Harbour Raid ... The Game....

Early morning at the small port of St Honore-Sur-Mer.......

Amended 02/06/2025 to add some notes on the game (see end of the post)

---oXo---

German sentries patrol the section of the docks they are using for delivery of supplies and a temporary U-boat base (for refuelling/re-arming etc)....

In the back streets near the port, French resistance fighters approach the harbour....

Approaching from the sea, at speed, British motor gun-boat (MGB) and two launches with commandos..

The commandos land on the mole as the MGB gives covering fire to the landing ....

The resistance sneak up .....

An officer on the u-boat, pops up to see whats happening ....

The Germans sentries have taken cover from the MGB salvos, while a few more soldiers come out of the barracks...

Commandos work their way onto the dock, a couple of men of the mole with a bren gun keep the German's heads down....

The resistance are into the compound.....

The commandos have gained ground and are moving up into the main part of the dock...

Some armed crew men from the u-boat move onto the dock.....

The commandos inch forward.....

The Germans are pinned down behind the truck and are taking heavy casualties....

The u-boat crewmen come under fire from some commandos and resistance fighters ....

the commandos and resistance are now mopping up....

They have control of the compound ...

German reinforcements on their way .....

the German armoured car is into the compound supported by infantry .... explosions are going off and store rooms are on fire.....

The fuel tank blows up .... as the commandoes move to get back to the mole.....

Remaining resistance fighters make their way to safety ....

The German armoured car with its infantry support move into the compound slowly .....

Two brave resistance fighters try to hold back the Germans 

as the commandos head back to the mole....

The German armoured car and the British MGB exchange fire.....

The commandos are back on their launches and away...

The german installation.. in a right mess after the raid..... burning fuel over the u-boat and along the dock...with buildings on fire and the occasional explosion.....

---oXo---

Notes about the game...

Forces

Germans:   At the installation: 2 men on the main gate, 6 men in the barracks, 6 sentries on duty, plus U-boat crew ('skeleton crew') - 4.  Reinforcements from local garrison by truck 10 men; with armoured car – if any double on 2D6

British and French Resistance: 8 commandos, 8 resistance fighters.

Special Game Rules/Mechanics

• Time to Set Charges: must be stationary by the target for one move

• German Reinforcements by truck - After first alarm raised, throw 2D6 to see how many moves before reinforcements arrive on board edge on the main road.

Damage to Buildings/Targets

• For each charge set, throw 2D6, if double 1 charge does not go off; otherwise add to damage points for target.
• For each grenade thrown into a building; throw 1D3 and add to damage points for target.
• For a hit from British motor gunboat; throw 1D6 and add to damage points for target.

A target catches fire when damage points reach 10; large explosion if damage points exceed 20.

Targets and Damage Points Caused

• Warehouse (nearest to mole): 18 - on fire
• Coastal Freighter (by warehouse): 19 - on fire and cargo burning
• Small store room: 19, major damage to contents, on fire
• Barracks room: 7, minor damage to contents
• Long store-room: 10, minor damage to contents, on fire
• Fuel Tank: 27, explodes and on fire - burning fuel .....
• Large store-house (by perimeter fence): 18, major damage to contents, on fire
• Submarine: intact but fuel burning on the deck.

Harbour raid game - ready to go ....

A few things re-arranged and a dock area surface made up on a piece of thin MDF using some printer paper sheets. So now ready to play the game....

Figures to be located and placed start positions, then can play the game.....

Additions for the resistance

 A few more for the resistance (figures from Empress Miniatures)...

Action this Day.

  Later that evening the message was sent and received "Somewhere in England" (Check blog)

 But meanwhile whilst the RAF prepared to bomb the gun position.

   Alain Cardin, member of Charlie Group, was checking on his sheep a few miles North East of Nouvion.

    The Road Block was new, but his papers were good and he and Margarete  were allowed to pass.           As he walked down the road he checked his surroundings. The sentries on the bridge were in their normal positions, and would as usual move out of the way when the bell rang warning of a train approaching the narrow bridge.

As he checked on his small flock, a patrol passed by, apart from a quick look, they ignored him, recognising him from previous visits.

So Random patrols were still taking place , but there seemed no signs of heightened alert.

The best approach still seemed to be along the river bank.

Returning home to the other members of the group, they made their final plans for the attack.

To be continued.....

Nouvion bound ....

 Monique and Jean, hurried through the vineyard to the rendezvous... in the distance they could here the sound of a plane ....

The lysander came in low over the wood... 

and landed in the open area of heathland ... Out hopped the pilot and Harry Rampstead (aka Jacque Poulet SOE Agent)...

Monique and Jean escorted Jacque to the safety of the woodland, after that they would go to the safe house in Nouvion...

Citreon car ...

 A citreon for the use of the germans...

a 1/56 item from Anyscale Models, replacing an overs cale die-cast one I had.

French Buildings ....

The 1/72 Valiant and Amourfast buildings finished ....

The church (3d Print), painted up ....

a row of four 3d printed buildings....

A barracks or single storey wooden industrial building .... (made from card and printed sides/roof from a free file downloaded in 2016 from the Ebob website, took me a while to get round to using it ! )

Chateau HQ for the germans, trying out a small setup ...