Scottish Corridor II - Page 2

The next German reinforcement to arrive was the other Panzer Platoon, the lone Panther. And this promptly advanced up the left flank in the narrow alley between the bocage hedges and orchards. On reaching the area where Platoons 1 & 2 were in action the Panther halted, concealed by the hedgerows. However with no better plan an action roll* was made by the Germans to activate the Panther for additional movement and it edged up beyond the edge of the Hedgerow - only to promptly have a PIAT bomb sailing at them from a previously concealed Scots Squad! The bomb hit causing a Pin (which has no effect in our house rules other than to halt the AFV's current move activity), and the Panther promptly returned fire with it's 75mm main gun, causing a Pin in turn on the Scots (see photo below).

* Part of our house rules for armour & AT fire, and primarily inspired by an idea of Tim Marshal's.

 With the demise of Platoon 2 the first Panzer Platoon moves up, a single Pzkpfw V Panther, the first 10th
SS armour to advance on the battlefield. Mortar Section FO & Kompanie 1 Commander are on left.

Initiative had been lost so the Scots promptly responded by firing the Armoured Car Section at the remaining squad of Platoon 2 in the field near the ridge and scored a double suppression, eliminating the squad, and as a result Platoon 2! This was a pretty effective performance as although the Daimler Armoured Car's co-ax Besa MG got 4D (less 1D for cover) the little Dingo with just a Bren Gun was firing into the field with only 2D (i.e. 3D -1D for cover), so did a stirling job of backing up the Armoured Car's accurate fire. The Scots then tried lobbing another PIAT bomb at the Panther, unsuccessfully. The turn  ended and the moving clock moved again ticking on to 1500.

The view from the North-East end of the ridge, with the Armoured Car Section in the foreground.

The 10th SS then brought the balance of their armour on, an ex-Soviet T-34/76 and a StuG IV (who had arrived 2 initiatives earlier and were waiting near the attack's start line), they advanced up the main road to the vicinity of the Crossroads. They had wanted to advance further (to assist the Panther & Kompanie 1) but didn't dare advance along the road between the uncleared Western Farm House & Central Wood, or through the close country South of the Wood! So a round of desultory firing then ensued, with the Panther unable to do more than a Pin against the Rifle Squad in the field, losing the initiative, and then the Scots erratically lobbing another PIAT Bomb in the Panther's general vicinity. However the moving clock chose not to move and it was back to the German's initiative again.

The other 10th SS Panzer Platoon finally moves on, a captured T-34/76 Mod.41 (from Poland) leads a
StuG IV up the main road. In the end they weren't to advance any further all afternoon!

Another shot from the Panther and finally a Suppression! Platoon 3 of Kompanie 1 (only 2 Squads strong) was immediately brought up, leap-frogging Platoon 1 in the centre-right orchard and then making a dash for the hapless Scots, with MP40's and Potato Mashers at the ready... But they weren't to get there! Another Rifle Squad of Scots appeared in the central wood and enfiladed the German Platoon, Scoring two Suppressions and a Pin, catching them in the open (see photo below).

Platoon 3, 1st PzGr Kp, get caught in the open trying to rush the field ahead of them.

The Scots now had initiative and the Squad in the central wood continued firing, but was unable to get the second suppression they needed to eliminate the closest German Rifle Squad. The moving clock didn't move again so the time remained 1500 something...

The Germans responded by having Platoon 1 in the orchard engage the Scots Squad in the Central Wood, and by a bit of luck they achieved a Suppression with a crossfire. They then launched an assault by one Squad across the open ground into the wood, to eliminate the Scots, however once again the Germans were caught out, and another Scots Rifle Squad opened up, this time from the Orchard at the West end of the Ridgeline (one of the German Objectives), getting a Kill and eliminating the German Squad in the open.

Platoon 3, 1st PzGr Kp, taking heavy fire from the Scots Squad in the wood who are out of picture while
the Scots Squad in the field are in turn taking fire from the Panther just out of shot.

The Scots were managing to effectively cover each other's positions with overlapping fields of fire, however a failed rally attempt lost the initiative and worse, the clock failed to move. The German Panther then fired on the Scots' squad in the central wood and scored a second suppression, eliminating the squad and leaving that platoon's PC isolated on his own. Meanwhile Platoon 3 rallied all members (2 Squads & PC) who had been pinned or suppressed in the open, and resumed it's assault on the field with the Scots' squad in. They were immediately successful, despite unsuccessful reactionary fire from the armoured cars on the ridge above, and eliminated the suppressed Scots' squad before moving through the field to the far side (where they could observe & bring fire onto the ridgeline). The Panther then advanced up behind the Platoon, ready to advance around the field to the North.

A dash by the balance of Platoon 1 (2 squads and the PC) avoided any reaction fire and occupied the central wood, taking the Scots' PC there prisoner. This is the position shown in the photo below - note that although the Panther's turret is facing the armoured cars and they are uphill of the Panther's position, the Panther does not have LOS due to the intervening field, and so must wait until in passes beyond the field to view the ridgeline beyond.

Platoon 1 has taken the small wood on the left of the photo, while Platoon 3 has finally moved into the
field with the Mortar FO in support, and is awaiting the Panther to move up against the Armoured Cars.
The Kompanie 1 Commander can be seen watching the proceedings in the orchard at bottom left.

Sorry - this report is not yet complete - but will be soon...

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