Von Luck Campaign Continues

Ian and I got the troops out again for the next instalment in this Chain of Command "Pint Sized Campaign".

Last time the British Paras managed to give the German Panzergrenadiers a bloody nose in the "Corridor of Death" scenario which meant the Paras held on and the Germans had to try and take this village again.

Both sides had taken quite a few casualties last time out so the chosen Supports would be crucial.

My Paras once more chose to put up a road block and a flame throwing team arrived which hopefully would be more potent than a Piat gun.

Ian was obviously impressed with his Self Propelled gun so this time he "bought" two from his Support Options  plus replacing some of his lost infantrymen.

Here's the battlefield viewed from the British end before the action starts.

After we had finished the Patrol Phase and therefore worked out our front line, both sides had "Jump Off Points" to work from, mostly set inside buildings. One British Junior Leader recklessly leads his men forward from the safety of the big barn and heads for a farmhouse - which turns out to be a German "Jump Off Point" and contains at least one nasty MG42 !

They are badly hit but still attempt to take the farmhouse - bad move, all wiped out including the flame thrower team and the Junior Leader ! Disastrous start !

German troops deploy from another "Jump of Point" in the orchards.

But the nastiest surprise is the arrival of not one but two Lorraine Schleppers with those powerful guns.

The German infantry wait and let the Self Propelled guns do their work.

Another German section appears next to the farm.

as cautious German infantry ease forwards on their right flank too.

German troops have now got into the grounds near the big white barn.

As this is getting too close for comfort, the British CO deploys a 2" mortar in a well protected garden to lob some bombs onto the enemy.

Meantime, his men have erected a formidable barrier across the road to stop the SP guns being able to  just charge down the road.

However, they are busy punching shells into the buildings, setting them on fire and preventing the Paras being able to use them for cover for long.

The result is the British are forced back time and again as buildings collapse. Here German troops are following up.

Out on the German right, more infantry are hugging the hedgerows to try and outflank the Paras.

They do attract fire but this immediately causes a reaction from the German SP guns.

Building after building is hit leaving the Paras little or no cover

For once, the German infantry are in the open and a bren team exacts some revenge by firing from high up in the red tiled three storey building.

The SP guns move forward - the lead one has taken a casualty from sniper fire - but the sniper was spotted and eliminated by alert Panzergrenadiers on overwatch.

Half the village is now firmly in German control.

The German squad hit by bren fire has retreated behind a stone wall for now.

But the German infantry are having more joy on their left flank, waiting for the signal to cross yet another high wall.

A German NCO gets his men forward in support

The SP gun with one casualty has now moved forward so as to bombard other buildings 

German infantry are now across the wall into the side street and get into a fire fight with Paras in the street.

Both sides are taking casualties

That b****y first Lorraine Schlepper has reached the barricade !

The Paras are out gunned and the CO and his team now get wiped out by grenades hurled over the wall.

The Germans have now got to the last house and the few Paras still alive have legged it out the back of the village.

The British Para platoon is down to a bare handful of men and are taken out of the line and sent back to the DZ.

In the next scenario, they have to defend the church at Ranville - but they have a whole fresh new Platoon to bring into battle - just as well as this one is done for !

The German attacks will continue ...