Background
Operation Sea Lion, also written as Operation Sealion (German: Unternehmen Seelöwe) was Nazi Germany’s code name for the plan for an invasion of the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. Following the Fall of France, Adolf Hitler, hoped the British government would seek a peace agreement and he reluctantly considered invasion only as a last resort if all other options failed. As a precondition, he specified the achievement of both air and naval superiority over the English Channel and the proposed landing sites, but the German forces did not achieve this at any point during the war and both the German High Command and Hitler himself had serious doubts about the prospects for success. A large number of barges were gathered together on the Channel coast, but, with air losses increasing, Hitler postponed Sea Lion indefinitely on 17 September 1940 and it was never put into action.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sea_Lion)
We based a lot of the game on the Beasts of War Operation Sea Lion Campaign from late 2016. Parts 1-5 can be found at:
(http://www.beastsofwar.com/search-results/?q=sea+lion)
The Game
Terrain: The 5×14 foot battlefield was played side to side, with the village and RAF Airfield of Hawkinge in the right center. Four other villages dot the table with two main roads leading to the beaches south of the edge.
Special Scenario Rules:
Germans
- The FJs can be parachute or glider borne. Only HMGs and light/medium mortars can be carried, along with two batteries of 37mm Pak36 guns.
- One FJ company will drop on the west side of the table near Paddlesworth on Turn One (Area 1).
- On Turn Two, one reinforced FJ company will land in and around Postling (Area 2). Additionally, one FJ company will march onto the table on the south wet corner.
- The Germans get one three plane Stuka Flight for the first three turns and then must roll for availability afterwards.
- The Germans can get two turn of Naval Gunfire Support (Light Cruiser) availability during the game. The fire is rated as conscript 3AP 3FP.
- FJ organize from Hellfire and Back.
British
- 1st London Division was a Territorial Division and as such is rated as Territorial Troops (Confident Trained).
- LDV (Local Defense Volunteer or Home Guard) units are considered to be rifle equipped Confident Conscripts and are organized by village and town. Roll a D6 for each town for the number of stands.
- Only one company of Territorials are deployed on the board along with any LDV units at the beginning of the scenario.
- There are two platoons of RAF defense troops (Confident Trained) deployed in and around Hawkinge Airfield with AAA support (2 gun 40mm Bofors battery).
- Only one troop of armored cars are allowed.
- There is a four gun 25pdr to be deployed on the table as part of beach defense system. (Area 3). The British player has the choice on where to fire the battery, shoot at the Fallschirmjagers on the table or choose to bombard the beaches to the South. For every turn that a bombardment was fired, the British will receive a free bombardment in the next scenario.
- The British can deploy 8 Barbed Wire sections on the table.
- There are three main roads. British units entering have a randomized entry.
- On Turn Three, the British Player can bring two Territorial Companies as delayed reserves (we used a French unit for the second company).
- The British get free Hurricane intercept each turn to stop the Stukas.
- British organize from Blitkrieg.
Victory Objectives:
- Seize and hold main towns (three on table). – 1 Point each
- Take and knock out the Coastal Defense Position – 1 Point
- Hold Hawkinge Airfield – 3 Points
- Every Allied Unit entering the table as reserves that exits the table on the Enemy’s edge – 5 Points each
Forces:
The initial British deployment was one Territorial Army Company of three platoons deployed primarily around the Hawkinge Airfield along with a RAF Defense Platoon in the Airfield. A 4-gun 25 pdr coastal defense battery was positioned overlooking the beaches on the southern edge of the board. The villages contained Home Guard of two to three stands each. Reinforcements included another Territorial Company and a French infantry company. The British units had attached Universal Carrier Patrols, which were all mobile reserves.
The Germans consisted of three platoon Fallschirmjager Company (with Mortar and Pioneer support) dropping on Turn One near the Airfield. On Turn Two, another Fallschirmjager Company (with MMG and ATG support) dropped between the Airfield and the Coastal Battery. In addition, another Fallschirmjager Company (MMG and ATG support) marched on to the table on the road near the southeast corner. The Germans received Priority Stuka Air Support.
Narrative:
Opening Phase: The FJ landed, scattering and suffering sever casualties (9 stands), but was able to start his assault on the northern and eastern sides of the Airfield and the Village of Hawkinge. The Luftwaffe managed to knockout one of the Bofors. The FJ initial assaults on the airfield were thrown back by accurate defensive fire.
Mid-Game: The reserves from the Germans came flooding onto the table and the British started trickling on. The FJ’s brave troops managed to break their way into Hawkinge, but were stymied in taking the airfield. They were soon overwhelmed by attacking by The British and French troops. The Fj’s anaged to seize Paddlesworth but failed to knockout the Coastal Battery, taking heavy losses in each attempt. Even though the Allies were primarily only Confident Trained troops, they were able to inflict heavy losses on the scattered Germans, forcing the FJ to be on the defensive.
End-Game: Both sides settled down to a very traditional attrition match, trying to take and hold key objectives. The initial FJ company was by now a mere shadow of itself and was unable to hold anything except the Village of Hawkinge, leaving the access to the beaches for British reinforcements clear. The centrally located FJ company was mauled but held onto Paddlesworth even though British Universal Carriers were able to contest the village. the final FJ company we in good shape, but out of possition and would be hard pressed to force both the British and French troops back. The game was called a tactical British victory (3 to 1), the game ended before the British had time to rush reserves to defend the beaches to the South. However, the British managed to fire five bombardments onto the beaches, which will give them a sporting chance to give Jerry a pretty good what for next week.
– Manteuffel