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 generally followed the general play of the Beasts of War Operation Sealion Campaign from late 2016. Parts 1-5 can be found at:
(http://www.beastsofwar.com/search-results/?q=sea+lion)
Terrain:
The 5×14 foot battlefield was played primarily lengthwise with units entering from several roads along the sides of the table. A main road runs from the town of Pluckley through a wooded area and then off the southern edge of the table with several feeder roads coming in from both sides. Several hamlets and stately manors were placed along the roads as well as ripe fields and hedges.
(https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1409911,0.8019299,12z/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en)
The Game
Forces:
The initial British deployment consisted of a Regular Rifle Company with HQs, four 3-inch mortars, three full rifle platoons, two HMGs, and two 2 pdr ATGs (all CV) deployed on the southern edge of Pluckley; a Light Tank Squadron with 8 MkVIC Vickers (with 15mm guns) (CT) (in HQs and 2 troops) moving up the road to Pluckley; and a Territorial Rifle Company with HQs, two full Territorial platoons, and 2 HMGs (all CT) deployed in Pluckley. A British Reserve Force of a Cruiser Squadron with 8 Cruiser tanks (CT) (in HQs and 2 troops) was available as Immediate Reserves.
The Initial German forces consisted a full Schutzen platoon (CV R/MG teams) with ATR and attached HMG, and an ATG Platoon with 2 PaK36, both in Ambush. The German Delayed Reserve consisted of several groups:
- Panzer Company HQS with 2 PzIII (all CV)
- Panzer Platoon with 3 PzIII and full Schutzen Platoon with ATR
- Panzer Platoon with 4 PzII (late)
- Panzer Platoon with 2 PzIV and full Schutzen Platoon with ATR and attached HMG
Victory Objectives:
- For the British – the capture and uncontested holding of the Maltman’s Hill, southwest of the woods near Pluckley.
- For the Germans – the capture and uncontested holding of the town of Pluckley
Narrative:
The game featured a British offensive against scattered German units. A mixed British force of roughly 2500 points started on the table and in immediate reserve, against a mixed German force of about 2300 points, most of which were in delayed reserve. The setting was the area around the Village of Pluckley and Maltman’s Hill, both of which were objectives at each end of the table. To win, the British had to maintain uncontested control of the village, and contest control of the hill. The Germans had to have uncontested control of the hill, and contest control of the village.
The game began with the advance of a British veteran infantry company with two 3-inch mortars and two HMGs in support, along with an armored formation with one Mk10 tank, two Mk9 tanks, and seven MkIVC light tanks; while seven Mk13 Cruiser tanks and two more MkVIC tanks moved up from reserve. Two platoons of trained Territorial infantry with two HMGs defended the village, with two veteran 2-pdr AT guns in support. The Germans started with an infantry company command unit, one infantry platoon, one HMG, and two PaK 36 AT guns on the table in ambush. German reserves were two PzIII command tanks, three PzIIIs with an infantry platoon, 4 PzIIs with infantry, and two PzIVs with infantry, arriving from Turns 3-6 in scenario-designated locations behind the hill and along the British right flank. The British infantry met the German infantry platoon and company command teams in the middle of the large pine forest, pushing the Germans back with the assistance of some tank assaults. The Germans dug in on a new line, and brought up their PzIIs to bolster the line. The British then halted their infantry attack and dug in themselves, reaching a stalemate in the forest.
Several turns of tank fighting, along with the ambush of the two Pak36s on the flank, saw most of the British armor destroyed for the exchange of four lost German tanks. The remaining German tanks then counterattacked, but time ran out before they could organize a strong attack against the village. Thus the game ended as a draw, with each side holding an objective.
– Manteuffel