Action on the Semille Road Part 2

A very quick recap - this is the first of a short series of encounters which have consequences for future scenarios.  This one was played out at Battalion level but after a lot of thought and some discussion with more experienced players, I will be scaling down to company encounters so that platoons become a decent number and squads/sections are at least a couple of figures.

The Dozans were advancing on the Semille Road with the purpose of cutting it off so PDC (Pays De Cheval) supplies would be halted between Verdounne and the towns of Le Meux and Aucherre. The PDC had taken up a tertiary defence line after the initial invasion had sent them reeling backwards.

Dozan armour moves forward

The fog was still covering the advance at this stage as the Dozans made steady progress. Suddenly, two Somua tanks tore a hole in the fog as they emerged into view. The first, spotting a Welland tank behind a stone wall, opened fire but missed. The hurried reply from the Welland went high over its target. The second Somua moved on the occupied foxhole, mmg rattling as it led the charge against PDC 2 Company.

PDC 2 Company, taking casualties from the MMG and incoming Dozan C Company returned fire but then pulled out of the foxhole and ran for cover behnd the wall. That afforded a few moments only before the Somua demolished the wall and C Company overran the redoubt, sending a stream of shots at the PDC F/O in the daimler scout. Further exchanges of fire between afvs resulted in the first Welland missing wildly and then being hit causing minor damage, leaving it supressed (pinned). Meanwhile, on the PDC right, the arrival of the Dozan Half Track and HQ squad started the action, there. As half the squad disgorged from the rear of the Schneider half track, the others moved up onto the road where they were promptly caught in fire from the platoon inside the inn.

The Somua in the wood struck the wall twice, damaging that badly while sending debris and stones bouncing off the Welland.  Somua #2 then fired and hit the Welland with a close shot and it brewed up immediately.  It's final shot did minor damage only.  PDCs 2 Company, under pressure broke and ran down towards the church. Crashing through the wall, Somua #3 hit and damaged the second Welland which was suppressed.  Desperately, the PDC called in their 25mm long range artillery which struck at its programmed co-ordinates. The shot into Velse Wood fell short, however but the shot into the foxhole north of the road took out a platoon of the Dozan C Company the remainder, seeing the shelling, went for cover behind the Somua. The retreat of the forward observer caused an abrupt cessation of artillery fire as they lost their directional updates.

The Dozan Commander was bogged down in a fiefight at and around the inn. He now called in Dozan air support in the form of a flight of Dewoitine 520 fighters carrying a single bomb under the fuselage. They came in, strafed PDC 3 Company where they were concealed behind the hedge.  The aircraft then spotted the PDC HQ radio van and command vehicle and hit it with guns and one of the bombs destroying it instantly.

Having hit targets, the fighters flew low and menacingly over the battlefield and departed. At the same time, the AMC Schneider half track moved off and opened up with its Reibel MMG, ripping through the hedge and causing casualties. The inn also came under fire with the addition of a shell from its 37mm and supporting fire from HQ Company as they made a close assault. 

The firefight saw casualties on both sides but eventually, the Dozan HQ Company took posession of the inn and what was left of the PDC 3 Company retired to the sandbag redoubt at the rear.  A medical team moved in, as soon as the shooting stopped, to attend to the Dozan wounded.  Overall, a number of figures were saved for future scenarios.

As the AMC Schneider began moving, the lurking "Hunter" opened up with its 25mm cannon but the shot only caused minor damage and while the half track slewed to a halt, supressed and temporarily slowed up, it was not enough to take it out.  The "Hunter" beat a retreat, concerned about the closing Somua tanks.

The view from behind PDC lines wasn't encouraging. You can see what remains of 3 company heading for the sandbags and the smouldering remains of their HQ command vehicle. The second Welland has been hit and taken out by Somua #3 while Somua #2 is on the road in front of the church and moments later was joined by #1 and the advancing B Company. The PDC forward observer had retired to a position where it could again direct artillery but by the time shells fell in Velse Wood, the Dozan A Company had fallen back and started to flank the wood, realising it was going to receive fire.

Only PDCs 1Company remained. Captain Eric Lanciller, now in command sent one platoon to the motorised vehicles and most of his also with orders to pull out. He stayed behind with the MMG team which was set up right behind the hedge to carry out one last ambush, supported by the platoon in the church as they waited for Dozan B Company to come in close.

As Doza's B Company moved in to secure the Churchyard, the MMG sent a lethal stream of bullets into their midst causing casualties. Fire from the church also made B Company duck and go for cover.  There was a momentary lull and then two Somua tanks returned fire from their own mmgs and one dropped a shell on the church. As shots found their mark, the MMG fell silent and what remained of the defenders ran from the rear church door to scramble into the last truck as it pulled out. Captain Lanciller was not with them.  Dozan B Company and armour overran the churchyard and it was over. Seeing they were isolated and with armour approaching, PDCs 3 Company ran from sandbag cover for the hill and once in cover, for the woods beyond where they had set up a redoubt for a final firefight. Flagging down the trucks and with the Hunter APC as escort, the PDC pulled out leaving the field to the Dozans.

Final curtain - The PDC pull out