Rendezvous with Destiny, the Charge at Ingouf Farm

Setting up the Campaign

Rendezvous with Destiny  focuses on two units, the 101st Airborne Division  attacking  towards  Carentan and 2nd Fallschirmjäger Division defending it..

From the diary of Lt. Harry "Bing" Crosby, 101st Airborne:

"It has been a hard slog since we landed five days ago, but  we  have  been  giving  the  Germans  a  helluva time!  The  fighting  has  been  tough,  against  both enemy  regulars  and  what appear  to be  more  elite paratroop forces, but slowly we have pushed them to the Southeast. With St. Come-du-Mont secured to  the  North,  we  are  ready  to  proceed  across  the Douve and take the important town of Carentan."

Scenario One

Charge at Ingouf Farm

The Americans, with the river Douve to their backs, have the daunting task of crossing open ground to close with the German defenders. The cry for a bayonet charge goes out and the 101st Airborne begin their rendezvous with destiny.

US Parachute Platoon

The elite of the US forces, the Parachute Infantry are a tough, gritty force which makes up for in firepower what it lacks in numbers. It is well trained, ably led, and is rated as Elite.

Command Dice: 5

Support points: 8

HQ Squad

Lieutenant, Harry B. Crosby, Senior Leader with carbine

Platoon Sergeant, Bobby Hope, Senior Leader with SMG

Bazooka Team, two crew

Squad One 

Sergeant Buddy Abbot, Junior Leader with SMG

LMG Team,  

M1919A4 .30 Cal LMG  Three crew

Rifle Team Eight rifles

Squad Two

Sergeant Louis Costello, Junior Leader with SMG

LMG Team,  

M1919A4 .30 Cal LMG  Three crew

Rifle Team Eight rifles

Mortar Squad

60mm mortar Team, five crew

National Characteristics are the same as those  listed in the main rule book for a US force: Marching Fire! and  Scout.  US paratroopers are Aggressive  in Close Combat.

Fallschirmjäger Zug

The parachute forces are among the best troops the Germans can field, proving tough opposition in Italy and now France. It is well  armed, highly capable, and is rated as Elite.

Command Dice: 5
Support points: 5

HQ Gruppe
Unteroffizier, Bodo Krapp Senior Leader with SMG
Panzerschreck Team, two crew

Gruppe One

Obergefreiter, Axel Schweiß, Junior Leader with SMG
LMG Team MG42 Two crew Two rifles One SMG

LMG Team MG42 Two crew Two rifles One SMG

Gruppe Two

Obergefreiter, Felix Bumgartner, Junior Leader with SMG
LMG Team MG42 Two crew Two rifles One SMG

LMG Team MG42 Two crew Two rifles One SMG

Gruppe Three

Obergefreiter, Willi Bonk, Junior Leader with SMG
LMG Team MG42 Two crew Two rifles One SMG

LMG Team MG42 Two crew Two rifles One SMG

National Characteristics are the same as those  listed in  the  main  rule  book  for  a  German force: 
Maschinengewehr and Handgranaten!

SUPPORT OPTIONS The following support list is used for this campaign, which  attempts  to  represent  the  limited  assets available  for  the  US  parachute  forces  operating  in this area on D-Day. US Parachute Support List List One Add SMG to Squad Adjutant Entrenchments for one Team Jeep, no crew Medical Orderly Satchel Charge List Two Bazooka Team, two crew Pre-game Barrage Roadblock List Three 60mm mortar Team, five crew LMG on bipod mount, three crew Sniper Team List Four MMG on tripod mount, five crew List Five Forward Observer and 81mm mortar battery M3 anti-tank gun, five crew and Junior Leader Parachute Squad with Junior Leader All  Teams  and  Squads  from  the  Support  Lists  are rated as Elite unless otherwise stated. 60mm Mortar Team  The  60mm  mortar  has  no  smoke  rounds  and  only fires HE. It has a minimum range of 18”, but closer than that the crew may use their rifles. Add SMG to Squad The  parachute  forces  were  known  to  distribute submachine  guns  to  bolster  their  firepower.  A maximum of three may be assigned to a Squad, each replacing one rifleman from the Rifle Team. Forward Observer and 81mm mortar battery.  The  battery  is  equipped  with  both  HE  and  smoke rounds.  Consult  the  rule  book  for  the  firing procedures of both ammunition types

SUPPORT OPTIONS The following support list is used for this campaign, which  attempts  to  represent  the  limited  assets available  for  the  German  Fallschirmjäger forces operating in this area on D-Day. German Fallschirmjäger Support List List One Add FG42 to one Gruppe Add Panzerfaust to one Gruppe Adjutant Barbed Wire Entrenchments for one Team Medical Orderly Minefield List Two Panzerschreck Team, two crew Pre-game Barrage Roadblock Senior Leader Truck List Three Sniper Team List Four MMG on tripod mount, five crew List Five Fallschirmjäger Gruppe with Junior Leader Forward Observer and 8cm mortar battery Pak 40 anti-tank gun, five crew and Junior Leader All  Teams  and  Gruppe  from  the  Support  Lists  are rated as Elite. Add FG42 to one Gruppe One of many unique weapons designed for German paratroopers, this weapon was capable of semi and fully automatic firing. Treat it as an Assault Rifle per the main rules. This replaces one rifleman in either LMG Team, with a maximum of four per Gruppe. Add Panzerfaust to one Gruppe The  panzerfaust  is  used  like  a  hand  grenade, requiring a Command Initiative to fire. They are not allocated to  specific figures, but are with  the Gruppe until  they  are  required. This  option  provides  two weapons. Truck The  Germans  had  numerous  trucks  to  transport men  and  supplies  around  Normandy.  It  may  hold one Gruppe or two Teams

From the diary of Lt. Harry "Bing" Crosby, 101st Airborne:

"We crossed the Madeleine, a spur of the Douve River at dawn, using the banks as cover before breaking into the open ground beyond.  Straight away I called for a bayonet charge to drive the Krauts from their position...  What could go wrong?"

The Game set up in my garden.

The German response along the hedge line.

And an Mg42 in the farmyard

Sergeant Bradley Pitt in his M4 Sherman looms through the smoke spraying 50 Cal into the hedgerows. 

Lt Harry Crosby leads the dash across the field.

The tripod .30 Cal team get over the hedgerow and hose down a German team.

The German Paras fire the Mg42 but the sights must be damaged.  Shocking dice.  

Master Sergeant Bobby Hope leads Louis Costello's squad in a bayonet charge on the farm.

The bloody conclusion.  Losses on both sides but the elite Airborne win through.  

Little Willi, Company medic surrenders to Sergeant Bradley Pitt of 1st Division, supporting 101st.  Originally a gunner Willi was transferred to be a medic and had a milliput smock/tabard attached.  Oddly enough this is the second time he has been captured after being the only survivor.  His mates call him Jonah Willi.

And it's on to the hedgerows and the cabbage patch.  With 1st platoon just about intact "Bing" can go again rather than call in Lt Deano Martin and Sgt Ant' Bennett with 2nd platoon.