All,

The plan for today was that the 1st Platoon was leading an attack on the German line as part of a larger, battalion attack.  A preparatory barrage crashed down, followed by the infantry crossing the line of departure supported by tanks.  German artillery and anti-tank weapons took their toll, but the battalion pressed ahead, with 1st Platoon leading the attack in Company A's sector of the attack.  1st Platoon's plan was to have 2nd Squad seize a defended knoll on its right flank, where it would consolidate and support by fire 1st Squad's attack on a small hamlet on the left flank  The cracking of the this section of the line would be followed up by 3rd Squad moving through 1st Squad's position (on the knoll) to attack the immediate German rear area, thought to contain the enemy's supporting mortar unit.  Once secured, 2nd and 3rd Platoons, supported by tanks, would then pass through to carry through the attack.

So, fight one is 1st Squad's attack on the knoll, with the platoon leader, Lt Dillon, personally leading the assault, headed by 1st Squad's Corporal Drakengunner and containing a Bren gunner, two men with Sten guns, and five riflemen (10 men total).  The Germans on the objective have been whittled down to seven men: a Lieutenant, a two-man MG-42 team (on tripod), and an SMG gunner and three riflemen (manning a prepared position on the right and a stone well on the left, from the British point of view).  The platoon's 2" mortar has taken the time from the platoon crossing the line of departure til now to lay a relatively substantial smokescreen.


The board: 2' x 2', using "Five Men in Normandy" rules (slightly modified) and 10mm Pendraken figures.  The Brits are split into a Bren Group (bottom center, four men under LCpl "Dasher" Hawes) and a Maneuver Group (bottom left, six men under Lt Dillon and Cpl Drakengunner).  The German Lt and MG are in the sandbagged position at top center right, while the SMG gunner and three riflemen are behind the wall at top center left).


While the Maneuver Group moves up, the Bren gun team opens up, delivering a withering fire on the German MG position (pictured).  The MG gunner is suppressed and falls back to cover, whilst his assistant bolts the board and the Lt hits the deck (I forgot to put his green bead on before taking the picture).


On the left, Lt Dillon charges forward (silver base at bottom center), with Cpl Drakengunner and the two Sten gunners in tow.  The Germans fire on the advancing Brits, to no effect, while the Brits manage to suppress two of the German riflemen (red beads behind wall).


The German Lt pops up and falls back to help his machine gunner rally.


Meanwhile, since the German MG position is empty (due to previous Bren Group fire), the Bren Group fires on the wall as well, forcing the German SMG gunner to fall back next to his two cowering riflemen.  The sole German rifleman at the wall hits the deck, then is also driven back.  The wall is open!


The Brits decide to rush the wall, and disaster strikes!  Lt Dillon rushes up to join Cpl Drakengunner (far left) at the wall, and checks the knocked down Sten gunner; turns out he's out of the fight.  With his blood up, Lt Dillon peers over the wall, flashing his pistol, only to be immediately DROPPED by the German rifleman (that's two 6's in a row)!  Cpl Draekengunner trades fire with the German SMG gunner, and the German comes out of it suppressed.

To see how it turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-last-fifty-yards-game-1.html

V/R,
Jack

Great report Jack,
Therein lies your problem. Over zealous command, reluctant foot.
" Bloody Lt is after a VC Smiffy!"
"He can have one, I just want to get home."
Plus there was no tea break.
Many instances of Brits taking an objective, stopping and brewing up rather than pushing on.

 
Cheers - Phil.

"Many instances of Brits taking an objective, stopping and brewing up rather than pushing on."

Actually this was British doctrine. The second wave of the assault was supposed to push through the objective while the assault troops got dug in and replened on ammunition. As the Germans were famous for their local and immediate counter-attacks this didn't expose the exhausted initial assault forces to combat until they were prepared and gave the second wave somewhere to fall back to if the German counter attack proved to be successful.

This sort of thing had all been worked out in the Great War.

Also, if you think 'the last 50 yards' isn't enough to get you exhausted I suggest you try it yourself.

And another thing! No mention of the presence of a Piper giving you a moral boast to carry you into the enemy's trenches. even as an Englishman I found the 'skirl of the pipes' was enough to carry you forward those last fifty yards and go in with the bayonet!

Lemmey - Indeed, the Lieutenant (Leftenant?  ) was indeed chasing a medal, and is lucky to have survived.  Don't worry, your character will be too 

Steeleye - I agree regarding the doctrine, and the intent with these fights is that they're representing small portions of larger actions.  So in the overall scheme of things, after taking the enemy hilltop position, this squad is going to consolidate while another squad presses on with the attack.

"Also, if you think 'the last 50 yards' isn't enough to get you exhausted I suggest you try it yourself."
I'm somewhat familiar 

V/R,
Jack