Herkybirds nest: T.D.-ing up in France!

Saturday, 26 May 2012

T.D.-ing up in France!

Today it was back to WW2 skirmish.

We decided to do a scenario involving a platoon of US infantry escorting a brace of M10 Tank destroyers to an ambush position where German armour is expected to pass. A Sherman is also accompanying the infantry. Overkill?

As usual, we ran the attacking force, the rules solo system ran the Germans.

A mix of markers were placed in likely positions, some were dummy markers, others real units. Others were special markers, the spotting unit taking a result like 'Take a medium range sniper shot', or Mortar strike, or a Panzerfaust shot if armour. This allows us to dispense with sniper figures and suchlike.

Hidden markers spot our forces too, so it can be dangerous crossing open ground!!

The battlefield from the US start position.

My squad was on point, and filtered down the road, looking for trouble..

The first 2 counters spotted were dummies (phew!)

..but there were plenty of other markers!

I moved a second fireteam to the left of the road to try and spot them!

The grunts eye view of the terrain!

I halted the column to allow more careful checking ahead.

As my NCO reached a fork in the road one of the counters indicated 2 mortar rounds landing, fortunately, they landed short as my guys dived for cover!

As the smoke cleared, we cautiously moved forward again.

Phil's squad followed on, keeping to the hedgeline.

I switched the rest of my leading squad to the left...

..to cover my crossing the road junction.

Lawrence's command squad with the jeeps arrived behinds Phil's squad.

My squad in the front filtered along the hedgeline.

..trying to clear the last 2 markers.

One of my fireteams, pushing up the track, drew a sniper shot! - fortunately, the only casualty was a tree!

I decided to bring my whole squad together via the wood...

..as I had just spotted a squad of SS over the road.

Unfortunately, the Germans saw Phil's squad on the road , one man was wounded.

As Phil's men dived to my side of the road, some of the Germans followed up!

The wounded man was hit and disabled, and the Fireteam was suppressed

Most of my guys were nearly in position to shoot the SS from their right flank, but some of my guys were suppressed by another sniper shot!

I only managed to suppress some of the Germans opposite me.

Phil filtered a fireteam ound the Germans other flank..

Ian's final squad arrived with the TD's.

..and the M4, which moved forward to help Phil's infantry.

..the TD's backed the M4 up.

Phil's flank attack, with the tank and my squads fire, quickly cleared the Germans.

..though most escaped to the wood

My men opened rapid fire..

2 men fell, but the final rifleman fired...

..and suppressed my NCOs group!

..The rest of my men, however, killed the brave man.

Seeing no further threat, my squad moved on..

The TD's, seeing no enemy, returned to the road.

Up front, however, more SS had appeared and fired a Panzerfaust, which missed. The M4 fired back more effectively!

..then drove on into the Germans, backed up by Phil's squad.

A fierce fire-fight developed.

My squad ran into the Mortar battery!

..and blasted them!

Phil's squad and the tank drove the Germans back through the woods.

..till another group of SS hit the tank in flank with another panzerfaust!

Phil's infantry quickly engaged the Panzerfaust team.

One of my fireteams, meanwhile, pursued the remaining mortarmen through the fields!

..while the rest of my men spotted another German squad supporting the Germans Phil's men had bounced out of the wood. We were on their flank by chance!