Brighton 18th September 1940Dawn - 06:00The British have established a defensive perimeter around the eastern outskirts of Brighton.At 06:00 our forces began a cautious approach to the town.During the night the 49th Infantry Battalion HQ had established itself at the southwest of Windmill Hill to the East of town. From here it will co-ordinate support from the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine.At dawn, this was the view:

1. apologies for the plastic ID tokensObserving enemy tanks on the forward slope to the north of town, between the town and woods, a call was put in to the Luftwaffe for support. A squadron of Stukas was scrambled from the base in France, to arrive at 06:25.The second call was to the Kriegsmarine. The officer had a limited choice of tactical targets: the town centre, where a concentration of transport had been observed by aerial photography the day before, the east end of town in support of the infantry attack or the observed enemy tanks. He chose to bombard the tanks. The selected map target was the hill-top north of the church and rectory (Hex 6,6)

The radio call to the Kriegsmarine failed to get through.On the southern flank 5th Company, 28th Infantry Battalion (3 Rifle platoons and a machine gun platoon) moved up the road accompanied by a platoon of engineers with flamethrowers. On reaching the fork in the road they spread out to left and right.At this point they were spotted by the enemy infantry in the houses and manning a road block on the Rottingdean Road. A second group defending the gardens on the right (north) branch of the road also opened fire. No casualties were inflicted but we now knew where the British were.

On the northern approach, from Lewes, 8th Recce Company approached the railway bridge on the Lewes Road. Aware that infantry had been spotted in the pinewoods the previous day, and wary of the bridge having been possibly prepared for demolition, they approached cautiously. The scout car platoon (SdKfz221) halted on the road and prepared to machine gun the woods, while the cycle platoons dismounted and prepared to take up positions around the NE of the bridge.

On the southern approach four MG platoons and one rifle platoon opened fire on our approaching troops. No casualties were inflicted.On the northern flank, the enemy in the woods rather foolishly opened fire, giving away their position. The SdKfz221 platoon spotted the fire coming from the woods, as did one of the accompanying infantry platoons.HQ of 49th Infantry Battalion on Windmill Hill had already seen the enemy tanks on the opposite hill. Their attention was now drawn to the rifle and MG fire from the east end of town, to their south-west.5th Company, 49th Battalion had come under that same fire, but failed to see exactly where it had come from.Radio communication log.8 Recce Coy to 8 Inf Regt HQ: "Enemy infantry spotted in woods hex ref 9,9. We are engaging."HQ 49 Inf Regt. to 28IR HQ. "Enemy armour at hex ref 6,6 & 6,7. Maybe two squadrons. Cruiser types. MG fire observed from buildings at hex ref 3,9. Unable to contact Kriegsmarine. Luftwaffe confirm Stuka support at 06:25"

5 Coy 49 Bn to 49 Bn HQ: "Enemy Rifle & MG fire from houses ahead. No absolute source identified."8 Inf Regt to 8 Recce Coy. "Engage but do not cross bridge until engineers have checked for demolition charges. Infantry may cross to S of rail line."28 Inf Regt to HQ 49 Bn. "Enemy armour noted. Requesting fire from KM. continue attack S. flank."HQ 49 Bn to 5 Coy. "Ignore right flank. Concentrate attack left flank. Keep moving."The SdKfz221 platoon and one of the rifle platoons of 28th Recce Coy opened fire against the enemy infantry entrenched in the woods. No effect was noticed. One platoon of 8 Recce Coy crossed the hedge on the south side of the road towards the railway.The MG platoon of 5th Coy, 49th Bn opened fire against the troops manning a barricade at the east end of Rottingdean Road. Again, no effect was noticed. Following the MG fire three rifle platoons of 5th Coy supported by a flamethrower platoon of 28 Pnr Coy attacked the position at the end of Rottingdean Street. Using the flamethrowers the barricade was set alight and the infantry unit disintegrated. The wounded left behind were found to be wearing “Home Guard” shoulder patches. The enemy returned fire not only from the south road, but also from the houses and gardens of the northern branch of the road. Our attack was disrupted with light casualties. 6 Coy 49 Bn arrived from Rottingdean accompanied by a second platoon of engineers to support the attack on Rottingdean Road.

Two Kubelwagens of 8th Arty Bn HQ from Lewes arrived on the road northeast of the railway bridge. After a substantial effort they managed to cross the railway line and head for the Windmill. As they reached the far side of the track a number of enemy tanks appeared at the curve of the railway track on the far side of the bridge.

06:10-06:15 28th Infantry Regiment HQ (off table) requested the Destroyer to fire at the target designated by 49th Infantry Battalion HQ. The Battalion HQ reported that one squadron of tanks had now moved North on the railway line. 8th Recce Coy to HQ 8th Infantry Regt. : “Enemy tanks on railway East of bridge. Falling back”.In fact 1st Platoon who were in the act of crossing the line moved forwards under the railway bridge to attack the tanks with grenades, while the other platoons fell back with the scout cars.The attack failed, and one troop of enemy tanks replied with MG fire, but did no damage.8th Infantry Regt HQ ordered 8th Artillery Bn and 44th Artillery Bn to commence map fire on reference 8,9.

As the Recce Company was falling back, 1st Platoon 643 (SP) AT Battery arrived and moved up to the rail bridge. This was the view from their position.

The enemy immediately opened fire and the PzJg1 platoon was forced to retire to cover.

8th Artillery Battalion HQ drove up the hill to the windmill. The Battalion HQ moved into the Mill cottage while the OP team set up in the top of the windmill, from which they had this view of the town:

To the south the infantry attack was beginning to stagnate. Two platoons were recovering from enemy shooting. The remainder were insufficient to drive the enemy from the houses. The road was beginning to fill with infantry as 7th Company arrived.HQ 49 Bn to 6 Coy: “Move left. Support left flank of 5 Coy attack”HQ 49 Bn to 7 Coy: “Move up to support right flank of 5 Coy attack.”At this time the houses either side of the barricade caught fire, effectively blocking the road to further advance, but also denying the enemy a defensive position.

From the houses and gardens to the right of those on fire came a withering volley of MG and rifle fire. 4 th (MG) Platoon 5th Company scattered for cover.The Commander of 49th Battalion gazed through his binoculars and pondered how to maintain the attack…

49 BN HQ VIEW

06:15-06:20Germans.HQ 49 Bn spotted three platoons between the Lewes road and the railway (Hex ref 4,8).8 Artillery OP in the windmill also spotted them, and a fourth platoon on the road.

Orders.8 Artillery OP to 1/44 and 1/8 Artillery Batteries. No contact (Needed 10+ with 3D6, rolled 5!)HQ 49 Bn to battalion rifle Coys. “Ignore right flank. Move S. of town and assault from there. 5 Coy to cut off E. end of town.”

The Destroyer offshore opened fire on the low hilltop north of Brighton (hex 6,6)About half the shells landed on the enemy armour on the hill, some stray shells landed in the woods to the north-east.1/44 & 1/8 batteries of 105mm guns fired at the railway line west of the bridge (hex 8,9).Again, half the shells hit the target while the remainder fell to the north-east.

5th Coy 49 Bn, with 1 Pln 28 Pnr Coy moved south-west around Brighton, followed by 6th Coy with 2 Pln 28 Pnr Coy.7th Coy with 3 Pln 28 Pnr Coy scrambled through the hedgerow behind them and the Heavy Weapons Company moved westwards through the fields to the north of the road.5th Company charged forward and routed the two Home Guard platoons that were guarding the allotments (that seem to have been planted since yesterday’s aerial recce!).

In the north 8 Recce Coy advanced once more, now that the enemy tanks were in confusion. Behind them 9th Coy 38th Bn arrived. The recce platoon under the rail bridge, seeing the artillery barrage had put the enemy tanks into confusion, ran forwards and attacked with grenades and bombs. The enemy tanks retired in disorder.

0620-06258 arty OP (in the windmill) "Gott in Himmell! Those are our men in the firing zone.1/8, 1/44. Cease fire immediate!"1st Bty 8th Regt. received the message, but too late.1st Bty 44th Regt. did not receive the message.The barrage continued and 1st Platoon, 8th Recce Company was caught in the fire and eliminated.

Orders sent.HQ 49 Bn.to 5 Coy 49 Bn. "Report progress. I am moving my position to map ref. 1,11. ETA 10:45"HQ 49 Bn to 8 Coy 49 Bn. "Deploy in map ref. 4,11. Mortar target map ref. 2,8. MG target map ref. 3,9"

The destroyer fired its second salvo. The primary target was missed, but the old rectory at map 5,7 was hit and caught fire.The SdKfz221 and two surviving rifle platoons of 8 Recce Company shot at the infantry in slit trenches in the woods.1/643 PzJg1 moved forward and prepared to fire on the tanks in the woods.10th Company, 38th Battalion arrived from Lewes as 9th Company began to deploy south of the road.49th Battalion consolidated for an attack from the south of Brighton.5th Company attacked, accompanied by the engineers, and the enemy were driven back from another burning house.06:25-06:308th Arty HQ to 1st Bty 44th Rgt. "Cease fire immediate. New target hex 8,8."8th Arty HQ to 1st Bty 8th Rgt. "New target 9,9" 1st Bty 44th Regt continued to fire from the last orders at hex 8,9, which was now empty.The Destroyer fired its last salvo at map reference 6,6. It missed, and hit hex 6,5 where other enemy armour had been sighted.The Luftwaffe arrived in the form of one flight of JU87B “Stukas”. As ordered they attacked the enemy armour at hexagon 6,6. (Game note. In fact, under airpower rules aircraft and artillery should not be used in the same turn.)

The enemy tanks responded with light machine gun fire, but our attack was successful and the enemy tanks were destroyed.8th Coy, 49th Infantry Battalion Mortar Platoon set up in field north-east of the road junction. The two MG platoons moved forward to the junction itself, but were met by a hail of enemy MG fire and withdrew beyond the road. The Battalion HQ moved to join the Mortar Platoon.5th Company attacked Brighton from the south and saw British infantry running to the rear. 8th Recce Company checked the railway bridge for explosives and found none. They gave the all clear for 10th Company 38th Battalion to advance onto the bridge.9th Company 38th Battalion moved onto the railway line, and the last two companies of the battalion arrived on the road.