Kangaroo's Ho!

[Westbury]

Because Dave had done them we decided to do a post Normandy advance into western Germany with our Canadians utilising their Kangaroo's. 
Basic scenario was a full platoon of Canadians advancing across country toward a defended town, strength of defenders unknown. Bad weather meant no air cover and artillery was occupied elsewhere.
Canadians comprised; 3 sections in Kangaroo's, a command section comprising a mortar team, a heavy machine gun team and a coms/medic team split over a scout car and universal carriers, plus a reduced troop of two Shermans. The Canadians could emerge from anywhere along the western wood line and opted for the 3rd section to come up the southern road, the 2nd section to come across country to the left of the 3rd, the Shermans came on to the left of the 3rd heading for the high ground, and the command car and the carrier with the mortar came just behind the Shermans, the 1st section and the HMG came at the most northerly point somewhat separated from everyone else which turned out to be a mistake - typical wargamer trait of deploying everywhere!
The Germans comprised a weak platoon of Volkstrum of two squads spread about the town and a reinforced squad of Panzer Grenadiers bolstering them plus a Puma armoured car and a dug in PAK40.

[Westbury]

The first few turns were quiet, the Canadians advanced and the Germans remained hidden.
Once the Shermans crested the high ground the commanders started scanning the town for the glint of a weapon or movement at a window. They were joined by the platoon commander who did the same, established radio contact with all vehicles and then gave the order for the mortar to deploy. Over to the north the 1st section and the HMG team debussed and advanced on the first hedge.

[Westbury]

The scanning by the Shermans and command team paid off; enemy spotted in the ruined buildings so HE rounds started flying in - well not quite, the accuracy was woeful and so quite a bit of shrubbery went up before the big stuff got into gear 
On the southern road, 3rd section shunted some burning wrecks out of the way and roared forwards, spotting some Hitler Youth in a slit trench. Shots were fired, the Canadians debussed and after a sharp firefight the youth of Germany were no more; the Canadians lost one man.
The 2nd section went hell for leather across the fields, flattening a hedge and debussing at the hedge line on the outskirts of town just as the PAK 40 opened fire, damaging the Kangaroo and wounding several Canadians in the blast. Unfortunately this firing revealed the piece to the Shermans who zeroed in before the gun could get another shot off and blasted it.
The 1st section was having less luck, it got to the hedge line but started taking fire from the town which it was having difficulty identifying. Eventually it started returning effective fire but to press the attack would have to cross open ground. 

[Westbury]

Back with 1st section, the sergeant, thinking they'd suppressed the enemy, made the brave decision to cross the open ground. It didn't go well, previously hidden Germans who couldn't get a bead on the hedge line now had a lovely target and made the Canadians pay; losses weren't too heavy but it was enough to stall the attack and that was it for the 1st. As an interesting sidebar, one of the Shermans firing at a building to the rear of the town to suppress an lmg firing at the 1st, completely destroyed the building in a lucky shot and unbeknown to the Canadians buried the command element of the Volkstrum and its HMG that were staying hidden for when the Canadians entered the town. Lucky break 

[Westbury]

The 2nd & 3rd sections now started clearing their way into the town, taking out a Hanomag that was trying to redeploy some of the Panzer Grenadiers . A brief panic was had when the Puma turned up and opened fire but the Shermans once again saved the day and the Puma was no more 
The end of the Puma was effectively the end of the German resistance; most of the better troops were dead or wounded, the ordnance was destroyed and the lucky hit on the hidden troops convinced the German player it was time to go.

[Westbury]

In our usual debrief we concluded the Germans were always on a hiding to nothing as they were very much in a reactive stance but some local aggression could have put the Canadians off their stride.
The German player miscalculated the firing of the PAK40, waiting just one phase too long - an earlier shot on a Kangaroo full of troops could have been devastating and the late reveal of the Puma was too little too late.
The Canadian player did nearly everything right, keeping in contact from the high ground and using the Shermans as mobile artillery won the game for him. The one error was spreading out so far, the 1st squad would have been of far more use backing up the Shermans and entering the middle of the town under the cover of their fire.
The rules played well, we had a good day, what more can one ask?

[has.been]

Nice looking game Ian. Your rules I presume.

[Jemima Fawr]

Excellent stuff!  And a lovely-looking game.

[BillK]

Fantastic kit and game pics.
Wonderful blow-by-blow AAR.

[Codsticker]

Wonderful photos and report.

[FierceKitty]

The post title constitutes an insult to 'roos, mate.

[Jemima Fawr]

The post title constitutes an insult to 'roos, mate.

Well, the roo's girlfriend, anyway...

[Digits]

Great looking game guys.  Yup, Germans missed an opportunity to hit them whilst still in their pouches so to speak.

[has.been]

Great looking game guys.  Yup, Germans missed an opportunity to hit them whilst still in their pouches so to speak.

Failed to RAM home their advantage. 

[MaleGriffin]

Beautiful figures, vehicles and terrain! Looks like a great game!