battlefield.

1st Company arrives and is assigned to assist 3rd Company on their drive north.
I. Battalion's Engineers also arrive and will assist 2nd Company with clearing roadblocks to the west.
Some trucks attached to the 75mm Mountain Guns are dispatched to ferry them west.



[center]2nd Company kicks hard![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 3:

Heavy enemy artillery shells rain down on the German attackers, destroying several valuable trucks. Their transport options now reduced, I. Battalion's Engineers must walk.

3rd Company finds success and captures the village of Kemsing as well as the defending British Engineer unit.
1st Company trails closely behind.

The StuGs scout ahead and discover the British have turned the area around 1st and 3rd Company's next objective into an all-out fortress.

The German's fears have come true.
The closer they get to London, the more dangerous and determined their foes will become.



[center]The next objective looks a tough nut to crack![/center]

[auHobbes37]

I am enjoying reading this very much.

My old Talonsoift WF disk finally died, and once 1.03 comes out, i'm in.

[TAIL GUNNER]

ORIGINAL: auHobbes37

I am enjoying reading this very much.

My old Talonsoift WF disk finally died, and once 1.03 comes out, i'm in.

Right on Hobbes...it's always cool to see another old sheep reenter the fold...[8D]

Thanks for the nice comment,
ChadG

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 4:

1st and 3rd Companys pivot westward from Kemsing along a dirt road and soon come under fire from a small British Rifle unit that has taken up positions in some ramshackle buildings which line the road. The German's return fire causes some casualties and disruption, but the stubborn British retain their position and must be dealt with.
The Germans grimly admit that the British have mastered the art of using small, well-defended units to disrupt the German advance with good effect.
The German paratroops are also harassed by HMG fire coming from hills to the north. 75mm artillery shells are called upon and eradicate the enemy nuisance.

Meanwhile, further south, 2nd Company closes in on the important city of Sevenoaks. The British have also bolstered their defenses here as numerous defensive improvements are seen lining the edge of the city.
Fortunately, 2nd Company will have assistance storming this city as some much-needed reinforcements arrive.

Four freshly rebuilt and full-strength platoons of Motorcycle Troops arrive.
One unit is immediately attached to 1st and 3rd Company's advance and sent west.
The other three, which are a company from the 18th Panzer Recon, are sent speeding south to assist 2nd Company's treacherous assault on Sevenoaks.

German morale also rises a bit with the arrival of their old friends; Captain Störck and his company of Panzer IVDs.
Although the Panzers are only half-strength, the Germans are certainly glad to have whatever help they can get.

However, the armored cars have been delayed for unknown reasons.



[center]British "bug-units" slow the advance![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Recent activity in the AAR sub-forum has awakened some slumbering force inside of me and now screams at me non-stop to dust off this old AAR and finally finish it![:'(]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 5:

The promised armored cars finally arrive!

1st and 3rd Company clear the road and begin moving out towards their next objective about 2km to the northwest; the highly fortified Warrenhold Farm. Sporadic enemy fire from the treeline to the north does little to hinder their progress.

Further south, 2nd Company pulls back from the eastern outskirts of the Sevenoaks/Greatness area after taking some minor casualties and awaits reinforcement.

Two StuGs, several armored cars, and a company of motorcycle troops are on their way.




[center]2nd Company gets a bloody nose![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 6:

Led by armored cars and several StuGs, 1st and 3rd Company rush west through harassing fire from the treeline onward towards the Farm.

The troops make it safely through, but tragedy strikes when 3rd Company's Captain Sieglin is instantly killed by a stray bullet.


2nd Company devises a new plan to attack the Sevenoaks area from the north after a defiant Home Guard unit denys entrance from the east.



[center]Curse you, you bastards![/center]

[Jason Petho]

Excellent to see the AAR back up and running.

Quick question. Just noticed, are you not playing with Extreme Fog of War?

Jason Petho

[TAIL GUNNER]

ORIGINAL: Jason Petho

Excellent to see the AAR back up and running.

Quick question. Just noticed, are you not playing with Extreme Fog of War?

Jason Petho

I usually play with it on, but to write a more engrossing AAR I chose to leave it off so I could detail what units I was engaging in battle.

By the way, I remember you saying you would update this LCG.....may I offer a suggestion?

Just a personal choice, but I like to know which enemy formation I'm fighting....it adds a bit of immersion.

Impossible to tell this during the game, but you could set the stage in the Scenario briefings.
Something to the effect:
"After giving the British 80th Division a severe drubbing, the Germans pursue the fleeing enemy north, only to run into freshly deployed troops of the 81st Division......"

Just a thought,
ChadG

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 7:

British artillery observers correct their targeting, and pummel the exposed paratroopers of 1st and 3rd Company with deadly high-explosive shells. Four SPs are lost between the two Companys, with 1st Company's I. Platoon reduced to 1/3 strength. They will relieve II. Platoon of guard duty at Kensing.

Despite these grim losses, the paratroops move on closer towards the fortified Warrenhold Farm. Armored cars and the StuGs begin probing the outer defenses, and engage several well-fortified enemy MGs which easily shrug off the German fire.

To the south, 2nd Company pushes on to take positions to the northwest of the Sevenoaks/Greatness area while three platoons of supporting motorcycle troops dismount to the east.

[Jason Petho]

ORIGINAL: Juggalo

By the way, I remember you saying you would update this LCG.....may I offer a suggestion?

Just a personal choice, but I like to know which enemy formation I'm fighting....it adds a bit of immersion.

Impossible to tell this during the game, but you could set the stage in the Scenario briefings.
Something to the effect:
"After giving the British 80th Division a severe drubbing, the Germans pursue the fleeing enemy north, only to run into freshly deployed troops of the 81st Division......"

Just a thought,
ChadG

Excellent suggestion indeed! I'll incorporate that into the descriptions.

Jason Petho

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 8:

1st and 3rd Companys continue to dodge artillery shells and slowly pick their way west; with the PanzerIVs bringing up the vanguard. The leading StuGs, armored cars, and a platoon of motorcycle troops successfully push the enemy MG unit out of it's position on the defensive perimeter of the Farm.

The British have mined both sides of the road to Warrenhold Farm which creates a natural killing zone. But quite puzzling to the Germans, there does not appear to be many enemy forces occupying the extensive defensive works.

While 2nd company continues to maneuver to the north of Sevenoaks, the company of dismounted motorcycle troops attacks from the east and pushes a half-strength unit of Home Guards back.



[center]StuGs......Charge![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 9:

Proving once again that they're worth more than their weight in gold, the relentless StuGs lead the charge into the Warrenhold Farm strongpoint and evict the remaining MG team as well as several British leaders. 1st and 3rd Company follow closely behind, while the accompanying motorcycle platoon blasts a Battalion HQ to smithereens.
Far to the rear, Major Gause muses: "If only for a brigade of these wonderful beasts! I would dine in the Queen's quarters this very evening!"
Despite this victory, British heavy artillery continues to give the Germans a massive headache as yet another paratroop SP is put out of action along with one of the few remaining PanzerIVs.

Down south, 2nd Company reveals themselves as they begin their attack from the north of Greatness. But strong British counter-fire forces their retreat after several well-hidden enemy infantry units open up at point-blank range. Luckily, the Germans escape without incurring further casualties.
The company of motorcycle troops fare far much better. Several depleted British Rifle Platoons and a battered Home Guard unit incur further casualties as they are beaten back.



[center]Motorcycle troops crash the party through the side door![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 10:

Units of the German's northern thrust consolidate their gains around the Warrenhold Farm; eliminating the remaining MG team as well as several unfortunate British leaders.
All motorised units, plus I. and III. Platoon from the 3rd Company, and Captain Geis and his III. and IV. Platoons from 1st Company now turn their gaze further north.
All remaining units are ordered west towards the village of Otford.

Meanwhile, the units of the southern thrust squeeze the British defending Greatness on two sides, and make considerable gains into the urban sprawl.

The Plan: (Phase 2) - Northern Thrust

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 11:

With no time to celebrate, the majority of German motorised and armored units wheel north and begin their trek towards Shoreham.
The leading armored cars bump into a fleeing mortar section along the road and rapidly surround and neutralise the enemy unit with deadly efficiency. However, an unseen battery of AT guns fires on the PSW 222s, causing their temporary retreat.

While to the south, the uncommitted paratroops of 1st and 3rd Company, plus the three HMG Platoons, converge roughly 1.5 km to the southeast of Otford and engage an outgunned Home Guard unit which defiantly blocks their advance.

And yet further south, 2nd Company and the Motorcycle Troops further suppress the British defenders in Greatness, and threaten an encirclement.
Several enemy units have fled the city, while the rest retreat to the city center and take up their last stand positions in earthern bunkers.
I. Battalion's Engineers, which have been busily removing road blocks and mine-fields, are enroute to assist in the inevitable assault.

Nevertheless, the heavy German Kanone Battalion is radioed to pound this position to dust.



[center]No escape![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 12:

The rout is on.

All across the map, demoralised British troops begin to withdraw.

Shoreham is abandoned, save for a small battery of 2pdr AT guns which are put out of action by the armored cars. The Panzer IVs and StuGs are free to blast away at the fleeing infantry with impunity.

The city center of Greatness is largely abandoned. A small delaying force is left, but it is unable to defy the German assault.

Only near Otford do the British still stand firm. But two half-strength Rifle Platoons have little chance against the forthcoming onslaught.



[center]Run, you cowards![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 13:

Mopping-up operations commence, as the remaining enemy troops near Otford and Greatness are mercilessly reduced.

Around Shoreham, the armored cars fan out to the north of the Paper Mill and seek the fleeing enemy's troops which were last seen heading toward Timberden Bottom.
The British troops slip away, but a Battalion HQ is not so lucky.