Having only taken 6 photos on the first day, I was determined to do better on the Sunday. By the end though I had only managed 11 and one of them was just of a tape measure that I had taken by mistake...
Day 2 in the West German sector saw my infantry finally mop up the remaining Warpac troops in the woods. Ian's reinforcements arrived in the shape of another infantry BTR60 battalion and T55 battalion. Having bravely advanced into a storm of Milan, Racketpanzer and Jagdpanzer Kanone fire, it was clear that they would not be able to breakthrough and this part of the battlefield seemed secure. On my left flank the situation was less favourable.
Mark W's Danes had been having a torrid time on the left, being assaulted by 2 Soviet naval battlegroups and waves of helicopter attacks. The 2 homeguard companies defending the docks had been swept aside so the Danish defence was centred around the town of Haderslaf. To the left of this shot, a company or so of tooled up Spetsnaz had landed and were occupying the other side of the bridge. In the top left a battalion of BTR mounted infantry are preparing to cross the river.
To the Danish front and right, naval infantry had taken cover, waiting for a recently landed T72 battalion just visible in the top right.
In a bid to relieve some of the pressure on our Danish allies I brought on another 2 companies of Leopard 1s that has been held back on day 1.
My other Leopard 1 companies, meanwhile, had taken cover in "Blockbuster Wood" and engaged the Soviet tanks & ATGMs on the heights. This certainly achieved the desired effect of catching their attention, as it brought down a hail of response fire upon me.
Meanwhile, over on the NATO centre, the Soviets had reinforced and continued their attack on Vojens airfield.
The British defenders of Vojens airfield resumed the Fury v Wilder-esque slugfest of the day before.
My recently arrived Leopard 1s took up a hull down position on this hill and engaged the T72 battalion.
Late in the game, the T72 battalion charged the remaining Leopards in Blockbuster Wood, including their Gepard who gamely blazed away at the oncoming Soviet tanks, almost managing to take one out. The T72s then started taking casualties from my Leopards on the hill.
We called the game after turn 11. At this point it was clear that the Danes and West Germans had done enough to to stop Haderslaf from falling, though they had been flanked by the battalion of infantry that had crossed the river. On the NATO right the USMC had successfully defended Ribe, but the British had finally succumbed to overwhelming pressure and the Soviets managed to break through at Vojens.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. My thanks to Richard P for organising the game and his amazing scenery and to Andy H and Steve G of Grimsby Wargames Society for hosting us and keeping us fed and watered. My thanks also to all the old friends and new who took part in the right spirit of competitive yet gentlemanly gaming, along with plenty of laughs and robust banter. Let's not leave it as long before the next game!
