From
Our Own Correspondent:
Robert Cappa reports “Deeper into Normandy”
Poor Bloody Infantry, or PBI as it is known, is a
great set of WW2 Wargame rules (Rules For the Common Man - published by Peter
Pig). The sense of getting men to operate some kind of cohesive plan in the
face of the enemy is almost palpable!
Somewhere in the Normandy Bocage region
The small French village of Maisons-de-Bois,
sitting at the crossroads (Obj.1) had, along with its surrounding farms, been
eyed thoughtfully by both sides. Mr Cappa and his camera were positioned to the N. of the Battle field.
The Germans had got there
first, just two days ago, and elements of the 4th Coy. 52nd SSPzr. Grndrs. had
built a substantial MG bunker (Obj.2), principally to defend the road E.
of the village. To the N. a bombed-out farm building served as a forward Obs
post (Obj.3). The infantry had also hastily dug some defences in the fields to
the N.E., to the W. and to the S. of the village.
Forces
The German Coy. Cmdr was
confident he could defend Maisons de Bois with two Rfl. Pltns and a support Pltn
of 3xHvy MG’s. There was also Arty support promised and, as the British threat
became immediate, Armour was dispatched N. to rendezvous at the village.
The British were attacking
with elements of C Coy.3rd Bttn West Surrey Rgt. namely: 2xPltns plus Coy. HQ
Pltn. Having reconnoitred that morning and seen the extent of the German
defences, Coy. Cmdr requested a 3rd Pltn be directed towards the village to
bolster the attack. Armour Support came as 1xCromwell, 2xSherman. Arty barrage
was also planned to commence the attack.
Deployment
The Germans had deployed with
a Pltn in the village and its walled gardens, in the hedged field to the W., and
in the field defences to the W. and S. (Obj.1).
The 2nd Pltn was deployed in
the ruined farmhouse (Obj.3) to the N and in the fields and field defences to
the N.E.
The support Pltn of HMG was deployed in the courtyard of houses to the
S., along with the Coy. Cmdr., and occupied the MG Bunker (Obj.2).
British deployed swiftly,
with 1st Pltn moving rapidly S. along the road, across the open ground. 1xSctn
approached through the coppice to the N.W. The infantry crossing open ground
were afforded some cover by the supporting Cromwell.
2nd Pltn deployed to the N.E.
of the fields with 2xShermans to give weight to their attack. Coy. Cmdr
directed the attack.
 |
| Magic view to the N.W. |
Turn 1
Arty began pre-ordered barrage:
salvo landed too far S. of (Obj.3).
From their exposed position
on the road, 1st Pltn put up some tentative suppressing fire. Sctn in the coppice
unable to add their fire.
Both Cromwell and 1xSherman gave
support with H.E. on the enemy in Maisons de Bois whilst laying down covering fire
with MG’s.
2nd Pltn opened up a lively
suppressing fire across their front, aiming to pin German elements in the field
defences ahead. The remaining Sherman also used MG’s to assist.
Turn 2
British Arty was being
adjusted and 2nd salvo was delayed.
2nd Pltn gained fire
superiority and pinned the German LMG’s in the field defences. 1xSherman
advanced towards the observation post and using H.E. managed to pin the
defending Germans there.
Cromwell advanced S. along
the road to assault the Germans pinned in the village.
However, German infantry
Anti-Tank deterred attack and Cromwell retired to support 1st Pltn when Pltn
Cmdr. was shot: he was replaced by a Pltn Sergeant who struggled to lead the
Pltn to assault the village under fire.
Turn3
The Supporting Pltn requested
as back up, had, as yet failed to make contact.
British Arty landed directly
on the farm buildings (Obj.3) and in the fields and lane to the E. causing
casualties and pinning the German defenders.
Coy. Cmdr. ordered 2nd Pltn to advance through the fields and along the stream to their E. 1xSherman gave support with MG.
1xSherman advanced towards
the village and used H.E. to support 1st Pltn.
Following the Arty. salvo, the
Germans tried quickly to rally the pinned infantry to defend the anticipated
British advance. German Coy. Cmdr. received a message that Armour was on its
way, but none could not yet be seen by those anxiously looking S. down the
road.
He was, however, able to call in
his own field Arty which landed accurately across the road N. of the village, causing
grievous losses among British 1st Pltn and knocking out Cromwell.
Their
temporary leader was himself hit and a Pltn Cprl. took over to rally the
remaining troops in the face of determined sniper fire and attempt to move them
to attack the village and thereby get out of the open ground.
Turn 4
British Arty was reluctantly called
upon the village to clear infantry defenders from their positions in the field
defences, the streets and the walled gardens.
Some stubborn Anti-Tank armed
infantry remained in the village. the remnants of 1 st Pltn were gathering
themselves to leave their fallen comrades and cross the daunting open ground
between them and their objective.
2nd Pltn advanced under HMG fire
from the Bunker (Obj.2), to capture the German field defences with heavy losses.
Elements of 3rd Pltn then arrived
and Coy. Comdr. waited to check the way was clear to advance and capture the forward
Obs post (Obj.3). The German Suppt Pltn. kept trying to intervene with HMG fire
from the cluster of buildings to the S. of the road.
Turn 5
German defenders in the
village, outflanked by the British 3rd Pltn in the forward Obs post to the E.
and by 12nst Pltn in the fields to their W. then retired to the crossroads
(Obj.1).
2xShermans carefully advanced through the village and against the
field defences in the open ground to the S.W.
Coy. Cmdr. led the remaining
1st Pltn in the wake of the Sherman.
Turn 6
As the British were
approaching the S. end of the village and fighting hard to secure the
crossroads (Obj.1), some of the German Armour finally arrived.
1xPzrIV rolled
N. along the road and 1xStuG crossed the open ground to the S. Immediately, 2xShermans
were engaged in an armoured duel to prevent these beasts dislodging the infantry
from their, as yet, slim hold on the crossroads (Obj.1).
3rd Pltn with the
remains of 2nd Pltn were being hampered by stiff resistance from the HMG’s from
the Bunker (Obj.2) and the houses to the S.
The game ended and the
victory decided by British 21 dice and German 18 dice. Result British 78,
German 65, so a narrow victory by the British and, conceivably, in another turn
the result might turn the other way if the German Armour continued to thwart
the British attack on Obj.2 and loosened their hold on Obj.1
A frustrated attack facing
dogged defence; a great game.
