D-Day Scenario 3: Villiers-Bocage

 

 ignoring the large figures The Germa s take position in the town

the Panthers painted up, .Ore to follow

Carpiquet airfield assault June 1944

 This is an action I am planning on putting together. I haven't played a Canadian action for a few months. Also gets a chance to showcase some of my new German kit.

The Canadian 8th Brigade initially faced stiff resistance to their advances,  some over eager German panzerjagers charged forward too soon and were taken out. The german mortars and nebelwefers attempted to keep them back, but the infantry in Universal carriers nad half tracks charged through ignoring the Panzergrenadiers who attempted to retake their bunkers. The Canadians and British can now use the airport.

Stug III, self propelled Artillery

 As I am want to do, I like to pick up kits which I have never owned here and there. Last week, this was one I got.

My HQ

Now, as I am now doing research on how to use this in my games, it appears that Assault guns were a way to make Anti-tank guns mobile, thus the weapons were used as almost a go for destroying weapons, vehicles, buildings or bunkers.

a knocked out Stug III in the Canadian War Museum

I believe this was taken out by a 6pdr Anti-tank gun

Neat. So now this will be added as support to one of my boxes of infantry. And, when playing as the Germans I shall have to adjust my tactics.

Update i have gotten 3 additional Stug III so I shall be fielding squadrons shortly  once built and painted 

As a FOW force, I have 1 as a HQ

And 3 as a platoon.

I have yet to run a game of Stug supported infantry. Should be interesting 

53rd Welsh Division takes on 9th SS past Caen July 1944

covering both sides, I'm wearing my Luftwaffen Field cap and my British Army Desert DPM

the battlefield, some town in Normandy

one of the objectives is the church. Right off the bat, the British open fire on the church tower taking out the sniper

Cromwells, Churchills, and Comets begin to advance

a solo Dailmer advances up the road

British HQ

German forces consist of a 9th Waffen SS group 

while the unit is small, its powerful with very heavy tanks.

Canadians at Carpiquet Aerodrome 1944

A mix of British and Canadian armour let's see how well this force will do against the SS. I don't think I need to get anymore British or Canadian armor!

This was a mega smash up! The Canadians decided to try and take a hill to dominate the airport but the SS had figured out how to keep the Canadians from reaching their objectives. 

Ian was focused on taking out a lot of my carriers. He left .y Artillery alone but I was still unable to take and hold the hill 

Normandy June 6, 1944 Canadians push inland.

The Canadians have been successful in their assault on JUNO beach but are now racing towards Caen. The Canadian 7th and 9th Brigades are to take two villages. They have tank support and some jeeps but their universal carriers and half tracks have not arrived yet.

The Germans are holding their positions with a tank unit and infantry.
The German units consist of members of the 21st Panzer Division.

This time, the Canadians meant business! They hit the Germans with a prelimary bombardment which softened them up, then rushed their lines with many units. The 9th Brigade, took casualties on the second round from the Germans.

The third turn, the Royal Canadian Artillery blasted the Germans again.
However, the Germans do have a few more armored units than the Canadians so all may not be lost on the German side.

While the Canadians closed in on their objectives, the Germans flanked the 9th Brigade inflicting sever casualties on the North Novas, the HLI and the SDGs.

The 7th brigade has fared better but is barely hanging on to their objective 

Normandy June 6, 1944 GOLD beach

The British 50th Northumbrian Division is hitting the beach. They must break through the German lines to link up with the Airborne inland.

Normandy June 5/6 1944 Capture the causeway

British Airborne are to capture a bridge to link up with the other two airborne operations to assist the main landings at the beaches.
A slight variation, I had the Paras capture 2 crossroads.

Normandy June 5/6 1944 Glider Assault

The British Airborne are coming in on gliders. They are to knock the stuffing out of the Germans as much as they can.

British Airborne left flank

airborne hold the hill

crossroad 

21st Panzergrenadier arrive

the Panzergrenadiers spread out 

more Germans advance to secure the power line.

At first, the Airborne were aggressive pushing back the Germans, however, the Germans were able to counterattack with half tracks and assaults on the hill. The mortars were able to keep back the Paras from retaking the hill. Eventually, the Paras fell back by dawn. 

Normandy June 5/6 1944 Airborne Night Fight

The British Airborne are to attack and capture 3 objectives from the Germans prior to the landings on the beaches.
A section of Airborne are to capture a small village and crossroad and a church.
The Germans are to try and hold onto the village.
A slight change to the battle was the Germans holding a hill, a farm and a power line.

hill position to be used for mortars, artillery or flak 

electric and telephone line, an objective 

farm 

the British Airborne begin to deploy 

speedy advance

naval and air coordinators call in support 

the British take the hill and begin to repulse attacks

1st Canadian Parachute Battalion advanced to attack the power line

the Germans advance to halt the Canadians 

the Germans keep hitting the hill

By the end of turn 6, the British still held the hill, but the power line and the farm were still in German hands. A draw.