Another Sealion scenario, this one assumes that German forces have already landed, secured a beach-head (captured the port of Dover), and having started moving towards Canterbury. This game was set-up to give Mark his first real taste of AFVs in CD3, he played the Germans, me the British. Owing to the smallness of my game table the scenario is actually only 1/4 size of the original, and the OOBs were significantly reduced in size also :(
German forces on the A2 (top right). The British had very weak armour of their own and hoped to hit the Germans in the flank as the column advanced
British command group covering the road into Lydden
More Home Guard elements around the village of Lydden, they wanted to stay out of sight until the right moment
Mark wisely used his recon unit to screen the village positions, though its loss didn't reveal the strength of the British, only their presence. Kf13 here is by Ace Models
Two companies of light tanks, each with motorised infantry support turn south towards Lydden
The British AFVs consisted of a company of Rolls Royce armoured cars, this trio are resin ones by Frontline
Early efforts by the British resulted in the loss of an A/C platoon but the Home Guard stood up well and inflicted quite a bit of damage on the German infantry that had advanced on the village positions
Still, after about four turns the whole village position was starting to wobble a bit as greater German firepower and better troop ratings started to tell
Enter reinforcement elements from Canterbury
Which attack the front of the German column as they attempt to link up with the Home Guard, now seriously stretched around Lydden
The C9 hits with its first attack, taking a PzI in the rear. The Morris is a metal kit by SHQ
And the Home Guard take out a second with their Boys Antitank rifle platoon
Turn 6 here. More British reinforcements arrive from the Canterbury region
The Home Guard start to lose men which has an immediate effect on their morale
Likewise on the other side of the British positions. German figures here are mostly Pegasus, British Zvezda
Parts of the British reinforcement efforts were short lived
Morale failures for both infantry and AFVs units had the British under serious pressure
And if not for a determined stand here on the left the game would have ended about three or fours turns early
Another British A/C platoon is destroyed just as the recon element of the relief force arrives in Lydden
German infantry disengages to regroup and await reinforcement
The German command element astride the A2. PzI is Esci, Pz35t is Attack, PzIb by Frontline
A great introductory game. Mark has a solid understanding of AFVs now, and in our next game we have decided to include air-power as well. The Home Guard fought a really good game but were often forced to stay in cover owing to their uncertain morale. This hampered their ability to press home advantages at times because the Germans could always manoeuvre back into better field position. Oh! And the boys were massively outgunned!
.JPG)
