For the next game here in OHQ, Dave requested a 28mm WWII game using Chain of Command! Yes it's true.
Way back in November 2020 during lockdown I started a solo ladder campaign it was not until May 2021 when George joined me via Zoom and we played Game II. George led the Germans to victory, the British withdrawing to their defence lines. I never did get around to playing game three, here the Germans will be pressing their advantage with an attack on the British outer defences.
After dicing for the attack coming from the longer edge of the table, this gave the British a longer frontage to defend. However the Germans had a lot of open ground to cover, there were two objectives for the Germans. One the culvert on the road top left and the road junction just off centre.
The British (Dave) aggressive patroling pushed two thirds of the German (Me) jump off points back to the table edge. Despite the amount of open ground I elected to go for the culvert objective thinking I could double and reach the edge and the cover of the light wood before the British could concentrate their sections there.
The Volksgrenadiere make their way to the wood slowly (4" with three dice! Really?)
The British deploy a section by the culvert ready to receive them.
Meanwhile another German squad makes its way to the hedge to engage them while the LMG squad continues their slow slog to the wood.
The British deploy another section to the left of the one by the culvert and another to the right of the building to cover the road. Later their NCO orders the Bren team up to the first floor of the building giving them line of sight to the Germans heading for the hedge.
The Germans engage the British at the culvert but with two British sections and a Bren team firing at them the shock and casualties mount up.
They do however give the LMG squad time and cover to reach the wood and take up position unscathed.
The British deploy their two inch mortar to add fire against the Germans by the hedge.
The British expecting German armour bring a 6pdr anti-tank up as support, with no German armour present they also lend support to fire on the beleaguered Germans at the hedge.
Who lose their NCO and also break.
However they have also been whittling down the British section at the culvert.
With the added fire from the two MG42s from the Germans now at the edge of the wood the British Squad at the culvert breaks.
The second German rifle squad is also finding the route through the wood heavy going, the British will have time to send another section to defend the culvert. Despite the belated arrival of a Panzer IV, which would have had to run the gauntlet of the 6pdr to support the attack at the culvert the Germans decided to withdraw.
I am uncertain whether to continue with the campaign but I think more games of CoC will come. Battlegroup are my preferred WWII rules so when that will be I don't know, not four years hopefully 😂
Until next time KBO
