THE BATTLE

Heavy rain obscures visibility and the terrain is soggy.

The small German force comprised up of a few Grenadier platoons and some panzer platoons needs to advance fast and effectively as they have only been given just over 2 hours to secure the township. They meet a few more British than expected as the town is protected by two battalions.

(visibility = 7)

British take the initiative and the Marder III is eliminated by the Achilles. Panzers advance followed by the infantry.

(visibility = 8)

Achilles misses the Panzers and is destroyed by return fire. Otherwise the armour is ineffective.

(visibility = 6)

Heavy artillery barrages decimates the advancing Grenadiers (3 steps lost!) Another SS Grenadier platoon lost advancing on St. Manvieu.

British Firefly eliminated by the advancing Panzers.

(visibility = 11, Rain lightens up)

British attack first and pound the Grenadiers with artillery. They stand fast, but the SS Standartenfuhrer is killed! causing decapitation among the Germans who won’t be able to advance until they recover command at 1430

The Panzers hold fast and eliminate 3 BREN carriers defending St. Manvieu and the Shermans in south St. Manvieu. Among the British, the only armour they have remaining is a single reduced Sherman platoon!

Wrecks litter the roads of St. Manvieu.

British artillery continues to wreck havoc among the Grenadiers.

Some advancing panzers are hit by the few remaining Shermans.

Germans advance into St. Manvieu and the British suffer casualties.

Shermans run and are replaced by British infantry.

British HMG and Major are killed in the south by the German StuG IIIH

Grenadiers in the south eliminate the artillery, but in the north they are repelled and demoralised. German panzers temporarily hold a sector of the township but British infantry counter-attacks.

SS Grenadiers flee from northern St. Manvieu.

British trade casualties with the panzers in the south.

SS continue to fight eliminating a WPN platoon and 17-pounder but are once again hit by British artillery.

The panzers continue to fight for control, but time is up.

BRITISH VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

With the short timeframe and greatly outnumbered, it seems very difficult for the Germans to gain control. Not only do they need to clean out the town, but they also need to clean out the area around it to avoid the counter-assault disrupting their control.

The British also have significant artillery and air support.

Scenario Rating: 2/5 – Quick battle. But quite imbalanced.