George Kelln
Elder Member
HH6.2 Cuttings Hell’s Highway vs. Ernie Cameron
Turn 1 - British 123rd AAA Regiment, stops for tea in the quiet town of Mariaheide Holland, along Hell’s Highway, miles from the front line. What could go wrong? Suddenly the rumbling of tanks can be heard from the north; not long after, German Panther tanks and halftracks laden with Panzergrenadiers roar into the village. The American paratrooper patrol that just passed through the village on its way back south to Veghel stops and hurries back to the British gunners. Alerted by sentries in the church tower in Veghel, two truckloads of paratroopers race northwards from Veghel, disgorging their passengers in the village, before turning tail and racing back to safety.
Turn 2 - The German northern force moved into the village, a pair of Panther tanks and an Assault Engineer squad mounted in a halftrack maneuvered around the western flank and set up near the railroad crossing. Meanwhile the bulk of the northern force moved down the railroad and the main road to positions in the orchard and northern buildings in the village.
British Bofors AA guns began engaging whatever Germans came into view; however, the wily tank commanders knew not to get too close lest fall victim to a broken track from a 40mm shell. Instead, the tanks lobbed shells and fired machineguns at the Brit gunners from well back.
The recently arrived platoon of American paratroopers moved into positions in the church and convent, while the other platoon moved into position in the woods on the eastern flank. The attach British OP Carrier moved into position to call in fire on the eastern flank but soon came under inaccurate 81mm mortar fire.
More German panzergrenadiers mounted in halftracks appeared from the east and raced forward dropping their passengers short of the village. Meanwhile support halftracks (SPW 251/2, 251/9, & 251/21) moved to provide flank support.
One troop of 2x British Sherman tanks and a Firefly maneuvered to cover the flanks and prevent the Germans from getting behind the American Paratroopers in the village. While the second troop moved to the western side of the village.
A pair of SPW 251/21 AA halftracks got tangled up with a British Sherman and a Firefly. In what looked to be a one-sided fight favouring the British, suddenly had the tables turned on the Brits. In the first duel, the SPW 251/21 immobilized the Sherman, and in the second duel the SPW 251/21 first immobilized the Firefly and then scored a Critical Hit and Shocked the crew. Things weren’t looking good for the Brits.
Turn 3 - The battle around the church and the convent intensified, the Germans continued to press southward linking with the eastern force. German Panther tanks closed into the village providing fire support for the panzergrenadiers and engineers – forcing the Americans out of the convent.
On the eastern flank, the Germans continued to press forward towards the village. Getting bold and maneuvering a trio of SPW 251/21 AA halftracks to the rear of the immobilized Sherman and the Shocked Firefly. But the first two-gun crews were too excited and fired wildly missing both tanks. The third halftrack’s crew was surprised by a concealed paratrooper squad behind a hedge (14+2) = 3MC. The Crew failed and was Stunned with the halftrack rolling to a stop. It was then destroyed by a Bazooka shot.
In the north, the pesky gun crew manhandled their Bofors into an orchard, only to later have it overrun by halftrack. The valiant gun crew continues to hold out, battling the halftrack while dodging fire from three sides.
The British OP Carrier, having extracted itself from its sticky situation with a German SPW 251/2 Mortar halftrack ranging in on it. The OP Carrier raced around to the western flank in the hopes to get into position and to establish radio contact with its battery.
On the eastern flank, the lone Good Order Sherman spun its turret about to engage the SPW 251/21 behind the (UK) Firefly, dispatching it in short order. The gunner of the immobilized Sherman in the south took his time and lined up the Adjacent SPW 251/21, before sending a 75mm AP round straight through it and brewing it up. The Firefly failed to recover from UK and was destroyed.
The other troop of Sherman tanks was much more successful. The lead tank raced forward and got behind a Panther, firing quickly in Bounding Fire, it struck the Panther in the rear of its hull destroying it. The second Sherman followed suit engaging the Panther on the other side of the ploughed field; missing it, it quickly repositioned itself to cover the centre crossroad. The third tank – a Firefly moved forward and despite the Panther turning its turret to face the Firefly, the Brit gunner managed to shoot a 76mm AP round straight through gunsight, igniting the ammunition in the turret, and destroying the tank.
The battle has ebb and flowed with both sides surging forward with the arrival of reinforcements.
More to follow on Friday morning.
Turn 1 - British 123rd AAA Regiment, stops for tea in the quiet town of Mariaheide Holland, along Hell’s Highway, miles from the front line. What could go wrong? Suddenly the rumbling of tanks can be heard from the north; not long after, German Panther tanks and halftracks laden with Panzergrenadiers roar into the village. The American paratrooper patrol that just passed through the village on its way back south to Veghel stops and hurries back to the British gunners. Alerted by sentries in the church tower in Veghel, two truckloads of paratroopers race northwards from Veghel, disgorging their passengers in the village, before turning tail and racing back to safety.
Turn 2 - The German northern force moved into the village, a pair of Panther tanks and an Assault Engineer squad mounted in a halftrack maneuvered around the western flank and set up near the railroad crossing. Meanwhile the bulk of the northern force moved down the railroad and the main road to positions in the orchard and northern buildings in the village.
British Bofors AA guns began engaging whatever Germans came into view; however, the wily tank commanders knew not to get too close lest fall victim to a broken track from a 40mm shell. Instead, the tanks lobbed shells and fired machineguns at the Brit gunners from well back.
The recently arrived platoon of American paratroopers moved into positions in the church and convent, while the other platoon moved into position in the woods on the eastern flank. The attach British OP Carrier moved into position to call in fire on the eastern flank but soon came under inaccurate 81mm mortar fire.
More German panzergrenadiers mounted in halftracks appeared from the east and raced forward dropping their passengers short of the village. Meanwhile support halftracks (SPW 251/2, 251/9, & 251/21) moved to provide flank support.
One troop of 2x British Sherman tanks and a Firefly maneuvered to cover the flanks and prevent the Germans from getting behind the American Paratroopers in the village. While the second troop moved to the western side of the village.
A pair of SPW 251/21 AA halftracks got tangled up with a British Sherman and a Firefly. In what looked to be a one-sided fight favouring the British, suddenly had the tables turned on the Brits. In the first duel, the SPW 251/21 immobilized the Sherman, and in the second duel the SPW 251/21 first immobilized the Firefly and then scored a Critical Hit and Shocked the crew. Things weren’t looking good for the Brits.
Turn 3 - The battle around the church and the convent intensified, the Germans continued to press southward linking with the eastern force. German Panther tanks closed into the village providing fire support for the panzergrenadiers and engineers – forcing the Americans out of the convent.
On the eastern flank, the Germans continued to press forward towards the village. Getting bold and maneuvering a trio of SPW 251/21 AA halftracks to the rear of the immobilized Sherman and the Shocked Firefly. But the first two-gun crews were too excited and fired wildly missing both tanks. The third halftrack’s crew was surprised by a concealed paratrooper squad behind a hedge (14+2) = 3MC. The Crew failed and was Stunned with the halftrack rolling to a stop. It was then destroyed by a Bazooka shot.
In the north, the pesky gun crew manhandled their Bofors into an orchard, only to later have it overrun by halftrack. The valiant gun crew continues to hold out, battling the halftrack while dodging fire from three sides.
The British OP Carrier, having extracted itself from its sticky situation with a German SPW 251/2 Mortar halftrack ranging in on it. The OP Carrier raced around to the western flank in the hopes to get into position and to establish radio contact with its battery.
On the eastern flank, the lone Good Order Sherman spun its turret about to engage the SPW 251/21 behind the (UK) Firefly, dispatching it in short order. The gunner of the immobilized Sherman in the south took his time and lined up the Adjacent SPW 251/21, before sending a 75mm AP round straight through it and brewing it up. The Firefly failed to recover from UK and was destroyed.
The other troop of Sherman tanks was much more successful. The lead tank raced forward and got behind a Panther, firing quickly in Bounding Fire, it struck the Panther in the rear of its hull destroying it. The second Sherman followed suit engaging the Panther on the other side of the ploughed field; missing it, it quickly repositioned itself to cover the centre crossroad. The third tank – a Firefly moved forward and despite the Panther turning its turret to face the Firefly, the Brit gunner managed to shoot a 76mm AP round straight through gunsight, igniting the ammunition in the turret, and destroying the tank.
The battle has ebb and flowed with both sides surging forward with the arrival of reinforcements.
More to follow on Friday morning.