Skirmish Campaigns Monty's Epsom 1944 "Royal Tanks"

A couple weeks ago our group finally got a chance to play thru the first 2 scenarios of “Royal Tanks”.  This mini-campaign is one of 4 in the Skirmish Campaigns “Monty’s Epsom 1944” excellent scenario book.  The focus of this mini-campaign is on the 9^th Royal Tank Regiment as it battles elements of the two SS Divisions in late June 1944.

 

 

 

 

The first scenario is a meeting engagement pitting a Platoon of Churchill Infantry Tanks, two squads of Infantry, an Infantry Platoon HQs and an attached 6 pounder Anti-Tank gun.  So overall, 3 Churchill tanks, 2 Bren Carriers, a 6 pound AT gun and a Jeep.  Against them is small two squad battle group of SS Pioneers moving in a collection of wheeled vehicles and a pair Sdkfz 251/1D halftracks supported by a pair of Panther tanks but on a variable turn of entry. 

 

Tim took the Tank Platoon and one squad of Infantry, I took the HQs, the AT Gun and second squad.  Ryan and Alex split the Germans. 

 

We set up the board and rolled for variable attachments; the British receiving a sniper team IIRC, the German player a Kubelwagen with a Flamethrower team and rolling a turn 4 entry for the Panthers.  

 

The victory conditions were on the British player since they were attacking.  Exit a single Churchill tank and 10 Infantry soldiers off the German controlled edge with an extra campaign condition of capturing and controlling the crossroads and a stone house.  If the British player satisfied the two campaign conditions they would prevent the German player from having an advantageous entry point in the next scenario for his armor.

 

Both sides entered the board at opposite ends, and both using the roads for quick movement towards the crossroads.  The British sending one squad with the Platoon HQs group to capture the stone house, dropping the Anti-Tank gun on over-watch in anticipation of defending against counter-attacking German armor, and the other squad riding on the lead Churchill. 



 

 

Being closer to the German entry point, Ryan and Alex decided to dismount their Pioneers and make for the tree line surrounding the crossroads.  The Turn after starting to dismount, Alex’s share of the Pioneers were still getting into position when the first of Tim’s Churchill tanks arrived and laid into them; catching them still in the process of getting out of their transport

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first clash was a close in fight between flamethrower teams and a Churchill, which quickly ended in favor of the British.  Next Tim’s Infantry squad entered the opposite end of the field facing the SS troops that had finally made it to the tree line.  This second clash saw the exchange of fire, the German player coming out on top due largely to the superior MG42 teams, eliminating half of the British and forcing the remainder to ground. 

 

 

 

With the British Infantry assault blunted the Churchill tanks turned on the Pioneers, resulting in more losses to this squad and forcing them to ground.  Tim, realizing that the Panthers were not going to make it onto the board yet and having suffered no tank losses, decided to quickly exit a single Churchill; satisfying the first part of the British victory conditions.   The remaining pair waited the arrival of the Panthers and protected my Infantry section in the attempt to complete the victory.

 

 

 

 

The game moved quickly at this point, the Panthers arriving and engaging in a long range dual with the British tanks.  This action resulted in a mobility kill on one Churchill while my Infantry made a dash for the exit point but didn’t make it before the game ended.

Overall this scenario was challenging and fun for both sides.  It was fast moving and resulted in large numbers of casualties on both sides.  The British did capture and hold the stone house and crossroads but failed in exiting the required number of Infantry.  So a tactical victory for Ryan and Alex. 


The models are a mixture of 1st Corps, Warlord, West Wind Berlin or Bust, Company B Miniatures, Black Tree Design and Renegade.  The Churchill tanks and most of the British Infantry are West Wind, the Bren Carriers and 6 Pound AT Gun Warlord and the Jeep is Company B Miniatures.  The Panther tanks, Halftracks, Opel Blitz truck and Kubelwagen are all Warlord.  The Pioneers are a mixture of 1st Corps and Renegade with the flamethrowers from Black Tree Design.