Gaming: Scenario - The push further South (Operation Goodwood) - 19th July 1944

My sister organised a gaming morning for my Dad's birthday. Not wanting the game to be without context we fleshed out some background to link it to the previous battles that have been reported in this blog - particularly the Skirmish at Vimont. Since introducing Dad to the hobby he has been researching various Romanian forces and building armies to fit his research. To my brothers and mine amusement these forces seem to include all the 'best bits' from other armies although I am reliably informed they are historically accurate. :-) Unfortunately work, life commitments etc means these have never been used in 'anger' and I don't believe he's play a game since our demo games.Thus here we are 'The push further South (operation Goodwood)....

"The previous days encounter with the enemy had left Archibald 'Blythe's unit battered and bruised and not without loss, but Vimont had been secured. Blythe knew the offensive was not over. The enemy had been forced back, but intelligence suggested that a force had regrouped  5km away further south around the Bridge head at a place called Valmeray.  Barely a dot on any map Blythe, and in reality most likely already a ruin, he called his NCO's to gather around as they pored over the worn out map. "Brass have ordered us to continue our advance onto here" Blythe pointed to the small dot of Valmeray where the road crossed the river "we cannot let them dig in otherwise they won't be shifted easily" he continue. "Why don't we just wait for the cavalry" pondered Sergeant Jones stroking his grizzled chin "get a few of the Irish lads tankers to blow to pieces whats left of them! That'll sound shift 'em". Archibald looked to his remaining tank commander " at the moment Taff" he paused so the Welshman appreciated the emphasis on his next point "you are the cavalry!"

Having secured a a thumping victory at Vimont (See 'Skirmish at Vimont blogs' for further context) Lieutenant Archibald's forces have been ordered to continue the advance south and secure the bridge head and beyond and extend the advance.

Forces

Axis

The British command is certain that the German army is on the verge of rolling up and therefore they must continue to maintain pressure so they are unable to managed a suitable defense. The quality of the Axis troops is mixed and in fact the majority of the forces at Valmeray are Romanian in the German service. It would still be about a month until the battle of Romania and the Romanians switching to the allied cause so it is vaguely plausible. As such they have a mixture of weaponry from brought/borrowed and stolen weaponry from Germans war effort in the East. 

Author note: this will enable my Dad to bring his Romanian based army

"Lieutenant Valadimir Stangaciu looked over his position. His men had done well creating a defensive ring around the the small French village. He looked to where his anti tank positions should have been and could see nothing but bushes and trees. Closer inspection show some activity and to the trained eye he could make out the barrel of one of the 75 mm guns, but to the causal observe nothing but trees and scrub - they were well hidden he mused. Stragglers had staggered into the village late the previous afternoon. Their torn and dirtied tunics implied they were from the 21st Panzers, but what was left of them was anyone's guess. Reports were confusing and varied - talk of tanks and armoured cars were rife, but all that was certain was that it had been a bloody fight. Who knew what would come done the dirt track to Valmeray. The Romanians waited. Ready. Let them come Stangaciu thought - let them come!"

Picture: Intelligence is 'sketchy' regarding the Romanian defenders, but what is available suggests they are't a toothless rabble!

British

The fight at Vimont has weakened Lieutenant Blythe's original force, but the victory has allowed other units time to link up with him. This includes  elements of the 1st Para's led by Lieutenant Slade of operation Red Hawk fame! As the advance continues supply lines get stretched and causalities take there toil so although there won't be hundreds of tanks to 'pound' the village defenders they should have a decent force for attack with.

Author note: thus allowing us to have 2 platoons  -1 for my brother and 1 for myself 

Scenario

The scenario will be envelopment where the attacker (the British) will need to get as many units into the defenders (Axis) set up zone or off their table edge. There are a few reasons why I chose this:

1. It fits well with the continuation of the scenario/mini campaign that is inadvertently developing as the push as part of Operation Goodwood.

2. My dad has a lot of defensive weapons eg AT guns/rifles, MMGs etc so they suit them well and as this is his first competitive game with them then he can focus more on learning the rules in game play rather than worrying too much around tactics.

3. Having said that he has a number of vehicles including armour and transports that if he wished to play around with tactics and a more aggressive strategy then those to are available to him - which he made need to consider to keep us out of his deployment zone

4. Setting it in the small settlement of Valmeray will also allow us to have both village/urban and rural settings again as a learning game allowing us to explore various tactics.

There it is -  as the it ticks around to dawn on the 19th British bombard the axis position and under the sound of the guns the British forces rumble forward to attack.......