Operation Martlet – 2000-2200 26 June 1944
Introduction
This is the sixth and final Operation Martlet Scenario. The final outcome for the campaign depended on this one battle. To win the campaign the British had to seize the objective in Rauray, a failure to do so would see them draw; which is probably strategically the outcome in reality in spite of the British finally taking the village.
Ground
A final look at the battlefield tour in Oct 2025. As before the numbers relate to the vantage points where I took pictures.
An oblique view of the battlefield from a photo recon Spitfire as it returned from a mission looking for German reinforcements moving up against Op EPSOM. (aka the battlefield provided by Kevin.)
View 1 – the main road into the village along the British route.
View 2 – a panoramic view looking North, panning left from the west to the east, as seen from the crossroads showing the ground over which the British had to advance.
View 3 – the major building in Rauray, which Kevin chose to fortify as a bunker and which he decided would be the objective. A great shame Kevin hadn't seen the picture beforehand and orientated the building appropriately!
Situation
Lt Bertram-Willey of 7 DWR regrouped and reorganised his platoon to continue the advance to the Divisional objective. Only two hours were available for last light to secure the objective and seize control of Rauray and the ridge it was on.
Enemy Forces
It was estimated that the enemy were now running on empty and reserves would be low and insufficient to prevent the final run on the objective. This assessment was confirmed from prisoner interrogation after the battle.
Friendly Forces
Lt Bertram-Willey decided to regroup his sections and create two 9 man sections (no1 and No 2 Sections) while No 3 Section would operate as a Bren gun team providing fire support. He was guaranteed support from the Battalion Mortar Platoon, and one of the two Shermans from the Sherwood Rangers would support him in the advance.
Mission
3 Platoon 7DWR is to seize Rauray by last light 26 June 1944.
Post Mission Report
The advance started in an exemplary manner. The start line was secured and No 2 Section advanced towards the building left of the main axis. The Sherman moved forward in support while the infantry cleared out any lingering presence of infantry with Panzerfausts.
As No 2 Section provided cover from the right, No 1 Section moved forward from the start line. Lt Bertram-Willey brought forward No3 Section Bren Team and placed them in overwatch while he moved forward to join No 2 Section.
Then the German's reacted from the left MG42s opened fire on No 1 Sections Bren Team catching them in the open as they were moving forward. The Rifle team reorientated to the threat and sent a few well aimed volleys down on the Germans, meanwhile the 2" mortar laid down a covering blanket of smoke.
No 2 Section Commander took his rifle team into the building through the windows, just as the German's were approaching. Both sides exchanged grenades through the window into the courtyard. The last thing Lt Bertram-Willey heard from inside the building were a crash of explosions which blew out the windows and then English screams of pain, and then an unnatural silence.
Lt Bertram-Willey was conscious that the only manoeuvre element that he commanded was No 1 Sections six riflemen. He then took command of the remaining two Bren teams and started to consider how he could deploy them to provide covering fire for an assault on the objective.
No 3 Section's Bren team were shaken up by an exchange of fire with an MG team that was seen vacating the objective on the east side, and they then withdrew back to where they had started from. The Sherman came forward to add its weight and protection to the assault, whenever it could be launched. While it did so a mortar barrage was eventually brought down on the objective, once they had found the range after a number of very inaccurate ranging shots.
Before the Sherman could advance a German JNCO stood in the road and aimed a Panzerfaust at the Sherman, but he missed, and withdrew back into cover. (Spoiler Alert: We discovered that the latest errata for CoC2 now explicitly says that if the section commander survives when the rest of the section is destroyed, he himself is removed from play - oops!)
It was unknown how many more men with handheld anti-tank weapons were around so Lt Bertram-Willey ordered No 2 Section's Bren team to outflank the building, which they did by passing through the mortal remains of their rifle team, and they and the Sherman polished off the brave and foolish German JNCO; he would never receive the Iron Cross he prized above everything in his young life.
While the Sherman and Bren Team were otherwise engaged another brave German left the security and protection of the bunker they had created, or he did once he found the key to the door they had locked, and ambushed the Sherman from the other direction, destroying it with a very well timed and accurate shot.
The remainder of No 1 Section advanced ready to move to the objective now solely covered by the two Bren Teams. However, the Germans were far from being quiet, they had their own plans to scupper the attack on Rauray.
From the west side of the village, a German Section Commander with an MG42 Team led a brave counterattack. They advanced through the smoke laid by the 2" Mortar, in the process the assault came down to the section commander and his MG42 gunner as they suffered casualties from the 2" Mortar firing HE at them. As dark settled across the battlefield what few Germans remained held their bunker, the objective, while the British held the Rauray east of the axis of advance.
Outcome
In game terms this was a loss for the British losing 9 men. In campaign terms the result was a draw. This is an excellent campaign, and which we both very much enjoyed fighting. On the negative it would be helpful for all concerned if the authors of this scenario corrected and updated the scenario, and made it playable for CoC2!
No comments:
Post a Comment