Eterville viewed from the North: a good road net, lots of fields with waist high crops and copses in-between:
Predictably Daniel as German placed his objective well to the rear of the village area, and Ed placed his British objective to the fore. Ed would have to take both objectives to win.
In working up the scenario I tried to be objective: a good defensive position but with covered lines of approach, the Germans heavily outnumbered but they only need to hold out for six turns. However from the German perspective the masses of infantry and artillery did look daunting:
This was the Dorset's first real action in Normandy: they were eager to come to grips with the enemy:
With no less than five batteries capable of laying smoke Ed lost no time in screening off the German infantry before sending the infantry forward, supported by the Churchills of the 9th Royal Tank Regiment:
His initial air strike targetted the German artillery, but to no effect:
The Wessex Division's artillery was providing very effective support however - the infantry was steadily attrited and half the German anti-tank guns obliterated!
Using Follow Me movement orders, the 4th Dorsets rushed forward to take advantage:
Thus far it was all going to Ed's plan and I feared the game would be over too quickly!
But then Daniel sprung his ambush: his sustained fire MG42 platoon! The dice gods were frowning upon him, however and the hail of bullets had little effect.
Daniel resorted to sortieing his Tigers!
Just in time for them to cop the second airstrike!
Combined with a firefight with the Churchills, the lone surviving Tiger, receiving a second bail, retreated!
With more than half his points gone so soon, Daniel resorted to using his AA in the ground role and the machine guns of his artillery observer's track!
Without an observer, the Wespes also moved up to contest the British held objective in the direct fire role - would they get there in time?
The Dorsets worked their PIATS and 2 inch mortars hard to pin down the Wirbelwind and enveloped the village from north and west:
In the final turn the Dorsets rushed the German objective, but their lead elements were cut down by the observer vehicle!
Holding an objective each, this hard fought game ended as a draw!
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