OPERATION ''PADDYWACK''
Over the Christmas break my friend Phil and I conducted our annual Xmas game at the Manor. This year it was Phil’s turn to set the scene and scenario of which after much consideration of the forces available he decided on a fictional Ireland/UK border skirmish a la 1946. Note this game is fictional and in no way is meant to represent personal or political views on the Irish situation.
Above the forces used, mixed Revell late war ,ESCI /Italeri British Infantry stood in for the Irish Army, and a mix of Revell and ESCI/Italeri British Paratroops made up the platoon of Para's. The figures were based at 1:1 representation.
The scenario was that some IRA fighters had hijacked a British Army Intelligence HQ truck containing Intel on British operations against republican terrorist forces. After seizing the truck it was driven across the border into a cross border town and held by the Irish Police who were waiting on directions on how to treat the matter.
A view of the cross border town, the English were ensconced on the top of the photo,while the Irish were set in the lower part. A large stone fence separated the two sides of the border town. This wall was deemed to be impassable to any vehicles thus leaving a natural choke point at the crossroads in the centre.
Meanwhile a British reaction force of a Platoon of Para’s with a Company HQ element, a Troop of RA Achilles 17 pdr Tank Destroyers (2), and an Armoured Car Troop of three vehicles, had been hastily assembled with orders to recover the Intelligence truck and contents by force if necessary from the border.
Another view of the crossroads from the Irish side.A Platoon of Irish Infantry along with two 6 pdr Churchill Tanks were exercising in the area and dispatched to the border town to protect the captured truck until Irish Police Intelligence had digested the contents...
Irish Army Churchill's, A ESCI to the rear while the notorious Airfix kit to the fore.
A roll of the dice saw Phil as commander of the British and myself as the Irish Officer Commanding. We then set about devising the best plans available to carry out our respective missions.
British Army RA Achilles (Armourfast) and Armoured cars (Matchbox Dingo and Hasegawa Damlier)
The game then commenced...more in the next few postings
Phil returned the next night, and after a cuppa and catch up we retired to the stables to conclude our game. Phil quickly decided to throw in his reserve Section by way of the left flank, with a detachment of armour covering them he quickly crossed the wall and established another foothold on the Irish side.
This was a mistake as my Platoon PIAT team quickly unmasked from behind the closest building and engaged the TD from close range. Without the Infantry to support his Armour they were vulnerable. A bad throw from Phil in reply saw the Armoured Car taken out of the game during my next move.
Meanwhile on my right flank Phil continued his outflanking move pushing my depleted Section of rifle armed Infantry into the cover of a narrow alleyway. Despite strong odds these held out for two more moves until with nothing left to lose they mounted a rather feeble and hasty counterattack on the Para's that saw them wiped out to a man. Reports later surfaced that the Para's executed them in firing squad fashion, but this was never fully explained and no documentation has been made public on this rumor.
However it was on the left flank that the battle was decided. With my options limited and finding myself being pushed back on the two flanks I gambled to send my hard pressed Infantry up the weakly held centre and try to out flank his pincher move. This paid off immediately and soon he was experiencing heavy causalities as he was forced to engage or become cut off. It was also for my troops a heavily contested fight and piece by piece my Infantry were cut down into penny packets.
With my troops down to Section strength including my reserve I had no choice but to retreat back to the HQ truck and mount a defence there. Phil's Para's although mauled advanced in good order. My sole remaining Brengun team held one flank for two turns before they too were overran.
By now it was apparent that the Irish were doomed and some good dice throws from Phil sealed their fate. Back to back they sniped at the advancing red beret's until with a heavy heart I released them from their sworn duty and surrendered them to the Brit's.
So with that Phil took the game and broke his losing streak. While I surprised by this I was far from unhappy. My troops had put up a spirited defence and survived the early loss of their armour. The street fighting had proved brutal for both forces and the PIAT's had finally proved their worth on the table.
Phil made good calculated decisions during the game and had fort the urge to second guess his orders to his troops. He also benefited from some awesome dice throws which sealed my fate.
Kudos's to Chintz for a great couple of evenings and a well deserved win.
