“29, Let’s Go!”: Turn 1, Probe at La Cambe

 

“29, Let’s Go!”: Turn 1, Probe at La Cambe

The US 175th makes contact with the first serious opposition they have had on their advance along the highway. This is a Probe scenario, where the Germans (shocked by the appearance of the Allied column) will withdraw if the US player can exit any Team off of the German table edge. 

Map

The outskirts of the hamlet of La Cambe. On the German table edge is an orchard and some stone farm buildings. The US table edge contains hedgerows, a stone house and two wooden sheds. There is a large farm house on one side of the road and a tilled field planted with cabbages on the other. The tilled field is Broken Ground. 

Support Choices

German support: Barbed wire (1), Ie IG.18 (4), MG42 HMG (4), 3 entrenchments (3)

The Germans also have an off-map Flak 88 which can see some of the map. It was positioned for an anti-air role so only has an obscured view of the highway. 

US support: Sherman (6), Sherman (6), additional BAR for all squads (1), mine clearance team (1), 60mm mortar (3), bazooka team (2) 

Combat 

German morale starts on 8 and US on 10.

US scouts had reported enemy movement up ahead - on the other side of the cabbage field. US 1st Squad took up position on the hedgerow opposite, trying to catch sight of the Krauts. US 2nd Squad moved cautiously up the road. 

US 1st Squad lines the hedgerow, while 2nd Squad is deployed on the road

A pre-sighted and dug-in German infantry gun began firing HE shells directly at the GIs lining the hedgerow opposite. The HE rounds inflicted casualties and shock. Accurate rifle and BAR fire from the GIs killed most of the gun crew, but the lone gun commander kept the gun operating by himself for a while longer.

Machine-gun and rifle fire opened up from German infantry dug-in along the hedgerow at the other side of the field. US 3rd Squad deployed beside US 1st Squad and returned fire. 

A US 60mm mortar peppered the German positions with mortar bombs (causing no casualties) and then promptly ran out of ammunition. 

The US platoon commander - seeing the heavy fire his troops were taking - took shelter in the stone house nearby. A wary if not heroic officer. He ordered US 2nd Squad to advance (in the open) along the main road - with covering fire from 1st and 3rd Squads.

But as 2nd Squad started up the road it came under intense machine-gun fire from a German HMG in the orchard. 2nd Squad started taking heavy losses. The GIs were very much exposed on the road. 

German HMG

The German infantry gun finally fell silent as the commander (and sole crewman) was hit. The German 2nd Squad deployed beside the now silenced gun, firing its LMG at the GIs. 

A Sherman tank rumbled into view, spraying the German HMG team with its coaxial machine-gun. It also fired an HE round for good measure. The German HMG stopped firing, the crew dead or seeking cover. The Sherman also fired its coaxial at the German 3rd Squad, which was spotted dashing through the orchard. But it only managed to mangle some apple trees. 

The mortar is out of ammo, but a Sherman provides fire support

The Sherman did not advance - the crew had been warned of a German Flak 88 in a field to the north which had a partial view of La Cambe. The crew knew they were safe as long as they kept away from the open area ahead. 

The US troops were shaken, had taken heavy casualties, and it seemed even the arrival of a Sherman tank wouldn’t be enough to renew their morale. The GIs withdrew to regroup for a second assault.  

Results

US casualties: 13

Germans suffered 3 casualties (core force only): 1 KIA and 2 wounded 

German player:

CO’s opinion rises from 0 to 1. 

Men’s opinion rises from -1 to 1. 

My attitude goes from Worried to Relaxed. 

US player:

Colonel Goode’s attitude remains Worried. 

Post-script

We later realised we’d make some errors. I mistakenly told Cam that he rolled for troop morale per the normal rules in At The Sharp End. But in fact he doesn’t in this campaign. My mistaken advice influenced his decision to withdraw. On the other hand, Cam knew about my Flak 88 and where it could fire - which was supposed to be secret umpire notes. 

So, after some discussion, we decided a sporting compromise was Cam didn’t have to roll for his CO’s opinion for this first turn. 

We also discovered later that support weapons can share hits within infantry within 4 inches. This would have been helpful to know in the first two games! Great fun was still had.