Despite spending over a month preparing my terrain and 6mm specialist infantry bases for this game, bad weather forced me to play it indoors as a board game.
Five companies of SS Panzer Grenadiers were defending the rail bridge.
They were attacked simultaneously by four companies of Polish parachute infantry from the south and three companies of British glider infantry from the north.
The Poles (at the bottom of the picture) were represented by Russian tokens and the British (at top right) by US tokens.
Because of the peculiar nature of this game, and with the Anglo-Polish side suffering communication difficulties and a potential language barrier I played this game with three independent sides. Each nationality received one command card for each company. All troops were rated as elite (Special Forces rules apply.)
Both the Germans and Poles were cut off from their supply base, so a reduction of 1 die was applied for any distant shooting. The Poles had the benefit of two mortar platoons. I ruled that if a grenade (1/6 chance) was rolled when attacking a bridge hex with HE, then a second roll of a grenade would damage the section.
The battle would end when either side scored 3 Victory Points for destruction of enemy unts.
Order of play was British, Germans, Poles.
Turn 1. 11:00
British. Assault left flank (all 3 companies)
The 3 rifle companies manoeuvred to a position from whence they could all fire at the German company defending the end of the bridge at 2 hexes (500m) range.
2 dice per company. A. 2 tanks rolled, no hits. B. 2 flags rolled = 2 retreats. Enemy fell back onto the bridge. The retreat was then blocked by friendly troops, so one platoon was lost. C. (Reduced to 1 die tue to increased range). Grenade = 1 hit.
Germans. Assault Centre (all 5 companies).
The company at the south end of the bridge fired at the advancing Poles at 2 hexes range. 2 dice -1 for short supply. Grenade = 1 hit. The company in the bunker were unable to shoot at the enemy at 3 hexes range due to the need to conserve ammunition. At the north end of the bridge the company that had been driven back moved forward again and fired at the enemy infantry on the river bank. 1 die. Grenade = 1 hit. The company on the centre of the bridge moved to the north end and shot at the same enemy company. 1 die. Tank was a miss.
Poles. Probe Center. (2 units). HQ increased this to 3 units. The Two flanking rifle companies moved forwards through the polder. Three companies fired at the German company in the open at the south end of the bridge. A. At 3 hexes, no firing, conserving ammunition. B. At 2 hexes, 1 die due to ammo restrictions. Tank was no hits. C. At 2 hexes, Star was no hits.
Turn 2, 11:10
British. General Advance. (2 in each sector, all 3 companies included). A. Shooting at 2 hexes. 2 dice, Infantry, Tank = 1 hit. B. Shooting at 2 hexes. Infantry, Tank = 1 hit. German unit eliminated. 1 VP. C. Shooting at 3 hexes, Infantry = 1 hit.
Germans. Recon Center. 1 unit +2 on the move. Company at south end of bridge shoots at nearest Poles at 2 hexes, 1 die. Star is a miss.
Poles. Dig In. All 4 units improved their defensive positions.
Turn 3. 11:20
British. Probe Center ( 2 units). Two companies fired at enemy in the open at 2 hexes. A. 1 grenade, 1 flag. 1 hit, 1 retreat. B. 1 grenade. 1 hit.
German. Air Sortie played with Left Flank. One fighter arrived on the left flank. Air check rolled tank, so the aircraft was OK.
Poles. Recon Center. The centre company fired at the enemy unit in the open defending the bridge. At 2 hexes, 1 die. Grenade was a hit.
Turn 4. 11:30
British. Probe left flank. One company made a close assault on the German bunker at the north of the bridge. A second company advanced to the north of the bridge and fires at the company on the bridge. A. Close assault vs bunker. 2 dice. grenade, star. 1 hit. B. Shooting vs infantry in open at 3 hexes. 1 die. star was a miss.
German. Probe Left Flank used for Luftwaffe support. Moved 4 hexes east. No target available.
Poles. Assault Centre. 3 companies advanced to contact. Close assault, left company. 2 dice, 1 hit. Centre company. 2 dice, 1 hit, 1 retreat. Germans fell back onto bridge, Poles took ground. Right company. Vs bunker 1 die. No effect.
Turn 4. 11:40
British. Firefight. 4 units not adjacent, +1 die. Centre Company at 3 hexes vs bunker was 1 die. Tank was no hits. Left company at 3 hexes is 2 dice. Flag, star was 1 retreat, but retreat was blocked. 1 platoon lost, unit eliminated.
German. Direct from HQ. Ordered all 3 infantry and 1 LW unit. LW. Air check OK. Strafing missed. Unit in N Bunker. 2 dice at 1 hex. 1 hit. S. End of bridge. 2 dice at 1 hex. 1 hit. Bunker at S. end. 2 dice ar 1 hex. 1 retreat.
Poles. Recon in force. 1 unit each section, increased to 2 units center for HQ. Left company. 1 die. 1 hit. Centre company. 2 dice, 1 hit. Unit eliminated. Poles took the bridge.
Losses: British. 2 of 12 = 17% Poles. 2 of 16 = 13% Germans. 13 of 20 = 65%
But the Germans still hold pill boxes in company strength at both ends of bridge, even if the allies hold the bridge itself. We shall see what progresss…
General Whiskers' semi-historical wanderings 
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