Staffan's Hobby Corner

Having again taken the German Hauptkampflinie at Fontenay, the British strike (again) at St Nicholas farm. Will they be successful this time?  The view from the British lines... ... and from the German lines. This is the 11th and last battle in our  Operation Martlet campaign . The British have received replacements and are more or less att full strength. The Germans are just a few men short. If the British are successful it will result in a Minor Victory for the Germans in this campaign, otherwise it will be a Major Victory. This will have effect on the upcoming Scottish Corridor campaign, so how this battle goes has an effect on the German advantage in that campaign. British platoon Lt Featherstone Plt Sgt Yates Lt Mortar, 2 men Piat, 2 men Section 1, Cpl Barker, 3 man Bren team, 6 man rifle team Section 2, Cpl Grant, 3 man Bren team, 6 man rifle team Section 3, Cpl Bath, 3 man Bren team, 5 man rifle team Opinion CO's opinion: 0. Own opinion: Content. Men's Opinion: -6. This...

 After successfully resisting the British advance at St Nicholas farm, the Germans counterattack towards the Hauptkampflinie. If it can be retaken it is a serious blow to the British. The view from the British side. A quite familiar view... And the view from "the other side of the hill". This is the 9th battle in our Operation Martlet campaign . The British start the battle in serious disorder, a large part of the platoon scattered including both senior leaders. The defence will basically be up to the support units. The Germans are in much better condition and morale is very high. Forces British platoon Lt Featherstone, Plt Sgt Yates, Cpl Bath and 8 men are either scattered or wounded and miss the battle, and 7 men have either been killed or taken prisoner, so the platoon is much reduced. Light Mortar, 2 men PIAT, 2 men Section 1, Cpl Barker, 3 man Bren team, 6 man rifle team Section 2, Cpl Grant, 3 man Bren team Opinion CO's opinion:  -1. Own opinion: Sad. Men's Opin...

After successfully taking the "Hauptkampflinie", the British push on towards St Nicholas Farm. The time table is tight but there is still hope to snatch something resembling victory from the jaws of defeat. The problem is that the Germans are guarding those jaws with MG42:s and panzerfausts... The AVREs "Hannibal" and "Hasdrubal" approach St Nicholas' Farm. Bavarian beer and "Riesen" sweets in the distance... Both sides have fresh platoons. The Germans switch automatically when pushed back from the Hauptkampflinie, the British voluntarily since the first platoon had taken such horrendous casualties and morale was very low. This is the eighth battle of our  Operation Martlet campaign . The mission is Attack and Defend. The British win if they can force the Germans to withdraw while keeping the British Force Morale at 3 or higher. The view from the other side of the hill... From III Battalion’s headquarters at St Nicholas farm, the platoons sen...