Part 6 - Remote Commanders WWII D-Day Game

Airfield Turn 1-4
While the battle for the Village of Arret de Chaval raged, American forced push on across a wide front. The drive to establish a foot hold in Normandy was relentless. This Next part will cover the Airfield.

With the sound of battle to the west disturbing the quiet morning, Major Burnshaw readied his Company to assault the air field. The Rangers and their engineer support units had been in action since the 6th, they had not stopped moving inland until they reached the outside perimeter of the Airfield. Burnshaw waited for support, Armour from Tyler and mechanised infantry showed on the road to Murs Blanc he signaled to Van Gurk to call artillery smoke onto the main airfield buildings.

Burnshaw advances on the outlying defences

The bulk of German garrison on the airfield was made up of Eastern-European conscripts. Captain Rendulic had at first glance a very defensible position. Two pillboxes covered the airfield, one facing north and the other Southeast. the surrounding buildings all had ready built trenches for air-raid cover. From his position he could see the main road to the Airfield and the town, it looked like the Americans were massing for a attack down the road. He knew that this approach was well covered by Anti-tank guns in the town and surrounding woods. His first contact was a large bombardment of enemy artillery fire creating a smoke screen.

Rangers storm the wire and into the airfield buildings

 Once the Smoke screen landed action started immediately, the Rangers and Engineers rushed the defenses. The Czech garrison fired wildly into the white blanket of smoke. The close up and brutal assault did not last long. Burnshaw's forces routed and scattered the garrison. Even Rendulic's HQ was surrounded, the fighting was swiftly over for the garrison. With nothing left to do Rendulic surrendered hoping to spare his men from further deaths.

Unsupported Wesp pays the price for moving too close.

As the Airfield was quickly captured Burnshaw, was forced to wait for the rest of the support coming along the road before moving on to the town.
By this time though General Von Bock had eventually arrived in Murs Blanc. The forces under his command were scrapped together from falling back or isolated units from the previous days actions. He quickly ascertained that the airfield was overrun and he send his best units forwards to counter-attack and push the Americans out. After some confusion some of he leading elements got too close and were ambushed by rangers from the airfield, losing his SPG platoon was a blow before even getting into position.

Von Bock has a good view of the airfield despite losing his Wesp.

As Burnshaw knew that his men were about to face a counter attack, his early success in capturing the airfield had now drawn attention from German forces in Murs Blanc. The rangers and engineers used the existing defenses and readied for the attack. Moving to the edge of the woods the German panzer-grenadiers set up a good field of fire on the airfield. almost immediately they came under sustained attack. They traded fire with the Rangers to little effect, they also managed to deploy their PAK 40 in good position, giving the gun cover of the road and airfield. This additional firepower started to tell and the Rangers were forced back away from the outskirts of the airfield.

As the day drew to a close, the sounds of battle rattled on in the direction ov Arret de Cheval. More concerning for the rangers was the unmistakable sound of German Armour moving up from the south east.

Von Bock could do little but hope that his reserves would arrive in time to play a part in the battle as his current situation was looking critical. He had received news that a Stug company under Captain Hass was in the area for re-fit when the allies landed. His forces were en-rout at all speed to the embattled area.

Next time, The Road to Murs Blanc.