Game Three : ‘Unser Ziel ist Bayeux’ Chain of Command Campaign

The third game of the ‘Unser Ziel ist Bayeux’ campaign saw Panzer Lehr on push towards Durham Light Infantry positions defending a choke point culvert on the outskirts Conde-Sur-Seulles.  

This was a great opportunity to preregister fields of fire and stop the German advance or at least make them pay a high price to cross the open ground on the approaches.

The plan stared well and on the left the combination of a fresh infantry section, the 2”mortar and a MMG all pinned  the advancing Germans in the cover of a hedgerow.  On the left however the odds favoured the Panzer Lehr, as they brought their Puna reconnaissance car to bear, supported the Second and then the third sections. On the right the defenders found themselves pinned and once Junior Leaders started to get hit their Force Morale began to suffer. 

In an effort to blunt the attack the 3rd section deployed with the Senior Leader to defend the culvert, while there 1st Section redeployed to assist in the defence.  Before they could make the difference. Fire from the Germans, killed the Platoon Sergeant and seeing this result in the collapse of the  remaining Force Morale. 

Following the stiff defence, the Panzer Lehr drove the DLI defenders back and broke through but not before they also received  a number of casualties including wounded Senior and Junior leaders, justifying the expense of bringing a medic.

Game Two : Moulin de Flaye in the 'Unser Ziel ist Bayeux' Campaign,

This weekend after a bit of a hiatus saw the second engagement at Moulin de Flaye in the Unser Ziel ist Bayeux campaign of Chain of Command on the table. 

This game was more of a continuation of the first than a new game. As such both sides  deployed  with eroded platoons following on from the first game. As if the Germans reorganised and went again later that day. 

Because of these casualties two DLI sections were under strength, basically consisting of Bren Teams. adding to their woes Panzer Lehr started with a double phase which allowed them to race to their objective race. This illustrated the usefulness of a successful Patrol Phase  permitting aggressive  Lehr  patrols to keep the DLI Jump off Points back from the Railway embankment buying them time to rush over the bridge before the defenders could get into position. 

As a result and through a good use of overwatch the Panzer Lehr grenadiers raced to their objective and were hardly troubled by the parting shots from the DLI as they rushed to get in position. 

Rather than considering this an anti-climactic game it is more of a amusé-bouche, for the tasty engagements at the next locations. 

Panzer Lehr : 

Leutnant Norbert Drexler

Obergrefreiter Kurt Fischer   

 

Zug One : Gefreter Heinrich Koch 

Zug Two: Gefreter Bobbi Klein 

Zug Three: Gefreter Ernest Schafer  

Fresh Platoon Next game.

Durham Light Infantry :

 Lieutenant Norman Collier.

The Platoon Sergeant Ernest Lincoln 

Junior Leaders: 

Section One:  Corporal Alfred Ford. (Promoted)

Section Two: Corporal Fredrick Williams.

Section Three: Corporal George Taylor.

Fresh Platoon Next Game .