Scottish Corridor - After Action Report

Kieran and I decided to play yet another "Hit The Dirt" scenario, so we selected 'Scottish Corridor', as a suitable medium-sized scenario that matched our available forces on the day. Before going further please note that all hedge lines and such in the scenario are Bocage, however in the photos we have only used normal Hedges and Lichen to represent these, so bear that in mind when viewing. Note we also got the map slightly wrong in the North-East corner (top right), we miss-read the contour as a further elevation rather than the reclining slope on the back of the ridge it should be - however this was to have no impact on the game.

 View from behind German lines looking North towards the ridgeline held by the Highlanders near Gravas.

In the scenario a Company of the 2nd Argyle Highlanders is holding an exposed bridgehead during Operation Epsom, and is subjected to repeated but poorly managed counter attacks from the 10th SS Panzer Division who have just arrived in Normandy. Once again we slightly tweaked the Order of Battle, the British did not get their 6pdr ATG (with APDS), their MMG stand, or their 3 Snipers, instead they got 1 M4A1 Sherman (from 11th Armoured Division) and an Armoured Car Troop of 2 x Daimler Mk.II's (one with a Little-John Squeeze Bore adapter) and 2 Daimler Dingo Scout Cars. We also gave the Germans a JagdPanzer IV (L/48) and a StuG IV in place of the two Panzer IVH's and consolidated the 2 MMG stands into a platoon with a PC attached to the first PanzerGrenadier Kompanie (a more historical deployment). As always we used our own house rules which include our Anti-Tank Rules (now up to version 5), and some modifications to HE fire and Cover effects. Also as we use 1/72nd scale figures on 40mm bases we enlarged the map 125% (i.e. to 5' x 5'). Otherwise the balance of the scenario and forces were as described in "Hit The Dirt" along with the published victory conditions.

Immediate Action - The PzJgr IV from the SP Panzerjäger Platoon confronts the Sherman.

Kieran commanded the German attackers (quite a change for him), and I the Scots. As mentioned the game was played with my 1/72nd scale figures, which are mostly 'AB Figures' and we got underway with Kieran rolling for the initial German forces arriving... These turned out to be the 1st PanzerGrenadier Kompanie, and the SP Panzerjäger Platoon. The game commenced with the JagdPanzer IV rolling up the main road, only to be confronted by the British Sherman deployed on the ridge, as it neared the Sunken Road.

Victim and Culprit...

Although the Sherman got the jump, its fire was ineffective (the 75mm having only minimal chance of seriously harming the front armour of even an early model Jgdpz IV) - and the JagdPanzer replied by then drilling the Sherman immediately with it's first shot! Following the exchange of fire the StuG IV moved on, to the JagdPanzer's left advancing across the high ground in the South-West parallel to the latter's position. This was then followed by the appearance of Platoon 2 from the 1st PanzerGrenadier Kompanie, who advanced to the right of the JagdPanzer, essentially up the central part of the valley which had some extensive cover for some of the way along it.

Platoon 2, 1st PzGr Kp, come under heavy British fire.

However, once they reached a point roughly half-way to where the JagdPanzer was deployed they were caught in the open by British fire. Having to rush an open gap between two bocage lined fields they came under accurate Rifle & Bren Gun fire which killed one Section, suppressed another and the PC, and pinned the third Section - not bad work for 2 British Rifle Sections! The fire had come from the first building, further up the road, and the wooded area across from it that was directly in the German's line of advance. This was then followed up by 3" Mortar fire, from the MOP (Mortar Observation Post) located in the same building, which promptly 'double-suppressed' the suppressed stand... A second burst of fire from the 2 Rifle Sections (controlled by the PC also in the building) suppressed the remaining (pinned) German Section, and a repeat burst finished it off - scratch one platoon, not an auspicious start.

Platoon 1, 1st PzGr Kp, stumble across Highlanders in an Orchard.

The next German plan was a move up the right flank, with Platoon 1 of the 1st Kompanie moving along the edge of the ridgeline towards a centrally located orchard, where they inadvertently stumbled on a Scottish FDL (Forward Defended Locality), a lone Rifle Section. The British fire was effective, at least pinning 2 German stands, but they promptly rallied and subsequent reactive fire was ineffective.

The assault goes in, SS Platoon 1 assaults the exposed British Rifle Section.

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