One man and his brushes.: Gaming - Assaulting the Azeville Battery

Picking up those brushes again.

Hi and welcome to the occasional mutterings of Dave Doc, a military modeller and some time gamer. Gaming and model making has given me a real education, History & Geography(obvious really), Artistry, Politics, Economics, Logistics, Project Management -you try building miniature armies without the last 3.

I will use the blog to record my creations & the odd occasion I actually do some gaming.

I have always been inspired by the aesthetic side of gaming. Playing on well constructed terrain using excellently painted units is always a joy.

Saturday, 26 February 2022

Gaming - Assaulting the Azeville Battery - Normandy 44

James and i met up today to play through another scenario for our Normandy campaign ladder. This time it was the initial assault just after D Day of the Azeville battery - which is on the Cotentin just north of Utah beach. I have recently completed the 4 casemates which i found as a 3d printed option (i will do a post on this shortly.

The assault is make up of relatively small number of the scattered paratroopers for the 101st AB.

The four casemates with 105mm guns are protected with a range of tobruks , bunkers , entrenchments , barbed wire and some minefields. The lightly armed Paras approach from the eastern frontal side of the battery

covered by their own MG's the paras got through the wire and subdued a tobruk

They were working their way around to the rear as they came under sustained fire from the rear bunkers and a 3.7mm AA gun

they tried a desperate assault on the bunker but were held off - and had to retreat , with less than started with - they tried again from the other side of the casemate

but it was not to be - the defence was too powerful - they decided to retreat back to cover - the battery continued to engage the US forces around UTAH beach

This first assault was repulsed with the paras not having enough men to absorb the battery position defensive fire.

A few days later other American infantry were back , but with a barrage from the 14" guns from the USS Nevada and tank support - this would make all the difference! in addition the assault be be from the western rear side of the battery .

the barrage knocked the hell out of the battery destroying an MG bunker completly and pinning down the defenders under the weight of fire .

3 Shermans advance looking for any anti tank defence - the infantry at the hedge sprayed MG with no care to the ammo being spent .

The tanks led the infantry forward plastering the pillbox - which went quiet.

the German defenders were being picked off with volume of fire - or were still cowering pinned as the tanks broke through the wire . The battery commander led a brave charge that knocked out a Sherman - but that was it as the commander died after - the battery surrendered.