Gaming: BATTLE REPORT: Operation Red Hawk - Background and forces

Normally a fair amount of prep work is undertaken for before we have a skirmish of any sort, but last week we had a couple of spare hours with no wives or children so we had some pizza and beers and fought a battle (as you do). In the grand scheme of things what occurred features little in the history books, but by complying together eye witness accounts and official documents then an interest tale occurs. I have put together details of how this story may have unfolded: 

Picture: Agent 'Red Hawk' awaiting extraction

"Before the sleepy hamlet of Saint Marie Englise (not to be confused with with Saint Mere Eglise) was unknown to the world. One of its inhabitants, Monsieur Pierre, ran the Boulanger and most mornings the smell of freshly baked bread would permeate from the Boulanger throughout the small village. Children played outside and once in awhile farm labourers would pass Monsieur Pierres' on the way to the fields claiming an odd baguette for their lunch. 

By Summer of 1944 Saint Marie Englise was a shell of a place - no one lived there and most of the village had been bombed by the RAF. Nothing moved. In the dust and rubble the old bakery still stood (in part). In the shadows the lone figure crept to the window to look out -  he tapped his coat pocket - the documents were still there. He knew they would be, but the reassurance calmed him. It was all quiet. He'd sent a signal several hours ago - the reply had been short: the coordinates for extraction. He'd just have to wait. It was quiet. He was not expecting the blast - the tank shell hit the side of a neighboring building. He ducked into the building for cover as rubble fell around him. He could now hear the rumbling of tanks and trucks. Shouts in English and German. Then small arms fire. Both sides had come - he'd been betrayed, but how or was it just an unfortunate coincidence. There was no time to find out  he would have to make contact, but a battle was now raging around him" 

British

With it being only being a small affair we stuck to 500 points each. The British force comprised of two small squads of Paratroopers, a sniper team, a Lieutenant, a medic, a Boys Antitank rifle and Daimler armoured car (there was also the free forward observer). All the British infantry were veterans (except the Daimler).

Picture: British order of battle

The Germans had a Lieutenant and command squad, two 10 man squads with an LMG a piece, a Kubelwagon, an Opel Blitz truck, a medic and a Panzer II. All the German units were regulars, except the Panzer II which had an inexperienced crew.

Picture: German order of battle

The German plan would be fairly straight forward. Use the squad in the truck, the Panzer and Kubelwagon to secure the objective. Then create a corridor to get the agent out!

Picture: Ariel view of St Marie Englise. The Germans would advance from the right and the British from the left. As with the rules of the 'Top Secret' mission all troops start the game in reserve. Please also note the lovely duck themed table map - it represents the rural nature of the setting, but there are no additional bonuses or rules (that would be 'quackers') :-)

Next: Battle report.......