Gaming. Normandy 44 -The bridge at La Chapelle - part 2

 We played out the rest of our game last night . The Americans had a tough time of it at the start as they had attacked with only a few platoons that were unsupported . The Germans while heavily outnumbered were able to make local fire superiority count and keep the paras at a distance . This time the Americans would be better co-ordinated and were also able to secure some extra artillery  assets 

The village centre was being well pounded , gradually eroding German strength . The Pak40 covering the bridge was leading a charmed life along with its neighbouring HMG team covering the causeway

A para platoon had worked its way only the road taking cover in ditches to the side on the bridge approach. They were halted by a mixed minefield ...but had the skill to deal with while under artillery fire.

The platoon that had been caught in the flooded section , held itself together and pushed on forward - rattling the German defenders who were shooting badly .

 

They pushed on through to assault the defenders 

 

A smoke screen was laid in front of the village defenders while he platoon crossed the bridge taking advantage of the fact that one of covering HMGs had finally been dealt with by artillery. Batteries of Long Tom 155’s were being called in on the rear of the village and church which finally knocked out the German OP and shut down the defending artillery 

 

The paras were soon dealing with bridge defenders and dispatched the gun crew manning thee Pak , and cleared the house at the bridge end.

 

The US ATG’s had been set up blasting away at the river defenders and the tanks were ready roll as soon as the Pak was dealt with . 

 

The tanks were soon over the bridge - the Germans could not hold them any longer . 

 

It had been a good game . The American paras quality told in the end . A more co-ordinated attack - and a realisation that the causeway was actually a lot quicker to move on  -albeit risky - finally cracked the position . The potential German reinforcements didn’t turn up either - a German tank or two might have swayed this still . 

Time to think up a new scenario.