Normandy 44 - Attack on St Martin L’Eglise - part 1

We ran the first session of the virtual game yesterday. We are using Zoom ( we have paid account so it doesn't drop out). I had set up two camera feeds into Zoom using ipads on small tripods and the guys could view what was going on and ask me to move around.

The US commanders were given some initial aerial shots of  the battlefield and planned a pre bombardment - some was very effective , some less so . James had the armour - Martin the infantry - in this case US Paras ..I need to paint up more just bog standard infantry .

I had the Germans set up on a hidden deployment and they were revealed as spotted or firing (once on table they stay on)  - there was a real sense of danger from the US forces I thought - they didn't know what I had or where it was - just that it would be nasty!

Jump off right flank

 

Through the woods - keep out of the open

The front line German defenders are thinly spread.

Avoid  the roads said the armour commander! bound to be mined and under AT view

Is that German armour down the lane?

 

Pak 40 dug in

Stuarts and infantry edge forward - blazing away at hedge lines that "might"contain bad guys.

 

German OP in the church

I set this game up with more German artillery than we normally play with - but a thinner infantry screen - think that came as a bit of shock - especially as one US platoon got really blasted by the Nebelwerfers , while a unit of 105's was hitting another one . Twice US platoons decided to head backwards rather than stay under the fire or advance .



The view into the valley below



Air mission arrives

Armour and infantry advance on the left

We used our usual support point/ random event generator system driven by collection if the green tiddly winks dotted around. The US players collects these as they progress , and they can be spent  for calling in heavy artillery or air missions. They also generate rolls for a random event which can affect both sides.



Blasting HMG positions



HMG positions knocked out - a worried Sherman commander thinks he saw a Panther up the road

2nd Platoon walk into "Moaning Minne valley" it wasn't pretty



Nebelwerfers dishing it out ...



88s defend the village

The initial front line German defenders are just about overwhelmed at the end of turn 4 - but the US infantry has taken casualties and is well behind the pace in the centre of the table. the flanks are doing better . May be time for the counter attack.

the Germans further up the hill slope might be an altogether more interesting tangle...



German gun line - working hard 

Part 2 is scheduled for Thursday night..