scorpio_rocks: Hallamshire Bn 1940-45

[wulfir]

It is April 15, 1940.

You are the commander of the Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Your battalion belongs to the 146 Brigade, just landed near Namsos, Norway.

You are to undertake an offensive against the German forces now holding Trondheim, the old capital of Norway and the city where its kings are crowned.

Brigadier Phillips, the brigade commander takes you aside to ask your opinion on how to deploy the brigade. You are the battalion commander he has most confidence in.

Use the map below to advice the Brigadier on how to deploy the forces. Type or draw on the map where the battalions are to be deployed. As the player you will somewhat double as the brigade commander, the in game campaign will however focus on the Hallams Bn. In reality the Hallams were mostly in reserve during the Norway campaign, but you can of course put them in the forefront of the action, maybe change history a little...


The ground conditions are harsh with plenty of snow making off road movement difficult. Thick ice covers the eastern part of Beitsfjord making naval landings there impossible, although the ice will not last many more days. Trondheimfjord is ice free.

The enemy belongs to elements of the German 3. Gebirgs-Division and the 181. Infanterie-Division supported by both Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine units, some based near Trondheim.


Forces avaliable to the commander 146 Brigade

Brigade HQ

4th Bn, The Lincolnshire Regiment (infantry bn)

1/4th Bn, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (infantry bn)

Hallamshire Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment (infantry bn)

757 Field Company, Royal Engineers

388 Battery, 143 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (25 pdr)

A Battery, 89 LAA Regiment (20mm)

Norwegian Army transport group (50 trucks)

Trøndelag Dragonregiment Nr 3, Norwegian Army (full strength, partly motorised infantry battalion) – (Org: Stab, Gev.esk, 3 hj.esk, 5 hj.esk, Mitr.esk, Mot.Mitr.esk)


Being raised in Steinkjer - III Bataljon/Infanteri Regiment Nr. 13 (Norwegian infantry Bn). Becomes availiable April 20.

Being landed in Namsos – 5e Demi-Brigade Chasseurs Alpins, French Army (3 Mountain Battalions). Becomes availiable April 23.

[scorpio_rocks]

Woohoo! Didnt expect the Norway stuff, great to see it!
(although I may change my mind whilst playing and trying to move inf in the snow )

Will get initial deployments to you this weekend

[scorpio_rocks]

These orders are given from a historical prospective, ie no knowledge of what actually happened. I hope they make sense and are what you need/want. If not give me a shout and I will try harder .

INITIAL DISPOSITIONS and INTENDED ROUTE of ADVANCE 146 BRDE
(15 April 1940)

For convienience and logistical/tactical operations the Brigade is to be divided, along Battalion lines, into "Taskforces" as follows (HQ, 4x "manoeuver forces", Artillery + french force):

Force "Crown" HQ (Steinkjer)

Brigade HQ
HQ Troop AA
Rifle Company from 4 LINCS

Force "Sphinx"

4 LINCS

Force "Tiger"

HALLAMS
Nry. Transport Group (effectivley making Hallams Motorised)
Platoon of RE
Troop of AA

Force "Dragon"

Nry. Trondelag Dragonregiment
Platoon of RE

Force "Horn"

4 KOYLI
Platoon of RE

Force "Bugle"

Fr. Chasseurs Alpins

Artillery Battery

RA 388 Battery
Troop of AA

Brigade is to make all speed to reach STEINKJER (Force Crown to secure and defend until relieved by Norwegian III Battalion).

Once secure force to seperate and pursue their assigned tasks:
Force Sphinx to secure (and Hold) rail and road junctions in environs of SUNNAN & OGNDAL.
Force Horn to secure HENNING & FISKNES and High ground above to east. Once relieved by a French Battalion to move to and hold lowlands around STIKLESTAD & VERDALSORA.
Force Dragon and Tiger to leapfrog down main road and rail line towards TRONDHEIM, securing villages/towns on the way. Tiger to Secure and Hold STIKLESTAD & VERDALSORA and possible landing bay. Dragon to Take and Hold LEVANGER. Prior to both forces with support from French moving SW to TRONDHEIM.
Artillery to initialy deploy in STEINKJER, to support all battalions in securing their objectives, before moving to VERDALSORA to support offensive operations toward TRONDHEIM.
Force Bugle to move post haste from landing at NAMSOS south to join main forces. Then 1 Battalion to relieve Force Horn and Hold the Heights above the Leksdalsvatn.
2 & 3 Battalion to move to support Force Tiger and Dragon.

At ALL times troops are to be mindful and respect civilian property. All efforts are to be made to avoid destruction of infrastructure (especially rail and road network) we will require to remove the German aggressor.

[wulfir]

Perfect!

I need, however, a few more days to get it setup...

[scorpio_rocks]

No worries, please don't ever feel rushed or under pressure - it's no fun that way!

[wulfir]

Finally!

Here is the frame for the campaign and the two first scenarios.
The first is a "filler" representing the landing of the Hallamshire Battalion at NAMSOS. It is only 1 turn long.

The second scenario is the real first battle.

Remember to save at the end of the battle before it switches to the end screen - this allows for adding more scenarios to the campaign.

BACKGROUND:

The Norwegian Dragoon Regiment 3 (Battalion size unit) is advancing on LEVANGER when Norwegian farmers approach claiming that German forces have already taken up positions near LEVANGER. The civilians are agitated and maintain that the German force is large.

The Hallamshire Battalion starts the game at the right edge of the map. It has Norwegian trucks assigned and can be used to reinforce the Norwegian push on LEVANGER.

(The German enemy is expected to be made up of mountain troops of the 3. Gebirgs-Division and regular infantry flown in to the airfield near TRONDHEIM. It is not expected that the Germans can field any tanks. There might still be German warships in the fjords.

[scorpio_rocks]

Great maps (as always!)

I managed to scrape a DV in the 1 turn, no enemies, "filler" scenario!

I'm not so confident in the first battle, lots of infantry (bicycles and cavalry) but nothing in the way of support. A change of style to my usual gaming - really looking forward to getting my teeth into it (at the weekend)

Thanks for making this possible!

Quick question: I seem to be missing the requested troop of AA - Did Brigade keep all AA assets in and around Steinkjer?

[wulfir]

Good catch!

I had missed to set Aux status to one British Engineer Plt, the 20mm AA and the 25pdr Battery - in a campaign they will not show up when you play it...

New set of files - these should have the correct units present...

[scorpio_rocks]

Sorry for the delay - back on track now - will report on this in the week