FOW D-Day British Missions – Part 1 – Seize and Hold

By Tom Mullane

This is Part 1 of a series of articles that will cover the campaign missions from the back of the new British D-Day book.

Up here in Danbury, CT things have calmed down enough for me to feel comfortable getting in a few games with my friend Shane.

As wargamers go, Shane is a professional. He has every army for Flames of War, including more Russians than I’ve ever seen in one place. Shane doesn’t just play Flames, he is also a big Bolt Action player, 40k player, Firelock Models, and even has some beautifully painted Napoleonic Minis in 28mm (a mark of sophistication in my opinion.) – note, the author doesn’t have Napoleonics.

I’ll also take the opportunity to put a plug in for his Blog – . He taught me quite a few tips and tricks as a painter, and a gamer in general. Shane is generous with his time and patience. He’s just a stand-up guy….

Which is why over the next few missions I will try to destroy him.

(I’ll note that as this was played in June, both of us had been isolated for weeks and as a result, did not wear masks as it was just the two of us)

Mission #1 – Seize and Hold

For this mission, I elected to play British Airborne and Shane took a list out of the German D-Day book. I have the equivalent of 3 full companies of Red Devils, some based for the country, some based for the city, the engineers came out to play today.

The Board was quiet as night fell on our quiet French Hamlet…….

As the Fickle Normandy winds blew, I found my main forces astride one of the main objectives near a crossroads and landed my Vickers machine gun platoon, a rogue infantry platoon, and my commanders near the other. My 6pdr guns, lonely and afraid, drifted in the wind right into the teeth of the German advance.  Not distracted by the sound of Rupert’s broadcasting gunfire from the Pas de Calais, these Germans came ready to fight immediately. But thankfully I had some time to dig in.

As the first turn began, mechanized German troops, (Heer Forces, as we had no preview of the SS book yet) darted around the hedges and made for the rear objective. Despite the darkness, the pack howitzers did some work, and the 6pdrs would manage to delay the tanks, causing some serious damage.

The 6pdrs would survive the first assault, and infantry in the hedges behind them would also help slow the advance on the German left flank. But on the Right, things go better, and despite taking some losses to the Pack Howitzers firing over open sights, the German Panzer Grenadiers close to within assault range….

Waiting for the Onslaught to come, the Paras brace themselves as they hear the rumbling of tanks crash through the hedges and into the road. The SS Officers who had been taken prisoner slap their backs with glee as it looks as though their roles as prisoners and captives may soon be reversed.

Chaos reigns, but the deadly assault, some well-timed PIAT shots, and the overall toughness of the fearless paratroopers take a heavy toll on the assaulting germans. As dawn breaks and artillery reigns down everywhere, shots ring out from houses, hedgerows, and town streets.

As the tanks race to reinforce their beleaguered mechanized element, a platoon of Shermans breaks through from the beaches (several hours early, they wanted a head start) But no sooner have they arrived and done some damage than another platoon of Germans finds their way in behind them to devastating effect.

But the assaults have been too costly for the Germans, and despite horrifying losses, the British are left as masters of the field as turn 6 arrives.

The British were left as winners, in a 7-2 finish. Despite horrendous losses, the British units didn’t break, and only the 6pdr platoon and one infantry platoon was fully destroyed. The Germans fared far worse, losing 2 tank platoons, 2 Panzergrenadier platoons, and supporting units. The British, thanks to the mission parameters win a special advantage in round 2….but since Shane and I are switching sides for that one, I’ve effectively given Shane an advantage for the next game.  The whole thing took about an hour, and we had a blast. Generally, the missions from these books are one of the highlights for me. Shane agreed. We agreed to continue our mini-campaign the following weekend, while our forces regrouped.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for Mission #2….

Thomas “Chairborne” Mullane is a writer and podcaster for No Dice No Glory since its inception. He teaches High School history in NY and Lives in Danbury, CT. He is a player of Flames of War, Bolt Action, Dungeons and Dragons, and Blood and Plunder. Tune in to “Tales of the Sail” if you want to hear what he sounds like, and please say hi during the next HMGS convention.