ESCAPE FROM HONDEGHEM. A BATTLEGROUP BLITZKRIEG AAR

Intro:

This is a battle we played on January 06th, 2019, for playtesting my own BEF Campaign centered on the actions of “K” battery, 5^th Royal Horse Artillery. It is a 3-scenario campaign which I will publish somewhere soon. This game is scenario 2.

This is 04:15 PM, may 27^th, 1940. A big convoy of BEF vehicles is running scared from Hondeghem, on route D53 in the direction of Saint Sylvestre Cappel, Northeastern France.

Major Robert Rawdon Hoare, commander of “K” battery, 5/RHA has narrowly escaped the pursuing Germans from 6^th panzer division. His motorized artillery battery (18/25 pdrs guns) has resisted all day until finally dislodged from his positions in the town of Hondeghem.

It is time now to retire to more defensible positions in the direction of Saint Sylvestre Cappel. Major Hoare is confident that some Welsh Guardsmen from the Cassel perimeter will cover his retreat.

Also some reinforcements in the form of tanks of the East Riding Yeomanry may show up to support Major Hoare escape attempt.

After this playtest, the scenario suffered some minor changes to better suit the campaign.

THE TERRAIN:

The terrain represents route D53 up until its intersection with Rue de St Sylvestre Cappel, where the Welsh guards have positioned a roadblock. Then it follows this road up to the similar named town.

The Germans attack from the south border (right side of next photo)

Weather is fine (don´t roll) and planes will certainly show up.

The BEF defenders start in full retreat over the D53 (5/RHA), and in defensive positions all the way to St Sylvestre Cappel (Welsh Guards).

Take into account that the BEF has the first turn

THE SCENARIO:
This is completely ad-hoc scenario, and nothing like the standard ones. The BEF player must run the Gauntlet and flee from his German pursuers as quick as they can, under the protection of the welsh guard defenses and artillery support.

On the contrary, the Germans must catch and destroy as much of the convoy as they could. But in their pursuit they have come too close to the BEF artillery positions on Mont des Recollets. They would also run into a Stonk-Storm of BEF 4-gun Batteries.

As usual with my BG games, BR breaking alone does not guarantee victory. In order to win each side must break the enemy’s BR AND fulfill a certain number of other conditions. These additional conditions involve controlling of objectives AND the ability to destroy escaping British vehicles (for the Germans) or, the BEF being able to extricate the convoy to safety.
There would be 3 objectives. They are:

• Le Jardin des Fees (red chateux). Only infantry
• The Welsh Guard roadblock on the D53 carrefour. Can be taken by vehicles
• The Vaesken Pierre milk complex (blue chateux). Only infantry

All these objectives would be re-scored in turns 6 and 8.  No “good” BR chits could be used when drawn as a result of taken/re-scored objectives (they count as zero).

As usual, we played with all the welsh guards defenders counting as with “hidden” counters (-1 to observation, +1 to saving rolls, no aimed fire until to 10″) until revealed.
We also played with reduced cover saves for direct HE aimed fire and 2D6 “to hit” aimed AP fire for tank vs tank combat.

There are some additional special conditions & rules about this scenario that would be detailed in the proper briefing in the future.

THE OPPOSING FORCES (aprox 900 points each)

The BEF: (BR 43, 6 officers) Ignazi & Powermonger

Basically, three different commands.

The escaping Major Hoare:

A mix of units from 5/RHA, 2/Searchlights y 1/Fife & Forfar Yeomanry.

• Forward HQ (Major Hoare)
• 18 pdr Gun w/ loader team. Morris Quad tractor
• 18 pdr Gun w/ loader team. Morris Quad tractor
• Demoralized Searchlight Platoon in 3x Medium Trucks
• Light Tank Platoon (2x MkVIB, 1xMkVIC tanks)
• Scout Carrier w/Boyes AT rifle
• Scout Carrier w/Boyes AT rifle

The defending Welsh Guards:

• Forward HQ (Lt. Lewellyn)
• Forward Signals unit
• Dispatch Rider
• Wire Team
• Reinforced Infantry Platoon (4 sections)
• 2x AT boyes AT rifles
• 2x 2pdr AT guns in reinforced cover
• Bofors 40mm AA gun
• Off table BIG 18pdr battery (4x guns).
• 2x Pre-Registered target point
• Foxholes for 16
• Fortified Building
• 2x Improvised Roadblocks (only one in the original version)
• Artillery Observation Post
• Backs to the Sea
• Desperate Defense
• 2x MMG dugouts
• Sniper Hideout
• Scammel Pioneer Recovery Truck

The East Riding Yeomanry (FICTIONAL, they had only carriers & light tanks)

• Cruiser Tank Platoon. 3x A9´s Tanks
• 1x A13 MkI tank
• 1x A9 tank

The Pursuing Germans: (BR 63, 7 officers) Kata & Máximo.

The Germans of 6^th Panzer Division deploy in three waves.

The first Wave (turn 1):

• Forward HQ in sdkfz 265 (Hauptman Eric Löwe)
• Forward Signals in sdkfz 223
• FAO team in a Kubel
• Flak 36 88mm gun w/ loader team (a sIG33 in the new version of the scenario)
• Assault Pioneer squad on 251/7
• Off table 3x 80mm Mortars
• Recce HQ on a sdkz 223
• 1x sdkfz 222
• 1x sdkfz 232
• 2x sdkfz 231
• 1x sdkfz 222
• Recce Motorised PzJaeger. 1x pak36 37mm AT gun.
• Forward Aid Post (in the new version of the scenario)

The second Wave: (turn 2)

• Pz 35 (t) Platoon. 3x Pz 35 (t) tanks
• Schutzen Platoon on trucks
• Towed AA 20mm gun Flak30

The third Wave (turn 3):

• PzII platoon (5x PzIIC)
• 1x PzIVD
• Kradschutzen squad
• Schutzen Squad on a 251/1

DEPLOYMENT:

The escaping convoy has fixed starting positions and has freedom of action thereafter. But each non top-speed order costs 2 orders instead of 1 to execute it.

The welsh guards have some restrictions about positioning their troops and PRT´s.

The ERY starts arriving from turn 4 onwards

THE BATTLE

Instead of going turn by turn with the report, I will post photos of the game as it developed, sequentially.

Sequential 1

The Initial 5/RHA & 1/Fife & Forfar Yeomanry convoy, trying to flee from Hondeghem and evade their german pursuers. This is no easy task for a commander; as you have to divide your available orders between the escaping convoy and the waiting Welsh Guards. Additionally, would you use part of the convoy vehicles to stand & fight? Or just run for St. Syvestre Cappel?

Also, as the convoy consists of mainly softskins, they could be pinned or destroyed with ease. The BEF commander should make wise use of tactical coordination (they have two FHQ!) and the precious Scammel Pioneer repair truck for the convoy to reach St Sylvestre Cappel in any strength.

Sequential 2.
Positions of the I/Welsh Guards plus support from 4/Cheshires and Worcestershire Yeomanry AT guns on the road to Saint Sylvester Cappel and Mont des Recollets.
They are meant to stand the German onslaught and gain time for the convoy to escape. A strong 4-gun 18pdr troop is giving support from their positions on Mont des Recollets

The roads have been heavily mined by the Welsh Guards, and two roadblocks were prepared to stop potential German advances. To reflect historic facts, any minestrike could be used only on vehicles on the road (be it German or BEF). And the BEF could convert any special counter into a minestrike.

Sequential 3.
The German Panzerspähwagen reinforced platoon from 6th Panzer Division deploys first in hot pursuit.
On turn 2, a second wave deploys, consisting of pz 35 (t) platoon, mounted schutzen platoon and supports.
On turn 3 a third wave of panzer II also deploys.
They try together both to stop the convoy from escaping and to break the Welsh Guards defence.
All under a deluge of 18pdr shells from the off board troop of 5/RHA. 
The first encounters with 1/Fife & Forfar Yeomanry ensue when their light tanks try to protect the convoy and delay the pursuit. The Welsh Guards mines also proved effective, and the german armoured cars pay their price for it

Sequential 4.
“F” troop from 5/RHA start its mad dash to safety. With the germans in hot pursuit.  Each BEF vehicle that reaches St Sylvestre Cappel means a BR counter to be taken by the Germans.

Sequential 5.
The Germans try to weather the very heavy stonks from the off table 5/RHA battery and the I/welsh guards’ resistance. Slowly, they gain ground and close the distance. Their infantry makes some progress through the woods and fields.

Sequential 6.
British reinforcements of the ERY (East Riding Yeomanry) also come to the rescue (*).

RAMC personnel is also trying to recover / repair some breakdowned trucks

(*) This is not historical. The ERY was equipped with Light tanks and carriers. But, I decided to add some cruiser tanks to balance out things and a little diversity. In reality the tanks from 1st armoured division were far away, near Abbeville.

Sequential 7 (final)
The Germans are now completely bogged down. Some vicious infantry close combat erupts in the woods. They try to speed up, but British reinforcements and heavy stonks seal the fate of the German attack. They were too slow and they break their Battle Rating.

The 5/RHA convoy reaches Saint  Sylvester Cappel safely. BEF victory!!

(*) Historically,  when they reached the town they were surprised to see it already occupied by other Germans!

DEBRIEFING:

The Convoy escaped! Basically, a combination of slow Germans and destructive RHA stonks made this possible.

 The playtest went smooth. We all had fun, and several minor alterations were recorded for the final version of the scenario. We found the Germans a little low on both BR and orders to have a reasonable chance of winning, so for the final version of the scenario some boosts were added to German side. These changes allowed for both a little more BR and more available orders per turn as a result of increased leadership & mortar support flexibility.

Also, to slow down a little the speed of the convoy´s retreat, a second welsh guard roadblock was added.

Next, to create the 2nd scenario for the campaign (the previous to this AAR), which is the proper fight of “K” battery, 5/RHA in the Town of Hondeghem. I left this for the last since I´ve have not enough french-style houses to set up a proper town. Until now.

Powermonger