A game involving a recently completed Churchill AVRE

In recent weeks I have been painting up some of those odd models which were brought to add to existing collections because they are interesting or useful for expanding an army, but for one reason or another have remained on the shelf. One of those kits was a Churchill AVRE with a box girder bridge. The kit was enjoyable to build, and I was relieved that the small track wheels were not separate, unlike the Airfix kit, which was so fiddly to make. I did have to make some adjustments to the girder bridge and attachments so it could be removed easily for wargaming purposes.

The recently completed Churchill AVRE.

The girder bridge can be removed for gaming purposes.

To continue with the WW2 theme of recent posts, I set up Bridgehead scenario 5 from One-Hour Wargames so I could use the recently completed Churchill AVRE bridge model. Another reason for continuing with gaming WW2 is to try out some quick rules loosely using the approach from the rules used in the commando raid game, but with the result being destroyed or suppressed. A suppressed unit has fewer actions, as it takes one action to reorganise itself before it can move or shoot.

A quick game report…

The bridge was in place, and the British infantry advanced across the river crossing. British Sherman tanks supported the bridgehead as German defending units arrived, taking position on the hill north of the crossing. A single British infantry unit held off German infantry moving through the woods from the west.

British infantry advance across the bridge.

A British armour support arrives to confront German defenders.

German infantry moving through the woods are held up by a single British infantry unit.

Accurate British shooting stymie the German attack

Accurate fire from the Sherman tanks dented the German attack, but fresh German defenders arrived in the form of Stug III self-propelled guns supported by infantry. The British units blunted the attack, but suffer casualties and destroyed tanks from a German tank positioned on the hill.

Stug III’s supported by infantry advance.

A German tank on the hilltop remains a threat.

With the self-propelled guns destroyed, the British focused their attention on attacking the last German tank positioned dangerously on the hill. After a fierce battle, the British finally destroyed the tank, allowing them to secure the bridgehead.

The bridgehead is held.

The British victory was a costly one, but with the bridgehead secure, British forces could now move across the river and continue their push into enemy territory.