Several times during what must of been a very tense night, sentries reported numerous airplane engines to the West. No bombing attacks materialized, but an occasional mention of those ominous noises kept Heir Richard's bridge detail alert. Meanwhile, the German garrison infantry, under Leutnant William, were temporarily stationed at a recently bombed out factory on the south edge of town. William's platoon was under orders to wait for transportation back to their regular duty on the Atlantic Coast.

As the dawn began peeking above the skyline, Lt. Scott gave an order to his Red Devil's mortar team to make for the town's bridge. It was just over the next hedge row and next to a small hill. Two British paratroop squad leaders, Sgt. Kevin (1st Squad) and Sgt. Dan (2nd Squad), each tired from their night march, saw the distant outline of the ruined factory and the town. The platoon's other squad never made it to the rally point; so, the two squad leaders decided to press on to the primary objective -- a crossroad near a small stone bridge and ruined factory complex. The only real break they had that night was picking up a HMG crew near the rally point.

On the bridge, Heir Richard's watch with private Schneider was almost over and they talked of waking up their two partners from a fox hole slumber. An ineffective shot chipped off a stone next to Richard. Lt. Scott's riflemen surprised the two German sentries but missed both of them with hurried shots. The mortar crew set up behind the low cresting hill to stiffen their bridge defense. With a similar introduction, Sgt. Dan's squad opened up on another pair of sentries near the ruined factory. Their unsporting aimed shots killed only one sentry and the noise seemed to alerted a barracks of infantry. Kevin's squad advanced to a tree line to guard Dan's left flank (just east of the bridge). As the 1st squad set up with their HMG, Dan's Bren gunner opened up with ineffective fire on a squad of Germans pouring out one of the factory buildings.

Leutnant William tried to coordinate his counterattack but his green troops seemed desperate to seek cover rather than drive the Red Devils away. His first squad was receiving raking fire amongst the rubble in front of the main factory building. The German squad was effectively pinned but its brave squad leader tried to return fire only to lose his head in a gory death. The rest of his squad quickly ran for better cover behind the factory. A minor stream running behind the factory deterred the troops from getting too far. William's 2nd Squad provided covering fire from the second floor of a factory support building, which was just to the right and behind the main factory. The 2nd Squad's height advantage put Kevin's men in plain view.

Taken by surprise Kevin's men ineffectively returned fire as they fell back within the trees. Of course William was incensed that one of his squads was hiding behind the main factory building. Furthermore, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to rally them.

Not Close Enough

Dan and Kevin's squads where not close enough to Lt. Scott's Mortar Team to support their attack on the four guards at the bridge. Yet Scott used his binoculars to see the distant German resistance from the small factory support building. He had his mortar team drop a few rounds on the German building.

About that time Scott heard the approach of a tracked vehicle on the west road, which put his team between the bridge detail and the vehicle. Leutnant William's ride had arrived. When the convey heard the sound of gun and mortar fire a Sd Kfz. 251 jumped ahead of the two trucks and Kublewagon. In the halftrack were manned machine guns! Fortunately for Lt. Scott, his men where hidden from view by a hedgerow that parallel the road. A hard-bitten career soldier, Scott ran to an opening in the hedge and throw a grenade in the vehicle killing both gunners and lightly wounding Corporal Guderian. Another paratrooper throw a grenade too, with no apparent result as the vehicle came to a stop. The Corporal made a quick exit.

Either inspired leadership or concern pushed the bridge detail to unload a volley on the Red Devils killing two riflemen. At this time, an unobserved advance by the 3rd German Garrison Squad gained the crossroads, near the budge, securing the area.

The rest of the Red Devil platoon was still pinning Leutnant William's squads in the rubble of the factory complex. Sgt. Dan was aware of the risks but he rushed his riflemen up to the main factory building uncover of the HMG and Bren gun. His infantry wanted to close assault the Germans. Leutnant William rallied a few riflemen behind the ruined factory building after some obvious frustration. The remains of the German 1st Squad advanced around the building to encounter Sgt. Dan. A quick exchange left the assaulting British team with a few light wounds. Kevin's squad exacted a swift punishment to William, killing all of William's remaining 1st Squad.

The German 2nd Squad continue to fire from their building but Dan's return fire caused enough morale checks that most of William's men dropped prone in the building. Sgt. Dan tried to wade across the gentle stream to position his men for an assault on the 2nd German Squad. An enraged Leutnant William spit three bullets from his MP-40 into Sgt. Dan's body. It was not likely Dan felt his face hit the water. The Germans in the building must of thought it was really Leutnant William that died, because they broke and ran from the building.

Back at the badge, a Kublewagon and two grey trucks approach the German sentries. As usual the remains of Lt. Scott's Mortar Team jumped to the challenge and grenaded the three vehicles. The Trucks raced across the badge and the relative safety of the 3rd German Squad and the Bddge Detail. Whereas, Lt. Scott personally wounded the Kublewagon ddver who crashed into the stream. Although the badge detail heavily wounded Scott's remaining riflemen.

It was in any case quite safe for Sgt. Kevin and Sgt. Dan's squad (less Dan) to clear the crossroad and badge. The remains of the Garrison troops told the Bridge Detail they were getting on the trucks, orders are orders. Too bad Leutnant William couldn't make it to the trucks.

Thanks to Kevin Readman and his group in Iowa City for submitting this Battle-report. Kevin and his club will receive a Scenario pack. Anyone who sends in a report that is published will receive a scenario pack.