The British push from Fontenay-le-Pesnel through St Nicolas Farm and onwards towards Rauray. The farm is not the objective itself. It is the gateway. Fail there, and the attack stalls. Capture it, and the battle for the Rauray begins.
The attack begins before dawn. Ahead lies St Nicolas Farm, its stone buildings concealed behind ripening wheat fields. Beyond it Rauray where German observers direct artillery over the entire battlefield. The farm must be taken quickly. Every minute spent fighting there allows fresh German reserves to assemble. Capture the farm and the road to Rauray opens. Fail, and the attack dies in the wheat.
Played using Bolt Action with a few modifications, where each dice pull allowed units in a radius to all activate. That kept the game moving along with 20 dice in the bag vs what would have been 80 vs 60 dice a side.
A cracking game, Jerry deployed on the map and only came into play when they moved or fired.
With no Germans on the table the British commander had the choice of 2 artillery barrages, picking likely German defences, the Germans were canny and avoided the obvious choice of deploying in the farm hiding out in the Orchard behind the barn.
Every turn as the Brits moved forwards another Sherman brewed up. The farm was assaulted and the German defenders forced out by bayonet point.
The Germans fell back on Rauray in good order as the Brits ran out of steam and tanks.
A few more pics from Stephen our resident Robert Capa
A great days gaming and great to put on a large game......
