France 24 June 1940
The view along the Gravelines to Calais road
We played a game last night using TFL IABSM rules.
Robert Avery’s Defence of Calais booklet: ‘ Scenario 4: On the Road to Gravelines’.
I had completed some background reading on this battle. The unenviable task facing the British was to get a massive truck borne supply consignment of ratios from Calais to Dunkirk along the road via Gravelines.
Early in morning the convoy left the Calais Gate and travelled the route until it reached the village of Le Beau Marais where 1 Panzer Division forward elements had set up a substantial roadblock on the village crossroads and billeted up for the night.
In the early hours prior to the convoy journey two other British probes had received differing results. One force of carriers had turned back reporting German tanks in the area, whilst a second force of three light tanks and a A13 Cruiser tank of 3RTR had somehow passed through the roadblock unrecognised by the Germans manning the obstacle.
The game started with the British truck convoy reaching the roadblock and the Germans being alerted to their presence.
In short the battle went much according to the historical outcome. The lead tanks of the column quickly succeeded in dozering the obstacle to the roadside and causing sufficient casualties to its defenders to chase them off. However the Germans soon got their infantry up and awake and brought numerous support weapons to bear on their attackers.
Two 3RTR A13 tanks burst through the roadblock pushing it aside having immobilised a Sdkfz 221 and sent the defending infantry packing.
The road was soon blocked with abandoned armour leaving the British commander no alternative but to turn back and return to Calais. The rations not being delivered to the beleaguered garrison of Dunkirk.
Bruce and Dale played the Brits (I pushed the ration lorries along slowly) whilst Barry and Ralph defended. The NAaFI being provided by Archie ably assisted again by Steve.
Good points: The scenario was another to have players think about achieving their objectives quickly and efficiently; German difficulties exist because their Officership are all eating breakfast sausages in their separate billet and take time to conclude before rousing their hungry minions into action.
Bad points: I had a thick head and let a few rule errors in.
Plus points: I managed to complete all of the new industrial buildings and get them on the tabletop but alas I was unable to complete the school house build in time through illness. Bruce brilliantly put his Eaton playing fields fair attitude into the game and accepted full and absolute responsibility for the whole debacle. He has his firing squad in the morning.
Tim Whitworth
