Four Days In Berlin - Campaign Report - Day 2

The Romanian contingent (Dennis) of the Russian attack to the North and East of Berlin began a drive towards the area of Dahlem, where they were met by a blocking force of panzergrenadiers led by the Commander of German forces in Berlin; Andy Von Paulus (Andy).  Von Paulus launched an aggressive German counterattack with halftracks and panzer IV’s which met a hail of fire from well positioned anti-tank guns, and then suffered when the Romanian armour was unleashed.  The German company was decimated with burning vehicles littering the city streets and the Romanians marched on to claim Dahlem.

With the Russian offensive limited to the efforts of the Romanians on Day 2 it fell to the Western ‘front’, and the clashes between the attacking allies and the Germans there.  Elements from the British 11^th Armoured (Ian), equipped with the excellent new British-built heavy tank the Comet, were rushed to the newly captured airport of Gatow on the Western side of Berlin in response to an aggressive thrust from the 18^th Panzergrenadier division (Rick).  However upon arrival they found the airport buildings had already been recaptured by the German infantry, and no amount of Typhoon air strikes or point-blank firing by the Comets main armament could shift them.  In return German anti-tank guns flanked some of the Brits armour and armoured and truck mounted infantry advanced across the runways to push out the Allied troops and reclaim the airport.

More troops from the 11^th armoured (Aidan this time) were also in action to the north of Gatow, as they attempted to capture the area around Spandau.  ‘Tiger’ Phil was sent to defend it, and even when surrounded he refused to give an inch – mostly because his infantry had gone all foxhole norman and his Jadgtigers had broken down.  British shooting proved hopeless, with many, many Cromwells firing many, many shells at panzerfaust-armed infantry who steadfastly refused to die.  Even when the Jadgtigers (inevitably) ran out of fuel the resulting flank shots were not enough.  Both sides withdrew, exhausted, to their starting positions – Phil’s men having the least distance to go.

An unsurprising breakdown in Wehrmacht communications led to an SS company (Peter) being issued with orders to attack Gatow airport.  Unaware that it had already been captured by the 18^th Panzergrenadiers they set off, only to run into the super heavy armour of an American tank company – the Yanks turning up late for a war as usual.  The SS were stricken with despair as every one of their shots bounced off the heavy front armour of the Yankees Jumbo Shermans, and the Americans were able to cruise to a victory, succeeding where the Brits had failed in capturing the area just south of Spandau.

 

The 18th Panzergrenadiers fighiting 11th Armoured over Gatow Airport - the road pieces being a rough and ready runway.

Comets!

Panzergrenadiers crossing the runways to victory.

Airport buildings.

'Tiger' Phil using, um, Tigers against Aidans Cromwells.

M10's couldn't manoeuvre to get a decent shot on the multiple Jadgtigers.

Phil's artillery.

Big cat in wood.

Cromwells taking potshots.

Andy Von Paulus and his attack against the Romanians.

Romanian defenders.

Campaign map at the end of Campaign Turn/Day 2.

A General Overview:

Campaign turn 2, or Day 2 as I prefer to call it, is over, and the winners so far are the Russians who have dug deep into the underbelly of Berlin, nearly surrounding Tempelhof Airport.  The Allies attempts to move Eisenhowers drinks cabinet closer to the Reichstag suffered a blow with the loss of Gatow airport, but the Yanks got them moving again towards Spandau.

The list of players has a notable changes as that dastardly fiend Ben has defected to the Russians!  All it took was a five minute conversation with ‘Tiger’ Phil and he was off….

Germans: Andy (CO), Rick, ‘Tiger’ Phil and Peter.

Allied: James (CO), David, Ian and Aidan.

Russian: Dennis (CO), Luke, Ben and Red

We now enter Campaign Turn 3, do not forget to scratch those casualties from your possible army options.  If you’re company is looking as numerous as the cups in the cupboards rather than the grains of sand on the beach then don’t forget you can disband them and start afresh. 

Campaign Turn 1 - 4th December - 8th January

Campaign Turn 2 – 15th January - 5th February

Campaign Turn 3 – 12th February - 5th March

Campaign Turn 4 – 12th March - 2nd April

Rules, Rules, Rules……

Commanders; don’t forget to allocate those free platoons and air support out, no free air support for the Allies this turn unless they capture Gatow back!

Petrol; slight change – as pointed out last night nobody (except possibly Phil) would go into battle with no petrol, so we’ll assume that the Germans start with enough fuel for the first 3 turns of each game, and then have to start rolling to see if they run out after that.