CMBN - Flowers of the Forest AAR

[Stonecutter]

The Pressure Mounts (H+20 to H+30)



Realizing that the left flank hedges are not defended, the British have forced their advance and now threaten the flank of DP1A. Having fought steadily for the past 15 minutes, Kroner knows his platoon is in serious trouble and that he should have moved earlier. The British armour pours heavy fire into the position from the front and left flank to support their infantry’s assault. Despite Kroner’s best efforts, a couple squads break and flee back toward DP1B. Worst of all, enemy armour is also closing in from 1st Platoon’s right front, completing the envelopment.



Receiving the urgent appeals for help from Kroner, Siebel’s panzer platoon conducts a right flanking to relieve the pressure on Kroner’s hard pressed infantry and Graf’s Mk IV takes out the nearest Churchill tank.



Graf’s driver is too slow in reversing and the five British Churchill’s spot and engage their foe. Miraculously, the Mk IV does not explode despite multiple hits, allowing Graf and his crew to escape with their wounded operator. While he is down a panzer, Siebel hopes he has done enough to help the hard pressed 1st platoon withdraw.



The fierceness of the hedgerow fighting is evident as Andersen and his squad mate lob grenades at British infantry in a Bren carrier on the other side of the hedges.



The grenades land directly in the carrier, killing all the passengers and immobilizing the vehicle. The action buys a few seconds of time for surviving members of 1st platoon to escape.



The British successfully dislodge Kroner’s 1st platoon and render DP1B useless as they quickly flank it on the left. Some remnants of 1st platoon occupy DP1C along with a couple squads of scouts and Mk IV’s from Henrichsen’s 4th platoon. Kroner and one of his squads, exhausted after 20 minutes of continuous combat, try to make their way back to DP1 and safety along the wooded hedgerow. In response to the advance of 5 Churchills, two panzershreks and a couple squads are deployed in the north facing hedges of the vital ground of DP1. Lastly, FOO Rau reports that he has finally made contact with the rocket battery and moves to where he can call in a danger close mission just north of DP1C – if the position can be held!