This was played over Skype with Alan Sawyer. We needed one to fit into just one session due to us being unable to link up for a few weeks thereafter. As it was my turn to choose the game, I simply picked one from the Black SS Series that Alan had been picking out earlier. These depict the Hohenstaufen Division against the British in August 44. We'd only played the bigger ones to date, so I thought this would fill a nice little gap

In the end the game went down to the last turn, and although the points may appear to have a bigger gap than that, it may have been a lot closer had the other player won the final turn 12 initiative ... Who knows ? But for competitive play, this gets a sturdy '4'. Good rating for a small battle

Arriving just outside Chenedolle about 2.30pm, Weiss’ Tigers took position on the sole piece of high-ground over-looking the vast farmland area that the British were expected to advance upon. Within minutes, Tommies could be seen foot-slogging it towards the fields, whilst their M3 half-tracks and Shermans cautiously brought up the rear. Battle was signaled when one of Weiss’ tanks opened up on a platoon of mortars being transported by half-track at a range of about 1000m. Destruction was instant and the British force quickly scrambled for the cover of the wheat fields. The rest of the company sized Kampfgruppe had deployed forward of Chenedolle, in small hamlets and on crossroads. The idea being to avoid allowing the British troops and superior numbers (albeit inferior tanks) to swamp Chenedolle early on. The plan was to hold them up as long as possible further out and then retire back to the better cover of Chenedolle where time would then be much more against the enemy.

For the next hour it was all manouvre as the Allied troops picked a route through the fields. Never being allowed to rush out as the 88mm guns of the Tigers preyed down on all before them and the cannily positioned SS Grenadiers and HMG’s made a swift advance treacherous. At 3.30pm, the British suddenly pushed forward at one of the west flank outlying hamlets guarded by an SS platoon. Sending numerous M3’s and foot troops, the SS Grenadiers shot out tyres and then the bailing crews. With a few Tiger rounds crashing down too, three whole M3 platoons were churned into twisted metal in the attack. Despite this, the British infantry and more M3’s managed to force out the SS infantry and these defenders pelted down the road southwards toward Chenedolle, but still in good order. Meanwhile, on the eastern flank, a company of British infantry made a slow probe around the hill that contained the Tiger tanks. At the same time, the British force began to put weight against the enemy centre, forcing the Germans to consider covering Chenedolle before the Allies burst through the outskirts of the wheat fields.

By 4.15pm, the Germans had all but vacated their original line having held it for just under 2 hours (7 turns), now they needed to hurriedly set up a cogent defence of Chenedolle, and this was allowed to take shape as the Tigers continued to harass and destroy ubiquitous M3 platoons continually pushing ahead in aggressive recon duties. The British also belatedly sent two complete squadrons on a wide flanking move on the western flank which perhaps should have been tried earlier? The Tigers tried a salvo of long range shots, but missed completely. With these British tanks about to press from this flank, it was time for the Tigers to vacate the hill as well and head for the Chenedolle tool. The only German AT battery located to the rear also belted out a salvo to score points on some M3’s that sped toward the outskirts of Chenedolle, but this battery was then very quickly destroyed by British OBA. By 4.45pm (turn 9), the last frantic moves and strikes were being acted out as the British became desperate to get a toe-hold in Chenedolle.

The Germans were forced to switch and double-switch in the town, as well as leave a few forlorn hopes along the main thoroughfares all in the name of stalling the final British attack. A lone Firefly platoon had clanked round to the rear of the village perhaps in an effort to steal a part of it late on. Unfortunately for them, the Tigers had latched onto this move, and in one quick volley, the Fireflys were erased, along with I believe any further British hopes of victory. Thereafter, the Germans could breathe more easily and a few minutes later the British attack wilted away back into the fields and Sturmbannfuhrer Weiss had sealed his Tigers a victory. (Points: British 12, German 26)