Para and SS take 2

[Maenoferren]

Seeing Nik's batrep reminded me we did a small scale battle akin to the final battle in Saving Private Ryan.
We had been trying out the Savage Worlds rules for the wierd war. Unfortunately I cant find the pictures, they had been on photobucket, but alas no more
An ad hoc unit of around 13 of the boys from both the 82nd and 101st had been tasked with holding a bridge to help with the breakout. Sure enough in the early hours of the morning the sound of engines broke the silence, worst still came the screech of tracks.

Everyone readied themselves for the oncoming onslaught.
A column was heading for the bridge at speed led by a motorcycle combination as it and the lead Schwimwaggen reached the centre of the bridge the .30 cal opened up along with the BAR. The motorcycle was hit and the passenger killed. The driver lost control and it crashed into the parapet flipping it into a nearby field. The second vehicle fared a little better, receiving only minor damage, right up until the point the driver ducked and caused the vehicle to slide along the parapet, in a shower of sparks and horrible screeching sounds.
The other vehicles slammed on their brakes, unfortunately the half track driver wasn’t really paying attention and rammed the vehicle in front, luckily no casualties occurred (for the Germans at least).
All crews bailed out and made for cover from the hail of lead. Unfortunately for the Germans (on the far side of the bridge) they made for a building protected by a number of Americans. They tried to fight their way in with rifle fire and grenades, but unfortunately the grenade bounced off the window bar and landed next to one of the crew killing him instantly. The other two died moments later.

The half track crew made for the 3 story building on their side of the river, whilst the Opel blitz armed with the 20mm cannon forced its way into a courtyard ready to support. As the gunner bent down to cock his weapon a bullet whistled over his head. Sniper!
Suddenly on the German side of the bridge a mortar round landed fully on one of the abandoned vehicles blasting it to smithereens. The Germans couldn’t make progress against the hail of lead.
The MKIV was brought up and sighted the 30 cal on a second floor of the café opposite. The gunner loaded H.E. and fired. As the dust cleared the .30cal was silenced forever. The Germans in the third floor let rip with the MG42 killing one and causing minor wounds to the sergeant (who saved all his rolls) grrrrrr!
The 20mm moved forward to support the tank as it moved onto the bridge, only to have the gunner shaken by the sniper. Luckily moments later another mortar round smashed into the location where it had been. Unfortunately for the MG42 crew they arrived at the same time as the 60mm round.
As the tank crested the bridge the bazooka team leapt up from behind the stone wall and fired. The rocket hit true, but only managed to shake the crew. They ducked back and reloaded. Unfortunately the tank crew recovered quickly and sited their weapon on the corner of the wall where the round came from, Killing both of the Bazooka crew.

Suddenly the ground around the tank was peppered by high velocity rounds and the air reverberated with the sound of a huge engine as a P-47 roared overhead. It banked and returned. The 20mm fired at the speeding plane, but missed.
The Pilot noticed the lack of damage to the tank, and changed to rockets. These streaked towards the ground but exploded harmlessly in the river. A second pass led to the same effect. The tank remained on the bridge, supported by both the MG42 and 20mm cannon. Further infantry were following behind the tank and the Americans decided, they couldn’t hold. The sergeant pressed the plunger on their demolitions charge only to see nothing happen. The captain ordered a full retreat whilst the tank was still making its way into the town.
Not a bad little game. We learned a lot



American forces
60mm mortar,
30cal
Browning automatic rifle
Sniper
5 Riflemen M1 Carbines
CO With Thompson
Sgt with Thompson


Germans
1 x Motorcycle combination
Platoon strength in trucks, halftrack and Kubelwagens/Schwimwagens
1 MkIV H
1x 20mm AA on the back of a truck