My vague attempt at a battle report (its terrible, really)

Operation Perch

  ''It is eight days after D-Day. The 50th (Tyne Tees) Division is part of the British 21st Army Group's attempt to drive deeper inland, but blocking their path is Panzer Lehr, one of the German Army's strongest armoured divisions. The British division has been given the task of breaking through the German defences and, as part of its 151st Brigade, the 9th Durham Light Infantry have been ordered to capture the village of Lingevres. Panzer Lehr's Panzer Grenadier Regiment 902 is responsible for defending the village, and elements of its 2nd Battalion are dug-in on the outskirts and amongst the buildings, with tanks of Panzer Regiment 130 in support''

 

The sleepy village of Lingevres

Once again the Illustrious Opponent laid out an incredible looking table

 Recently the Illustrious Opponent invited myself and a friend for a game of Rapid Fire at his abode. The whole table and all the models were provided by IO, so all I had to do was turn up with my tape measure and some dice ready for an afternoon of excellent fun. With IO as umpire to remind us of the rules and a couple of laminated quick reference cards, what could go wrong? I opted to control the British division and tried a terrible tactic of dividing my forces as I advanced. I sent the Carriers down the left flank, the Shermans the right and the infantry slowly advanced through the woods in the middle towards the village (I am terrible at rolling for movement when neccessary.)

My artillery support performed terribly throughout the game, I am not sure if they were even firing at the right village on some occasions, although they did at one point manage to decimate the church to the point where IO got to demonstrate his wonderful Russian Doll like technique for revealing the destroyed version.

Post shelled church

I did manage to take the village with heavy casualties (with the remains of A,B,C and D company all making a hasty retreat) and I did manage to take out the Panther. Once reinforcements arrived however, we I knew I had no chance and we called it a day.

Driving up the road is safe right? (Don't be fooled, one of those Shermans has a wooden barrel and is just an observation post!)

 

 

 

 

 

The Achilles certainly did have an achilles, I am sure that crater is where I parked it.

The church before shelling

A dramatic shot before any Germans were spotted, smoke launchers deployed "just in case"

I was so joyous at doing any damage to this tank killer

Result! It took all my armour to achieve this though.

I must apologize to the Illustrious Opponent as I only photographed half of what was on the table. I can however provide details of what was there thanks to IO's help:

151st Infantry Brigade 9th Durham Light Infantry

 
Battalion Headquarters 

Lieutenant-Colonel Wood

Two figure PIAT team

Carrier Platoon 

Three figure PIAT team. 

Universal Carrier

A Company 8 figures, 

 B Company 8 figures 

C Company 8 figures

D Company 8 figures 

Support Company

3 inch mortar, 3 crew

Universal Carrier

6pdr Anti-tank gun, 3 crew, Universal Carrier Tractor

Universal Carrier

Machine Gun Company, 

2nd Cheshire Regiment. Company Command. Captain Simpson 

2 figure PIAT team

Universal Carrier

Vickers Machine Gun, 3 crew

Universal Machine Gun Carrier

4.2 inch mortar, 3 crew,

Loyd Carrier  

 

4 th /7th Dragoon Guards A squadron

Major d'Avigor-Goldsmid 

2 Sherman V tanks, 1 Sherman Vc Firefly 

Universal Machine Gun Carrier  

 

102nd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery B Troop

M10c Achilles 

 

86th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery 341st Battery

Sherman II Observation Post 

2 25pdr Gun-Howitzers

Panzer Lehr Division Panzer Grenadier Regiment 902 2nd Battalion

Battalion Headquarters 
Oberstleutnant Welcsh

Two figure Panzerchreck team.

Sdkfz 251/1 half-track

1st and 2nd Company

7 figures, 1 Panzerfaust operator each

 4th Company 

MG42, 3 crew
120mm mortar, 3 crew

Sdkfz 251/1 

2nd Company, Panzer Regiment 130

Panther Ausf A

The reinforcements then consisted of:

6 th Company, 2nd Battalion

7 figures, 1 Panzerfaust operator

2 nd Company, Panzer Regiment 130

Panther Ausf A