The Battle of Calais:Centre Action

Above the centre of the Al's wonderfully set out table, with my rather meagre defences at the bottom and a seemingly huge grey mass of German armour at the top. It was always going to be hard to hold a two Battalion Panzer attack

Continuation of Al's and myself's weekend epic, the Battle of Calais. Tonight I will explain operations on the centre of battle. It was here that limited action was fought until the last few phases of the game, which then saw major conflict.

About midway through the game German armour grouped in Companies advance in the centre, Pz 38(t)'s Company bottom left, amongst the seven Jerry Companies seen in this shot.

For defence of this area, I arranged my two Infantry Battalions in line, on either side of a road into Calais. A Belgian Company of Infantry covered the open flank while two 2 Pounders were emplaced further back, along with my Quick Reaction Force minus the half sent to help defend the village in the last post.

In the Armour stakes I held a A9 Cruiser Troop central. More of a show of force than anything, I was really counting on my Infantry to do the hard yards here.

Also towards the rear but covering the entrance road I positioned a Battery of RA 25 Pounders. My German opposite commented that this was rather close to the front line, this was to come back and bite him on the bum later on!

My reserve prior to battle
Cruisers in action. The Pz38(t) Company was smashed at the bottom, while the second troop top left starts to make headway.

A Mass attack by all German armour soon materialized after Al had used his Recon assets to feel my forces out. I decided to use my Cruisers for their speed and gun power on Al's most weakest flank, which was his Czech tank Company. Good dice saw the Pz 38(t) smashed in good order with no loses of my own.

This action saw Al without protection on his left flank, and my Cruiser troop open to advance into his rear.

Second Cruiser Troop sorting out Recon Elements. Note Al's much vaunted Kfz 13, this was a target from roll one!

At the same time I deployed my second Cruiser (Valentine & Crusader stand in) troop from my other flank reserve to counter moves from the front. The Cruisers first went for Recon which were to exposed for their own good .This troop also had good success against Pz II and Pz III's a move later
Flemish Company protecting a flank. These were Motorized by robbing other units, and would later cover withdrawal moves of the BEF from the Village.

Recon and German armour Company in flames. The Top Cruiser (Crusader) would later be hit leaving the other to withdraw in good order.

Seeing his Recon elements in trouble Al threw in a Company of Pz III and Pz II's. Unfortunately this proved to be unsuccessful and for the lost of his both Recon and Tank Companies. I did lose a Cruiser, but considered that quite acceptable.

Junkers JU 87 Stuka on the prowl.

While this was going on, German air assets continued to search out targets. This on the whole was not very successful, not for lack of trying but lack of spotting. Meanwhile supporting 4"fire from the Royal Navy did rather better. I had managed to to put my FOO's in good positions and backed up by good dice usually score some good results.

Battle Squadron bombing centre German thrust.

By now I realized that Al was going all out in the centre as he committed more and more Armour then motorcycle troops into the fray. Here my combined defence came into its own. With the RAF bombing, Infantry mortars and MMG's as well as stubborn Infantry fire and the 25 Pounders firing in the Anti Tank direct fire role scoring good hits. I did take some hits myself, but the bulk of my troops remained unscathed.

German Motorcycle troops roll in for the attack. Their speed put them on par with my Carrier units, but they lacked the armour and protection.

Again and again the Germans parried with my defence, but the brave BEF held on. Here at turn 14 we left it. Both sides need to regroup for the next phase, however my next post on the Calais front will look at the much fought after right flank.

Looking exposed, German armour rolls to the flank of my covering force of Belgium Troops. German Armour was more interested in the centre rather than this flank.