Section Leaders:
   Fionn Kelly & Madmatt  

In early October,  Operation Aintree was launched to clear the three key towns of Overloon, Oploo and Venraij.  Opposition was very heavy as were the casualties.  Sergeant Finch and his armored troop were in support of a recon force on the outskirts of a small unnamed village.  Before long the lead scout elements spotted advancing German armor of unknown type and quantity. 

Finch and the other 3 Churchill's with him,  eased forward along a low ridge to get into supporting positions.  High pitched cracks split the air and within seconds both the accompanying scout cars were dispatched.  Panthers!  The underpowered 75's proved nearly useless as a trio of Panthers emerged from cover on the far side of the town.  With typical English stoutness the armoured troop fired round after round into the German machines, which had now been joined by a pair of assault guns.  An armor piercing round just barely missed Finch's driver but smashed the tracks and road gear leaving his tank totally immobilized.  A few scant seconds after Finch was tracked the other three Churchill's with him exploded in cacophonies of fire and smoke.

The supporting infantry had finally managed to enter the town and quickly engaged German infantry and Headquarters units.  As round after round ricocheted off the Churchill's bulky front armor Finch yelled out his firing orders.  A Panther briefly turned its flank to Finch after a Piat fired from close range shocked its crew and Finch's gunner drilled it quickly.  A second Panther traded rounds with Finch for over a minute but came up short when a 75mm AP round found a weak weld in its the armor and brewed it up.  Now Finch began to support the infantry fighting in the town before him and lobbed HE rounds into a tall wooden structure hiding a squad of the Bosche.  Before long the building collapsed and forced the survivors to take to their heels.  The heat in the Churchill grew unbearable and Finch popped his hatch only to showered with debris as a StuG engaged them from their flank.  Finches gunner tracked the StuG as it retreated backwards through a smoke screen but it was too late as the 75mm round was already in-flight.  It smashed into the assault guns superstructure and ignited the interior.  The remaining crew bailed out coughing amongst the acrid fumes.  In the town a third Panther and a supporting StuG began to direct fire high explosive rounds into the British infantry now entrenched.  Finch could hear the fight but was helpless in his battered tank.  As the infantry began to fall back a Hetzer roared to life and headed up the dirt road through the town. Finch made short work of this vehicle and gave the retreating friendly infantry a moments respite.  A German StuG ventured too near a Engineer squad and was treated to a satchel charge under its belly for its curiosity.  In the end though both sides were spent and the town remained uncontrolled as the remaining English and Germans units retreated back toward friendly lines. Finch racked up an impressive total considering his puny 75mm gun and his complete immobility throughout the fight. In the end though the battle resulted in a draw and Finch was angered that the last Panther got away...