By Jason Davis, Mark Francis and Wayne Turner

4 t h Special Ser vice Brigade

4th Special Service Brigade, Royal
4th Special Service Brigade
Marine Commandos in Normandy Brigadier B. W. Leicester

The Royal Marines

For centuries, the Royal Marines have
served as the Royal Navy’s infantry. From
the Americas, to the Iberian Peninsula, No. 41 (Royal Marine) No. 47 (Royal Marine)
the Crimea, China, Gallipoli, and Commando Commando
Zeebrugge, the marines have acted as Lieutenant-Colonel E. Palmer Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. Phillips
amphibious infantry carrying England A Troop (60 men) A Troop (60 men)
B Troop (60 men) B Troop (60 men)
through countless wars. P Troop (60 men) X Troop (60 men)
X Troop (60 men) Y Troop (60 men)
In World War II, the Royal Marines Y Troop (60 men) Z Troop (60 men)
made their first landing on 20 April Heavy Weapons S Troop (33 Men, Heavy Weapons S Troop (33 Men,
1940 as the vanguard for the Allied 3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG) 3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG)
relief force at Namos, Norway. The
Allied offensive lasted just a few short No. 46 (Royal Marine) No. 48 (Royal Marine)
weeks, but the marines proved their Commando Commando
worth securing the area, while faced Lieutenant-Colonel C. R. Hardy Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Moulton
with intense Luftwaffe raids and lacking A Troop (60 men) A Troop (60 men)
B Troop (60 men) B Troop (60 men)
air cover of their own. X Troop (60 men) X Troop (60 men)
Y Troop (60 men) Y Troop (60 men)
Shortly there after, the marines were or- Z Troop (60 men) Z Troop (60 men)
ganized in to the Royal Marine Division Heavy Weapons S Troop (33 Men, Heavy Weapons S Troop (33 Men,
and deployed troops to every theatre of 3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG) 3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG)
war, serving in the Netherlands, France,
Iceland, the Faeroe Islands, Dakar,
Madagascar, Malaya, Burma, Singapore, Crete, and Tobruk, entire British front from the Orne River to Port-en-Bessin
as well as aboard Royal Navy vessels spanning the globe. and the Americans on Omaha. The newly raised 46 and 47
RM Commandos joined 41 RM Commando. It immediately
Forming the Royal Marine became apparent to Allied planners that a fourth Commando
Commandos was needed for the brigade’s mission, so in mid-March the
remaining men of the Royal Marine Division and other vol-
Due to the success of the Army Commandos’ operations in
unteers began an accelerated training schedule to form No.
Norway, the Channel Islands, St. Nazaire, and the Middle
48 RM Commando in time for the invasion. The Brigade
East, the Admiralty dissolved the Marine Division in late
was expected to be in combat for at most a week before being
1942 and reorganized its amphibious assault infantry in to
returned home, however fate had other plans for them.
eight additional Commandos.
Number 40 RM Commando was the first such unit, seeing Royal Marine Armoured Support Group
brief action at Dieppe, but was fortunate to be assigned to As planning for the invasion of Europe commenced, the
late wave of the landing. Shortly after they came ashore, the British designed a series of support craft based on the ubiq-
tide of battle had clearly swung in the defenders favour and uitous landing craft tank (LCT) to provide additional fire
the Commando escaped with most of its strength. Other support for the assault troops. From the anti-aircraft LCFs,
units were not so fortunate. 40 RM Commando would to the barrage rocket armed LCT(R)s and the naval guns
go on to join its fellow commandos in the Mediterranean of the LCGs, a myriad of these craft crossed the Channel.
theatre. Perhaps the oddest of these were the LCT(A)s. They were
simply standard US made tank landing craft with 50 tons
There, No. 41 RM Commando served in Sicily and par-
of armour affixed to the sides. The LCT(A)s carried Centaur
ticipated in the seizure of Salerno, but was withdrawn to
tanks that had been gutted of their underpowered Liberty
England following a stiff German counter-attack. Other
engines in order to provide more room for ammunition.
Royal Marine Commandos would serve in Burma, Italy,
Royal Marines formed the gun crews of these former tanks,
Greece and Yugoslavia, while the remainder formed up and
turned floating turrets.
trained for the inevitable invasion of Northwest Europe.
However, General Montgomery questioned the wisdom
4th Special Service Brigade of leaving these tanks floating at sea and insisted that their
The Fourth Special Service Brigade was created in March engines be reinstalled so they could go ashore to act as self-
of 1944 specifically for the invasion of France. Comprised propelled artillery. As such, drivers form the Royal Armoured
entirely of Royal Marines, the brigade was tasked with Corps joined the marines completing the tank crews of the
securing the flanks of the invasion beaches, linking up the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group (RMASG). For



the next several months, the new crews trained while the
tanks were waterproofed with rubberized paint, their hatches
sealed, and their engine exhausts fitted with an extension so
they could wade ashore with the first wave of the assault.
Additionally, compass bearings were painted on the sides of
the turret to assist the gunners and observers in coordinating
fire missions.
Unfortunately, weighed down by their heavy armour, the
LCT(A)s did not fair well, many swamping during the
Channel crossing, while others suffered mechanical problems
at sea, and still more struck the German mines before un-
loading their cargo. Only 48 of the 80 Centaurs assigned to
the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group made it ashore
by mid afternoon.
Those that did make it began firing their cannons two miles
from shore, adding to the preliminary bombardment. Once
ashore, they covered the assault taking out gun emplace-
ments, machine-guns nests, and snipers with their gunfire or
simply ramming buildings with the bows of their tanks. As
the Royal Marine Commandos moved out along the beaches
to secure German strong points and create one continuous
beachhead, the Centaurs went along side providing fire
support.
Sword
The most experienced unit in the Brigade, 41 RM
Commando, departed Southampton Water at 2130, 5 June,
aboard five LCI(S)s to go ashore at Hermanville-sur-Mer and
move west to Lion-Sur-Mer then link up with their fellow
commandos at Luc-sur-Mer.
As the commandos came ashore they faced moderate fire,
loosing several men including their RSM, Naval Forward
Observation Officer, and second in command, Major
Barclay, but once they cleared the immediate beach defences
the commandos found themselves in a relatively quite sector.
From their assembly area they marched down the coastal
British
road toward Lion-sur-Mer joined by three AVREs. As P and
4th Special Service Brigade Hisotry
Y troops approached the town a well-concealed German PaK
38 gun ambushed the tanks destroying all three and stalling
the assault. The commandos scurried for cover taking up
positions on both sides of the road. Their location revealed,
the Germans fired a dizzying mortar, rocket, and artillery
bombardment, but the commandos were unable to respond
as they had expended all their mortar bombs in the initial
push on Lion.
Meanwhile A and B troops had been moving ahead on
their second objective at the Chateau, but were pre-emp-
tively attacked as they made their approach and were
forced back towards their comrades. Facing overwhelming
defences and artillery, the commandos dug in and awaited
reinforcements.
At 1330 battalions of the Lincolnshire and Royal Ulster
Rifles regiments came ashore then moved up to the
Commando’s position bringing with them a replacement
Naval Observation Officer. As soon as he arrived, the de-
stroyers off shore began a one hour-long naval bombardment
battering the strong point and chateau. Yet it was too late in
the day for the commandos to launch an effective assault so
as the sunset they dug in for the night. Through the darkness
they observed German aircraft raking the beaches with fire
and wondered how their comrades were fairing on the other
beaches.
When dawn broke the German artillery fire began once
again pinning the commandos and supporting infantry for
another two hours. From over head came the awful drone of
three approaching Heinkel bombers. As a flight of Spitfires
raced to intercept, the commandos looked up in horror as
the Luftwaffe planes opened their bays and rained anti-
personnel bombs directly on their position killing several
men including their royal artillery observer and severely
wounding their commanding officer, Lt Col Gray. Having
already lost Major Barclay, command fell to the 23 year old

Adjutant John Taplin. Under his command the Commando 716. Infanteriedivision still lodged between the two elements
joined the Lincolns in the final assault on the strongpoint of 4th Special Service Brigade. Lightly armed, unable to call
and chateau. Once the two units had defeated the position in naval gunfire support, sandwiched between a German
that had long frustrated their plans, 41 Commando moved strong point and a panzer division, while having suffered
out alone to Luc-sur-mer. Fortunately, they found the town extreme casualties, No. 48 Commando needed their luck
undefended and dug in to wait for their comrades to join to change quickly. Fortunately, that came in the form of a
them from the Canadian beach. massive glider landing by 6th Airborne Division’s follow up
regiments to the east. Seeing the flotilla of gliders landing,
Juno the German commander feared he would be out flanked and
48 RM Commando left England aboard six LCI(S)s bound ordered his force to withdraw towards Caen. Had he pushed
for Nan Red sector of Juno Beach with the mission to onward and attacked the commandos, Sword beach would
assault the strongpoint at Langrune-sur-Mer and then link have been isolated and the entire eastern flank of the Allied
up with 41 RM Commando sealing the breach between the invasion may have collapsed.
Canadian and British 3rd Infantry Divisions. Unfortunately,
In the morning the commandos were joined by a pair of
as the commandos approached the shore, two of their ships
Canadian M10s, which fired anti-tank rounds on the wall,
struck underwater obstacles and sunk. Weighed down by
cutting clear through it and splashing in to the surf beyond.
their heavy gear, many of the marines aboard those two
For an hour the M10s peppered the wall with solid shot and
ships drowned in the surf. Those that made it ashore faced
the fortification began to disintegrate. An RMASG Sherman
intense German mortar, machine-gun, and sniper fire along
then moved forward, firing high explosive rounds that
side the Canadians still trying to secure the landing zone.
shattered the wall and allowed the commandos to launch
The combined effect of these two situations was disastrous.
their long overdue assault. Pushing behind the advancing
A mere fifty percent of the commando made it off the beach
Sherman, with its cannon and machine-guns blazing, the
to fight on east of Juno.
commandos quickly seized the interior of the strong point
Once off the beach, 48 RM Commando bypassed WN27 at and spent the rest of the day silencing the remaining pockets
St. Aubin, where B Company of the Canadian North Shore of resistance around Langrune.
regiment was still fighting, and the remaining commandos
The brigade’s reserve element, No. 46 RM Commando,
made their way to the heavily defended guns at Langrune. As
landed on Juno beach at 0900 on 7 June and passed their
they approached, HMS Vigilant rained shells down on the
comrades, pressing on to Petit Enfer. In the aptly named
position, but achieved little effect due to the heavy fortifica-
“Little Hell”, the commandos faced stiff German resistance,
tions. Upon arrival they found the strong point protected
but were able to force their way through the enemy posi-
by snipers, mines, machine-guns and an imposing four-foot
tions and on to Luc-sur-Mer. There they met up with 41 RM
thick concrete wall. There two Centaurs from 1st Royal Marine
Commando, finally linking Juno and Sword Beaches.
Support Regiment joined the attack. The first of these tanks
moved toward the wall firing its 95mm howitzer and oblit- Gold
erating a machine-gun bunker that had been covering the
Perhaps the 4th Special Service Brigade’s most important D-
crossroads. This allowed B Troop to advance to the wall and
day objective was the costal town of Port-en-Bessin. Flanked
prepare for an assault. The commando’s Colonel Moulton
by sheer cliffs, twelve miles west of Gold and three miles
then ordered the Centaur to destroy the wall so his troops
east of Omaha, the natural port would not only serve as the
could assault. Unfortunately, the tank’s 95mm howitzer,
link up point between the American and British sectors, but
designed for arcing fire, could not be lowered enough to hit
would be the Normandy terminus of PLUTO, the Pipe Line
the base of the wall so the Centaur kept firing with little effect
Under The Ocean, which would fuel the Allied advance with
until it had run out of ammunition. The second Centaur
petrol pumped directly across the channel from the Isle of
began to move in to position, but struck a mine while ap-
Wight. Due to the importance of seizing the port, Lt Col
proaching the wall forcing the crew to bail out and join the
commandos. With the Centaur thrust thwarted, B Troop
raced across the intersection to an opposing house only to
discover that the Germans had sealed all the windows and
doors facing the strongpoint with concrete. The commandos
had no choice but to bring down the wall. They set a charge
at its base, but once again the explosive force was absorbed
by the strength of the fortification.
As the commandos deliberated on how to next strike at
the obstacle, they received news of the 21. Panzerdivision’s
counter-attack that had already stopped the British advance
on Caen and was pushing on toward Lion-sur-Mer. The
commandos were ordered to cease the assault and take up
defensive positions. Hearing the gathering panzers in the
distance, they attempted to set up a forward observation post
to call in additional fire support from HMS Belfast, but were
unable to get through to the mighty warship. Meanwhile,
the German Panzergrenadiers reached their comrades in the



Philips was given the choice of directly assaulting the village
alone, or landing on Gold and marching overland to attack
the German position from the rear. Remembering the failed
raid on Dieppe, Philips volunteered his men for the long
march.
Unlike their fellow commandos 47 RM Commando left
England aboard two large transports, the SS Victoria and
Princess Jospehine Charollette. At approximately 0700 they
boarded 14 LCAs and began their run in to the beach. From
the sea they could see their preceding units were struggling.
Due to intense fire, the Hampshires had landed one and a
half miles further to the east than originally planned. Their
supporting RMASG Centaurs fared even worse. Of the 10
intended to support the Jig Green sector, only 5 made it
ashore and four of those were quickly dispatched by German
gunfire. Ordered to avoid contact with the enemy and
make haste to the vital port, Philips ordered his LCAs to
approach the beach behind the Hampshires near Roquettes,
further extending their already long march. Even taking this
safer approach the commandos’ landing craft were severely
battered. Five of their craft sunk before reaching the shore
and almost all the others were damaged. By the time they
reached the shore five officers, including Lt Col Philips, who
would swim to shore by late in the day, and seventy-one other
ranks were missing. Many who made it ashore had lost their
weapons, the commando had but one broken wireless set,
only a single three-inch mortar, that had its sight knocked
off, and a lone Bangalore torpedo.
By the time they made it to the seawall the commandos
were spread out over a mile of beach instead of 200 yards
as planned. Beyond the wall laid the heavily mined coastal
road. Unable to locate Philips, the second in command,
Major Donnell led his men off the beach following an ad-
vancing Sherman Crab and turned inland to avoid engaging
the enemy. Behind the lines the commando moved quickly
to Buhot where Philips rejoined it after his long swim. For
the next several hours the Commando stealthily pushed
on occasionally encountering snipers and small units of
unsuspecting rear guards from whom they captured several
spandaus (MG-34) and other small arms. As dusk descended
upon the Commando they reached Point 72, the highest
point on a ridge near Escures, which they thankfully discov-
British
ered was undefended, but had several fortifications that were
4th Special Service Brigade Hisotry
in various stages of construction. There they dug in for the
night and prepared for the attack on Port-en-Bessin at the
break of dawn. In just one day the Commando had traversed
over a dozen miles of enemy occupied terrain, with relatively
light casualties.
Originally the attack on Port-en-Bessin was planned to be
supported by American artillery, but having no working
radio made this coordination impossible. Furthermore the
Americans were still in the thick of their fighting on Omaha.
However, the commandos luck changed with the arrival of
two French civilians, a replacement Forward Observation
Officer, and a Gendarme named Gouget. As the two civil-
ians met with the Commando’s officers and identified the
German positions, the artillery officer repaired the unit’s
wireless set allowing him to get through to the navy ships
off shore. At 1400 two LCG(L)s opened fire on the port
and were joined by HMS Emerald’s six-inch guns an hour
later. By 1600 the city was hit by RAF Typhoon air strikes
and the Royal Artillery bombarded the area with smoke in
preparation for the commandos’ assault.
In the ensuing confusion, Gouget guided A and B troops
through ditches surrounding the town, past the outer ring
of guns pits. Meanwhile X Troop fixed bayonets and charged
the machine-gun nests quickly taking the positions due to the
shock of their assault and the incoming artillery. Once the
outer ring of defences had been breached, A Troop advanced
on the western feature, but were repelled when two German
FlaK ships, that had moved in to the port unbeknownst
to the commandos on 5 June, open fire on the men with
their rapid fire cannons. Meanwhile B Troop also launched
an assault on the town itself, but they were pinned down
by a pillbox on the heights and machine-guns concealed in
houses throughout the village.
In an attempt to reinvigorate the attack Philips ordered
his men to launch an assault on the FlaK ships, but the
Kreigsmarine once again repelled them. Seeing their
comrades fall in the assault, the captains of HMS Ursa and
the Polish ship Krakowiak approached the port, but were
unable to obtain a firing angle on the FlaK ships, which were
concealed behind the port’s concrete and stone breakwater.
Desperate to offer assistance, the ships formed boarding
parties and launch their motorboats, which, due to their
shallow draft, dashed across the harbour net and attacked
the FlaK ships.
Once the navy had silenced the FlaK, B and Heavy weapons
troops made their way up the eastern feature and assaulted
the German blockhouse forcing the defenders to surrender.
Sporadic fighting continued on until dawn of 8 June when
the remaining defenders on the western feature saw the
devastation of their positions and ships and surrendered
peacefully.
In the evening Cpt Isherwood and Lt Bennet set out to the
west to find the Americans. On a road west of the town they
heard an approaching vehicle and took cover. Bravely Bennet
stepped out and confronted the vehicle. Luckily he found
them to be the Americans moving off Omaha. On 9 June
PLUTO arrived in the form of an army port company and
the petrol started to flow, supplying Allied vehicles across the
Normandy front.

Radar Station
After a short rest and reinforcement the 46, 47, and 48 RM
Commandos moved south to the Douvre Radar Station. This
massive fortified complex was the primary Luftwaffe radar
station in the area. Almost ten acres in area, littered with
gun pits, mine fields, tunnels, bunkers, five 5cm anti-tank
guns, a 7.5cm field gun, and a twenty foot ring of barbed
wire, the site was far more than the commandos could tackle
alone. Instead the commandos’ job was to isolate the station
allowing other Allied forces to pass by undeterred in their
push on Caen.
After a few days of securing the perimeter, 46, 47 and 48
RM Commando were sent to support the Canadians and
Airborne divisions while 41 RM Commando stayed behind.
For the next week the commandos continued to harass the
strongpoint with occasional mortar fire, typhoons strikes,
and volleys from two attached RMASG Centaurs. Although
the site did not actively threaten Allied movements in the
area it did provide radar-ranging information for Luftwaffe
night fighters and constantly reported on British move-
ments. Likewise, it was able to fire on a nearby landing strip
that the RAF hoped to use as a forward operating base for its
Typhoons. The site had to be silenced.
On 17 June the assault began with a bombardment from the
Royal Artillery’s 7.2 inch guns and ships off shore. Under
their new commander, Lt. Col Palmer, 41 RM Commando
and forty-four armoured engineering vehicles attacked from
the north while other tanks created a diversion from the
southwest. The Sherman Crabs cleared the way through the
minefields while the AVsRE battered the bunkers with their
enormous cannons. The effect of such fire was devastating
on the morale of the entrenched German defenders. When
the commandos entered the entrenchments, spraying the
Germans with submachine-gun fire, it was clear that the
station could no longer be defended. The two hundred and
twenty seven remaining Luftwaffe troopers quickly surren-
dered and the last of the 4th Special Service Brigade’s D-Day
objectives was finally achieved.
On the line
While 41 RM Commando dealt with the radar station, the
remainder of 4th Special Service Brigade moved to the Orne
River Basin, where they joined their fellow commandos of
1st Special Service Brigade and the 6th Airborne Division, all
falling under command of Major-General Gale. There they
would spend the next month anchoring the Allied flank
while Montgomery launched his series of assaults on Caen.
In true commando style, Brigadier Leicester had his men
conducted frequent patrols and raids across no man’s land
in order to keep his men in fighting shape and the German
defenders engaged. The Brigade would remain in the Orne
area until mid August.
The Breakout
In mid August, following the capture of Caen, General Gale’s
forces broke out of their positions and launched a major of-
fensive to dislodge their long time foes. Before sunrise on
20 August, 46 RM Commando launched an attack on the
heights above Putot. There a savage close-quarters battle
ensued and the commandos seized the position over looking
the entire Dozulé area. For much of the day, 48 Commando

pushed through the bocage, without support, to Point 134
and Point 120 followed by 41 Commando. This location
nearly cut off the Germans escape route from the town.
However, the attack on the town was delayed until to first
light on 21 August. Realizing that they had been out flanked
the Germans set the village ablaze and withdrew.
With Dozulé captured the advance picked up pace as the
Commandos pushed on through Beuzeville to the Risle
River. On many occasions the marching commandos and
airborne troops would arrive in a village less than hour after
the Germans had made a hasty withdrawal.
Following the capture of Pont-Audemer, the 6th Airborne
and 1st Special Service Brigade were relieved by the 49th
Division and returned to England. However, the marines
of 4th Brigade would remain fighting for several more weeks
clearing pockets of resistance between the Seine and Valmont
then took up the role of garrison troops in and around
the shattered city of Le Harve. Battered by intense Allied
bombing and heavy fighting when the 49th and 51st Divisions
seized the port, Le Harve’s citizens were starving and down-
trodden. The commandos had to take on the unenviable role
of policemen holding supplies from needy civilians in order
to keep the supplies following to the front. Fortunately, for
their morale, they moved out once more and took up posi-
tions near Dunkirk probing the German lines with frequent
small raids.
After France
On 27 September the Brigade was withdrawn from the line,
not to England, but to assembly areas in De Hann, Belgium.
There they prepared for another amphibious assault, this
time on the Dutch island of Walcheren. The island lay at the
mouth of the Scheldt River, which ran from Antwerp to the
sea. Until the island and the northern banks of the river were
occupied, the port of Antwerp could not be used to support
the Allied advance. On 3 October Allied bombers breached
the dykes at Westkapelle, Flushing, and Veree, flooding
the island leaving only a few dry areas around the perim-
eter of the island, greatly restricting the Germans’ freedom
of movement. The 4th Special Service Brigade formed the
seaborne element of the attack while British and Canadian
infantry attacked overland from the mainland. This time
the commandos came ashore in LVTs, which had already
proven their value in the Pacific campaign. 41 Commando
was tasked with assaulting the town of Westkappelle then to
move north along the causeway to Domburg. Just to their
south 48 Commando took on a radar station and naval gun
battery, while 47 completed the encirclement of the western
part of the island by moving south towards Flushing.
The brigade would spend the rest of the war making raids
across the Maas River in Operations Incalculable and Bogart.
Many of the 4th Brigade’s commandos would go onto fight
again in the Far East while others took on occupation duties
in Europe.
In 1946 all commando operations were centralized under
the command of the Royal Marines. Their decedents would
be called on time and again to defend British interests at
home and abroad.
 British

1st Special Service Brigade Hisotry

1 s t Special Ser vice Brigade
Army Commandos in Normandy
1st Special Service Brigade
The Army Commandos were the brainchild of Winston Brigadier Simon Fraser The Lord Lovet
Churchill and Lt Colonel Dudley Clark, a South African
by birth. It was after the sturdy South African Boer
Kommandos that the new unit was to
get it’s name. After the British with-
drawal at Dunkirk, Prime Minister No. 3 Commando No. 4 Commando
Winston Churchill wished to retali- Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Young Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. P. Dawson
1 Troop (66 men) 1 Troop (66 men)
ate by having specialist raiding forces 2 Troop (66 men) 2 Troop (66 men)
harass the enemy coastline and destroy 3 Troop (66 men) 3 Troop (66 men)
small military installations and supply 4 Troop (66 men) 4 Troop (66 men)
5 Troop (66 men) 5 Troop (66 men)
depots. Heavy Weapons Troop (39 Men, 1 Troop (66 men), 10 Inter-allied Commando
3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG) 8 Troop (66 men), 10 Inter-allied Commando
After many successful raids on the
Heavy Weapons Troop (39 Men,
enemy coast, including the ambitious 3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG)
raid on St. Nazaire, the commandos were
restructured in 1943 into brigades of
assault and light infantry. These brigades No. 6 Commando No. 45 (Royal Marine)
Lieutenant-Colonel Derek Mills-Roberts
also included the newly formed Royal Commando
1 Troop (66 men) Lieutenant-Colonel N. C. Ries
Marine Commandos. Four separate 2 Troop (66 men) A Troop (60 men)
Special Service Brigades were created 3 Troop (66 men)
B Troop (60 men)
4 Troop (66 men)
and these were to see extensive service X Troop (60 men)
5 Troop (66 men) Y Troop (60 men)
throughout the remaining war years in Heavy Weapons Troop (39 Men, Z Troop (60 men)
Italy, Burma, and Europe. 3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG)
Heavy Weapons S Troop (33 Men,
3x 3” mortar, 3x Vickers MG)
1st Special Service
Brigade
3 Commando
1st Special Service Brigade, comprised of 3, 4, and 6 Commando,
plus 45 (Royal Marine) Commando. Led by the enigmatic Formed in July 1940, 3 Commando became one of the most ex-
Brigadier The Lord Lovat, 1st Special Service Brigade contained perienced commandos by 1944. Commanded by the legendary
the most experienced commando units in the entire Special Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Young, 3 Commando had served in
Service Group. Unlike the commandos of 4th Special Service Norway, Dieppe, Sicily and Italy before returning to England
Brigade, 1st Special Service Brigade were to land on just one to prepare for the Normandy invasion. 3 Commando would
beach on the coast of Normandy, codenamed Sword Beach. land at H+90 with 1st Special Service Brigade HQ and follow 6
Commando to relieve the airborne units at Pegasus Bridge. After
successfully linking up with the airborne troops, 3 Commando
Target Normandy was initially placed with 6th Airborne’s Headquarters at Le Bas
On 6 June 1944, the Allied invasion forces assaulted the forti- de Ranville to reinforce 12th Parachute Battalion, which was
fied coast of Normandy. 1st Special Service Brigade had a very under great pressure from German attacks emanating from
clear objective, relieve the airborne troops that had landed Ste-Honorine. Once secure, Young sent two Troops to assist 45
in the early hours of the morning on the eastern flank of the (RM) Commando in attacking Franceville-Plage and clearing
Normandy beaches. The bridges over the Canal de Caen and the Merville Battery which had been re-occupied by German
Orne River were vital to the security of the entire assault force. troops. On D+1, the rest of the Commando established po-
Any counterattack across these bridges could have driven sitions around Amfreville with 4 Commando to its left in
the invasion forces back into the sea. The bridges were to be Hameau Oger (usually written as Hauger on 1944 maps) and
taken by the glider borne units of 6th Airborne Division, but 6 Commando to it’s right in Le Plein. Over the next few weeks
these lightly armed troops could not be expected to hold out 3 Commando would be involved in a deadly game of cat and
indefinitely without support from the sea. It would be up mouse with German troops. Attack would be met with counter-
to Brigadier The Lord Lovat’s commandos to reach them as attack as each side fought for the dominating Bavent Ridge. The
soon as possible. Beyond the bridgehead, 1st Special Service largest of the German counter-attacks came on D+4 with a three
Brigade was expected to seize the seaside towns of Sallanelles pronged assault with the intent of driving the commandos off
and Franceville Plage and to clear the coastal strip between the ridge. The attack started with a large mortar bombardment,
these towns and Cabourg. 1st Special Service Brigade landed on most of which fell onto 4 Commando’s positions. Supported
Sword Beach after the assault brigades of 3rd Infantry Division, by self-propelled guns, the German infantry advanced toward
and immediately set out for the objectives that they had been the three villages held by 1st Special Service Brigade. After hours
given. of hard fighting, the German troops were again beaten back
toward Breville. The next day, soldiers of the 51st Highland


Division would cross the Orne Bridge and be sent to assault the
Germans within Breville with disastrous results. Breville would
not fall until 12 June after a costly assault by paratroopers of
12th Parachute Battalion supported by five artillery regiments
and tanks of the 13th/18th Hussars. It was during the initial
bombardment for this attack that Brigadier The Lord Lovat was
severely wounded when rounds fell short of their target and
landed within a group of officers from the units involved in
the assault. With the fall of Breville, German pressure eased on
the commando’s frontline and subsequent encounters would
predominantly involve small patrols and sniping actions.
4 Commando
Also formed in July 1940, 4 Commando received distinction
for its actions in the failed Dieppe raid by successfully knocking
out a gun battery at Varangeville. It would be asked to repeat
this endeavour when it was assigned the destruction of a 6 gun
coastal battery and the heavily fortified Riva Bella Casino just
north of Ouistreham. Attached to 4 Commando were numbers
1 and 8 Troop of 10 Inter-allied Commando, a commando unit
comprised entirely of troops from occupied European coun-

tries. These French Commandos, commanded by Comandant
Philippe Kieffer, were given the honour of being the first com-
mandos to land on the French coast. On 5 June Lovat addressed
the entire Brigade and ended the speech with the following
words for the French commandos, “Demain matin on les aura”;
Tomorrow morning you will have glory. 4 Commando landed on
the extreme left of Sword Beach on Queen Red only to find that
the initial assault brigades had not yet cleared the beach. Having
to fight their way off the beach, they soon headed down the
lateral road to Ouistreham. The two French commando Troops’
assault on the Riva Bella Casino encountered stiff German re-
sistance and the various small arms of the resolute commandos
were not be enough to penetrate the thick concrete bunkers and
pillboxes. Comandant Kieffer then persuaded a Centaur of 5th
Battery, Royal Marine Armoured Support Group to suppress
the defenders, enabling the commandos to finally assault and
take the position. The rest of 4 Commando closed in on the
gun battery near the mouth of the River Orne. After a series of
small assaults, it became apparent to the commandos that the
guns were no longer present and had been moved prior to the
invasion. The commandos left the remainder of the German

garrison to the follow up infantry and withdrew to regroup and
join the remainder of 1st Special Service Brigade across the Orne
bridgehead. Once across the bridgehead, 4 Commando took up
position in Hauger. During the battles over the following week,
4 Commando often bore the brunt of the German assaults
and artillery, and casualties were higher than in the other com-
mandos. The two French troops remained with 4 Commando
for the next 3 months, distinguishing themselves throughout
the campaign. Of the 177 French commandos that landed on
Sword Beach, only 40 were left unscathed.
6 Commando
No. 6 commando first saw service in Norway in December 1941,
with Operation Archery where they destroyed fish oil factories at
Vaagso. The oil was used to produce munitions. They next went
into action during Operation Torch when it landed near Algiers
alongside US forces. The Commando eventually returned to
Britain for the D-Day landings. Troopers of 6 Commando were
the first to reach the beleaguered airborne troops on the Orne
River bridges after fighting their way through several enemy
positions around Colleville and St Aubin d’Arquenay. Once
across the bridges, 6 Commando linked up with 9th Parachute
Battalion and took position in Le Plein, which would repre-
sent the extreme right flank of 1st Special Service Brigade. 6
Commando were the first 1st Special Service Brigade troops to
conduct an assault when they attacked the village of Breville on
7 June. After being harassed by sporadic shelling from within
Breville, the commandos attacked in force, but soon realized
that the village was heavily defended and withdrew back to Le
Plein, bringing 15 German prisoners and various weaponry
with them for the loss of just one commando. Along with the
other commandos of 1st Special Service Brigade, 6 Commando
British
would endure constant attacks by German troops, mortars and
1st Special Service Brigade Hisotry
snipers until Breville was finally taken on 12 June.
45 (Royal Marine) Commando
45 (RM) Commando had not seen action prior to D-Day and
was keen to prove its place alongside the other more experi-
enced Commandos in the 1st Special Service Brigade. Landing
with the remainder of 1st Special Service Brigade, the men of 45
(RM) Commando moved off the beach with haste and encoun-
tered strong opposition around Colleville sur Orne including
a battery of Nebelwerfer rockets that were quickly silenced.
Unfortunately, 45 (RM) Commando’s commander, Colonel
Ries, was severely wounded by a sniper during the advance,
so the second in command, Major Nicol Gray took command
of the Commando. Once across the Orne River bridges, 45
(RM) Commando advanced north toward Franceville Plage
and Merville. With two Troops from 3 Commando attached
to attack the re-occupied Merville battery, the Royal Marines
assaulted German positions within the town of Merville and
Franceville Plage. Although successful, their position on the
extreme left flank was vulnerable and could not be well sup-
ported. As such, they faced the possibility of being surrounded
and overrun by a determined German counter-attack. The
Commando then retired to positions outside of Sallanelles, just
to the left of 4 Commando. On 8 June, 45 (RM) Commando
bore the brunt of a strong counter-attack supported by several
self propelled guns. After defeating the assault, the Commando
withdrew again toward Amfreville after becoming low on am-
munition. However, the heavy casualties they inflicted on the
German assault was enough to secure the northern end of the
Bavent Ridge and the entire northern flank of the invasion.

 Brigadier The Lord Lovat
Brigadier Simon Fraser (known to his friends as “Shimi”) was
born on 9 June 1911 and became the 15th Lord Lovat. Thirty
three years later, he led one of the most experienced and deadly
combat units in the British Army into battle on D-Day. After
growing up in Scotland, Lovat joined the Scots Guards but at
the outbreak of war he soon volunteered for one of the daring
commando units. Attached to 4 Commando, Lovat would see
action on many raids including the early raids in Norway. In
1942, Lovat took command of 4 Commando and led them
in an assault on the town of Dieppe. Although the raid was
a disaster, Lovat’s commandos succeeded in their objective of
destroying the Varangeville battery.
Before D-Day, Lovat was given command of the 1st Special
Service Brigade who were to land at Sword Beach and head
inland to relieve the airborne troops at the Orne River bridges.
Coming ashore with 1st Special Service Brigade headquarters,
Lovat was accompanied by his piper Bill Millin and instructed
him to play his bagpipes during the landing, even though they
had been given specific orders not to do so. Bill Millin played
“Highland Laddie” while wading ashore behind Lovat. On the
march to the bridges, Lovat looked more as if on a country walk
rather than in battle, wearing his distinguishable white sweater
and carrying a walking stick. Upon reaching the airborne troops
at the bridge, Lovat apologized for being late, although he arrived
only two minutes past the expected time. Always an inspiring
presence, Lovat commanded his troops to march across Pegasus
Bridge with Bill Millin still playing the pipes. Unfortunately,
several commandos were killed by enemy snipers, many shot
through the head where they wore their green berets instead
of helmets. The follow up commandos wore their helmets on
subsequent crossings.
Lovat commanded the 1st Special Service Brigade over the next June. 6 Commando’s commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Derek
few days until he was seriously wounded by a Highland Division Mills-Roberts subsequently took command of 1st Special Service
artillery shell which fell short during an attack on Breville on 12 Brigade for the rest of the campaign.

Characteristics
The Lord Lovat is a Warrior, and a Higher Command Rifle team. He is an Independent team and rated as Fearless Veteran.
Lord Lovet is armed with his old Winchester hunting rifle. He has a Range of 16”/40cm, ROF 1, an Anti-tank rating of 2, and a
Firepower rating of 6.
Lovat may join a 1st Special Service Brigade Commando Troop for +25 points.

Bill Millin In the Nick of Time

On D-Day, Lovat was accompanied by his piper Bill Millin.
The commandos were inspired by his presence as he played
“Highland Laddie” as 1st Special Service Brigade HQ came
ashore and “Blue Bonnets” to the soldiers on Sword Beach.
Any hits on Lovat do not count towards Pinning Down the
platoon.
On D-Day, Lovat arrived to relieve the paratroopers at Pegasus
Bridge just 2 minutes after his planned arrival. The commando
reserves were soon placed into the line to the east of the Orne
bridgehead, and were pivotal in securing the left flank of the
allied invasion.
In missions that use the Reserves or Delayed Reserves special
rules, the commando player may roll one more die in
addition to the normal allotment to see if reserves arrive.
This additional die may only be used for Commando
Platoons held in reserve.

10
 British

Warriors
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Young
In 1939 Peter Young was commissioned into the Bedfordshire
and Hertfordshire Regiment, with which he went to France
in 1940. He joined No. 3 Commando when it was founded
and soon became a Captain. His troops took part in raids on
the Channel Island of Guernsey, and Lofoten and Vaagso in
Norway during 1941. It was during the later raid that he won
his first Military Cross (MC). After a period on the staff at
Combined Operations HQ, he became second-in-command of
No. 3 Commando under Colonel John Dunford-Slater.
In the Dieppe raid of August 19, 1942, Major Young now
carrying a US Garand rifle, found himself ashore with only
18 commandos. Despite this, he managed to take his force up
the cliffs on a network of barbed wire which, as he put it, ‘an
over-conscientious German officer had inadvertently provided
for them to walk on’. Young was the only Commando officer
to reach his objective and bring back all his men. At one point,
when they were approaching enemy machine-guns through
a cornfield, he encouraged his soldiers by telling them not to
worry about bullets as standing corn made effective protection!
He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his
demolitions and withdrew. Major Young went back to rescue a
part in this raid.
number of wounded commandos for which he received a Bar
No. 3 Commando’s next major battle was Operation Husky, the to his MC.
assault on Sicily. There, due to an inexperienced flotilla com-
On August 1, 1943, Young was promoted to Lieutenant
mander, his force was landed on the wrong beach behind the
Colonel and given command of No. 3 Commando. He led it
infantry it was supposed to lead ashore! Dunford-Slater offered
through raids in Italy, receiving a second Bar to his MC in the
the frustrated Major Young a new challenge to get his teeth into,
process. He missed the opening of the battle of Termoli (No. 3
a fierce action against a fortified farm near Cassibile, taken at
Commandos biggest battle to date) being sick at the time, but
the cost of one casualty.
arrived before the end of the battle.
Young’s next battle was a raid to secure the Ponte dei Malati
He led No. 3 Commando in the D-Day landings in Normandy,
bridge ahead of 50th (Northumbrian) Division’s advance. This
before taking over a brigade in Burma for the rest of the war.
time the landing went according to plan, and the commandos
seized the bridge. However, when dawn arrived without any sign After the war Brigadier Young was a leading figure in British
of the infantry and increasing pressure from German mobile wargaming, writing Charge! Or How To Play Wargames, one of
reserves, the lightly-equipped commandos removed the bridge the first books on wargaming.

Characteristics
Peter Young is a Warrior, and a Higher Command Rifle team. He is an Independent team and rated as Fearless Veteran. Young is
armed with a M1 Garande rifle. He has a Range of 16”/40cm, ROF 1 with no penalty for moving, an Anti-tank rating of 2, and a
Firepower rating of 6.
Peter Young may join a 1st Special Service Brigade Commando Troop for +50 points.

MC and Double Bar
No one wins three Military Crosses without being calm in the
heat of battle.
Young and any platoon he is currently leading pass all
Motivation Tests on a roll of 2+ instead of their normal
roll.
Contrary
When faced with the ‘impassable’ cliff at Dieppe, Young pri-
vately agreed that it was, but with a surly growl he tackled it
anyway, making it up to his and everyone else’s surprise.
Young and any platoon he is currently leading may re-roll
any failed Skill Test to cross Impassable Terrain using the
Mind and Heart rule.
Cornfields Stop Bullets
To inspire his men’s confidence under fire, Young told them
that 15 feet of standing corn would stop a bullet. He may well
have been right as none were hit. Either way, his men learned to
make excellent use of any cover they could find.
Young and any platoon he joins can be Gone to Ground
when shooting, as long as they are Concealed and did not
move.

11
 1st Special Service Brigade
A 1st Special Service Brigade Commando Troop can be fielded
as a beach invasion force or fighting on the Orne with the
Paras. However, if taken as a beach invasion force, the Rifle
Platoon, Armoured Platoon, Anti-tank Platoon (SP), Royal
Artillery and Field Battery (SP), Royal Artillery choices must
come from the Sword Beach option and Lord Lovat may also
be included in the list.

4th Special Service Brigade

The Royal Marine Commandos landed in the second wave
on D-Day, just after the assault battalions. As they made
their way to their objectives, they occasionally received
support from units of the British 3rd Infantry Division and
27 Armoured Brigade on Sword, Canadian 3rd Infantry
Division and Canadian 2 Armoured Brigade on Juno, while
the British 50th Infantry Division and 8 Armoured brigade
assisted them on Gold.
When making your support selections your Rifle Platoon,
Field Battery, Royal Artillery (SP), and Anti Tank Platoon,
Royal Artillery (SP) must all be from the same beach.
Engineering tanks of the 79th Armoured Division, and
Centaurs of the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group
served along the entire landing zone so may be taken as
support from any of the beaches.

12

Commando Special Rules
No British Bulldog
Commandos are fearless, but they are also raiders. Their
job is to get in, strike hard, and get out. Prolonged combats
simply delay their mission, so the British Bulldog rule does
not apply to Commando platoons.
Know the Plan
Commandos are expected to be independent-minded (if not
downright unconventional) sorts and every man is drilled in
the plan before an attack. That way if the officers are killed,
an NCO, or even a private can take over as needed.
Commando Platoons use the German Mission Tactics
special rule.
Fairbairn-Sykes
Under Captains W E Fairbairn and A E Sykes, a pair of
tough Shanghai policemen, Commandos were trained in
every imaginable method of killing and avoiding being killed
in close combat. The Fairbairn-Sykes dagger they designed
for the Commandos is still in use today.
Commando Infantry Teams hit on a roll of 2+ in an
assault.
Mind and Heart
While in Scotland, the commandos trained in all sorts of
difficult terrain, from flooded bogs to sheer cliffs. This would
serve the troopers well in Normandy. In particular, No. 47
(RM) Commando would use these skills as they navigated
the cliffs west of Arromanche and attacked the heights sur-
rounding Port-en-Bessin.
All commando Infantry and Man-packed Gun teams are
Mountaineers.
Assault Force
The primary task of the 1st and 4th Special Service brigades
on D-Day was to assault strong points between the landing
zones, thereby securing a continuous beachhead from Sword
all the way to Omaha. Once the front had been secured the
Army and Royal Marine Commandos continued to fight on
as assault troops attacking radar stations, gun emplacements,
and bunkers throughout coastal Normandy.
However, the 1st Special Service Brigade soon found them-
selves on the defensive on the Orne River after the initial few
days fighting.
A force containing a Commando Troop (Beaches) will
always attack against any other Infantry Company in a
mission with the Defensive Battle Special Rule.
A force containing a Commando Troop (Orne) is not
effected by the Assault Force special rule, and determines
who attacks as normal in missions with the Defensive
Battle special rule.
British
Commando Special Rules
You Are Not Alone
Commandos are small, hard-hitting strike forces. As each
commando troop has only two small platoons, they must
operate together to win. Every commando knows that no
matter what happens, they are not alone. Even if their troop
runs into insurmountable trouble, another troop will be
there to help them out.
A Commando Troop never has to take a Company Morale
Check for being below half strength. They still take Platoon
Morale Checks as normal though.
However, if the total number of destroyed Commando
Platoons (the Combat platoons) from all troops exceeds the
number still on the table, the Commando player must roll a
die at the start of each turn. On a roll of 3+ the force fights
on, heedless of its losses. On any other roll the remaining
commandos withdraw to conserve their remaining strength
and the game ends. If there are no remaining Commando
Company Command teams then this roll is automatically
failed.
Naval Gunfire Support
The Royal Navy provided direct fire support to the com-
mandos in Normandy from their destroyers sitting just off
shore. Additional naval gunfire from cruisers, battleships,
and monitors bombarded the coastal area with larger calibre
cannons using predetermined fire plans. Though these guns
had little effect on the heavily reinforced concrete bunkers,
they did keep Jerry’s head down long enough for the com-
mandos to launch their assaults.
When using this force to conduct an amphibious landing
use the rules in the D-Day book (see page 15) for Naval
Gunfire Support.
For all other missions use the following rules:
If you have Naval Gunfire support, your force will field
an NGFS Observer Rifle Team. It is an Observer team for
an artillery battery of four Confident Trained naval guns
sitting off table using the Across the Volga Rules (see page
225 of the rule book). They do not have a Staff team.
Weapon Range ROF Anti-Tank Firepower
Naval Guns 112”/200cm - 6 1+
13
 Commando Troop (Beaches)
(Infantry Company)
Headquarters

Company HQ A Commando Troop must field a Company HQ and one Commando Platoon and may field one of
each of the remaining Combat Platoons and Weapons Platoons shown. Only one Commando Troop
may have one Combat Platoon, all other Commando Troops must take two Combat Platoons.
No matter how many Commando Troops you take in your force you may only field one Weapons or
Support Platoon from each Weapons or Support box shown (Armoured, Infantry, etc).
15

Company HQ

Divisional Support Platoons (Choose one platoon from each box)

Combat Platoons

Weapons Platoons

Commando Machine-gun Armoured

19
Platoon Platoon Armoured Platoon

20
Flail Platoon

Commando Machine-gun 16
16

Commando Platoon Platoon

Armoured

19
Mortar Platoon AVRE Section
Commando
Platoon

Commando Mortar Armoured

16

Platoon

19
ARVE Section
16

Commando Platoon

Anti-tank
Anti-tank Platoon,

20
Royal Artillery (SP)
Air Support
26

Priority Air Support

26

Limited Air Support Infantry

17
Rifle Platoon

18
Naval Support Machine-gun Platoon
26

Naval Gun Fire Support

Artillery

18
Heavy Mortar Platoon
Royal Marine Armoured 20
Support Platoon
Field Battery,
21

Royal Artillery (SP)

Anti-aircraft
19

Light Anti-aircraft Platoon

14
 British

Commando Troop (Beaches)

Motivation and Skill
The 4th Special Service Brigade commandos are all veterans of the Royal Marines. The Army Commandos of the
1st Special Service Brigade are vastly experienced. Upon selection these troops were sent to Commando Training
Centre at Achnacarry, Scotland to earn their berets. A Commando Troop is rated Fearless Veteran.

Headquarters
1 Company HQ
Headquarters
Company HQ 20 points Company Command PIAT Rifle team
Rifle team
Option
• Add PIAT team for +20 points.
• Add up to three Sniper teams for +50 points per
team. Commando platoon Commando platoon

Sniper teams are only available to a Commando Troop Commando Troop

(Orne).
Only one of your Commando Troops may have a single
The Commandos of 1 Special Service Brigade had a vital
st Commando Platoon. All others must have two Commando
task on D-Day. Without their haste, a German counter- Platoons.
attack across the Orne could have driven the invasion forces
back into the sea. With grim determination, the commandos
Even though they are an infantry force, a Commando Troop
took position alongside their paratrooper comrades and held
(Beaches) may not take snipers. Their role in Normandy
their ground against determined German assaults.
was to move quickly and assault strong points leaving them
The Royal Marines of the 4th Special Service Brigade no time to set up effective sniper positions.
operated in full strength Commando units consisting of five
commando troops (A, B, X, Y, Z) each named for the turret
positions on major Royal Navy capital ships and a support
troop (S) carrying their Vickers heavy machine guns and
three-inch mortars. In all, a Commando unit consisted of
almost 500 men. However, many of the Royal Marines were
killed in their landing craft by mines or shot while crossing
the unsecured beach. By the time they set off from their
landing zones some commando units were reduced to barely
half their original numbers.

15
 Combat Platoons
Commando Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
Command
2 Commando Squads 220 points Rifle/MG team

Options
• Replace one Rifle/MG team with a Light Mortar
team at no cost.
• Replace one Rifle/MG team with a PIAT team at Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team
no cost.
• Upgrade up to two Rifle/MG teams to SMG teams
Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team
at no cost.
Commando Squad Commando Squad

The men of the 1st Special Service Brigade and 4th Special
Service Brigade played a critical role on D-Day. While the
infantry divisions secured the landing areas and pushed
inland, the Royal Marine Commandos moved laterally
along the shore assaulting Germans strong points raking the
landing zones from the flanks. Once these positions were
eliminated their job was to link the various beachheads in a
Commando Platoon
continuous front from Omaha in the west to Sword to the
east.
The Army Commandos marched quickly to relieve the para-
troopers of 6th Airborne Division. Once across the Orne, the
resilient commandos fought tenaciously to hold the left flank
of the entire invasion.

Weapons Platoons
Commando Machine-gun Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
3 MG Sections 125 points
2 MG Sections 90 points
A force may not have more than one Commando
Machine-gun Platoon.

The commandos employed the Vickers heavy machine gun to

provide covering fire for their assaults and protect hard won
territory from counter attacking Germans. Unfortunately,
on D-Day, many of their guns and ammunition were lost transports and their crews had to fight on with any weapon
as the marines tried to make there way off their ungainly they could find.

Commando Mortar Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
Observer
3 Mortar Sections 125 points Rifle team

2 Mortar Sections 95 points

A force may not have more than one Commando Mortar
Platoon.
3” Mortar 3” Mortar 3” Mortar
The heaviest weapons carried by the commandos were the 3 Mortar Mortar Mortar
inch mortars of their support troop. Able to deliver high ex- Section Section Section
plosive bombs as well as smoke ammunition these weapons Mortar Platoon
were useful against defending infantry, but had little effect
on concrete casements and gun emplacements.

16

Beach Support Platoons
Gold, Sword and Juno Beaches
The Commandos were spread across all three British
beaches.
Your Commando force may either take Support platoons
from the Beach Support Platoons below or from the Orne
Support Platoons on pages 20-23, but not from both.
A Rifle Platoon, Machine-gun Platoon, Heavy Mortar
Motivation and Skill
The 79th Armoured Division and the Royal Marine
Armoured Support Group have new equipment
and are using untested tactics in the assault on
Normandy. They are rated Confident Trained.
On Gold Beach the Royal Marine Commandos
fought alongside the 50th Division and 8th Armoured
Brigade. These units are Confident Veteran.
Canadian Rules
Assault troops
The Canadians have maintained their enviable reputation as
aggressive assault troops, unwilling to be stopped by enemy
fire, no matter how heavy.
Canadian Platoons do not use the British Bulldog special
rule. Instead any Canadian Platoon that is Pinned Down
may re-roll failed Motivation tests to rally from being
Pinned Down or remount vehicles after being Bailed Out.
Rifle Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
3 Rifle Squads 175 points
2 Rifle Squads 135 points
HQ Section with:
3 Rifle Squads 135 points
2 Rifle Squads 105 points
HQ Section with:
3 Rifle Squads 145 points
2 Rifle Squads 115 points
On D-Day, German resistance at the water’s edge required
more time to silence than the Allies had planed. As such,
when the commandos hit the beach they faced intense
machine gun and sniper fire along side the assault battalions
still trying to get off the beach. Fighting side by side, the
infantry, commandos, and supporting tanks broke through
the Atlantic wall and headed for their objectives.
British
Commando Troop (Beaches)
Platoon, Armoured Platoons, Anti-tank Platoon (SP),
Royal Artillery, a Field Battery (SP), Royal Artillery, and a
Light Anti-aircraft Platoon (SP) supporting a Commando
Troop must be from the same beach. For example if you
take a Confident Veteran Rifle Platoon from Gold Beach
and you choose to take a Armoured Platoon it must also be
a Confident Veteran platoon from Gold Beach.
Canadian platoons from Juno Beach use the Canadian
Special Rules.
The Army and Royal Marine Commandos on
Sword Beach fought with the 3rd Division and
27th Armoured Brigade. These units are Confident
Trained.
Juno was the landing beach of the Canadian
3rd Division and 2nd Armoured Brigade. These
Canadian units are Confident Trained.
Woodsmen
Although Canada has been settled for centuries, it was not
until the Nineteenth Century that its population underwent
significant growth and it remains a largely rural country.
Canadian soldiers are typically a little more independent
(and unruly) than British soldiers.
Canadian Platoons use the German Mission Tactics special rule.
The 4th Special Service Brigade was specifically ordered
to avoid contact with the enemy until they reached their
intended targets. In their rush from the landing zone, several
commando units bypassed rifle platoons still fighting brutal
battles in the villages adjacent to the beaches.
17
 Machine-gun Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
2 Machine-gun Sections 195 points
1 Machine-gun Section 105 points
• Add PIAT team for +20 points.
HQ Section with:
2 Machine-gun Sections 150 points
1 Machine-gun Section 80 points
• Add PIAT team for +15 points.
HQ Section with:
2 Machine-gun Sections 160 points
The machine-gunners of the assault divisions’ Machine-gun
1 Machine-gun Section 90 points battalions are highly-trained specialists who provide sus-
• Add PIAT team for +15 points. tained direct-fire support to your company.

Options Using indirect-fire techniques developed and perfected

during the Great War, they lay down long-range barrages to
• Add Troop Carrier and MMG Carriers to the keep Jerry’s head down as your men move up to assault.
platoon at no cost.

Heavy Mortar Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
2 Mortar Sections 185 points
1 Mortar Section 105 points
• Add PIAT team for +20 points.
HQ Section with:
2 Mortar Sections 140 points
1 Mortar Section 80 points
• Add PIAT team for +15 points.
HQ Section with:
2 Mortar Sections 150 points
1 Mortar Section 90 points A platoon of 4.2” mortars provide a commander with the
• Add PIAT team for +15 points. best of both mortars and medium artillery. They are flexible
weapons, being relatively mobile and responsive, having a
Options good range and a large-calibre shell with more explosive
• Add Troop Carrier and Loyd Carriers to the content than the excellent 25 pdr field gun. Their only
platoon at no cost. weakness is their inability to sustain long bombardments.

18
 British
Armoured Platoon

Commando Troop (Beaches)

Platoon
3 Sherman II or III 260 points
Command Sherman
• Add Firefly VC for +105 points.
3 Sherman III 200 points
• Add Firefly VC for +80 points.
3 Sherman III 210 points
• Add Firefly VC for +80 points. Sherman Sherman

The DD tanks of the Assault brigades were some of the

first units to land in France. Intended to arrive just before
the infantry, their job was to eliminate machine-guns and
bunkers that threatened the infantry. Their 75mm cannons
were invaluable to the Allies struggling to dislodge Gerry.
Later, the other regiments of the assaulting armoured
brigades arrived aboard LCTs with their standard transmis-
sion Sherman tanks and the much needed Fireflies. An Armoured Platoon that does not contain a Sherman
Firefly tank may be replaced by Sherman DD tanks. See
page 14 of D-Day for their rules.

Light Anti-aircraft Platoon

Platoon
2 Anti-aircraft Sections 260 points
1 Anti-aircraft Section 130 points
2 Anti-aircraft Sections 200 points
1 Anti-aircraft Section 100 points
2 Anti-aircraft Sections 210 points
1 Anti-aircraft Section 110 points

Options
• Replace all three Bofors 40mm SP self-propelled
guns in each section with four Oerlikon 20mm SP
self-propelled guns for -25 points per Anti-aircraft
Section.
If you believe the ‘Brylcreem Boys’ of the RAF, the Jerries
never manage to crack their air superiority. But the Luftwaffe
still gets through on occasion, and it’s the job of the Assault
divisions’ light anti-aircraft regiment to deal with that
eventuality.
Most anti-aircraft batteries are equipped with self-propelled
40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns with a good range and
hitting power. The light batteries have self-propelled 20mm
Oerlikon guns for use against low-level raiders.

AVRE Section Sergeant

Platoon
2 AVRE 70 points
Command AVRE AVRE
HQ AVRE AVRE
Using their fascines and small box girders the AVsRE
(Armoured Vehicles, Royal Engineers) bridged anti-tank AVRE SECTION
ditches and sea walls creating egresses from the shoreline.
AVsRE used their 290mm “flying dustbin” petard mortars
AVRE Sections use the AVRE Special Rules on pages 28-29
damaging and destroying several concrete bunkers in the
of D-Day.
commandos area of operations. Later AVsRE assisted the
commandos in destroying the Douvre Radar Station.
19
 Flail Platoon

Platoon
3 Sherman Crab 200 points
Command Sherman Crab

The Sherman Crabs were employed to detonate mines along HQ Flail Tank
the beachhead making the sandy shore safe for men and
material alike. However, several Crabs fell victim to the very
mines they were intended to destroy as their chains failed to
strike every mine in their path. Others still became hope-
lessly bogged in soft wet sand. However, the crews of the flail Sherman Crab Sherman Crab
tanks persevered and cleared safe paths through the German Flail Tank Flail Tank
defences by mid morning of D-Day.
Flail Platoon
The Crabs would later be employed in assaulting heavily
mined strong points throughout interior Normandy in Flail Platoons use the Sherman Crab Special Rules on page
support of the commandos and other allied forces. 30 of D-Day. The Mine Flail Special Rules are on page
215 of the Flames Of War rulebook.

Royal Marine Armoured Support Platoon

Platoon
1 Command Sherman and:
4 Centaur 300 points
3 Centaur 240 points
2 Centaur 180 points

Your Royal Marine Armoured Support Platoon may be

used as floating artillery in a “Hit the Beach” mission.

Unlike the Royal Artillery, the Centaurs of the Royal Marine

Armoured Support Group were landed in the very first wave.
Two miles from shore they opened fire with their 95mm
guns peppering the shoreline as their transports tried to find
a safe place to land. Although many did not make it to shore,
those that did proved useful as assault guns. Ordered to stay
within one mile of the shoreline, the Centaurs moved later-
ally along the beaches in small units responding to calls for
RM Armoured Support Platoon
fire support from the infantry companies and their fellow
marine commandos.

Anti-tank Platoon (SP), Royal

Artillery
Platoon
2 Anti-tank Sections 320 points
1 Anti-tank Section 160 points

2 Anti-tank Sections 240 points

1 Anti-tank Section 120 points

2 Anti-tank Sections 250 points

1 Anti-tank Section 130 points The Tank Destroyers of the assault divisions were called
upon to support the commandos not only in fighting enemy
panzers, but also to defeat fortified German positions.

20
 British
Field Battery (SP), Royal Artillery

Commando Troop (Beaches)

Platoon
HQ Troop with:
Two Gun troops armed with Priest with a total of
4 Gun Sections 535 points

4 Gun Sections 395 points

4 Gun Sections 405 points

One Gun troop armed with Priest with a total of
2 Gun Sections 300 points
1 Gun Section 180 points

2 Gun Sections 225 points

1 Gun Section 130 points

2 Gun Sections 235 points

Priest Priest
1 Gun Section 140 points
Two Gun troops armed with Sexton with a total of
4 Gun Sections 485 points Priest Priest
One Gun troop armed with Sexton with a total of
2 Gun Sections 280 points
1 Gun Section 170 points

Options
• Add 15 cwt trucks at no cost.
• Replace all Observer teams and their OP carriers with
Observer Sherman OP tanks for +10 points per tank.
Your Field Battery, Royal Artillery (SP) may be used as
floating artillery in a “Hit the Beach” mission.

Observer Sherman OP Tanks cannot launch assaults.

Just after 0600 hours the self-propelled guns of the assault
divisions’ Royal Artillery regiments opened fire from their
LCTs adding to the deluge of shells falling on the German
defences. Once the infantry, commandos, and armour were
ashore theses vehicles were landed providing additional
direct cannon fire. Unfortunately, due to their thin armour
and open tops, they were ill suited to action on the beach.
Many fell victim to German defensive guns and counter
battery fire.
Once the beach was secured the self-propelled guns made
their way to safer areas and provided indirect fire to the
troops pushing inland.
Priest Priest
Priest Priest
Although a Field Battery (SP), Royal Artillery is a single
Support choice, each Gun Troop operates as a separate platoon
with its own Command team. The Command team and
Staff team of the HQ Troop are Independent teams. If the
Command team of the HQ Troop joins a Gun Troop, it
becomes the Platoon Command team.
Although they count as separate platoons for all other
purposes, a Field Battery (SP), Royal Artillery deploys as a
single platoon, all at the same time. For example, both Gun
Troops are treated as a single platoon when calculating the
number of platoons held in Ambush or Reserve.

21
 Commando Troop (Orne)
(Infantry Company)
Headquarters

Company HQ A Commando Troop must field a Company HQ and one Commando Platoon and may field one of
each of the remaining Combat Platoons and Weapons Platoons shown. Only one Commando Troop
may have one Combat Platoon, all other Commando Troops must take two Combat Platoons.
No matter how many Commando Troops you take in your force you may only field one Weapons or
Support Platoon from each Weapons or Support box shown (Armoured, Infantry, etc).
15

Company HQ

Divisional Support Platoons (Choose one platoon from each box)

Combat Platoons

Weapons Platoons

Commando Machine-gun Armoured

Platoon Platoon

26
Armoured Platoon

Commando Machine-gun 16
16

Commando Platoon Platoon

Anti-tank Anti-tank Platoon,

20
Royal Artillery (SP)
Commando Mortar Platoon

24
Airlanding Anti-tank Platoon
Platoon
Airlanding Heavy Anti-tank

24
Platoon
Commando Mortar
16

Platoon
16

Commando Platoon Infantry

Parachute Platoon

23
Airlanding Platoon

23
24
Highland Rifle Platoon
Air Support
26

Priority Air Support

Artillery Royal Marine Armoured

20
26

Limited Air Support Support Platoon

Field Battery,

25
Royal Artillery
Naval Support Airlanding Battery,

26
Royal Artillery
26

Naval Gun Fire Support

Artillery
Medium Battery,
Royal Artillery 25

22
 British

Commando Troop (Orne)

Orne Support Platoons

The Orne Bridges
The Commandos of the 1st Special Service Brigade on
landing rushed to support the Airborne troops hold the
bridges over the River Orne.
Your Commando force may either take Support platoons
from the Orne Support Platoons below or from the Beach
Support Platoons on pages 15-19, but not from both.
Parachute Platoon, Airlanding Platoon, Airlanding Anti-
tank Platoon, Airlanding Heavy Anti-tank Platoon, a
13th/18th Hussars Armoured Platoon, a 51st Highland
Division Field Battery, Royal Artillery, and a Highland
Rifle Platoon may be taken to support a Commando Troop
fighting on the Orne.
Centaurs of the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group
were soon handed over to X Troop, 210 Battery of the
53rd Airlanding Regiment.
A Royal Marine Armoured Support Platoon can be taken
from the Beach Support Section with the Orne Support
Platoon options.
Airborne platoons are rated Fearless Veteran.
51st Highland Division platoons are rated Reluctant
Veteran.
A Medium Battery, Royal Artillery is rated Confident
Trained.

Parachute Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
3 Rifle Squads 240 points
2 Rifle Squads 175 points

Commandos and paratroopers fought hard together in the

days following the invasion, each gaining a competitive
respect for one another that exists even today. The arrival
of 1st Special Service Brigade, and their position on the left
flank, allowed the paratroopers to concentrate their defences
around Ranville.

Gammon Bombs Section Mortars

All Rifle/MG teams in a Parachute Platoon carry Gammon Each turn one of the Parachute Platoon’s Rifle/MG teams
Bombs giving them Tank Assault 3. may fire as a Light Mortar team firing Smoke.

Airlanding Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
Scout Squad and:
3 Rifle Squads 230 points
2 Rifle Squads 170 points

The airlanding troops of 6th Airborne Division were delighted

to see the reserves of 1st Special Service Brigade reach the
bridges that they had captured that morning. Arriving only
two minutes late, the commandos ensured that these daring
airborne soldiers would endure any German counter-attack.

Gammon Bombs
All Rifle/MG teams in a Airlanding Platoon carry Gammon
Bombs giving them Tank Assault 3.

23
 Highland Rifle Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
3 Rifle Squads 135 points
2 Rifle Squads 100 points

On 10 June, the commandos and paratroopers received

further reinforcement from the 51st Highland Infantry
Division. These rugged desert veterans were quickly put
into action although encountered severe resistance from the
Germans defending Breville.

Cautious not Stupid

If a platoon from the 51st Highland Division was not hit in
the previous enemy Shooting Step, it may re-roll any failed
attempts to rally Pinned Down platoons.

Airlanding Anti-tank Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
2 Anti-tank Sections 175 points
1 Anti-tank Section 95 points

6 pdr anti-tank guns of 3 and 4 Airlanding Anti-tank battery

were often in the line with the commandos of 1st Special
Service Brigade. These guns were capable of taking on any
German armour encountered in the airborne salient.

Airlanding Heavy Anti-tank

Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
1 Anti-tank Section 155 points

Several 17pdr anti-tank guns were flown into the airborne

lodgement on the night of 6th June where they were im-
mediately put into action the following day. Directed by
an officer of 3 Commando, the 17pdrs knocked out several
enemy tanks that were attacking south of Ranville.

24
 British
Field Battery, Royal Artillery

Commando Troop (Orne)

Platoon
HQ Troop with:
Two Gun Troops with a total of
4 Gun Sections 280 points
One Gun Troop with a total of
2 Gun Sections 170 points
1 Gun Section 105 points

Options
• Add 15 cwt trucks and Quad tractors at no cost.

Although a Field Battery, Royal Artillery is a single Support

choice, each Gun Troop operates as a separate platoon with
its own Command team. The HQ Troop Command team
and Staff team are Independent teams. If the HQ Troop
Command team joins a Gun Troop, it becomes the Platoon
Command team.
Although they count as separate platoons for all other
purposes, a Field Battery, Royal Artillery deploys as a single
platoon, all at the same time. For example, both Gun Troops
are treated as a single platoon when calculating the number
of platoons held in Ambush or Reserve.

Cautious not Stupid

If a platoon from the 51st Highland Division was not hit in
the previous enemy Shooting Step, it may re-roll any failed
attempts to rally Pinned Down platoons or remount Bailed
Out vehicles.

Medium Battery, Royal Artillery

A Medium Battery, Royal Artillery is organised the same as
the Field Battery, Royal Artillery above, except that they must
replace all 25 pdr guns with 5.5” guns and all Quad tractors
with Matador trucks.

Platoon
HQ Troop with:
Two Gun Troops with a total of
4 Gun Sections 390 points
One Gun Troop with a total of
2 Gun Sections 225 points
1 Gun Section 135 points

Options
• Add 15 cwt trucks and Matador tractors at no cost.
You may not field a Medium Battery, Royal Artillery
unless you are also fielding a Field Battery, Royal Artillery Medium Batteries, Royal Artillery count as Field Batteries,
or Airlanding Battery, Royal Artillery with at least as Royal Artillery for the purposes of the British special rules.
many guns. Medium Batteries, Royal Artillery may not be deployed
in Ambush.

25
 Airlanding Battery, Royal Artillery

Platoon
HQ Section with:
2 Gun Sections 140 points
1 Gun Section 85 points

Option
• Add Jeep teams at no cost.

On the night of 6 June, the 6th Airlanding Brigade descended

around Ranville with vital reserves, including the 75mm Pack
Howitzers of the 53rd Airlanding Regiment, Royal Artillery.
These light guns provided immediate fire support for the
many patrols and incursions conducted by the commandos
of 1st Special Service Brigade.

Armoured Platoon
The tanks of 13th/18th Hussars supplied Sherman tank support throughout the Normandy campaign to the troops in the
airborne salient. Often engaged with the Panzer IV tanks of the 21. Panzerdivision, the resilient tankers of 13th/18th Hussars
succeeded in halting several German counter-attacks.
Use the Sword beach Confident Trained Armoured Platoon option on page 19 to represent the tanks of 13th/18th
Hussars.

Airforce and Navy Support

Aircraft Flight Lieutenant

Flight Lieutenant
Priority Air Support
Typhoon 220 points
Aircraft
Limited Air Support
Typhoon 170 points
Aircraft Aircraft
Flight

Flight

Naval Gun Fire Support Captain

Captain
Naval Gun Fire Support
Naval Gun Fire Support 250 points

HMS Diadem Dido Class Light Cruiser

Cruiser

Naval Gun Fire Support

26
 British

Arsenal
Arsenal
TANK TEAMS
Armour
Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes
Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

Medium Tanks
Sherman II or III Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Tow hook.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Semi-indirect fire, Smoke.
Sherman DD Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Tow hook, DD tank.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Semi-indirect fire, Smoke.
Centaur Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Protected ammo, Unreliable.
OQF 95mm CS howitzer 24”/60cm 2 7 3+ Smoke.
Firing bombardments 48”/120cm - 4 5+ Smoke bombardment.
Firefly VC Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Tow hook.
OQF 17 pdr gun 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ No HE, Semi-indirect fire.

Armoured Engineering Vehicles

AVRE Fully-tracked 8 7 2 Co-ax MG, AVRE, Protected Ammo, Slow tank, Wide-tracked.
Petard mortar 4”/10cm 1 5 1+ Bunker buster, Demolition mortar, Slow traverse.
Sherman Crab Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Overloaded, Mine flail.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke.

Self-propelled Anti-tank Guns

M10 3” SP Fully-tracked 4 2 0 .50 cal AA MG.
M7 3” gun 32”/80cm 2 12 3+ Slow traverse.

Self-propelled Anti-aircraft Guns

Oerlikon 20mm SP Wheeled - - -
Oelikon 20mm gun 16”/40cm 4 5 5+ Anti-aircraft.
Bofors 40mm SP Wheeled - - - Awarkward layout.
Bofors 40mm gun 24”/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircraft.

Self-propelled Guns
Sexton Fully-tracked 1 0 0 AA MG.
OQF 25 pdr gun 24”/60cm 2 9 3+ Hull mounted, Smoke.
Firing bombardments 80”/200cm - 4 5+ Smoke bombardment.
Priest Fully-tracked 1 0 0 .50 cal AA MG.
M2A1 105mm gun 24”/60cm 1 9 2+ Hull mounted, Smoke.
Firing bombardments 72”/180cm - 4 4+ Smoke bombardment.
Sherman OP Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Hull MG.

Vehicle Machine-guns
Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 1 if other weapons fire.
.50 cal Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ ROF 1 if other weapons fire.

27
 GUN TEAMS
Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Vickers HMG Man-packed 24”/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.
ML 3” Mk II mortar Man-packed 40”/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment.
ML 4.2” mortar Light 48”/120cm - 3 4+ Smoke bombardment.
OQF 6 pdr gun Medium 24”/60cm 3 10 4+ Gun shield.
OQF 17 pdr gun Immobile 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Gun shield, No HE.
M1A1 75mm pack howitzer Light 16”/40cm 2 6 3+ Smoke.
Firing bombardments 64”/160cm - 3 6 Smoke bombardments.
OQF 25 pdr gun Heavy 24”/60cm 2 9 3+ Gun shield, Smoke, Turntable.
Firing bombardments 80”/200cm - 4 5+ Smoke bombardments.
BL 5.5” gun Immobile 32”/80cm 1 13 1+ Bunker buster.
Firing bombardments 88”/220cm - 5 2+

INFANTRY TEAMS
Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Rifle team 16”/40cm 1 2 6
Rifle/MG team 16”/40cm 2 2 6
SMG team 4”/10cm 3 1 6 Full ROF when moving.
Light Mortar team 16”/40cm 1 1 4+ Smoke, Can fire over friendly teams.
PIAT team 8”/20cm 1 10 5+ Tank Assault 4.
Staff team cannot shoot Moves as a Heavy Gun team.

Additional Training and Equipment

Teams with Gammon bombs are rated as Tank Assault 3.

TRANSPORT TEAMS
Armour
Vehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes
Jeep Jeep - - -
CMP 15 cwt or 3-ton truck Wheeled - - -
Quad tractor Wheeled - - -
Troop, OP or Loyd Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0
MMG Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0 HMG Carrier, Passenfer-fired hull MG.

Aircraft
Aircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Typhoon Cannon 3+ 8 5+
Rockets 3+ 6 3+

28