Operation Sealion : The Battle for the Western Heights

The Western Heights is a militarised area on the outskirts of Dover, fortified during the napoleonic period there are a mixture of gun emplacements, batteries and redoubts. As the Germans close in on the Harbour they must force their way through or risk having a pocket of resistance in their rear. The main target is the Harbour but this secondary objective must be taken first. (For this scenario I have considerably reduced the defensive capacity of the Western Heights but I think this is fair on the basis that the Germans would have bombed it to hell prior to the invasion)

The area is well defended by the Royal West Kent Regiment, but they are being attacked from all sides reports are coming in that Germans are pushing east towards Dover from the Warren area but also direct assaults are coming into the Harbour. Captain Mercer has been ordered to the Heights to stabilise the position. The two units on duty have already dug in along the forward trenches but Mercer has only been able to pull together a rag tag force as a relief. Particularly lacking in artillery he is hoping the Germans aren't heavily armed. He has called in additional support but a second Bren Gun carrier has been delayed and won't arrive until turn three.

The Germans consist of the veteran 143rd Mountain troops, pioneer squads including a flamethrower to clear out any stubborn defence......the Germans can't mess about the area must be cleared to allow the Harbour to be captured. 

The battlefield is quite contained a few military buildings and a series of trenches and dug outs which should make good defensive positions.

The Royal West Kent Regiment have deployed an infantry unit in both trench sections

The german infantry advance on mass, machine guns and mortars laying down covering fire while the veteran gerbesjager and pioneers break through the wire

Captain Mercer arrives from Dover in the nick of time pushing his infantry forward supported by the Bren Gun carrier, the smith gun is slowly rolled into position by the fence it is debatable whether this will be of much help ?

 In the other trench the forward unit has been spooked (random special event allowing the german commander to send them incorrect orders) the Brits have also pulled forward a spigot mortar !

More of Mercers infantry rush forward whilst a Vickers sets up close to an air raid shelter 

In the enclosed southern trench section it is getting nasty.

The smith gun is now in place but nobody is sure how to fire it

Close quarters firing in the trench whilst Captain Mercer orders another unit forward

German pioneers are breaking through the barbed wire and other infantry have made it into the northern trench

In the southern trench the Dover lads have seen off the first wave of attack but veteran gerbesjager are just about to rush the trench

More Germans have made the Northern trench...it is brutal fighting up close.......but oh no the flamethrower is being brought up to clear out the defenders

Finally the second Bren Gun carrier has made it through from Dover army camp, but with the Germans now gaining the protection of the trench the additional fire support may not be enough

Sorry this was a shot just to show how lovely the trench looks.......

More work for the British, charged in the trench it is man on man, brutal the Brits have no chance........

But from nowhere (lucky dice rolling) british cold steel wins out and the gerbesjager unit is driven off.......exhausted the remaining Brits brew up.......

Both gun carriers are now in play firing into the trench but other than keeping the Germans heads down they do little real damage

The defenders are now getting thin on the ground, another unit of pioneers has made the trench

Then to the German commanders horror a stray bullet hits the fuel tank of the flamethrower it explodes in a terrifying cloud of gas and flames

Thinking the moment has come Mercer charges the german officer, leaping into the trench they fight one on one, both men are killed in the ensuing combat.

All hope has now gone for the defenders the Germans have too many troops in the trench, leaderless the British start to pull back into Dover preparing for a last stand around the Harbour and Castle.

A very enjoyable game, the trench system isn't mine but Steve had recently completed it so we wanted to get it into play. The scenario was perfect for this 😀