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| Deployment for Wittmann's Wild Ride |
I've always wanted to have a bash at the scenario Wittman's Wild Ride ever since it was published in the Villers Bocage book back in 2008. When Battlefront released the scenario online it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out.
On 13th June 1944 SS-Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann in his Tiger I Ausf. E ambushed a column of British vehicles from the 7th Armoured Division on Route Nationale 175, near Villers-Bocage in Normandy. While this ambush was occuring, additional Tigers from the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion engaged British armoured units on Point 213 to the east. In the space of fifteen minutes, between Wittmann and the rest of the 2./s.SS-Pz. Abt. 101 (2nd Company 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion) 13–14 tanks, two anti-tank guns and 13–15 transport vehicles had been destroyed for the loss of one Tiger.
Can Wittmann break through or will be stopped by the dogged resistance of the veteran British 7th Armoured Division?
The British forces for this scenario do not have command teams, and start the game either bailed or pinned depending on their unit type. As they don't have command teams, they will only be able to move during assaults. Their objective is to destroy Wittmann, if they succeed then they win the scenario. If Wittmann managed to wipe out the enemy force then he wins, otherwise if neither of the above occurs before the end of turn 10 then it is considered a draw.
The forces were deployed as per the map above, with Wittmann out of the way down a side road staring straight at the most threatening unit on the board, a Sherman Firefly! On the map above, I have numbered individual units. The Motor Rifle Platoons (in dark red) are numbered one to three from left to right on the map. Their teams have been labelled according to the weapons carried. 'Pi' refers to Piat teams, 'MG' to Machinegun teams and 'LM' to Light Mortar teams.
German Turn 1
Wittmann decides not to move to ensure the Firefly can be dealt with using his full RoF of 3. He opens fire and manages to destroy it with a double bail.
British Turn 1
Stuarts 1 and 2 unbail, Motor Rifle Platoon 1 unpins, Cromwell 1 unbails.
German Turn 2
Wittmann moves up to the corner and opens fire on the Cromwells scoring two hits and knocking out Cromwell 1 just after the crew finishes remounting the vehicle.
British Turn 2
Stuart 3 unbails, 6-pounder platoon unpins, Motor Rifle Platoon 3 unpins. The remaining Cromwell opens fire on Wittmann but misses with both shots.
German Turn 3
Wittmann advances to take up a concealed position next to the Firefly wreck and opens up on the Cromwell, knocking it out.
British Turn 3
Motor Rifle Platoon 2 unpins.
German Turn 4
Wittmann remains stationary and unleashes all his firepower at Motor Rifle Platoon 3, destroying one MG team.
British Turn 5
6-pounder platoon fires on Wittmann, scoring one hit but failing to penetrate the Tiger's 120mm thick glacis plate.
German Turn 6
Wittmann advances into a position from which he can assault the nearby Motor Rifle Platoon. He opens fire and kills their light mortar team, then assaults into the platoon. The Piat team scores a hit in defensive fire but it fails to penetrate Wittmann's armour. Wittmann kills the Piat team in return and they motivate to counter-attack but cannot hurt the Tiger.
British Turn 6
The Motor Rifle Platoon Wittmann assaulted attempt to assault him back but fail their tank terror test.
German Turn 7
Wittmann opens up with all guns on the Motor Rifles but they pass all their saves. He then assaults them and destroys an MG team. They fail to motivate to counter-attack, fail their morale test and run off the field. Wittmann then consolidates.
British Turn 7
The 6 Pounder Platoon opens up on Wittmann, they only score one hit but it manages to bail him!
German Turn 8
Wittmann isn't fazed, he clambers back into the Tiger and pushes towards the 6 Pounder platoon. He opens fire and destoys a Loyd Carrier. He then assaults and destroys one of the guns, but they fail to motivate to counterattack.
British Turn 8
The remainding six pounder opens fire at practically point blank range, hitting Wittmann but is unable to get through the Tiger's armour.
German Turn 9
Wittmann opens up on what remains of the 6 Pounder platoon, but fails to cause any damage. He assaults the Loyd Carrier and destroys it and in return the remaining gun fails to motivate to counter-attack. Wittmann consolidates, and as the 6 Pouunder is unable to move out of the way it is destroyed.
British Turn 9
At the start of the turn the British have to take a company morale check, which they fail.
Conclusion
A victory for Wittmann! This was a fun scenario, though I feel it is heavily biased in favour of the German player. The Piat teams could have done with better positioning to ensure they were able to counter-attack in the assaults.
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