Friday, April 25…somewhere in Italy.
Fitzi arrived with his Germans to challenge the British Guards. The Bletchley Park wizards discovered that the German force was gathered under the direct supervision of the notorious commander known only to the allies as “Royal Tiger” (Shout out to Dan!).
The mission was Hold the Line. Pre-battle intelligence revealed that the Germans were a pionier unit and had the capability of laying mines or wire. The Guards commander scratched his head…hmmmm…night attack or try to defend? Pros and cons were weighed for both options but in the end, the defend option seemed best. Luckily, fate (could Fitzi beat my low die roll of a 2? No way! I AM the Diceman!) decided the Germans would attack.
The British Guards rifle company:
Rifle-Company-Guards-Italy-1
The German Pionier company:
1710-mw-cv-heer-panzerpioneer
I chose the Southern part of the board for deployment as I thought the buildings and wooded areas would give me good defensive terrain.
Only four platoons of my nine were able to deploy before the attack. The yellow pipe cleaners show the half-way line of my forward deployment and his zone 16 inches away. We played on an 8-foot board, so the perpendicular road at the bottom marks the board edge.
The 25pdrs were forward just behind the village. Fitzi’s objective was placed in the village to the center left of the photo.
The Medium Battery of 5.5 inch guns were to the rear, guarding the British objective. (Ye Olde Newcastle Brown delivery van). The staff team from the 5.5s is to the right. Its deployed in the building. I use a Monopoly
