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"We didn't quite manage to fight them on the beaches."
(An alternative 1940)
by
Leslie Tipping

Imagine, if you will, a September 1940 in which despite the reservations of the Army and Navy and the obvious continued existence of the RAF, Adolf Hitler, the great gambler, has staked all on a swift invasion of England before the lack of Naval and Air superiority can become apparent. Obsessed with the idea of an ultimate confrontation with Communist Russia, Hitler has decided to knock Britain out of the War before it could rebuild its' strength and pose a threat to his Eastern expansion.
The British despite having replaced some of the equipment losses incurred at Dunkirk are still woefully understrength. Large numbers of enthusiastic if barely armed Volunteers have enrolled in the Home Guard but are no substitute for trained and fully armed regulars. The Volunteers are keen to "do their bit against the Boche" but can Patriotism and antiquated weapons effectively resist well armed and battle hardened Veterans?

The German landing barges waddled ashore on an early morning in late September and despite being held and turned back at several points along the coast several bridgeheads have been established. The German infantry are engaged in a bitter struggle with their dourly defiant opponents who are doing their best to carry out Churchill’s urging to “take one with you”. Losses on both sides are horrific and despite slow and painful German advances the British line continues to hold. The continued presence of the RAF and the overwhelming might of the Royal Navy have begun to make it obvious even to Hitler that the supply situation is critical and unless a War winning breakthrough occurs quickly the Campaign and probably the War is lost.

The German High Command has gathered together a large percentage of it’s rapidly diminishing Reserve Units to force a rupture in the British line. The breakthrough is planned to occur at Little Winnington an obscure East Coast town which in peacetime is only notable for it’s charming Victorian Town Hall and Anglo Saxon Church. It is now however a major Communications Centre connecting either end of the British line and if it is captured the hoped for breakthrough might just occur. The German Commander has committed to the assault his few remaining Armoured and Motorised Units to escape the depredations of the Royal Navy and RAF. As an indication of the importance of the assault the Commander has moved his Headquarters to close behind the front line.

Little Winnington had originally only a Home Guard Garrison armed with nothing more than Canadian Rifles, a few Lewis Guns and their own desperate courage. The British Commander in Chief did however realise the importance of Little Winnington and has transferred a few Regular Units and a small number of armoured vehicles to it’s defence. Two Pill Boxes have been constructed on the outskirts of the town.

IF YOU INTEND TO PLAY THIS SCENARIO AS A PLAYER, THEN READ NO FURTHER.

German Forces:

Assault Units:
A) Three Pz 38t Medium Tanks.
B) One Pz II Light Tank.
C) One Pz I Light Tank.
D) Three platoons of fully equipped infantry in their own Half-tracks.
E) Two platoons of fully equipped infantry without transport.
F) One Heavy Machine Gun and a Light Mortar.

Reinforcement Units:
G) One 3.7cm A/T Gun and it’s Prime Mover.
H) One platoon of fully equipped infantry without transport.

British Forces:

I) One platoon of Home Guard infantry with a Northover Projector.
II) One platoon of Home Guard infantry with it’s own lorry.
III) Two platoons of fully equipped Regular infantry without transport.
IV) One Light Mortar and a Heavy Machine Gun.
V) One Beaverette Light Armoured Car.
VI) One A9 Cruiser Tank.
VII) One Vickers MK VI Light Tank.
VIII) One dummy A9 Cruiser Tank.
IX) One 2 pdr A/T Gun and Prime Mover.

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