75th Anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino and Northern Italy (Gaming The Battles)

Read in reverse order

Turn 6

FBP are able to unpin and the last remaining tank from 1st Panzer passes its morale check (again! nerves of steel!) and is able to stay in the fight.

1st Panzer advances through the grounds of the chapel, up to the wall surrounding the grounds but fails to pass its crossing check. 2nd Panzer remains stationary to counter the now visible Shermans. FRP, FGP and FBP all advance up the battlefield, trying to remain in range of the retreating British.

FGP fires upon SFOP causing 5 hits, it fails to cause any wounds but does pin SFOP in place.

The Mortar team repeats its bombardment against SFRP and kills another team, and ensuring that SFRP remain pinned.

The one remaining tank from 1st Panzer Platoon turns its MGs on the British MG team and is able to destroy both teams! That’s the first VP of the game awarded to the Germans for destroying a British platoon.

2nd Panzer, who remained stationary, makes good use of this extra aiming time and causes 3 hits against 1st Sherman Platoon. This cause 2 of the Shermans to bail out, leaving just one operational Sherman in the platoon.

FGP launch an assault against SFOP. FGP loses another stand in the defensive fire but its not enough to stop the assault hitting home and SFOP loses another stand. SFOP counter attacks and is able to destroy two stands from FGP in a truly gritty combat. Undeterred, and overcoming the special British Bulldog rule, FGP are able to continue the assault and destroy a further stand from SFOP. SFOP decide to fall back after this as their casualties are mounting.

Both of the bailed tanks in 1st Sherman are able to remount however the last remaining anti tank gun fails its morale check and is removed from the board giving another VP to the Germans. SFRP are able to unpin and can continue to keep moving.

SFOP, having been reduced in numbers following the assault, fail their morale check and are removed from the battle giving a third VP to the Germans.

The remaining British infantry units continue to fall back. 2nd Sherman Platoon advances to cover the infantry retreat whereas just one Sherman from 1st Platoon moves to draw lie of sight on the Panzers further down the road.

1st Sherman Platoon splits its fire with on tank firing its MGs on FGP but despite 4 hits, fails to cause any damage. The other two Shermans fire on 2nd Panzer, hitting twice but failing to penetrate or even cause the Germans to bail out from their tank.

2nd Sherman Platoon fires upon 1st Panzer and hits, causing the last remaining tank to bail out.

Turn 7

FGP passes its morale check and 1st Panzer remounts and also passes its morale check (yet again – surely some honour will be given to this tank crew?).

1st Panzer launches a blitz move, crossing the wall, whereas 2nd Panzer fails their blitz move but moves forward 10” under a standard tactical move anyway, trying to keep up with the retreating infantry.

The remaining infantry platoons, including the mortar platoon (who are now out of range of anything useful) all advance southward.

1st Panzer fires two shots against 2nd Sherman and causes two tanks to bail out – great gunning from the last remaining tank in 1st Panzer!

2nd Panzer fires against 1st Sherman and scores 1 hit however this hit penetrates and destroys a Sherman.

FGP fires upon the retreating 2iC and kills the 2iC.

FBP fires upon SFRP, hitting twice and destroying one base.

On the British turn, both of the bailed Shermans from 2nd Sherman Platoon fail to remount however the last remaining Sherman passes its morale check to remain in the fight.

All of the British forces able to retreat do so and the Universal Carriers return to the extraction point and are removed from the battle.

1st Sherman are able to kill the remaining teams from FGP with their MGs.

At this point, with the British turn spent and with most of the infantry team close or in the extraction zone, the battle is concluded. The Germans amassed 3 VP whereas the British were able to extract two depleted platoons, giving just 2 VP. So a narrow victory for the Germans and they can continue their squeeze on the salient.

So in conclusion, a close win for the Germans. In hindsight, the Germans could have perhaps used their Panzers more effectively. Fire should have been focused on the Anti Tank guns much earlier to neutralise this threat. It could also have been sensible to split the Panzers with one platoon supporting the assault into the woods to dislodge the British earlier.

From the British perspective, what would have happened had they not retreated? Despite losing a 6pdr, if the remaining gun continued to fire, could they have repelled the Germans?