One German mortar just off board Tom. Not a big one though so not much to worry about.
BRITISH DEFENSIVE FIRE PHASE.
The Grant takes an opportunity shot at the back end of the Panzer III. It can do that because the PZIII is doing a double move and showing it's flank. The crafty German smoke messes with the gunners view and the shells are harmless.
The Valentine tries again after it's excellent shot last time. The Panzer IV is the target this time.
(Inside the tank - 'What was that?' - 'I don't know. A sandfly?'). Yes folks - a complete miss but the Valentine is disordered so not unexpected. The ordered British section on the right flank spots some German infantry moving off the ridge and has a quick pot shot with no effect. The other German infantry on the ridge seems have disappeared. The section in front of the Grant can see along the ridge but can't spot any enemy at all.
CLOSE COMBAT.
The Panzer IV rolls on to take on the British section in the open which is disordered. Not a good spot to be in. Here we go..... Crunch . ... erk... that hurt ..... 'es broken me tea set. The british section fares badly as expected and is no more. The Panzer takes the position (and the stupid Airfix track breaks again when I move the tank forward. You'd think these things would last more than 30 years wouldn't you? Shoddy is what I call it... growl snort $@*& etc).
It is now the British move. The artillery has no spotter close enough so cannot be used except against the tanks. The German infantry is not there now so no targets on the ridge at all so we'll do that now.
BRITISH ARTILLERY - 5.5's come in on the Panzer IV with no effect. Both 25lber batteries have a go at the III and it is suppressed.
Not much firing to do now.
Choices. The British may choose to reverse the Valentine off the board and move the infantry back on the right to try to save them or stay and fight.
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Carnage on the ridge. The British have the left end of the ridge in their grip while the German infantry heads for home, covered by the tanks on the right.
We can finish the British and German moves for this turn and maybe the next but I would say it is pretty well over.
Let me know what you want to do. If we are finished I will summarise events and tell you some of the things I did for this game and why.
The next one is in Russia and is totally different. It will be one where some players will have interference from others at times which will not be welcome as well as the fact that each player will be part of a unit which will actually be on the board. Yes - you can be bumped off in this one. Don't worry though - it's definitely a fun one too.