Battle of Kvam: 15th Brigade Holds the Line

 After the disastrous  engagement at Tretten, the British and Norwegians were in a very bad place. Brigade 148 was basically destroyed, and that left the 15th Brigade holding the line at Kvam, a few miles along the River Lagen. At a place where the River bends severely, called Kvam's Knee, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI), would try to end the losing streak. The fight began on 25 April, 1940.

The valley here begins to widen out, with the valley floor seeing widespread melting. The snow was still. present in the treelined hills, but below it was rapidly melting. As a result, the Germans (at least their vehicles) were for the most part restricted to the road.

Here is the battlefield from the south (German view). Kvam is seen upper left with the lumber yard to the left of town. The main channel of the river is impassible (Left channel) but the others are passed at 1/2 movement. Both islands are screened with scrub and the hills are covered with light woods...

The view from the north (British view). The melted farm fields at left are muddy and can slow movement (-1 to -4 inches)...

For the first couple of turns, a German motorcycle squad pushed north along the highway accompanied by a Pz I advancing along the RR line. The British had a surprise this time around. A real honest to goodness a/t threat in the presence of a 25mm A/T gun supported by a British Platoon. Soon, the tank was aflame (upper right) as a result of an excellent first shot, and the m/c troops were under fire. A British 2" mortar dropped smoke (and only smoke because they forgot to bring HE with the Brigade to Norway!) Then a 3" mortar dropped something a little more deadly, causing casualties on German troops moving up in support...

The Germans brought up numerous squads to pour a withering fire on the first British squad in their foxholes (represented by the washers), inflicting numerous casualties...

More British 3"mortar rounds and more German losses (although the Brits have lost a squad)...

The second British squad opens up and both the Germans and British take serious losses...

As the Germans storm across a shallow arm of the river, they are taken under fire by the third British squad...

But then a second British platoon (left-center) makes itself present on the German flank...

While the Germans bring up more troops, the fire from the additional British troops nearly destroys a German squad (between RR and river)...

More German troops beginning moving up to the battle line, while others (left top) are occupying empty British foxholes...

Additional British forces open fire along with a successful medium mortar barrage on the road...

On the large island, German troops assault the British second line...

As the Germans advance up the highway, they are taking additional casualties from the British troops to the right...

But even more Germans pushing up against the now weakened British squad (Red caps are pinned-can't move next trurn; Yellow cap are Shaken-can't move or shoot next turn. A Green cap is used to show a casualty on a two-man stand, such as a light machine gun team) in the background...

As the German squad move up the hill. another British squad shows itself, and inflict heavy casualties...

The British launch a small (squad-size) counterattack on the island (view form the British lines)...

Two more Pz Is arrive on the main highway (lower left)..

British taking casualties on the hill as well...

Despite the heavy losses, the two British squads hold on (left and top-center)...

The British counterattack is grinding down the first line German troops...

The German SiG 33 (self-propelled 150mm Howitzer!) and the Propaganda tank (the Neubaufahrzeug sometimes Pz VI) with a co-axle 37mm and 75mm guns along with two Pz I turrets, moving forward. Fortunately for the British, the two vehicles had only destroyed unoccupied Norwegian buildings...

One Pz I creeps a little too far forward and a British 25mm ATG despatched it swiftly (and remains unspotted!)...

It appears, at least for now, the British are holding off the Germans on the island...

Still touch and go for both sides up on the hill to the east of Kvam...

As Twilight begins to fall, the Germans decide to stand their ground to reorganize. The second day will see more fighting. To be continued...

Battle of Tretten: Destruction of a British Brigade

 Our next stop in our Norwegian Campaign Recreation was the town of Tretten, and its battle of 23, April. The British 148th Brigade made up of two Territorial Battalions, the 8 Sherwood Foresters and 5 Royal Leicestershire, would attempt to stop or at least slow down, the advancing German forces moving on Trondheim. It would not go well for the Allies.

While the following photo shows events that take place later in the battle, its a good view of the battlefield. The view is from the north, with Tretten itself just out of view to the bottom right. The River Laagen (partially frozen and crossable only at the bridge at the bottom), runs down the middle, flanked by the main highway to the left, and the railroad to the right. The Germans will be approaching from the upper left. For the game, each company is represented by a squad (8-11 figures ea). The Germans have troops from a Mountain Battalion (from Austria), infantry, tanks, and a SiG 33 (self propelled 150mm! The Brits have only A/T Rifles to counter the tanks, and are supported by three very weak Norwegian Dragoon units.

The first German units to arrive on the field via the highway, (some German units had moved on the RR line to the south of the river, but the Brits remained quiet until now...

As the two German Gebirgsjager squads move up the slope to flank the defenders, they are taken under fire, and they take casualties...

The Germans respond with their artillery support, a 75mm Infantry gun and 150mm SP gun. Note, the brick walls are standing in for rock sangars which the local Norwegian population had prepared for their allies...

In the hills overlooking the valley, fire is exchanged between a Norwegian Dragoon section (only four men) and the two Gebirgsjager squads. The outcome is not surprising as three Dragoons go down versus four Germans...

Additional Germans begin to arrive on the highway while artillery continues to pound the Brits...

While Germans continue to advance up the RR, a second British squad opens up on the advancing Germans on the highway, inflicting serious loss on the lead squad...

The Germans return fire and it leaves only one Brit remaining in the squad...

Continuing the skirmish in the hills, the Gebirgsjager finish off the first Dragoon section...

Fortunately for the Allies, even German artillery miss from time to time...

The Brits score heavily again against the advancing Germans, but OMG, now German armor arrives!

Interesting, the armor misses all their shots, but a new German squad racks up some hits (red cap=pinned, can't move next turn; yellow cap=shaken, no move or shooting next turn).

One German squad rushes the British defense line (center of photo)with plenty of fire support. Artillery again is devastating...

While yet another fresh German squad moves up, the artillery continues to smash the British defenses...

As the Gebirgsjager advance to cutoff the few British remain down below, a British reserve (located along the river bank near center of photo) opens fire, cutting down several...

Within two further turns, the German artillery (again!) smashes both British reserve squads (along river and RR), and its basically over...

A small note of Allied positivity at the end, the two remaining Norwegian squads (center of photo) shoot up another Gebirgsjager squad up on the snow-covered hills...

In terms of game play, it was a completely lopsided German victory, although they did take some losses. But the campaign was not built to be fair in that regard. Historically, the 148 Brigade was destroyed at Tretten, with only some 300 survivors able to withdraw! Next up is the arguably, the most desperately fought engagement of the Norwegian campaign...the two day battle at Kvam, waged by the British 15 Brigade against the German forces commanded by General Pellengahr. Stay turned...

A Cruel Seas engagement

 Two weeks ago we put together a fight off the shores of Guadalcanal, 1942. A Japanese force was attempting to land a large number of reinforcements while an American flotilla was out looking for them. It will be a nighttime engagement, and it lead to a very interesting fight.

The Japanese fleet, with two major vessels supporting a number of landing craft and even some suicide motor boots, heading towards the beaches! (upper left)...

At the opposite end of the table, was an American DE supporting nine PT boats and a Coast Guard Cutter. The Japanese can just be made out top center with some PT Boats closing in from the upper left...

These PT Boats will each let loose with two torpedoes each, after successfully spotting the larger Japanese ships. They in turn are seen and fired upon (unsuccessfully)...

The US torpedoes close quickly with the enemy. The lead Japanese skillfully evades a number of the torpedoes, but there are hits!

Japanese suicide motor boats attack! One is destroyed by gunfire while a second (on left) just missed striking home. The third however strikes home and sinks the first PT Boat!

More damage to PT Boats as Japanese gunfire ranges in...

But the Japanese luck runs out as nearly a have dozen torpedoes smash into the Japanese commander!

She doesn't have a chance and quickly goes to the bottom!

Unfortunately for the Japanese commander, he loses his remaining major ship to numerous torpedoes, just before she is able to beach herself!

Many Japanese soldiers go down with her...

With most of their support gone, the Americans close in like sharks to the kill...

It's not all perfect for the Americans however. Coming around a rock formation, one PT Boat mistakingly moves in front of a US torpedo and is blown out of the water!

Dawn sees an American airstrike from Henderson Field before the Japanese, although his bombing run is unsuccessful...

It will however, not save the Japanese barges. The PT Boats will close in and sink all but two of the Japanese boats before they made it to shore. (No photos of this bloody finish, as I ran out of space on my camera!) It was a fun game, at least for the Americans!