Operation Sealion LCG

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 5:

1st Company continues to advance towards the look-out point, when it is suddenly fired upon by a hidden British Rifle unit, taking disruption to both lead platoons and a SP loss for IV Platoon. Return fire from the entire Company cannot find its mark.

2nd Company advances steadily south towards the beaches, and is now the target of the bothersome enemy HMG platoon. The units take cover in the rubble of what was once Shornecliffe Garrison Camp.

The sea-borne Wehrmacht troops have found a small sliver of sand to land upon, but are fired upon from extreme range while still embarked from another HMG platoon which is positioned SE of a Rail Station.

Airstrike ordered!

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 6:

A 75mm arty shell disrupts and causes a SP loss to the British defenders blocking 1st Companys path. Further direct fire from the German attackers fails to further damage the unit. However, a 3in. Mortar Section which was hiding in the same area is destroyed.

2nd Company units have take up positions overlooking the beachhead, and will engage the HMG platoon, plus several 2pdr AT gun batteries that have also been spotted in the area. The airstrike failed to materialize for some reason....

3rd Company has closed the gap behind 1st Company, and will help assist in capturing the look-out point as soon as the enemy blocking unit is dealt with.

An understrength company of Wehrmacht troops has splashed ashore and is now traversing the beach obstacles. Once clear of the beaches, these units will move due West and attempt to capture the bombed-out town of Hythe.





[center]2nd Company nears the beachhead![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 7:

1st Company finally succeeds in rooting the blocking Rifle troops out of their excellent defensive position. They and 3rd Company are now free to assault the look-out objective which should commence in several turns.
Two batteries (6 guns) of 6in Howitzers and a 3SP MG platoon are defending the area inside a fortified bunker.

Units from 2nd Company occupy the Train Station near the beachhead, and aim their rifles against the HMG unit in the area. The unit becomes disrupted, but unfortunately a leader has been spotted in the same hex.
Also, a wing of Bf-109 fighters swoops in low and destroys a motorized Battalion HQ.

More Wehrmacht troops and several PzIIIF tanks are disgorged onto the beachhead. The British desperately try to delay the advance by unloading a battery of 2pdr AT guns in their direct path. However the AP shells they fire do little to deter the advancing infantry.



[center]Storming the beach![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 8:

1st and 3rd Company converge and prepare to assault the look-out point. However, they must wait for 3rd Company's HMG platoon to get into postion before they can execute the plan.


Over in 2nd Company's zone of operation which is now West of the town of Sandgate, the paratroops continue their battle with an enemy HMG platoon. Despite having excellent defensive positioning at the rail station, I Platoon takes a 2SP loss and disruption from the incredibly accurate British machine-gun fire. Return fire from the paras own HMG platoon disrupts and disables 1SP ofthe enemy unit, so II Platoon takes advantage and courageously assaults and destroys a 2pdr AT battery blocking the way, and then routs the dreaded HMG platoon from its defensive position.



[center]II Platoon leads the way![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 9:

1st and 3rd Company continue to finalize their plan for taking the look-out point objective.

2nd Company units successfully surround and assault the now demoralized enemy HMG unit. The remainder of the unit and a British Major are taken prisonor.

Wehrmacht troops and tanks continue to stream westward from the beach landing toward the town of Hythe. A detachment of six PzIIIFs breaks off towards the look-out point and will assist 1st and 3rd Companys impending assault.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 10:

With all enemy units in the immediate area destroyed or captured, 2nd Company will take up defensive positions and interdict any reinforcements that may try to enter the fray from the east.

Further west, all units are in position to attack the look-out point. I and II Platoons from 1st Company along with the Motorcycle Infantry Platoon will lead the assault. A smokescreen provided by the 81mm Mortar Section will mask their movement.
3rd Company units protect the western flanks.
PzIIIFs close from the south to support the attack, but one is destroyed by a hidden British Rifle Platoon unit.





[center]It's time to silence this menace![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 11:

I and II Platoon plus the motorcycle troops approach their assault positions through the smokescreen.
HMGs are ready to lay down suppressive fire.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 12:

The enemy coastal gun position is finally assaulted and wholly destroyed.

Now the Wehrmacht troops are free to approach the strategic town of Hythe without the fear of heavy artillery shells blasting the advance to pieces.

All Army troops have disembarked from their barges.



[center]Approaching the bombed-out city![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 13:

Their primary objectives completed, Major Gause's paratroops enjoy a brief respite and assumes a mostly defensive posture.

A bewildered British Rifle Platoon unit stumbles into 1st Company units field of fire and is driven off, and the HMG platoon attached to 2nd Company harasses British troops across a valley.

Other than that, the Battalion's guns fall silent.


Not so for Major Plewig's Army Battalion or Lt. Foertsch's Panzer Company.
The troops under their respective commands relentlessy push the British back; destroying Home Guard Units, Rifle troops, AT guns....whatever is in their path and within range.

It appears to be only a matter of time before all objectives are attained.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Despite the swarm of German troops approaching Hythe, the British stand firm in several key areas and manage to disrupt several of the attacking platoons.

A HMG platoon has holed up in an ancient castle overlooking the city, and from this excellent vantage point, is able to at least temporarily cause the Germans some concern.

Still it is nowhere near enough to prevent several German units from entering the fringes of the ruined city.



[center]An increasingly desperate British defense![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 15:

Another defensive strong point is overrun, and German Army troops approach within half a kilometer of their objectives.


However, to the west of Hythe, several half-strength British Rifle Platoons are spotted hurrying to the city's defense.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 16:

British troops which have been cut-off in the Shornecliffe Camp area attempt a break-out towards the west but are ambushed and stopped cold by the guns of 1st Company. The British suffer heavy casualties and retreat.

Meanwhile, in Hythe, the German Army troops further reduce the enemy's defensive positions and are within striking distance of both their objectives.

The British still fight hopelessy on though, and a Home Guard unit even manages to disable a Panzer IIIF.



[center]The end is near![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 17:

The city-center of Hythe has been captured by the Wehrmacht troops.

The castle will also soon fall into German hands.


A small piece of bad news dampens this momentous occasion.
The paratroopers 81mm Mortar Section thought it was safe to emerge from cover so they could fire directly at a cut-off British Rifle Platoon...however the same HMG platoon that harrassed 1st Company at the beginning of this campaign opens fire and kills 1SP.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 18:

The castle falls into German hands....all objectives have been completed.

Fresh British units attack the German occupiers from the West side of Hythe, but it's a case of too little, too late.

The Germans are firmly in control of the area.



[center]Total victory![/center]

[Jason Petho]

Congratulations on a job well done!!

Jason Petho

[TAIL GUNNER]

Conclusion:

Final Score: 511 - Major Victory

What a fun and creative scenario! I was totally undecided on how to approach the beaches with the Wehrmacht troops, and was extremely lucky the British were too focused on the advancing paratroopers and opted not to lob a few HE shells towards the beaches instead.

German I Battalion losses(SPs):
4 Parachute Infantry Platoon
2 Machinegun Platoon
1 GrW 34 81mm Mortar Section

Wehrmacht losses(SPs):
2 PzKpfw IIIF Medium Tank
3 Army Landing Barge
7 Rifle Platoon
3 Machinegun Platoon
2 Motorcycle Platoon


British losses (SPs):
12 Trucks
4 OML 3-inch Mortars
12 OQF 2-pounder Anti-Tank Guns
6 OBL 6-inch Howitzers
49 Rifle Platoon
7 Home Guard Platoon
9 Machinegun Platoon
2 Battalion HQ (mot.)
4 Commander 2
3 Commander 3

Total British losses (SPs) to date:
12 Trucks
9 Carriers
8 OML 3-inch Mortars
12 OQF 2-pounder Anti-Tank Guns
4 OQF 40mm Anti-Aircraft Guns
6 OBL 6-inch Howitzers
8 Carrier Rifle Section
63 Rifle Platoon
6 Engineer Platoon
17 Home Guard Platoon
2 Anti-Aircraft Machinegun Platoon
9 Machinegun Platoon
2 Battalion HQ (mot.)
4 Commander 2
3 Commander 3


Received 6 replacement points. HMG and Mortar Section brought up to full strength, 8 of the 12 paratrooper platoons are at 5 SPs.

Total Battalion strength is 91% of TOE.

Onward soldiers!

[TAIL GUNNER]

No rest for the wicked.

Major Gause's I Battalion is ordered to swing north from Hythe and spearhead the attack towards Canterbury along Stone Road.

Each Company once again has a HMG platoon attached, plus a 3-gun battery of 37mm AT guns.

3rd Company gets the Engineer platoon, plus other auxiliary forces which include a platoon of Motorcycle Infantry, and two Stug IIIB Assault Guns.

2nd Company also has two Stug IIIBs attached, while 1st Company gets only the 81mm Mortar Section.

Furthermore, two very understrength paratroop companys from II Battalion will become available shortly.

The Battalion can also expect strong Luftwaffe support.

The Plan: (Phase 1)

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 1:

The Stug IIIBs assigned to 2nd Company lead the charge towards the first objective and are met by several full-strength British Rifle Platoons that are defending south and south-east of Sixmile Cottage. Although British troops aren't much of a threat to these armored beasts, the Stugs lose their mettle and retreat after being fired upon.

1st Company caustiously advances due north through the Park Wood.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 2:

The Stugs in 2nd Company's sector advance again towards Sixmile Cottage and absorbs the enemy's op-fire.
The entire Company then advances and engages the two British Rifle Platoons, killing 4SPs and disrupting both.

The Stugs in 3rd Company's sector takes a position within sight of Sixmile Cottage and will direct artillery fire onto the village.
The troops in 3rd Company advance over mostly open terrain without incident.

1st Company is almost clear of the Park Wood.



[center]Stugs lead the charge![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 3:

2nd Company and the Stugs continue to engage the British around Sixmile Cottage, who are routed from their positions and pushed back into the village itself. The Stugs will attempt to block their retreat north of the village in time for the paratroopers inevitable assault.

All is quiet so far in 1st and 3rd Company areas of operation.