PanzerKompaine vs 82nd Airborne in Breakthrough

A bad day for the Panzer crews...

Joyous Oblivion came over the other night a we got a chance to get in a game for Tier 3 of the Table Top Tacticians escalation league.  So this was a 1500 pt midwar game played with my limited scenery.  I was running my PanzerKompanie with

HQ - Panzer III M and IV H

Combat Platoons - 3 x IV E's and 4 x III M's

Weapons Platoon - 4 x II F's

Divisional Support - Limited Stukas and 3 x Nebs

Joyous Oblivions 82nd Airborne

HQ - Para OC/2IC with 2 bazookas

Combat Platoons - 3 full strength Para platoons with bazookas

Divisional Support - Para Pioneer platoon with bazooka, 6 gun Para Gun battery and limited Hurricanes

Ground Orientation

The Para's are defending on the left with the Panzers attacking from the right.  Attacking objectives were place on the fields (near left), edge of woods (mid left) and woods (far left), the Defending objective was in the woods (mid right).

 TURN 1

 Immediate Ambush of Para Pioneers in the field surrounding 2 objectives

The Para's battery start in prepared positions so they start shelling German tanks immediately

Thankfully they are spread out so no damage is caused.

2IC and Panzer II F's prepare to advance on the left flank!

Good thing the Panzers are spread out as Hurricanes swoop in bailing a wily tanker

The Luftwaffe response by hammer the Para's guns, knocking one out.

Despite having protected ammo the crew remain bailed as the OC, 2IC and platoon advance to be able to engage the dug in troopers

The Panzer II F's race forward to engage the dug in airborne

Casualties

PanzerKompaine

Nil

82nd Airborne

1 x 105mm

 TURN 2

Hurricanes response again bailing another Panzer

The Troopers response to the objective being removed by double timing from their objective towards the remaining objectives

Panzers learn the hard way that assaulting dug in fearless veterans Pioneers isn't a good idea

Remaining tanks break off to reconsider their plan

Casualties

PanzerKompaine

2 x Panzer II F's

2 x Panzer III M's

82nd Airborne

1 x 105mm

4 x Para Pioneer stands

3 x Para Trooper stands

 TURN 3

Newly arrived Paratroopers swarm the remaining 2 Panzer II F's (should have broken contact with them...)

Casualties

PanzerKompaine

Panzer II F's Platoon 

2 x Panzer III M's

82nd Airborne

1 x 105mm

4 x Para Pioneer stands

3 x Para Trooper stands

 TURN 4

Hurricanes swoop in blowing up the OC (luckily he jumps into the 2IC's tank) while the Para's battery destroys the Platoon commander of the III M's.  The remaining M quits the field.

More Para's arrive to hold the objective (they are dug in like Alabama Tics!)

The 3rd Para platoon moves into the woods by the other objective

The Luftwaffe arrive and  bomb the dug in Infantry killing a stand

Newly arrived Panzer IV E's double time forward in order to get in the fight

Casualties

PanzerKompaine

Panzer II F's Platoon 

Panzer III M's Platoon

2IC

82nd Airborne

1 x 105mm

4 x Para Pioneer stands

3 x Para Trooper stands

 TURN 5

The Panzer IV E's learn from the M's mistake and attempt to soften up the Para's before the assault

Unfortunately the distance required stop the Para's from assaulting the Panzer's also meant they could continue to be bombed.

We played for several more turns with no real effect so we called the game a tie.  Needless to say I learned that you don't want to charge dug in Fearless Veteran Pioneers.