Fighting withdrawal from Bittern Pits Wood, afternoon of 28 February 1938, Chain of Command, A Very British Civil War

In the immediate aftermath of my slightly disastrous defeat at Bittern Pits Wood I decided to fight a solo battle at home using (slightly modified) scenario mechanics from Joseph Legan's Platoon Forward and (of course) the Too Fat Lardies' Chain of Command, to see whether I could successfully withdraw the forward section of the Blackshorts 14 Platoon and stabilise the front to prevent the main Blackshorts defensive line in Botany Bay Wood from being outflanked on its left by an opportunistic Sheffield Workers Militia (SWoM) attack. The game was a while ago, so I'll write what I can remember.

Corporal Blain, wounded, waits at the edge of the woods for his section to return.

2 Section gets ready to pull out (Peter Pig miniatures, including numerous headswaps).

The Boys AT rifle team, soaked and freezing from having swum across the canal in late winter weather, contemplate the need to re-cross it.

1 Section rallies, reorganises and starts running back to where they ... er ... left their wounded corporal.

The starting positions for the remaining units of 14 Platoon were based directly on their finishing positions in the last game: five remaining unhurt or lightly wounded men from 1 Section start at the crossroads just west of Botany Bay Wood without their corporal, who was wounded and stayed in the woods to await an enemy advance. Near the opposite long table edge, 2 Section, the 2" mortar team and Lieutenant Heath start at the grassy edge of Bittern Pits Wood with enemy blinds in close proximity (about 12"). They can choose to stand and fight or try to pull back, which means running across a few hundred metres of almost entirely open ground. The AT Rifle Team must roll a D6 each friendly Phase to reach a cumulative total of 12 to swim back across the canal, the Boys AT rifle securely wrapped in oilskins and a cork life preserver. A section from 15 Platoon is in 'delayed reserve' and may come on to guard their flank in Botany Bay Wood.

The overall scheme of operations (created using Old Maps Online).

2 Section pulls back

Quickly surveying the situation, LT Heath ordered 2 Section and the light mortar team to pull back, running as rapidly as possible to the nearest spot of cover (circular patches of un-mowed grass). They deployed smoke grenades to provide additional concealment.

2 Section runs for it, sprinting 15"

Suddenly the enemy emerges from the tall grass and opens fire, inflicting shock and casualties despite the smokescreen and moderate concealment.

(Peter Pig Spanish Civil War Assault Guard and Mexican Government Forces miniatures).

Dunbar is hit and falls to the ground (that's him, bottom left). He is carried the rest of the way across the open field by his mate, Granville [they broke under a lot of shock]. Both would survive and return however.

2 Section and LT Heath take cover behind a patch of grass (and weird circular mud pits) under effective fire from the enemy. 

1 Section goes back for their corporal

Five men from 1 Section (actually most were substitutes from 15 Platoon) who were still (mostly) unwounded had realised by the time they exited Botany Bay Wood that they were missing CPL Blain! They had to go back for him, so they turned around and ran back into the woods. A medic also met them at the edge of the wood and joined them. They found CPL Blain standing guard alone in the wood and the medic got him hurriedly patched up.

(Peter Pig 8th Army miniatures).

The Sheffield Militia continues to advance

While all this was going on, the SWoM blinds continued a relentless advance across the table [I rolled Command Dice for them, and each die could be used either on units already spotted or on moving blinds 2D6"].

A Sheffield light mortar team also appeared on the edge of the grassland and began firing at 2 Section, which continued to take casualties - the wounded keeping down and crawling through every furrow between bits of light cover to escape. At this point, it was clear 2 Section would not be able to cross the rest of the distance safely.

Sheffield Militia 2" mortar team (Old Glory miniatures from my old British Flames of War army).

Reinforcements

The AT rifle team eventually swam back across the Bridgewater Canal, took up position in the trees near the canal edge and they began sniping with their Lee Enfield at the Sheffield militia to try to take the pressure off 2 Section.

1 Section from 15 Platoon, together with 14 Platoon's 2IC Lieutenant Eccleston, arrived in Botany Bay Woods near where CPL Blain was marshalling his men. The obnoxious CPL Ferdy O'Cochlain [yes, I rolled on the Platoon Forward personality tables that he is an 'obnoxious' character], rolling his eyes contemptuously at the disorganised 14 Platoon men, ordered his men up to the edge of the wood. CPL O'Cochlain had recently transferred across from the Regular Army, and brought several other long-serving soldiers with him. 15 Platoon's Lewis Gun team (wearing Army Service Dress with white armbands) reached the corner of the woods and began putting down the first effective return fire into the lead SWoM rifle section, killing several and wounding the enemy section leader. The 2 Section Bren gunner managed to break the enemy 2" mortar team also.

15 Platoon, 1 Section Lewis Gun team, still wearing Service Dress (Peter Pig WW1 Early War British, with a WW1 Late War British Lewis gunner with headswap).

SWoM rifles taking fire.

CPL O'Cochlain then ordered his rifle team across a road to a line of trees to scout the SWoM advance: what they saw was worrying: every remaining enemy blind was revealed, including a full SWoM rifle section of 18 men with a Senior Leader, a truck with an enemy mortar observer team, and, dangerously, an off-table Vickers MMG. I used my Chain of Command die I'd accumulated to interrupt the SWoM and jump 15 Platoon's riflemen back into Botany Bay Wood before the Vickers could open fire.

The enemy mortar observer, realising they were too far forward, got back onto the road and reversed rapidly as 15 Platoon's Lewis gun turned to fire on it.

CPL O'Cochlain orders his men around.

SWoM rifle section advances.

SWoM Vickers MMG (actually off-table) (Old Glory miniatures.)

SWoM mortar observers in the back of a truck making it's way through a treeline (Old Glory miniatures observers and QRF miniatures Thornycroft J truck).

2 Section in serious trouble

At this point, 2 Section had become Pinned Down and almost completely wiped out, and LT Heath was wounded. Seeing the danger, CPL Blain threw two smoke grenades and his section attempted to run across the road to get to 2 Section.

1 Section coming to the rescue of pinned 2 Section.

Smoke grenades used.

However, the enemy had other ideas. Despite having to rapidly retreat after encountering fire, the SWoM observers managed to call down a mortar barrage on the intersection, pinning both 1 Section and 15 Platoon's Lewis gun team. The Blackshorts were lucky with this barrage though and no casualties were sustained.

Blackshorts at the intersection are pinned by a mortar barrage.

SWoM bayonet charge into Botany Bay Woods

At just the right moment, while 15 Platoon's Lewis gun Pinned Down and more than 4" away, the 18 militiamen of the SWoM section launched a rapid and spirited bayonet charge straight across the tree-lined road and into O'Cochlain's rifle team.

Under the command of their platoon leader, the Sheffield Workers' Militia charge the Blackshorts.

Despite being outnumbered 2:1, 15 Platoon's men gave a reasonable account of themselves, inflicting several casualties and achieving a draw in the first round of close combat. However, having lost several men dead and severely wounded and accumulating a large amount of shock, the odds were now so against them that they automatically lost the second round and fled.

Overwhelmed, CPL O'Cochlain's rifle team breaks from combat (good thing I made that rotating shock counter go up to 16!)

CPL O'Cochlain and LT Eccleston managed to rally the 15 Platoon men, before a follow-through charge by the main SWoM rifle unit again drove them back. SWoM were on their objective now: the Blackshorts JOP.

SWoM continue their charge, driving back 15 Platoon. The SWoM section commander was wounded in the prior combat.

.303 versus Webley.

A charge of desperation

"Better to go out facing the enemy than be shot in the back, I say!"
- LT Heath, presumably.

All looked lost to the Blackshorts [they were on Force Morale 2]

The only ones left still fighting among the men with 2 Section was Rifleman Hayden Abrams on the Bren gun, LT Heath (who was wounded), and 2 Section CPL Abbey. With no help coming from 1 Section due to the mortar barrage, and as much open ground to cover backwards as forwards, they figured it's better to be facing the enemy when they get shot. So with Abrams providing covering fire, Heath and Abbey bolted toward the enemy.

A grenade explodes nearby as Heath and Abbey charge the enemy.

Abbey stopped to fire his Thompson gun once he got in range and managed to kill a couple of enemy. A .303 shot from the AT rifle team far behind them also managed to kill a SWoM militiaman, and this broke the unit!

Abbey opens fire when in range (Peter Pig 8th Army NCO with headswap).

Several high rolls on the 'Bad Things Happen' table caused the Sheffield Workers Militia Force Morale to plummet from the combination of leaders wounded and teams and sections broken and routed (thanks to another of my Chain of Command dice). SWoM reached 0 Force Morale, despite the success of their main assault. Though they had reached the northern area of Botany Bay Woods, automatic fire and reports of the rout of their right flank, and the proximity of unbroken enemy units in the woods nearby caused the SWoM platoon commander to pull his forward unit back under the covering fire of their Vickers machine gun. Their hasty advance of opportunity was not to gain them any ground this day.

The SWoM retreat.

Conclusion

In the aftermath of the battle, while the Blackshorts held on to their entrenchments in Botany Bay Wood, their numbers were further whittled down, including two seriously wounded who would not return (Scott and Keys), three dead from 15 Platoon (Ellington, Summers and McDaniel), and one seriously wounded and captured during the close assault (O'Donnell). Most of the 2 Section men hit in this fight were slightly wounded and were able to crawl away or were recovered after the battle.

After action map.

Learning points

I was happily surprised at what a good game is possible even when playing Chain of Command solo. I think the combination of blinds, interesting scenario objectives and parameters and the challenges of using the Command Dice produced a game that came down to the last few Force Morale points.

This particular battle highlighted the vulnerability of two-man teams to shock when they are left by themselves. It is advisable in CoC to keep them within 4" of a friendly section (both the Blackshorts and SWoM lost their mortar teams in these circumstances).

Additionally, mortar barrages are quit effective in locking down a whole section of the battlefield (and my men were incredibly lucky to escape without casualties).

Finally, even if your Force Morale is really low, that doesn't necessarily mean you should give up: desperate heroics can pay off and enemy Force Morale can be more fragile than it seems.

Probe of British forward line near Verneuil-Grand, Chain of Command, France 1940

We continued our France 1940 campaign, with a second battle on the following day of the German invasion, which saw the German reconnaissance units attack in strength against the 12th Derwents' forward line near the cemetery just east of Verneuil-Grand.

The cemetery of Notre-Dame du Bon Secours near the battle (well, not really - actually a generic cemetery I made with cardboard headstones and recycled printed paper terrain walls from another project. Also, as I'm only working off modern maps, I'm not sure the cemetery existed there during the war, but anyway, alternative timeline etc etc..).

Setup

Terrain layout and basic scheme of movements. I'll have to improve my phone camerawork - some glint keeps happening.

The mission was a Probe of the 12th Derwents' forward positions on the Route d'Ecouviez. The Germans elected to move up the main road to Montmedy and to occupy the woods west of a large pond on their left as a jump-off point. They would be attacking with two full platoons plus support: A motorcycle recon platoon and a heavy machine gun platoon equipped with ZB37(t) tripod machine guns.

The 12th Derwents were facing them with just a single infantry platoon (7 Platoon) and limited support. 7 Platoon's usual commander, Platoon Sergeant-Major Lennox was absent at the RAP with a non-battle injury [I hadn't converted the figure intended to represent him yet] and Corporal Archibald Scully was in charge, expecting only to be on trench-digging and wire-stringing duty. 1 Section was digging uphill on the left flank, 2 Section was in the barn on break after digging a gun pit, and 3 Section was on watch across the road on the right flank. Suddenly 3 Section reported lads from 8 Platoon, many wounded, running up to the lines and passing the position. Lieutenant Stephens ran up to CPL Scully with a worried expression on his face: "Get ready - the Germans are..."

Blitzkrieg!

The lead German motorcycle infantry squad tears down the Route d'Ecouviez.

The buzzing rumble of dozens of approaching motorcycles and at least one armoured vehicle finished the young Lieutenant's sentence for him. The lead German reconnaissance unit raced toward 7 Platoon's wire obstacle roadblock, then went through a farm gate into the field to bypass it. There they saw 7 Platoon's half-finished trench and dismounted ready to fight.

"Who's manning the bloody trench?!" yelled CPL Scully. Wide-eyed with shock and embarrassment, 2 Section grabbed their gear and rushed out of the barn, immediately engaging the Germans in a close-range firefight, with casualties on both sides. It was on. [My German opponent rolled double 6 on his first Command Dice and in a double phase, rushing to where I'd pre-planned my entrenchments per a house rule. In doing so he'd also shut down the Jumping-Off Point from which I could have deployed a team to the entrenchment. Usually entrenchments are deployed with their occupying team, but I hadn't had my phase yet of course. So we resolved the situation as thematically as possible, noting the house rule probably needs work].

2 Section rush out of the barn to fight the German motorcycle infantry before their carelessly unmanned entrenchment can be taken over. 1 Section ran over to the barn to take up that position.

A mob of civilians appeared, walking down the road toward the British positions but halted upon seeing the barbed wire roadblock and crouching in fear as hundreds of shots rang out.

7 Platoon attempts to stabilise the line

1 Section, still in their digging kilts [I'm sure that's not a thing, but of course WW1 Scots are the figures I've got], entered the barn and house and joined in the fight against the lead German squad, and together with 2 Section, gained the upper hand, inflicting seven casualties and breaking the unit.

However as they did so, a second German section deployed into line further up the road and joined it's fire with the Germans' platoon light mortar. This fire hit 2 Section hard as most of them were unable to take cover in their unfinished trench [entrenchments were only for one team, regrettably]. Corporal Russell Warrick was hit and soon the rest of his section were all killed or wounded around him. 1 Section was unable to cover 2 Section as their line of sight up the road was blocked by the civilian refugees. A medic rushed over to tend to the wounded, and soon CPL Warrick was patched up (the medic also happened to be a member of the Divisional band and carried his bagpipes with him, which led to witty comments from some of the cheerier wounded).

2 Section, having driven off the lead enemy squad, are in turn wiped out by heavy German MG fire. The lead enemy squad's last three men were able to rally and continued to fight with their MG34.

Lewis gunner Private Huw Jeptha Dick is the last of his section to fall (yes, I know haha it's a funny name combination: nobody chooses the name their born with, and I certainly didn't select it. It was the online random name generator. Actually quite a few of my machine gunners got names along a similar theme, weirdly).

More German fire rained down, though, and CPL Warrick, already previously wounded, was hit again. There was no time for proper treatment though, and, seeing the danger to the French civilians on the road, he rushed out to guide them off to safety.

CPL Warrick, though twice wounded, heroically runs out on the road under German fire to shepherd the French refugees to safety (we don't have civilian minis yet, so you have to use your imagination with the German Patrol Marker).

3 Section holds the right flank

Meanwhile, 3 Section alone held the fight on 7 Platoon's right flank, fighting from their gun pit and a small wooded area near a track. They had no answer to the Sdkfz.222 rolling down the track toward them, and were faced with one and then two tripod machine guns that shredded the trees and tore up the ground around their gun pit. Several men were hit, including CPL John Howse. As he fell, wounded, into the gun pit he instructed his section to keep their heads down.

German heavy machine gun teams set up along a hedge opposite 3 Section and unleash hell.

3 Section hold the right in the face of heavy fire.

Suddenly, LT Stephens jumped into the gun pit, seemingly from nowhere. He strongly reiterated what CPL Howse had told them and, seeing the Sdkfz.222, started yelling behind him for someone to bring up the Boys AT rifle, "for God's sake" [I had rolled not a single 1 on my Command Dice to bring on the anti-tank team and the Chain of Command dice hadn't got there yet].

Soon 3 Section was down to just two men, and although CPL Howse was able to finish bandaging his shoulder [thanks to a Turn End], the German armoured car was bearing down on them and was now followed by a column of motorcycle combinations.

The Sdkfz.222 bears down on the last of 3 Section.

The Boys AT rifle shows up

Finally, Private Waller of 8 Platoon, with MacPharlain of 7 Platoon in tow, appeared in the treeline to the left of 3 Section and took a shot at the Sdkfz.222. Their shot missed, and in response they received a barrage of fire from several machine guns, the German light mortar and the Sdkfz.222 itself as all attention focussed on the threat to the German armoured support. Seeing the AT rifle crew almost pinned down by enemy fire, LT Stephens left the relative safety of the 3 Section gun pit and ran over to the team, rallying as much shock off them as possible. However, as more fire poured on, they became Pinned, and both Waller and MacPharlain were hit (Waller killed and MacPharlain wounded) and the Boys AT rifle destroyed. As no more could be done there, LT Stephens ran back to the gun pit, covered by the Lewis gun, which opened fire on the approaching German motorcycles, killing at least one rider.

Retreat

LT Stephens began to consider mounting a charge with grenades on the nearby Sdkz.222, but looking at each of the three men with him, reconsidered - it would be suicidal to order such an action, and they would be cut down by the several automatic weapons trained on them.

Waiting for an opportune moment, the last three men of 3 Section, together with LT Stephens, leapt from their pit and ran into the trees, dodging the shots of the approaching German armoured car.

3 Section withdraws.

On the left flank. 1 Section withdrew from the roadside barn in good order and Corporal Warrick escorted the French civilians to safety before getting back to the lines to get his wounds more thoroughly treated.

1 Section withdraws, and CPL Warrick helps the French civilians out of danger.

German infantry worked to tear away the barbed wire across the road and the armoured car and motorcyclists raced through the fields past the cemetery before taking fire from the village and pulling back to a safe distance. The move against the village would have to wait.

Aftermath

The German Aufklarungs units have taken the British forward positions and are right up against A Company's main defences at Verneuil-Grand. Although the one German motorcycle squad that charged forward took heavy losses, the 12th Derwents, outnumbered, outgunned and outmanoeuvred, came off worst, with 15 casualties including three dead (Russel Waller, Daryl Findlay and Egan O'Kerny) and four others severely wounded. None have been captured by the enemy as yet, and all wounded have been recovered.

LT Stephens, having been in charge (or at least the senior leader present) in two losing battles with heavy losses, is now in the bad books with Company HQ and with the men (with penalties to Support Points and Force Morale when next he is in command). A Company is in a bit of trouble, with around a fifth of the men and leaders having been killed or wounded, and the Germans having apparently fairly minor losses. However, we'll see whether I can turn this around at the main defensive line, where I can form up in strength in a built-up area.

Hero of the moment was CPL Warrick. He is likely to be Mentioned In Dispatches for leading the counterattack against the German motorcycle troops, and then despite being twice wounded, rescuing a number of French civilian refugees in danger of crossfire. A bitter man even before the war, Warrick now bears a grudge against the Germans for the shock of this day (compounded by his shame in having neglected the manning of his section's gun pit at the critical moment).

Note: The broad campaign system we are using, as well as the calculations for casualties, CO's opinion, mens' opinion, and system of awards for bravery etc, were all from the Too Fat Lardies' At the Sharp End campaign supplement for Chain of Command. The generation of leader character personalities etc was done using Platoon Forward by Joseph Legan.

The Resistance (Slovetzia)

The Plucky Rebels of the Alianz na Demokratika Svobodna (Slovetzian Alliance of Democratic Freedom, or ANDS)

As mentioned in the previous article about the Slovetzian government forces, the country has experienced a variety of crises including civil unrest. This civil unrest is fuelled by a number of factors including poverty and unaddressed grievances of the blue collars, chaffing of the white collars under the sluggish command economy and old-fashioned social mores, new disruptive ideas sent home by Slovetzians working in the west, and perhaps the influences of certain outside forces which like to have colour-coded operations. Unrest is now boiling over into armed revolt and is led by the Alliance of Democratic Freedom. As they say, one man's freedom fighter is another man's dissident, and to Slovetzian President Pochenko, they're definitely the latter.

Little is known at this stage about the organisation and numerical or combat strength of the Slovetzian rebels, nor the extent of their support through the country. However they are known to have bases of support in all the major towns and capital city of Slovetzia. They also reportedly have hideouts in the countryside and mountains and cross-border networks through which they receive external support.

The rebels pose determinedly for the camera (Old Glory Armed Civilians)

The Pavicich brothers have a reputation as tough guys.

The Alianz uses what weapons they can scrape together or improvise with typical household items, such as alcohol, fuel and empty alcohol bottles.

Kristian got his camouflage jacket from a disposals store while working a job in London.

Viktor the mechanic with a smuggled western machine gun.

Motor Rifle Platoon - Slovetzia Lidova Vojsko (Slovetzian Peoples Army)

Demokratika Republika na Slovetzia

Slovetzia is located in the fold of the map in Eastern Europe.

Slovetzia is a tiny, insignificant (but don't say that to them) country in the mountainous Carpathians in eastern Europe, surrounded on all sides by vastly stronger, better-known and generally hostile neighbours. Well, the neighbours are sometimes hostile, sometimes not, sometimes even helpful. Most other countries, superpowers and supranational world entities ignore or, more accurately, remain ignorant of Slovetzia. This historical fact has no doubt contributed to the survival and freedom of the Slovetzian people and their nation from ancient times into the modern era.

Another fact that has ensured the survival and freedom of the Slovetzians is their martial strength, bolstered by their unflinching courage, of which all Slovetzians are immensely proud. Below is a manifestation of this Slovetzian martial strength in the modern era - a Motor Rifle Platoon of the Slovetzia Lidova Vojsko (SLV), the Slovetzian Peoples Army.

Slovetzian Motor Rifle Platoon, and typical supports (Battlefront Soviet Russians, Zvezda T-34/85 with conversion).

 

The SLV Motor Rifle units

Slovetzian Motor Rifle Platoon organisational chart

The Motor Rifle Regiments are the core of the SLV. There are two regiments, each of three companies and organic support units, including a tank company, mortar, light anti-aircraft (including SA-18s and 23mm AAA), anti-tank (including plenty of AT-4 Spigots) and light support platoons with AGS-17s and various heavy machine guns. In each Company are three platoons, usually with armoured transport (a variety of Soviet, Czech and Yugoslav-made vehicles) but sometimes carried only in trucks.

AT-4 and PKM.

MANPADs are grouped at the regimental level.

AGS-17s are often attached singly or in groups of up to three to the rifle platoons.

Despite their training and doctrine being focussed on mechanised offensive operations against NATO, the mobility, high morale and aggressiveness of the Motor Rifles means they are also the cornerstone of the SLV's anti-partisan efforts. SLV Reserve Infantry units make up the government garrisons around the country and conduct most of the patrolling. However, when rebel bases are located or the traitorous partisans reveal themselves by attacking in strength, the Motor Rifles are called upon to smash the enemy in detail.

Armour support

The pride of Slovetzian armour, the more modern Soviet-era Main Battle Tanks, are concentrated in their Tank Regiment, which is intended to move rapidly to cut off and smash any invasion through a series of brilliant operational pincer movements and dramatic armoured assaults led by the most daring and fearless of SLV officers. These valuable MBTs are not usually to be wasted and worn out in limited battles with Slovetzian insurgent traitors.

The Motor Rifle units find themselves supported by whatever AFVs are leftover, in particular, reconditioned T-34/85s that were given to Slovetzia in the distant past by Stalin. With Slovetzian ingenuity, these archaic tanks have received an Explosive Reactive Armour upgrade to keep them relevant. It should be noted at this point that theft and black market resale of ERA materials across the border is absolutely and totally not a thing in Slovetzia due to the loyalty of officers, Q staff and maintenance personnel, and there are severe punishments available to ensure this. In the hands of skilled and courageous Slovetzian crews, these vehicles will remain a threat to be reckoned with by a few any opponents.

SLV T-34/85 with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). (Zvezda miniature).

Hand-painted Slovetzian national symbol: the Boar's head on red and light blue-grey bicolour.

I used too much paint on this national emblem so it's a bit 3D.

The Slovetzian T-34/85 is a very limited conversion to a Zvezda plastic kit: simply attaching sections of square-gridded styrene sheet to represent the ERA blocks. If I was to do this again I'd use Green Stuff to make the ERA blocks rectangular, and add a cage of slat armour over the turret to intercept top-attack AT missiles. The tank could also benefit from ERA side-skirts and collar or something to intercept missiles that would hit the turret ring.

Very simple conversion work to up-armour the T-34 for the modern era.

What is Slovetzia?

Slovetzia is the fictional country from a forgotten 90s movie. I was looking for a setting for modern platoon-level or counterinsurgency games using Eastern Bloc equipment and I remembered Slovetzia as a suitable location: beset by numerous domestic problems, an insurgency and the meddling of outside forces. The sturdy Slovetzian people are also worthy of their own expanded lore and their own timeline, and I intended to do this for them through the medium of model painting and gaming.