Gaming: BATTLE REPORT: The push further South (Operation Goodwood) - 19th July 1944 - (Part 2 - Romanian Resistance)

Author note: It was brought to my attention that the previous report included some historical inaccuracies. As I pointed out the battle was over 70 years ago, so recollections are likely to be blurred! 
1.  Firstly it was in fact to the British who took first blood by taking out the machine gun team in the bunker with the Sniper. The bombardment actually destroyed a nearby mortar!
2. The Romanians are often referred to as 'Jerry' by the British in the report. Because it is based on actually testimonies the British soldiers naively believed that the defenders in Normandy were in ins entirety made up of German nationals - in the same way Hollywood would make you believe that the only allied forces around were American-when in fact German drew on a host of nations under there control:-)
3. The T-34 is one of many captured by the Germans and in this case pressed into service on the Western front rather than one being produced/purchased by Romania for its war effort - I suspect its presence was as much a surprise to the Axis troops there as the British!

So the battle was finely balanced. The British had pushed forward in a gentlemanly manor. Over their heads the British gunners had laid down suppressing fire that meant the Romanians were forced to keep their heads down. As the British marched forward the armour of both sides engaged in furious fighting that left most either destroyed or so shocked by the situation they needed to moment for a swift cuppa and a change of underpants before returning to the fight.

War its riddle with brave and heroic deeds and it was at this point that the metal of the men under the respective commanders began to be tested. A brave (or fool hardy) flame thrower team snuck out of Valmery towards the British. Ready to unleash flamed death they missed. Exposing their position the advancing British made short work of them.

Picture: Brave or foolish - they perished in the ensuing onslaught!

The British commanders identified what they saw as a potential opening in the Romanian defense. The ruined house in the center - if it could be taken would shield the British as they funneled through into Valmery itself. Archibald Blythe ordered the assault of several squads during the turn. The first wave was repelled, while the second succeed in taking the building only for a Romanian counter charge to dislodge them. Eventually the British secured the building. Blythe himself suffered a wound that would incapacitate him for the rest of the battle. Reports varied with some saying he was bravely fending off the Romanian counter charge single handed before being over whelmed, while others suggesting he tripped on a rock as he charged forward knocking himself out cold - needless to say although wounded he was quickly attended to by the medics and would, I suspect, see action again in the near future!

Picture: British preparing to launch an assault into the village 

Picture: The building where fighting was at its most brutal 

 

 Picture: British assaults and Romanian counter charge

Picture: Blythe is wounded in the later stages of the assault (on this evidence it would be that he fell from the first floor during the fighting or more likely never in fact made it to the building!!)

"It was hellish in that building. The British charged into the ground floor. We fought them off as best we could using anything as a weapon. I'd discharged my gun and unable to reload I have vivid memories of grabbing for some lead piping and swiping towards another of them as he climbed into one of the broken windows. I'm not sure if it killed him but he disappeared from view for a moment. Then I heard Romanian shouts coming behind and for a moment we had a respite as the British attack was checked. Then they came again I raised up my reloaded rifle, but in doing so slipped on the uneven ground before all went black..."

- Private Radu remembers fighting at Valmery. He slipped on rubble in the ruined buildings that knocked him out. His misfortune saved his life as he was latter picked up and treated by the Allied forces as a POW.

Author note: In hindsight this was a tactical error. We lost a lot of men when it would have been better to simply go around. Pre this a lot of Romanian units were heavily pinned or no longer effective as a fighting force so we were optimistic that we could march enough units into the deployment zone to win. Having lost a number of units to take the building, plus an increasing casualty list, a number of vehicles block and a number of other units i.e. mortars too far back to make it to the deployment zone we had a real problem - there was an every increasing VP difference and although we knew we would claw a lot back in the last two turns we were fast running out of men!

Picture: British infantry going down the right flank, although they would be reduced to an ineffective fighting force by the machine gun and squad in the building.

One the British left the infantry moved up ready to launch an attack their side. As most of the Romanian force had been pinned on numerous occasions on that side they had not met much resistance. The Romanian commander made the wise move to rally as many units as possible to return them to an effective fighting force. 

Picture: Attack up the right

The Romanian gunners showed enough fight to fire at one of the Damilers on that side and BOOM another British pile of scrap metal!

At the end of turn 4 it was 22 points to 9 to the Romanians - No British troops had yet reached the deployment zone to gain those important additional VP points. It was not all doom and gloom from for the British. The piat team had got to within range of the T-34 and just as the beasts crew had sorted themselves out it was promptly blown to pieces! One of the jeeps also got a FUBAR result and ran away (although it would later rally).

Picture: The captured T-34 is no more!

What was left of the British made for the protection of the captured building in the center. The Romanian artillery took another shot at the Damiler that had been blocked in the field and penetrated its armour. The shot caused a small fire to break out inside the vehicle, but the experienced British promptly put out the flames. In old school British fashion the right flank advanced into the Romanian lines in 'line formation' - charging into the guns and dug out with tradition British grit. As the need for points became apparent Slade's command squad move off the board (deeper into Valmery) and secure vital points for the British.

“The buggers were a tougher nut to crack than we thought. Blythy had stormed into the building. Two of his command squad were gunned down. Blythy went down too! It appeared our attack was stalling so with sten guns at the hip we blasted our way in. The Romanians that were left fled under the onslaught, but it had taken a heavy toll! Needing to press home our tactical advantage we continued our assault into the village to cut off the Romanian retreat and attack them from the rear!”

- Memoirs of Lieutenant Henry Slade, British Commander

Picture: the resistance move towards the captured building 

Picture: The Damiler is hit and a small fire ensues which is dealt with quickly 

Picture: The British start their assault on the left, but again suffer heavy causalities!

Picture: ..but were able to take the bunker as the Romanians fled

The Romanian AT gun finally managed to take out the stranded Damiler, while the rest of their force prepared itself to take care of any British that made the dash for the table edge. At some point which I can't quite remember the British flamethrower managed to fire. Having witnessed the ineffectiveness of the Romanian one we were quite excited when it hit - I think it managed only some additional pins before promptly running out of fuel and being removed as a causality of the game! 

 Picture: Romanians prepare for final British push!

Picture: the Damiler goes up in smoke!

Some of the small teams made it into the Romanian deployment zone, but one of the Jeeps was now waiting for them:

Turn 6 starts with the British closing the gap to 5 points with the scores at 28-23! It was going to be a close run thing with every point vital. The Romanians tried their hardest to take out small teams where possible. The British snipers took a pasting, but fortunately only lost 1 man. The squad on the far British right was reduced to a sole figure, but also failed a order dice so was unable to make the deployment zone.  The Romanian mortar who had been pounding the disabled universal carrier, finally managed to blow it up.

Picture: Universal Carrier is finally destroyed

The British in turn assaulted where they could. The medic made a last ditch dash to secure some further points through a hail of bullets! 

The resistance took out one of the AT guns on the right, while the home guard unit (like the heroes they are) in the final glorious action took out the AT gun on the left flank.

Pictures: The final throw of the dice as the old guard attack!

With wrecks and bodies everywhere, it was hard to tell who the victor was – is anybody ever in war. At the end I think the British had been reduced from 27 order dice to 11, while the Romanians had similar losses. Final points tally was 32 to the Romanians and 31 to the British. So many, ifs, buts, and bad decisions but by the final count it was a draw – although I’m sure the 1 points difference will continue to be mentioned.

In terms of the battle series/mini campaign the result leaves both sides heavily depleted. Depending on when the next battle is the Romanians forces will withdraw having suffered badly from the British attack so could mount a further defense of the river crossing in the village. The British given that they will likely receive reinforcements from the Caen sector could effectively mount the attack despite also suffering heavy casualties. Alternatively the Bauman’s panzers may have regrouped and manage a counter attack into the depleted British before they are reinforced?  We will see.....