Sunday, Aug. 4 was HMGS Great Lakes game day at the Tin Soldier, and the game was a World War II skirmish using Battleground Rules. The scenario was entitled "HAM and JAM" and took place June 6, 1944, at the ORNE Canal Bridge, near Benoville, France.

The Troops

The night action featured the Red Devils of A platoon, Company D, Coup de Main force, commanded by Joe Cairo. His force consisted of an Elite Headquarters, a five man section of Elite Engineers and two Elite 10 man squads. The Germans, from the 736th Grenadier Regiment, 716th Infantry Division, commanded by Bud Hunter, and consisted of one 10 man regular squad, a 10 man squad of green soldiers, a medium machine gun emplacement and a Pak 38, which had 360 degree field of fire. The Germans also had more men and through to turn 4, saw 10 more men, the Garrison commander and his driver advance to the bridge.

The Action

The expert glider pilot landed the Red Devils within yards of sleeping Germans in their trenches. After advancing closer, the Paras opened fire on the squad of regulars, inflicting causalities and finally causing it to fail morale and leave. The British Engineers managed to gain entry to the bridge control building, where the electric detonation devises were wired to blow the bridge. The Germans turned their Pak 38 on the building, destroying it, killing 2 of the engineers.

Both sides suffered heavy causalities. One of the British squads failed morale and left the battle. During the action, British commander Major Howard and two members of his headquarters unit, Lt. Brotheridge and Sgt. Tappenden, were killed. The British Paras failed to control the bridge and withdrew from battle. The Germans were still in control of the bridge and were about to try detonating the explosives with the Pak 38 when the game ended.

Both sides suffered heavy losses and had morale failures. The British Paras failed to complete their mission, and the Germans failed to blow the bridge, but managed to get the victory. All in all, both players enjoyed the game.

HMGS Great Lakes Game Days are the first Sunday of the month at the Tin Soldier in Centerville/Dayton. Any Great Lakes member that would like to run a game should contact Mark or Dave at the store.