Yanks in the Hedgerows

This week at the uni we played Flames of War, with our first crack at playing late war US forces. Temporarily confined to smaller rooms than usual, I came up with a scenario that would make the most of our confined space - Normandy bocage country!

I adapted the terrain map from the Normandy Battle's 'Barkmann's Corner scenario to give a feel for the Hedgerow country in which the US forces were operating prior to breakout.

Situation
No Retreat (Defensive Battle) (Rulebook p.279) with following adaptions:

Objectives are as shown on map at A and B. Objective B is 4” NE of the red line.

US Forces are attacking, and deploys all of their platoons, except TDs as required, North East of the Blue line. TDs may be held in ambush as per National rules on page 238.


German forces are defending, and deploy up to 4 platoons on table South West of the red line. 1 platoon may be held in reserve, and may be deployed anywhere forward of the red line per ambush rules on page 266.

German forces:

Sub unit	Team	No.	Page	Points
Coy HQ	Coy Cmd SMG team	1 ea	44	45
	2iC Cmd SMG team
	Kfz 15 Field Car
	M/C Sidecar
Grendier Plt (3 sections)	Cmd MG team	1	45	155
	MG Team	6
Grenadier MG Platoon (1 Section)	Cmd SMG team	1	45	70
	MG42 HMG	2
Grenadier Mortar Platoon	Cmd SMG team	1	46	165
	Fwd Obs team	2
	4 12cm sGw43 Mortar	4
Panzer Platoon	Panzer IV H	3	35	270
				705

US Forces:

Sub unit	Team	No.	Page	Points
Coy HQ	Coy Cmd Carbine team	1 ea	18	20
	2iC Cmd Carbine team
	M3 ½ Track
	Jeep
Armored Rifle Plt (Reduced) (2 Rifle squads)	M3	5	45	200
	Cmd + Rifle Teams	6
	Bazooka Teams	4
	60mm Mortar	1
Paratroop Rifle Plt (3 Rifle squads)	Cmd Rifle/MG team	1	17	265
	Rifle/MG Teams	6
	Bazooka Teams	1
	60mm Mortar	1
Tank Destroyer Platoon (1 Section)	Cmd .50 cal recon jeep	1	27	200
	Recon jeep	2
	M10 3inch GMC TD (1 plt cmd)	1+1
Field Artillery Battery	Cmd Carbine team	1	28	140
	Fwd Obs team	2
	Staff team
	105mm M2A1 howitzer	4
Tank Platoon	Sherman M4A1 (75mm)	5	15	345
				1170

John P and I duly deployed the meagre German forces, deciding to keep the MG platoon in ambush. We couldn't defend the whole sector, so had a reasonably tight cordon around the objectives, and hoped the ambush would delay any wider flanking US move:

In good US 'Blood and Guts' style the US team of Bryan and Peter centered their deployment well forward on the single wide road:



They came barrelling down the road much faster than I had expected - I perhaps shouldn't have made it quite so clear none of our Grenadiers had Panzerfausts or Schrecks...

Off to their right flank they deployed the US Airborne platoon...

And on their left the Tank Destroyer's security element was sniffing out the way forward:



Throughout the game they used their cannon cockers to attempt to lay smoke, but had some really bad luck with their ranging dice - (musn't laugh!)

Attempts to feel their way through the Bocage with their Shermans soon came to a sticky end...

And they stuck to the roads...oh for some fausts!

As their paratroopers emerged into the open, we went for a double whammy - a salvo of 120mm mortars...



And we cut loose with our double MG42 ambush...

However, the Shermans adjacent on the road rapidly moved to intervene, and saved the paras from being completely cut to ribbons...



So that on the US right flank, nearest the camera, the German MG platoon was itself pinned and assaulted by the surviving paratroopers - that flank was now clear for the advance...



Meanwhile, over on the US left flank, the TDs had been carefully advancing, albeit with some losses to their security screen...



But our skilful Panzer platoon commander was soon able to stabilize the situation...



Meanwhile the Redlegs had finally found the elevating wheels on their 105s...



and took out a few of the key infantry teams in the centre of our perimeter.



At this point, we ran out of time but I'm not sure our defences could have lasted much longer, Bryan and Peter had put in a good show of feeling their way on both flanks and centre to feel their way forward against the least opposition. A satisfying game - but next time some infantry AT teams will make it more of a challenge!