Operation Sealion LCG

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 4:

1st and 3rd Company crash through the light British blocking forces and close in on their objectives within the Oaken Wood.
Two advancing StuGs approach an objective slightly to the west and come under fire from a British Rifle Platoon and a 3SP MG Platoon. 2nd Regiment's Colonel Ubl draws up a quick plan for 3rd Company to capture the objective and will personally lead the assault.

Meanwhile, 18th Recon and 6th Company continue to reduce the British defending the area around the Asylum. With all enemy armored units destroyed or withdrawn, the village southeast of the Asylum should be back in German hands soon.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 5:

The 88mm batterys which have been pounding the pillbox complex near Livesey Street are finally able to correctly target the enemy's 40mm AA Guns and disable two of them.
A British Engineer Platoon is also spotted defending the objective.
The 88s will next train their guns on this unit, while 2nd Company continues to bide their time out of sight.

In 3rd Company's area, Col. Ubl's plan is put on temporary hold after a small minefield is located just to the north of the StuGs current position. While the rest of the company waits, an Engineer unit will clear the minefield as soon as a smokescreen is laid.

1st Company approaches their objective in force, which is defended by a 4SP Rifle unit and a single Matilda II. Concentrated fire has little effect on the heavily entrenched British. Heavy artillery is requested to help root them out.

6th Company's objective is observed to contain no fewer than 16SPs of British troops and Engineers which are well protected inside a gigantic pillbox. The only chance the Germans have here is to somehow lure the British out.

And 18th Recon's troops finally push the British out of their entrenched positions south of the Asylum, but come under fire from several other British units which are defending within the monstrous building itself. More German Motorized Rifle troops are lost, as Captain Woytasch curses under his breath the sheer ignorance of fighting for the same area that they had secured just the day before.




[center]Tough times in the Oaken Wood![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 6:

The HMG platoon attached to 2nd Company probes west and discovers an unoccupied bunker which overlooks the pillbox complex near Livesey Street.
A British Regimental HQ, unaware of the German presence, decides to set up shop there but is promptly shot to pieces instead. The HMG unit then occupies the defensive position, and will be used to draw fire from the pillbox's defenders.

Near 3rd Company's zone of operations, several of the regiment's Engineer Platoons lead the advance towards 3rd Company's objective which is protected by a 5SP British Rifle Platoon and a 3SP MG Platoon. The StuGs targeted the lone Matilda II tank in the area, and successfully destroyed it.
Heavy artillery is ordered onto the British position.

1st Company is able to wrest their objective from British control, although it came with a price. The company's advance was delayed by the stubborn resistance, and subsequently came under a heavy and continuous artillery bombardment. The unlucky II Platoon takes a 2SP loss, and is now at one-third strength.

18th Recon troops continues to struggle with the determined British defenders in their area and are forced to withdraw once again.
However, 6th Company's paratroops and 1st Company's HMG platoon are enroute to reinforce their battered and bruised comrades.
Despite the battalion's heavy losses, attrition has taken a heavy toll on the British and the defense is on the verge of collapse.
The Panzer IVs roll forward, and prepare an assault on the small, yet strategic group of buildings that lie to the southeast of the Asylum.



[center]1st Company triumphant![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 7:

The German's 88mm FlaK guns continue to blanket the pillbox complex near Livesey Street with powerful HE projectiles.
The enemy's single operational 40mm AA gun's luck finally runs out and it too is silenced with an explosive blast. Only the British Engineers remain, but against such devastating firepower and with 2nd Company waiting just out of sight, it should be only a matter of time before their fate is sealed.

Near 3rd Company's objective, heavy artillery strikes along with suppressive fire from the two StuGs demoralizes the enemy garrison. The two German Engineer Platoons spring into action, and assault the disrupted British troops from two directions. The routed British troops flee to a nearby stronghold to the west, which contains a pillbox garrisoned by a 5SP Rifle Platoon.

Slightly to the northeast, 1st Company's II and III Platoon guard their newly conquered objective, while IV Platoon chases off the Matilda II. A British Engineer Platoon attempts to approach the Germans from the still enemy-held eastern pillbox, but is driven off.

And in 18th Recon's area, the Panzer IVs successfully drive the British from the strategic group of buildings south of the Asylum and claim it once again for Germany.
The remaining German troops hang back because of a full-strength MG Platoon defending from a hillside pillbox located half a kilometer north of the Asylum.



[center]Panzer IVs break the British defense![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 8:

The British Engineer unit defending the pillbox in 2nd Company's sector is plastered by another volley of 88mm HE shells and becomes disrupted.
The German units prepare for action as they await a smokescreen from the 81mm Section to mask their movements.

In 3rd Company's sector, I and IV Platoon reinforce the combat engineers in the newly conquered bunker complex and draw up a quick plan to wrest control of the pillbox to their immediate west away from the British.
The Engineers will use their heavy weapons to suppress the defenders, after which the paratroopers will assault the strategic position and attempt to capture it.

Slightly east, 1st Company and I Battalion's Engineers assume a defensive posture and blast several British units attempting to spoil the German's plans. These British units are part of a large garrison based in a huge pillbox complex to the southeast.
The British units wisely flee back to their sanctuary after a large volume of German lead is thrown their way.

18th Recon and 6th Company units also consolidate their gains while the tattered British defenders hole-up in the Asylum.
Panzer IVs take aim at several Mark VIs to the east, but miss.
The much feared enemy HMG platoon positioned in the pillbox complex north of the Asylum attempts an end-around on the left flank of the German advance but comes under fire from II Platoon, 6th Company and an Engineer unit from the 18th Recon.
Unfortunately, the exposed British unit luckily avoids casualties and retreats back to the pillbox.



[center]Engineers and 3rd Company prepare to assault the pillbox![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 9:

2nd Company's I and III Platoon finally close the distance to the British pillbox near Livesey Street under cover of a smokescreen. The beleageured British garrison, still under heavy fire from the German 88's, fires blindly at the approaching German paratroops without effect.

3rd Company's plans to wrest control of a pillbox complex away from the British to their immediate west comes to a screeching halt after the advancing German Engineers come under heavy artillery fire. Despite using their newly liberated bunker for protection, the powerful HE shells cause disruption and 1SP of casualties to both platoons.
For the moment, the Germans will bear these losses and continue with their original plan.

All is eerily quiet in 1st Company's sector. The Germans and their British foes half a kilometer to the east seem quite content to defend their respective areas and wait for the other side to make the first move.

On the eastern flank, the Panzer IVs and elements of 18th Recon cautiously resume their northern advance while 6th Company's paratroops secure the conquered village to the south of the Asylum.
The British defenders in the hilltop pillbox to the north panic and attempt a breakout towards the woods to the west but come under murderous fire from one of I. Battalion's HMG platoons.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 10:

The German's slow, plodding advance finally pays off when both 2nd and 3rd Company's objectives are secured from the enemy.
I. Battalion will now take up a defensive stance and protect their hard-won territory from further British incursions.

To the east, 18th Recon continues their cautious advance north.
A lone 5SP Rifle Platoon guards the hilltop pillbox, with the rest of the fleeing defenders destroyed, driven into the woods, or holed up inside the Asylum.



[center]German persistence and patience pays off![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 11:

As I. Battalion's paratroops secure their objectives and drive off or destroy the remaining British defenders, a company of Motorcycle Troops from the 18th Recon and the Panzer IVs close in on the hilltop pillbox complex and prepare to take it.

Panzer IVs take up position to the southeast and begin to pepper the fortification with direct fire.

Their primary mission complete, the FlaK 88's are loaded up and sent east to assist.




[center]Closing on the final objective![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 12:

The operational tempo has slowed considerably.

As I. Battalion defends their conquests from the occaisonal marauding British unit, the Panzer IVs are content to fire at range against the lone defender in the pillbox.

However, their low-velocity shells do little harm.

The 88's are almost in position to assist.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 13:

Despite horrendous losses, the British still have plenty of fight, as they sneak several understrength Rifle Platoons behind 18th Recon's advance and ambush two Sdkfz 7s transporting 88mm FlaK guns.
The entire unit is destroyed, and the trailing three Sdkfz 7s quickly take an alternate route and deploy their guns to fire on the stubborn pillbox defenders.

German artillery parks to the rear are put on alert for possible enemy moves their way.
Fortunately, 5th Company is providing security for the 75mm Mountain Guns and a Motorcycle Company from the 17th Recon guards the K18 150mm Guns.

Also, several platoons from 6th Company close on the Asylum and engage the vastly depleted garrison. Only several SPs of British Rifle Platoons and three Mark VI Tanks block their way.



[center]Ambushed![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 14:

German troops from 6th Company and 18th Recon convene on the Asylum and attempt to expel the motley collection of stubborn defenders.
Two Mark VIs are destroyed, but the others stand firm despite the overwhelming firepower thrown against them.



[center]A valiant, yet futile last stand![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 15:

The doomed defenders of the Asylum succumb to a vicious 5-prong assault and are either killed or captured in the short firefight.
A British major is among those captured.

Also, the surviving 88mm FlaK battery opens fire upon the pillbox to the north. There is no hiding for the British units as the powerful shells smash through the pillbox and cause a 1SP loss.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 16:

18th Recon and 6th Company troops close in on the pillbox as the 88mm FlaK battery and the Panzer IVs provide suppressive fire.

[Jason Petho]

ORIGINAL: Juggalo

Turn 15:

The doomed defenders of the Asylum succumb to a vicious 5-prong assault and are either killed or captured in the short firefight.
A British major is among those captured.

Also, the surviving 88mm FlaK battery opens fire upon the pillbox to the north. There is no hiding for the British units as the powerful shells smash through the pillbox and cause a 1SP loss.

Here's hoping you don't have to fight for the Asylum again!

Certainly enjoying your AAR, thank you for the taking time to play it and for continuing it again!

I will be modifying some of the scenarios based on some of the new features, and things I have learned over the years in scenario design, which will make the Campaign significantly more difficult.

Jason Petho

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 17:

The British unit defending the pillbox becomes disrupted after another volley of 88mm shells smash through the defensive works.

The German troops seize their chance and assault the stronghold from three sides. The British Rifle Platoon's will to continue the fight quickly evaporates, and the unit surrenders.


This troublesome stronghold which was the cause of so many German casualties is finally subdued.



[center]Germans victorious![/center]

[TAIL GUNNER]

Here's hoping you don't have to fight for the Asylum again!

No kidding! I can totally imagine how certain WWII commanders felt when they had to fight again for the same ground they'd previously secured.

Certainly enjoying your AAR, thank you for the taking time to play it and for continuing it again!

My pleasure!
I jump around from playing different games for stretches at a time, though I. Battalion was never far from my mind.[8D]

I will be modifying some of the scenarios based on some of the new features, and things I have learned over the years in scenario design, which will make the Campaign significantly more difficult.

You've got the difficulty pegged pretty well as it stands.
You certainly don't want it too difficult so the player becomes frustrated and quits!

Looking forward to see what new surprises you have in store though!

ChadG

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 18:

Although the British still control one of the pillbox complexes in the Oaken Wood, High Command sends its congratulations on a job well done.

The town of Maidstone is now completely isolated from the west.

[TAIL GUNNER]

Conclusion:

Final Score: 900 - Major Victory

Pillboxes in dense woods....not my favorite![;)]

German I Battalion losses(SPs):
3 Parachute Infantry Platoon

Other German losses(SPs):
1 Pzkpfw IIIF Medium Tanks
1 Pzkpfw IVD Medium Tanks
1 PSW 222 Armored Cars
2 SdKfz 7 Halftrack Prime Movers
2 FlaK 18 88mm Anti-Air Guns
7 Motorized Rifle Platoon
1 Parachute Infantry Platoon
4 Engineer Platoon
6 Motorcycle Platoon


British losses (SPs):
8 Mark VI Light Tanks
3 A13 Cruiser Tanks
2 A13 CS Cruiser Tanks
2 Matilda II Infantry Tanks
3 OQF 40mm Anti-Aircraft Guns
2 OQF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Guns
64 Rifle Platoon
8 Engineer Platoon
11 Machinegun Platoon
3 Regimental HQ
5 Battalion HQ (mot.)
2 Commander 2 (mot.)
3 Commander 3 (mot.)


Total British losses (SPs) to date:
50 Mark VI Light Tanks
13 A13 Cruiser Tanks
2 A13 CS Cruiser Tanks
7 Matilda II Infantry Tanks
61 Trucks
43 Carriers
20 2pdr Portee Anti-Tank Trucks
28 OML 3-inch Mortars
1 OQF 18-pounder Field Guns
20 OQF 2-pounder Anti-Tank Guns
4 OQF 3-inch Anti-Aircraft Guns
28 OQF 40mm Anti-Aircraft Guns
6 OQF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Guns
6 OBL 6-inch Howitzers
51 Carrier Rifle Section
483 Rifle Platoon
24 Commando Platoon
83 Engineer Platoon
39 Home Guard Platoon
4 Anti-Aircraft Machinegun Platoon
75 Machinegun Platoon
4 Regimental HQ
31 Battalion HQ (mot.)
2 Commander 1 (mot.)
22 Commander 2 (mot.)
24 Commander 3 (mot.)
6 Commander 2
3 Commander 3


Received 4 replacement points. 9 of the 12 paratrooper platoons are at 5 SPs. All HMGs at full strength. Engineers remain at 4SPs.
Total Battalion strength is 88% of TOE.


Onward soldiers!

[TAIL GUNNER]

After several days of much-needed rest, I. Battalion has been selected to lead the advance on London!

Their task is to spearhead an advance to the southeast of London and clear a corridor for the Panzer Divisions to follow on through.

Since the Panzers took a heavy beating while reducing the Maidstone garrison, the only armored units available are the venerable StuG IIIBs which are grouped into two units of three vehicles each.

2nd Company as well as some Motorcycle Troops will arrive shortly.

A battalion of 150mm Guns will provide artillery support. However, Luftwaffe support is minimal.


The Plan (Phase 1)

[TAIL GUNNER]

Turn 1:

The StuGs throttle their engines and once again lead the advance.

An enemy 3SP HMG Platoon is spotted atop a bluff on the approach to Trottiscliffe after it opens fire on the advancing 1st Company from long range.

Artillery strikes are called onto the British unit's position, which unfortunately is heavily entrenched in rubble.



[center]First obstacle![/center]