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Battlegroup - Canadas Crucible
Battlegroup - Canadas Crucible
CANADA’S CRUCIBLE
A LOCATION-TO-LOCATION CAMPAIGN
THE BATTLE FOR NORREY-EN-BESSIN
NORMANDY, JUNE 8th-11th, 1944
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
Play this battle at the end of the Allied naval taskforce waiting off rivalry, in which the Canadians then
campaign turn 10, midway through the coast of Normandy. They could sort to take revenge. These atrocities
June 11th, before beginning also look to good close air support also hardened their enemy against
Campaign Turn 11. from the RAF’s Typhoons and the SS soldiers. Men believing they
Spitfires. may be executed rarely surrender.
7th CANADIAN INFANTRY
BRIGADE, 3rd CANADIAN The Canadians did have some The battles became pitiless and the
INFANTRY DIVISION restrictions though, the division’s young SS soldiers gained a degree
After successful fighting their away logistical tail was still unloading of infamy. That infamy was paid for
ashore over Juno Beach on D-Day, across Juno Beach and no replace in blood, the 12th SS Division would
the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division men or vehicles had yet reached them suffer horrific losses in Normandy.
initially pushed inland against after their D-Day losses.
collapsing German resistance. On During the early stages of the
D-Day+1 they had reached the 12th SS PANZER DIVISION Normandy campaign (as dealt with
small village of Norrey-en-Bessin, ‘HITLER JUGEND’ here) the 12th SS Panzer Division
16km inland from the beaches. Here Raced from the Paris area to was led by Brigadeführer Fritz
they first encountered the rapidly Normandy to meet the invasion, 12th Witt. Around Norrey the principal
deploying elite 12th SS Panzer SS Panzer Division first arrived in divisional sub-units were the 26th
Division, ‘Hitlerjugend’. They would the Caen area on D-Day+1 and was SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment,
become locked in bitter combat with immediate thrown in the fighting. commanded by Standartenführer
the young SS soldiers for the next Wilhelm Mohnke, with elements of
five weeks, but in the first days their The division arrived piecemeal, both 1st and 2nd Battalions, 12th SS
battle centred around Norrey-en- struggling to get its units in place Panzer Regiment, plus supporting
Bessin and Bretteville. against the Allie’s air interdiction artillery, pioneer, anti-tank,
of the invasion area, so it could not reconnaissance and logistics assets
As it pushed inland the Canadian muster its full fighting power in the from other divisional units.
division had deployed two of its first few days of combat. As more of
three infantry brigades forward, the the division’s units arrived at Caen Beyond the division there was very
9th and 7th, whilst its third brigade, the ‘Hilter Jugend’ extend their lines little extra aid. Notably, the Luftwaffe
the 8th, was in reserve, still holding westward from the town, but it took seemed all but non-existent.
the beaches and mopping up the last some days to get their full supporting
German resistance that had been artillery, logistics and engineering PLAYING THE CAMPAIGN
bypassed in the previous two days units in place. By then, the division This is a location-to-location
advance. On the left of the advance had already been in heavy combat campaign. It takes the form of a
was the 9th Infantry Brigade and they and was starting to suffer attrition of small, map-based board game in
faced a very strong counter-attack its men and equipment. In the first which players use the map provided
by 12th SS Panzer from Caen, with few weeks of the battle replacements to move their forces from one
heavy fighting around Authie and would be almost zero, every man and location to another, and occupy those
Buron. Here, their advance stalled, tank lost would see the division’s locations to win campaign victory
short of the objective of Carpiquet fighting strength deteriorate. points. Tabletop battles are fought
airfield. On the right of the advance for ownership of these locations. A
was 7th Infantry Brigade and they The manpower of the division location isn’t a specific place, think of
reached Norrey and Putot-en-Bessin, was drawn from Hitler Youth it more as ‘in the area of’ than as an
led by the Regina Rifles and the recruits, mostly teenage boys, led by exact point on the map. Each player
Winnipeg Rifles battalions. hardened veterans of combat on the moves his forces (represented by
Eastern Front. They were fanatical, counters) on the map and when both
This campaign deals with the heavy indoctrinated Nazi’s, raised on sides have forces on the same location
defensive fighting on 7th Infantry hate-filled Nazi propaganda and then there might be a battle, which
Brigade’s front, especially the Regina believing they were undefeatable. is then played out on the tabletop
Rifles at Norrey-en-Bessin. The The Canadians (by contrast, all with miniatures. ‘Might’ is used here
Reginas were not fighting alone, they civilian volunteers) would soon because there is chance for a force
had their division to support them, disprove this arrogant belief and fight that is outnumbered to withdraw
including Sherman tanks of the 2nd a well-equipped, full strength panzer from a location and thus concede it to
Canadian Armoured Brigade - in this division, vaunted as amongst the the enemy without a battle (and thus
sector mainly the responsibility of the best Germany could field, to a bitter preserve his forces in the process).
1st Hussars. They could also look to stalemate.
artillery, anti-tank, reconnaissance THE CAMPAIGN AREA
and engineering support from During the campaign, these young, The campaign takes place in the
divisional assets as they fought to fanatical recruit’s discipline failed, as vicinity of Norrey-en-Bessin and
hold their front lines. they were responsible for multiple Bretteville, in the streets of the town
atrocities and war crimes during the and villages, the fields and flat
Being only 16km inland, the battles for Norrey and around Caen. farming country to the south. The
Canadian frontlines were still in Canadian prisoners of war were area is split in two by the Caen to
range of some of the potent guns of executed and this led to a very bitter Bayeux railway line, which runs east
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
to west, level with the countryside division offensive against the the force has the support of engineer
or in a shallow cutting. Norrey-en- British-held beaches. The German units at that location and this will
Bessin is a small village of about 20 player has four days with which allow the player to spend up to 250
buildings, dominated by its large to complete the mission, otherwise points on Engineer support units on
church, which has a very tall spire. British reinforcements arriving across the tabletop. At least half (125pts)
The other villages at Le Villeneuve, the beaches into the lodgement area must be spent on Engineer Support
Le Mesnil Patry and the southern will have become too strong and units. The usual restrictions on
edge of Putot-en-Bessin are similar the panzer offensive will have to purchasing troops do not apply to
small hamlets of grey stone cottages, be called off anyway. Historically, this count. Without this counter no
farm buildings and the occasional 12th SS Panzer’s men never captured Engineer Support can be used during
shop. Bretteville is a larger town and Norrey or Bretteville, but in this a battle.
also has a large church. campiagn the German player is
attempting to re-write that history. THE CAMPAIGN TURN
This is not the infamous bocage The campaign lasts for 4 days, from
country, but the fields and pastures The Canadian player must prevent June 8th to June 11th (inclusive). Each
are marked by plenty of hedgerows, the Germans taking Norrey and day is split into 3 campaign turns,
some very large. Many of the fields Bretteville, if the enemy do take them, morning, afternoon and evening. So,
are full with ripening corn standing 5’ he must continue to fight to recapture the campaign will last a total of 12
tall. There are many orchards. There them as best he can. This position is campaign turns. At the end of the
are no major hills in the area, the key to holding their beachhead and 12th turn the campaign ends and
north of the region is slightly higher must not be allowed to fall to the both sides add up their Campaign
than the south, but there are only enemy. victory points. The side with the
slight rises and falls in the ground, highest total is the overall winner.
nothing that should be considered a FORCE COUNTERS Each campaign turn is played in
hill on a wargames table, beyond a Each player has a set of counters sequence. Starting with the German
very low rise. which represent his forces on the player (they are generally attacking
campaign map (see page 144). Each and thus have the strategic initiative),
The roads are dirt tracks, except the counter represents 250 points worth the players take it in turns to move
east-west Caen to Bayeux highway of troops on the tabletop. their counters on the map. First the
that runs through Le Villeneuve German player moves all (or some of)
and Bretteville, this has a metalled A player can have a maximum of 4 the counters in one location, via the
road surface. There are many small of his counters in any one location. routes marked on the map, to another
farming access tracks between the In this case, this would represent location. Each counter has a map
fields, most not wide enough to get a 1,000 points of units in that area (a movement allowance (listed later).
tank down. substantial force in this campaign). When the move is complete, it is the
other player’s turn to move from
The Chateau Mesnil is a two storey The number of counters in a location one location to the next. Take it in
farmhouse, nothing too grand despite will dictate the number of points turns until both players have moved
its name, and still remains today. La used to pick forces and fight a all the units they want to. No unit
Ferme de Cardonville is a large farm, tabletop battle. can exceed its maximum movement
surrounded by thick, high walls, allowance for the campaign turn
and was something of fortress for Special Counters for any reason, except to make
the Canadians holding it. All troops There are a couple of special withdrawal move (see later).
inside should count its walls and counters. These are marked ‘Recce’ If, at any point during movement,
buildings as reinforced cover (3+ and ‘Engineers’. both sides end up with units at
cover save). It is not the only farm, the same location then determine
and all the locations might have a few Recce if there will be a battle. There will
agricultural buildings, barns, animal This force is a fast ‘reconnaissance’ automatically be a battle, unless the
sheds etc, scattered about. based unit, and as such will have side with the least counters on the
special restrictions placed on it when location decides to withdraw (see
Only around Le Mesnil de Patry is buying troops for the tabletop. Each Withdrawing).
the area at all wooded, although there Recce counter still represents 250
are frequent smaller copses dotted points of units, of which at least Withdrawing
around the fields. There are no major half (125 points) must be spend on A player can only withdraw from a
rivers or even streams beyond field Reconnaissance Support. The usual location if he has less counters than
drainage ditches. restrictions on purchasing troops the opponent in the location. This
do not apply to this count. Without includes any counters arriving as
CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES this counter being present no Reinforcements from other locations.
The German player is attempting Reconnaissance Support units can be If the sides have equal number of
to capture Norrey-en-Bessin and used during a battle. counters (or more) then he must
Bretteville and thus eliminate the stand and fight.
Canadian salient. If he can do so Engineers
then the Germans may then be able Each side also has an Engineers If a player decides to withdraw from
to begin a combined three panzer counter. Like Recce troops this means a location rather than fight for it, then
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
move all the counters in his stack 1 on a movement route, it must be in Above: Youthful SS Panzergrenadiers of 12th SS
location in any direct. This cannot location at the end of its move. Panzer Division, photographed on patrol near Rots/
be in the direction from which the La Villeneuve.
enemy moved, and cannot result in A unit cannot move through a
being in a location already occupied location occupied by any enemy
by the enemy. If a player wants units, first it must fight the tabletop as long as they still have the required
to withdraw from a location but battle for possession of the location movement allowance. Units which
has nowhere to withdraw to, then (assuming the enemy don’t withdraw are picked up cannot make extra
he must either surrender his force that is). If a unit has to fight a tabletop movement, they remain with the new
(remove the counters from the map) battle, then its move ends and it will stack.
or fight a desperate last stand in the not be able to move again in this
original location. campaign turn, because the time was Any counters that have already been
taken up by the engagement and then involved in a battle this turn (not a
MAP MOVEMENT regrouping, etc. withdrawal) cannot make any move.
Each location on the map is joined
by a movement route, and each If counters moves into a location Map Movement Allowances
movement route is assigned a and enemy units in that location Each counter has a set movement
movement distance (the large black withdraw, then their movement also allowance.
number). This is the amount of ends, as they spent time preparing for
movement allowance it takes to move battle, getting organised and dealing • A German counter has a movement
along this route, and it is determined with any enemy rearguard units (this allowance of 4 (All German forces are
by the distance and availability of is assumed to happen, no tabletop assumed to be motorised)
roads or tracks. Long moves cross- battle is actually fought).
country cost more than short moves • A Canadian counter has a
by road. A unit must be able to pay During movement commanders are movement allowance of 3 (all of the
the full movement distance from free to split stacks of unit counters infantry are on foot)
its movement allowance in order and ‘drop off’ counters at a location,
to move from one location to the they are also free to ‘pick up’ • A Recce counter has a movement
next. If the unit cannot pay the full counters as they move, forming a allowance of 5
amount then it remains in its current larger stack. They may not exceed the
location (and will have to move next 4 counter limit though. Units which • An Engineering counter has a
turn). A unit cannot end its move are dropped off may continue their movement allowance of 3
own movement along another route,
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
having left their half tracks well with Sherman tanks. No Churchills • 1 Canadian Recce counter in
behind the battlefield and advanced can be taken during the campaign. Bretteville West
on foot. Engineering Churchills (listed in • 1 Canadian counter in Bretteville
the Engineers Support assets) may Centre
When requesting artillery the be included only when engineer • 2 Canadian counters in Bretteville
maximum level the German force troops are available. 3rd Anti-Tank East
can select from is Division. No Corps Regiment, attached to the division, • 1 Canadian counter in Norrey-
or Army level artillery support is was equipped with batteries of M10 West
available throughout the campaign, tank destroyer and towed 17pdr • 1 Canadian counter in Norrey-East
as it is not yet in place as the guns. • 1 Canadian counter in Norrey
Germans responded to the invasion, Station
getting the bigger guns in position The Canadian’s divisional artillery • 1 Canadian counter in La Ferme de
would take time. was rapidly in position and provided Cardonville
very good support to the defence of
The German player can only select Norrey and Bretteville and the battle Germans
units from the Reconnaissance also took place within range of naval • 1 German Recce counter in Le
Support section if his counters in guns out at sea. All the division’s Villenueve
the location include at least 1 Recce artillery batteries were equipped • 1 German counter in Le Villenueve
counter, otherwise Reconnaissance with self-propelled M8 Priests, with • 1 German Recce counter in Putot-
Support may not be included. 105mm guns, their extra mobilty en-Bessin, South
over towed guns was to allow them • 1 German counters in Le Mesnil
The German player can only select to advance quickly off the beach and Chateau
units from Engineer Support if his establish firing positions in support • 2 German counters in Le Mesnil
counters in the location include the of the inland advance. Larger guns Patry
engineer counter, otherwise Engineer were not yet available unless from • 2 German counters in St Manvieu
Support may not be included. naval fire support, but these included Road
some very large guns indeed.
If both players agree, and the MAP REINFORCEMENTS
historical accuracy of the campaign The Canadian player can only select Reinforcements start to arrive from
is not of primary importance, then units from the Reconnaissance campaign turn 2. Place the following
this restriction can be lifted, and both Support section if his counters in counters on the map before the start
players can opt to use the full army the location include at least 1 Recce of the campaign turn, before any of
lists provided in the Battlegroup: counter, otherwise Reconnaissance the turn’s movement is resolved.
Overlord book. In this case the Support may not be included. These
Panzer Division army list. This will represent the roving units of 7th If the enemy hold the location in
allow players to use their full model Reconnaissance Regiment’s armoured which reinforcements would arrive,
collections in a ‘what-if’ scenario. cars (the 17th Duke of York’s Royal or their are already the maximum
Canadian Hussars). of 4 counters in the location, then
Datacards for the division’s available the controlling player may place the
armoured vehicles are included on The Canadian player can only select reinforcements at another location,
inserts at the back of this book. units from Engineer Support if his adjacent to (and on a route from)
counters in the location include the the original location. Where there is
Canadian Army List Restrictions engineer counter, otherwise Engineer more than one location available, the
The army list provided for 3rd Support may not be included. player may chose which to place his
Canadian Infantry is designed to best reinforcements in.
recreate the unit on the tabletop. It If both players agree, and the
is a cut-down version of the basic historical accuracy of the campaign June 8th
British Infantry Division list from is not of primary importance, then Turn 1
Battlegroup: Overlord. It has been this restriction can be lifted, and both • Initial Deployment only
adapted to fit with 3rd Canadian players can opt to use the full army
Division’s own equipment and lists provided in the Battlegroup: Turn 2
artillery support during the first few Overlord book. In this case, the • Place 1 Canadian counter in
days post D-Day. British Infantry Division list. This will Bretteville Centre.
allow players to use their full model • Place 1 German counter in Le
Although a fully motorised infantry collections in a ‘what-if’ scenario. Villeneuve
division in name, the 3rd Canadian
Infantry did not yet have its usual Datacards for the division’s available Turn 3
truck transports available, they had armoured vehicles are included on • Place 1 Canadian counter in
not arrived across the beaches. No inserts at the back of this book. Bretteville Centre.
infantry platoons or squads may take • Place 1 German counter in St
trucks, they must be taken on foot. INITIAL MAP DEPLOYMENT Manvieu Road.
Canadians
The three Canadian armoured units The campaign begins with Canadian
of the division were all equipped counters placed on the map, as follows;
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
June 9th The Canadian player has 14 counters, Above: Gunners of 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment
Turn 4 including 1 Recce counter and 2 with a large 17pdr anti-tank gun, deployed and
• Place 1 Canadian counter in Engineers counters. camouflaged on the edge of Norrey-en-Bessin in
June 1944.
Bretteville Centre.
• Place 1 German counter in Le CAMPAIGN VICTORY POINTS
Mesnil Fields. Throughout the campaign keep track
of which side wins each battle. It will
Turn 5 help determine the ultimate winner.
• Place 1 Canadian counter in Some locations on the map are worth Example
Bretteville East. campaign victory points (marked At the end of turn 12, there have been
as a white number). These are the 11 battles, of various sizes, fought in the
Turn 6 important locations to hold on to or campaign. The Canadians won 5, the
• Place 1 German counter in Le capture. At the end of the fourth day, Germans won 6. Each win is worth 1
Mesnil Fields. turn 12, add up the total of campaign campaign victory point.
victory points for locations occupied
June 10th by each side’s counters. At the end of the campaign, the
Turn 7 Canadians occupy locations worth 6
• Place 1 Canadian Engineers counter For each battle fought, regardless of victory points on the map. The Germans
in Bretteville Centre. location, the winning side gains 1 occupy locations worth 2 victory points.
campaign victory point.
Turn 8 All four historical refights were played,
• Place 2 German Engineers counters The four historical re-fights are with the Canadians winning the first
in Le Mesnil Patry. also each worth campaign victory two, worth 1 and 2 victory points, so 3
points, as described in the scenario. victory points in all. The Germans won
Turn 9 Total up the victory points gained the next two, worth 2 and 3 victory
• Place 1 Canadian Engineers counter from winning any of these scenarios points, so 5 in all.
in Bretteville East. played during the campaign.
The Canadian total is 5+6+3 = 14. The
Turn 10+ Add the number of campaign victory German total is 6+2+5=13. A very
• No additional counters for either points for locations occupied to narrow victory for the Canadians.
side from now until the end of the the number of battles won to the
campaign. bonus campaign victory points from
winning the historical re-fights. The
In total, the German player has a total side with the highest total is the
of 14 counters, including his 2 Recce overall winner of the campaign.
counters and 2 Engineers counter.
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
THE BATTLE FOR quickly reported as secured. Here, they had quickly captured from more
NORREY-EN-BESSIN, C Company began to dig-in for the retreating Germans. The battalion’s
night. C Company was furthest south, on
AS IT HAPPENED
the right, digging in at Norrey-en-
Following its successful amphibious Norrey-en-Bessin was a small hamlet Bessin, whilst between these two
landing at Juno Beach on 6th June, of about 20 buildings, centred on its companies, D Company occupied
the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division towering gothic church, one of the the Le Villeneuve area, astride the
had pushed inland, gaining the finest examples in Normandy, with main Caen-Bayeux road. Also in
largest lodgement area of any of the just three or four shops and very the Regina Rifles battalion area of
Allied divisions on D-Day. Behind tight roads, crowded by the small operation was the carrier platoon
the first wave assault troops the rest grey stone houses, so close that tanks from the next battalion in the line,
of the division was still landing upon moving through the village scraped on the division’s extreme right. The
the beach and quickly moving inland, their flanks along the buildings. carrier platoon of the Royal Winnipeg
by the end of D-Day the furthest One feature was the very tight road Rifles established themselves around
units had reached Anisy and Villons- junction at the church, so narrow that a large and solidly built farm and
le-Buissons, 12 km from the beach. tanks could not get round the bend courtyard known as La Ferme de
without reversing several times. Just Cardonville, adjacent to the Caen-
7th June north of the village was its railway Bayeux railway cutting. Stretching
On June 7th, the advance inland station, a small halt on the Caen- west of this platoon, around the
had to continue. At first, opposition Bayeux line, with a small hotel close village of Putot-en-Bessin, were the
from the few German survivors of by, the ‘Hotel de la Gare’. The village rifle companies of the Winnipeg
D-Day was sporadic and generally itself held a commanding position, Rifles. Beyond them lay nothing. The
ineffective. The remnants of the on slightly higher ground as it looked British 50th Infantry Division had not
shattered 716th Infantry Division out south, over ripening cornfields to yet pushed so far inland to tie in with
offered only slight resistance, mostly where the Germans were mustering the Winnipegs. It was a dangerous
with harassing sniper fire and their defence. exposed flank.
mortar barrages but, now lacking
the strength for a serious fight, the Meanwhile, as 12th SS Division Luckily for the Canadians, the 12th
division had all but ceased to be a was fighting hard north-west of SS Division were, as yet, not in a
coherent fighting unit. Throughout Caen, it was also speeding other strong position. Much of the elite
June 7th, the Canadians moved units westwards, extending its lines division was still arriving in their
steadily south. 9th Canadian Infantry to block the Canadian’s almost muster areas after a difficult road
Brigade’s three battalion were on unhindered advance through march, moving in small units from
the division’s left, moving towards Bretteville. The 1st battalion of the cover to cover, trying to avoid the
Authie, Buron and the airfield at divisions’ 26th Panzer Grenadier roving Allied air patrols that were
Carpiquet. 7th Canadian Infantry Regiment, mounted in its armour sweeping all the main access roads
Brigade advanced on the right, carriers, raced into positions south of into Normandy. The SS’ first swift
pushing towards its D-Day objective Norrey, around the villages of Cheux tank attack from Caen had bloodied
of the small town of Bretteville and Fontenay-le-Pesnel, but they the enemy’s noses, but it had not
d’Orgueilleuse. The division’s third were only finally in place in strength smashed through the Canadians
brigade, 8th Canadian Infantry that night, having to move carefuly and reached the sea, as had been
Brigade, was deployed behind the for fear of roving Allied air attacks. expected. Losses in that attack had
leading two, securing the rear areas On the Canadian 3rd Division’s left, also been heavy. Like the Canadians,
and beach and held in reserve, as well the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, the fresh SS panzer division also had
as clearing the last German resistance pushed back but unbroken by the little support to the west, with it left
points that had been bypassed on sudden enemy tank assault around flank exposed to a swift advance by
D-Day. Buron and Authie, held, and the SS the British 50th Infantry Division
attackers withdrew back towards moving south from their Gold Beach
Whilst 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade Caen. By last light on the 7th June the lodgement area. This gap in the
(CIB) ran into a large armoured Canadian Division had had its first line to the west was to be filled by
counter-attack launched from Caen taste of the bloody fighting to come the powerful Panzer Lehr Division,
by 12th SS Panzer Division, the 7th against a very determined, skilled which was now arriving in dribs and
CIB advance soon captured the town and well-equipped enemy formation. drabs, as best it could, but as yet was
of Bretteville, to be welcomed as not in position to launch any attack of
liberators and with little sign of any In Norrey-en-Bessin, the Regina its own.
Germans. The leading battalion, the Rifles had secured its positions.
Regina Rifles, then pressed on further Lieutenant-Colonel Matheson June 8th would see the battle on
south. Its C Company entering the (commanding) had establishing his the frontline of the lodgement area
village of Norrey-en-Bessin in the battalion headquarters in Bretteville renewed, with the main focus of the
evening, where they encountered itself. His A Company was the 12th SS’ attacks moving from north-
sniper fire from the village’s very tall Regina’s reserve unit, also holding west of Caen at Authie and Buron,
church tower. The overwhelming in Bretteville. B Company was westward to Bretteville and the small
return fire silenced the sniper and positioned further east, digging in salient at Norrey-en-Bessin.
the village was then searched and around the village of Rots which
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
8th June The previous evening C Company’s Putot-en-Bessin and overran units
Before dawn on June 8th, with commander, Major Tubb, and his of the Winnipeg Rifles, which were
ordered to recapture Norrey and attached artillery observer from 13th forced to concede the village and
remove the threatening salient Artillery Regiment, had completed retreated, leaving the 3rd Division’s
it created, thrust out from the an artillery fire plan that zero’d right flank in danger of being turned
Canadians main lines, 1st Battalion, their supporting guns on exactly and Norrey increasing in danger of
26th Panzer Grenadier Regiment the route the Germans were now being surrounded.
(under Sturmbannfuhrer Krause) advancing on. As the SS grenadiers
launched an attack on Norrey with closed on Norrey, the 105mm guns At the Regina Rifle’s battalion HQ,
two prongs, one from the south-west, of the M7 Priest batteries (positioned Lt-Col Matheson now decided his
the other the south-east. Dismounted, back at Bray) opened fire. The four companies were too thinly
but with their half track carriers thunderous bombardment smashed spread to offer much mutual support
and other mobile support weapons into the German attack and then to each other. The night attacks
rolling on behind the infantry moved the defenders opened their own at Norrey and Putot showed that
through the darkness. They had no withering fire. The SS men tried to the Germans were now present
artillery support and there were no press the assault, but it did not last in significant numbers and on the
tanks available to aid the panzer long. The German infantry attack offensive. More attacks would surely
grenadiers, only their own mortars. crumbled under the heavy fire and follow. So, to shorten and thicken
The south-eastern prong soon hit they withdrew, leaving wrecked his lines, the Lt-Colonel moved his
trouble, drawing heavy fire from the half-tracks and their dead scattered B Company from Rots west to Le
Canadian troops near Le Villeneuve, through the fields south of the Villeneuve, replacing D Company,
and it was halted. The south-western village. which also moved west, to take over
prong bumped the lines of the Regina at La Ferme de Cardonville from the
Rifles C Company on the outskirts of Whilst the defence of Norrey was Winnipeg’s carrier platoon (itself
Norrey and soon star-flares, fired by holding firm, the Germans also now needed for a planned counter-
both sides, lit the fields. attacked further west, as the rest of
26th Panzer Grenadier Regiment (its Below: 3" mortar crews of the Regina Rifles
2nd battalion) fought their way into dig-in near Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse.
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they had very little infantry support his last troops out of Bretteville fierce fire fight developed, the
and the Regina’s A Company, now as well. Critically, his powerful Germans using the railway cutting
fighting alongside the men of the attack had lacked enough infantry as their rally point for repeated
battalion HQ, engaged them at to capture Bretteville from a attempts to storm the farm. Fire
close range with PIATs. At least determined defender. The fires were from the second floor and attic of
two Panthers were quickly hit still burning in the town, smashed the farm kept them pinned down in
and knocked out and the others Panthers, carriers and anti-tank the cutting, until incoming mortar
withdrew, unwilling to be caught in guns littered the streets, but the shells caved the roof in. The Germans
such tight terrain, in darkness, with Regina’s A Company still held its crawled through the wheat fields, left
no infantry cover. The withdrawn lines. The 12th SS had failed again. and right, attempting to surround the
panzers shelled the town for the rest Untersturmführer Fuss’ small squad farm. Captain Brown tried to contact
of the night, but the immediate crisis escaped from the church into the his battalion HQ to request artillery
was over and Bretteville had just darkness during the chaos. support, but could not get any reply.
been held. Things looked grim, he seemed
The panzers had withdrawn but, heavily outnumbered.
The southern splinter panzer at dawn, 26th Panzer Grenadier
group arrived in the La Ferme de Regiment launched their own But D Company kept shooting and
Cardonville area, much to the horror renewed attack. No communication somehow kept the enemy at bay,
of Captain Brown commanding the between them and the attacking until Brown’s radio operator cried
Regina’s D Company, now dug-in panzers meant no co-ordination of that he finally had Lt-Col Matheson
inside and around the large farm, effort and the grenadiers moved too on the line. The Lieutentant-Colonel
its courtyard and orchards. His late to aid Meyer’s night attack. In immediately got onto 13th Artillery
supporting anti-guns, hidden in the the dawn, they now attacked on foot, and ordered heavy fire in the area,
farm’s orchard were facing west, and without any tanks or even artillery dangerously close to the farm. Brown
thus were not actually in position to support. agreed, otherwise he was going to be
engage. In the dark, the panzer crews overrun.
seemed oblivious to the Canadian 9th June
presence. The longer it stayed that “Here they come!” was the shout The 105mm shells whistled in with
way, the better for Captain Brown, from the sentries at la Ferme de deadly accuracy, hundreds of shells
who, as he crept around his men’s Cardonville as the German infantry
positions, kept seeing ever more moved towards them across the Below: Canadian troops examine the wreck of a Panther
big tanks surrounding him. But, southern fields. Then the machine knocked-out by a PIAT strike on the edge of Bretteville
he noted, they didn’t seem to have guns and Brens began to roar. A during the failed night attack.
infantry support at all.
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
followed, impacting just beyond the the Mue river, with Panzer Lehr’s and shock. He was to attack at 1300
farm walls. With no answer to the arriving units moving to take over hours, leading 12 Panthers. The timing
heavy shelling the Germans again the front directly south of Norrey- was to co-inside with a noted lull in
withdrew. By now la Ferme de en-Bessin. Before this realignment Allied air activity at this time on each
Cardonville was a ruin. The cellar could be achieved the problematic of the previous days (lunchtime!).
aid-post was filled with wounded. Canadian salient at Norrey had to be
D Company had fought two heroic eliminated. In turn, Standartführer The hasty tank attack achieved
holding actions in just twelve hours, Kurt Meyer, still smarting from his little surprise and no shock. The
but were still in their position, if defeat at Bretteville the previous previous night the Regina’s had
under repeated harassing mortar and night, ordered 3rd Company, 12th SS been reinforced by the 1st Hussars, 9
sniper fire. Panzer Regiment to conduct a swift Sherman tanks where now in position
tank attack along the Caen-Bayeux to help defend Norrey, close to the
That morning, the commander of railway cutting, to take Norrey from station, including 3 Fireflies, as well
Panzergruppe West, General Geyr the north-east. He only had a single the Regina’s own 6 pdr guns.
Von Schweppenburg confirmed to his grenadier platoon to aid the tanks,
12th SS sub-commanders that June but promised a supporting attack When the Panthers broke the cover
10th would see all three of his panzer by 26th Panzer Grenadiers from the of the railway cutting, striking for
divisions currently in Normandy: south and west. Norrey, they came under heavy
21st, 12th SS and Lehr, prepare to flanking fire from their right. A
launch a combined assault, to throw The company’s second-in-command, fusillade of 75mm high-explosive
the British back into the sea. In order Hauptmann Lüdemann, was to lead rounds gouged the earth about them,
to do this, 12th SS must first shorten the attack, because the company and the Fireflies quickly scored
its extended lines, moving east of commander, Franz Von Ribbentrop hits and kills, first one, then two,
(son of the Reich’s foreign minister), then three Panthers were burning,
had already having been slightly including Lüdemann’s own. The
wounded and was recovering. promised supporting infantry attack
Below: Combat in the Normandy farm lanes. Lüdemann’s orders were to race fast never arrived and again the panzers
Canadian medics treats a head wound before for Norrey for maximum surprise fought almost alone. Incoming
evacuation.
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
artillery fire saw the grenadier forward again. To rectify this inertia targets of opportunity as best they
platoon retreat to better cover. and getting his division advancing could. Also, the tank’s inter-troop
Stunned by the rapid losses, the again, Keller instructed 2nd Canadian and inter-squadron radio net was
panzers could only withdraw, leaving Armoured Brigade to launch two functioning poorly, the radio sets
seven wrecks behind in the meadows attacks, one by the Fort Garry Horse were not staying on frequency, so
east of Norrey. Lüdemann himself to clear the village of Rots, the communications would be disrupted.
was serious shaken by the losses and other by the 1st Hussars to capture It did not augur well.
evacuated back to hospital. He was high ground near Cheux (south
killed in action five days later. of Norrey), which over looked the For the advance, 1st Hussar’s B
entire front lines and 3rd Canadian Squadron would take the lead,
After the battle, 26th Panzer Division’s rear area. It was time for followed by C Squadron, with the
Grenadier’s commander would claim his tanks to lead the way. HQ and attached artillery observer
to have received no order to launch tanks next, then with A Squadron
a supporting attack. Still, the Norrey By extended the Norrey salient south, and the Fort Garry Horse’s seconded
salient remained a dagger into the Major-General Keller beleived this squadron in the rear.
German lines and whilst it survived, would be the first step in outflanking
the planned panzer counter-offensive and then isolating Carpiquet airfield. The Germans knew the Canadian
could not begin. Holding the overlooking hill at tanks were coming. 12th SS’ radio
Cheux would hopefully make the intercept team had found the 1st
Also that day, the tall church spire at airfield an untenable position for the Hussars’ radio frequency and
Norrey collapsed from the shelling, Germans once he had his guns in were listening in. Canadian radio
although the final rounds fired into place. discipline was lax. The listening team
it were actually from Canadian passed on the tank’s muster area
tanks, who, not being briefed on The 2nd Armoured Brigade’s tank and the time of the attack to their
the presence of their own troops in commanders were, at first, instructed own HQ. 26th Panzer Grenadier
Norrey, believed it to be the location to launch their rapid attacks on the Regiment, holding north and south-
of German artillery observers calling June 12th. Then, the situation on the east of Le Mesnil Patry, with their
in fire on their positions. Their ground and fears of an imminent battalion forward HQ at Le Mesnil
75mm HE rounds brought the ornate major German tank attack, saw Chateau, was pre-warned and
medieval tower crashing down, much the 1st Hussars’ start time brought immediately reinforced with extra
to the dismay of Major Tubbs and his forwards, to cross the start line anti-tank guns, artillery observers
men underneath! (the Caen-Bayeux railway line at and more men drawn from 12th SS
Bretteville), no later than 1300 hours Pioneer Battalion.
10th June on June 11th. In trying to beat the
June 9th had seen the SS division’s Germans to the punch, there was to In the rush to get moving, after re-
attacks all halted in hard fighting, be very little preparation time. arming and refuelling in the muster
with losses on both sides quickly area near Bray, the 1st Hussar’s
escalating. June 10th passed more 11th June attack quickly hit problems, almost
quietly, in limited harassing The 1st Hussar received very short running into a Canadian minefield
operations and patrols, neither side notice that the planned attack had laid to protect Norrey from the west.
was willing (or able) to push too been brought forward, so there was No time to brief the tank crews meant
hard. Only at Putot-en-Bessin would no time to fully prepare and organise. they did not know it was there, it
the 12th SS attack in any force, but wasn’t on their maps.
26th SS Panzer Grenadier’s assault The 1st Hussar’s commander was
fail to re-capture the village back to immediately lead them into the Warned by Regina Rifles infantry on
from the Canadian Scottish, who had attack, aimed at capturing a hill the ground, the lead tankers diverted
taken it in an assault the day before. closed to Cheux. The 1st Hussars’ into the village itself and then found
squadrons were already under- great difficulty in getting through
After three days of fierce combat, strength, not yet having received the rubble of its narrow streets and
June 10th was a day to regroup, any replacements from their D-Day sharp corners, each tank having to
reinforce and rearm, as both sides and subsequent losses. To assist, a manoeuvre back and forth to get
prepared for their own future moves. squadron of the Fort Garry Horse round. Trapped in the bottleneck, the
was attached, and the fresh Queen’s Shermans took an age to clear Norrey
On June 10th, the commander of Own Rifles of Canada battalion via the lane towards Le Mesnil Patry,
3rd Canadian Division, Major- would provide the tanks with close and so were already strung out as
General Keller, decided that he infantry support. Their men were they did.
could no longer remain entirely now riding upon the engine decks
on the defensive. For the past two of the Shermans. There was no time B Squadron then paused to reform
days the Germans had forced him for reconnaissance of the ground, a better line of attack, gathering in
to fight a static defensive battle and the attack would be conducted by the fields south-west of the village.
the division’s front was in danger of maps and there was no time for a Easily spotted by a waiting enemy,
bogging down, still short of even its detailed artillery plan to support it, immediately heavy German artillery
D-Day objectives. He decided that instead, forward observers would fire began to hit the village and
he had to get his frontlines moving have to make do with shooting at surrounding fields.
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
Once into the flat, open country of Squadron’s attack had completely prisoners of war out of hand. For
corn and beet fields between the failed. Still, C Squadron pushed 12th SS they had lost just 3 tanks in
Norrey and Le Mesnil Patry, the forwards and took over the lead, the battle (although one was later
Canadian tanks rolled forwards and but fared no better. Their gunners recovered and repaired), but with
encountered the German defences. were shelling Le Mesnil Patry some 180 killed or wounded on the
These were deployed in an arc, with with high explosive but they were ground. Heavy infantry losses, but
Germans now to the left, right and unable to push on and capture it. At the frontline at Le Mesnil Patry had
in front of the Shermans , still with 1615, more German tanks counter- been held.
D Company of the Queen’s Own attacked from the right, about a
Rifles men on board. At 1530 the dozen Panzer IVs of 5th Company, The 1st Hussar’s heavy defeat
Canadians unknowingly advanced 12th SS Panzer Regiment had outside Le Mesnil Patry would
into the waiting cauldron and arrived and added to the slaughter, see the two opposing frontlines
came under heavy fire from hidden picking off the Shermans as some finally stabilise. Weeks of attritional
anti-tank guns, panzerfausts from of the panzers closed through the fighting now lay ahead as the
SS men in hidden foxholes amidst corn to point-blank range. They later 3rd Canadian Division and 12th
the corn and MG-42s, scattering the claimed 14 more Sherman kills. SS became locked in a protracted
infantry support. Shermans started bloody struggle west of Caen,
to burn. One weak platoon of the Queen’s neither able to win any major
Own Rifles reached Le Mesnil Patry victory or significantly move the
To assist the attack the Queen’s Own itself and fought their way into the frontlines until Caen eventually
Rifles’ 3" mortar battery deployed village, supported by just two of C fell in late July. Norrey-en-Bessin
into a farm courtyard on the edge Squadron tanks, but they did not and Bretteville would remain in
of Norrey, with good views of the have the strength to hold their slim Canadian hands throughout and
battlefield and began laying smoke gains and soon had to withdraw. the Germans never found the time
rounds as fast as they could, to help The rest of units caught in the or the forces for their major co-
the hard-pressed tanks and infantry. cauldron were also rapidly pulling ordinated panzer counter-offensive
German observers saw the mortar back into Norrey as best they could. against the British beachhead.
fire and directed their own guns on
them, incoming rounds sending the Few tanks got away, B Squadron By June 12th, with ever more troops,
Canadian mortar crews scurrying had just 2 tanks left on the strength guns and supplies flooding ashore,
for cover. at the end of the day. The Queen’s the Allied invasion could no longer
Own mortar teams had re-manned be turned back. The Allies were in
B Squadron’s Shermans fired HE their mortars and fired all their Europe to stay and, at Norrey, the
and MGs wildly, trying to suppress ammunition to try and cover the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had
targets they could not see. Any pell-mell withdrawal. played a major part in securing the
orchard, hedge or cornfield was vital beachheads.
liberally sprayed as they tried to Back in Norrey, it was chaos, shells
press forwards, the infantry now landing, tanks smashing through
crawling through the corn as best cottage walls to escape (one fell
they could. Meanwhile, a platoon through the floor and was trapped
from 8th Company, 2nd Battalion, in a cellar). There were walking
12th SS Panzer Regiment, led by wounded everywhere.
Obersturmführer Hans Siegel, was
directed towards Le Mesnil Patry Sunday June 11th would be
and counter-attacked. Siegel’s three christened ‘Black Sabbath’ by the
Panzer IVs claimed seven Sherman 1st Hussars. B and C Squadrons had
kills before return fire knocked them been all but annihilated in what was
all out. 1st Hussar’s B Squadron was later called ‘a modern charge of the
all but annihilated as one after the light brigade’. The regiment suffered
other their Shermans burnt. a third of all it casualties for the
entire ETO on that one afternoon.
The surviving tankers escaped
back to Norrey, passing the first The Queen’s Own Rifles battalion
tanks of C Squadron arriving to counted 55 dead and over a hundred
reinforce them – and face the same wounded. Later, they would find
destruction. the bodies of their wounded men,
left on the battlefield, executed
Seeing the attack was failing, 1st by the SS with a single shot to the
Hussar’s A Squadron was held temple. The Nazi indoctrination of
back, in case the Germans counter- the young SS soldiers had cost them
attacked. They formed a defensive their basic human empathy. In the
line north of Norrey and tried to course of the fighting these were
add some supporting fire to assist not the only atrocities committed
C Squadron. In just 30 minutes B by the Hitlerjugend in executing
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
THE
ARMY LISTS
T his section contains two army
lists, for creating battlegroups
constructed from the two opposed
Logistics, Additional Fire Support
and Specialist Units.
For each infantry unit in your
battlegroup, you can also include
a single unit chosen from either
divisions at Norrey-en-Bessin. The Support Assets can only be taken Engineers, Reconnaissance or
first is the Canadian 3rd Infantry by first including Front Line assets. Specialist Units.
Division. In the first days after For each Front Line asset included
D-Day this division had not yet been in your battlegroup, you are allowed Tanks
resupplied and some of its equipment to purchase a unit from a Support The front line armour, squadrons of
was quite restricted. The attached section. The Support section you the main fighting vehicles, including
Armoured Brigade only had Sherman can take is dictated by which Front self-propelled guns as well as tanks.
tanks, and was short of Fireflies to Line Asset was chosen. The details
support them. Its artillery was 105mm are covered below, and again in the For each Tank unit in your
US lend-lease M7 Priests, and its anti- Army Lists themselves. battlegroup, you can also include a
tank units had US M10 Wolverines single unit from either Engineers,
alongside their towed guns. This FRONT LINE ASSETS Logistics, Reconnaissance or
gives the division a rather different Forward Headquarters Specialist Units.
character to the ‘standard’ infantry This is the battlegroup commander
division, which could usually expect (that’s you) and any specialist units Artillery
armoured support from infantry that are attached to him, such as These are the guns dedicated to
tanks (Churchills in Normandy) and Communications units. The Forward supporting your own battlegroup.
fire support from its own 25pdr guns. Headquarters can sometimes be a They might be deployed in close
These changes make it a different fighting unit, right up to operating in support, as actual models on the
list to the more generic British the tank, whilst attached to it might table, or a bit further to the rear
Infantry Division army list found in be radio vehicles, messengers or other as off-table support. These are the
Battlegroup: Overlord. sub-commanders. battalion’s, regiment’s or division’s
own ‘organic’ guns. Larger guns from
The second is 12th SS Panzer. Again, For each Forward Headquarters the supporting Corps, Army and
this division has just arrived in theatre unit in your battlegroup, you can Front level artillery units must be
and has its own restriction over the include a single unit chosen from taken from Additional Fire Support.
standard panzer divsion army list either Logistics, Specialist Units or
from Battlegroup: Overlord. Additional Fire Support. For each Artillery unit in your
battlegroup, you can also include
Each Army List is organised into ten Infantry a single unit from Additional Fire
different types of units, divided into These are the ground-pounders, Support.
two halves. The first half is called the squads and
Front Line Assets. This consists of platoons of
the principal combat units of the fighting infantry,
battlegroup, its infantry, tanks and which might be
artillery, along with its battlefield directly supported
command and any prepared defences. by infantry-borne
heavy weapons
The second half is called Support like machine guns
Assets, second line and specialist or lighter mortars.
units which lend aid to the front
line. These include such specialists
as Reconnaissance units, Engineers,
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
Defences
This part of the army list can only be
used if the battlegroup is the defender
in an Attack-Defence scenario, in
which case they may be dug in to
prepared positions, behind minefields
and anti-tank ditches, inside pillboxes
and strongpoints, etc. Defences do
not allow a battlegroup to include
any extra support units.
SUPPORTING ASSETS
Reconnaissance
Any battlegroup can be supported
by its parent division’s (or corps’)
reconnaissance units, seeking out
the enemy for them and aiding the
battlegroup commander by providing
him with good intelligence on the
enemy’s positions and movements.
Reconnaissance units vary from
infantry patrols on foot, to fast
moving units on motorcycles (or
even horses), to armoured cars and
light tanks and can also include aerial
reconnaissance units.
Logistics
Second line logistical support units
include supply vehicles, that bring
extra ammunition and fuel to the is always great, and no battlegroup USING THE BATTLEGROUP
front lines, and the medical support commander can have all the aid ARMY LISTS
of aid posts and combat medics. They he would like, but Corps, Front The Army Lists included allow you
aren’t fighting units, but still fulfil an and Army command can lend the to select a (hopefully) balanced force
important role. support of heavier guns, as well as to play a game. The easiest way of
providing a few useful tactics, like doing this is to use a Battlegroup
Engineers counter-battery fire missions to attack Organisation Chart (see Appendix).
Negotiating a battlefield requires off-table enemy artillery or pre-timed This chart contains all the different
many engineering tasks, from barrages and air strikes. types of unit and places to note down
building bridges and clearing points values, Battle Ratings and
minefields, to attacking enemy This section also includes the army’s how many Officer and Scout units it
strongpoints with special weapons Close Air Support Table, which is includes.
like flamethrowers. Engineer used should an aircraft arrive to aid
support includes all this, in the form the battlegroup. When creating a battlegroup, units
of pioneer (or sapper) units and are ‘bought’, using points. Before a
specialised engineering vehicles, like Specialist Units game, the players should have set a
bridge-laying vehicles, demolition These are units or vehicles that don’t points limit, for example 1,000 points,
units and recovery vehicles. easily fit into the other categories, and these points are spent on units.
as well as rare units which, whilst As you select a unit, note it down on
Additional Fire Support present in the 1944 fighting, would the Organisation Chart along with
Beyond your battlegroup’s parent not have formed the backbone of its Battle Rating, until you have no
division, there is a whole army of a battlegroup – often this includes points left. You should only expend
extra artillery units that can lend uncommon heavy anti-tank or anti- the points available to you; do not
support. Demand upon these units aircraft guns or some unique, ‘Elite’ exceed the total.
rated units.
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
107
BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
CANADIAN 3rd
INFANTRY DIVISION
BATTLEGROUP
FORWARD HEADQUARTERS UNITS
Each unit taken from Forward Headquarters allows a support choice from either: Logistics or Additional Fire Support
Forward Headquarters . . . . . . . . .21 pts 3-r BR Forward Signals Unit . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 3 men Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: None Transport: Radio Medium Truck
Special Rules: Senior Officer, Artillery Spotter, Unique Special Rules: Communications, Unique
Forward Air Control Officer . . . 26 pts 1-r BR Bedford QLR Radio Truck
Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport : Jeep Comms Relay Team . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 0-i BR
Special Rules: Officer, Air Spotter 3+, Unique Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport: None
Options: Upgrade Jeep to: Special Rule: Communications
Radio Medium Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pt
Bren Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Replace 2 men and Jeep with:
Wire Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 pts 0-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men
Humber Scout Car. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
Transport: None
Special Rule: Wire Communications
108
BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
INFANTRY UNITS
Each unit taken from Infantry allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers or Specialist units.
Platoon Composition: 1 Platoon Command Section, 3 Heavy Machine Gun team . . . . . 22 pts 1-r BR
Rifle Sections, a Light Mortar Team and up to 4 Platoon Unit Composition: 3 men with a Vickers HMG
Support Options. Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Mount in a Bren Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
Platoon Command Section
Unit Composition: 5 men
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter PIAT team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-r BR
Options: Unit Composition: 2 men with a PIAT
Section may include a PIAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
TANK UNITS
Each unit taken from Tanks allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers, Logistics or Specialist units.
ARTILLERY UNITS
Each unit taken from Artillery allows a support choice from: Additional Fire Support.
Forward Observer Team . . . . . . 16 pts 1-r BR Aerial Artillery Observer . . . . . 66 pts 3-r BR
Unit Composition: 2 men Unit Composition: 1 Auster III
Transport : Jeep Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+, Unique
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+
Options:
Heavy Mortar Team . . . . . . . . . . . 29 pts 1-r BR
Replcae Jeep with Bren Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Unit Composition: 4.2" mortar and 3 crew
Options:
Off-Table Mortar Fire Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Unit Composition: 1 Battery Mount in Bren Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
2 3" mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 pts 0 BR
2 4.2" mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 pts 0 BR
Off-Table Artillery Fire
Unit Composition: 1 Battery
2 105mmL22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 pts 0 BR
2 6" (naval guns) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 pts 0 BR
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
DEFENCES
Each unit taken from Defences allows no support choices.
May only be taken if your battlegroup is the Defenders in an Attack-Defence scenario.
111
BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
Options:
Rifle Section
Add a spotter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Unit Composition: 10 men with a Bren
112
BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
113
BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
Divisional Battery (3+ comms test) Canadian Close Air Support Table 1944
1 3 4.2" mortars
2-6 2 105mmL22 guns D6 Aircraft
1 Spitfire
Naval Battery (5+ comms test) 1 No bombs
1-3 2 6" guns 2-6 2 small bombs
4-5 2 8" guns
6 2 14" guns 2-5 Typhoon
1 2 large bombs
2-3 4 medium bombs
Timed Typhoon Air Strike . . . 25 pts 0 BR
4-6 8 60lb rockets
An air strike by a Typhoon carrying 4 medium bombs.
Before the game, write down which turn the aircraft
6 Choose
will arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
Select any of the above aircraft
target as the target point of the air strike.
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
12th SS
PANZER DIVISION
BATTLEGROUP
FORWARD HEADQUARTERS UNITS
Each unit taken from Forward Headquarters allows a support choice from either: Logistics or Additional Fire Support
Forward Headquarters . . . . . . . . .28 pts 3-r BR Comms Relay Team . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 0-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 men Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport: SdKfz 251/3 Transport: None
Special Rules: Senior Officer, Artillery Spotter, Unique Special Rule: Communications
Platoon Composition: 1 Panzer Grenadier Platoon Medium Mortar team . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR
Command Squad, 3 Panzer Grenadier Squads and 3 Unit Composition: 3 men with 80mm mortar
MG Teams and up to 4 Platoon Support Options. Replace with SdKfz 251/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Panzer Grenadier Platoon Command Squad
Unit Composition: 6 men
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter Anti-tank Gun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 pts 2-r BR
Transport Option: Unit Composition: 50mm PaK38 gun with 3 crew
Mount in SdKfz 251/10 . . . . . . . . . +12 pts +1-v BR Upgrade anti-tank gun to 75mm PaK40 . . . . +16 pts
Mount in SdKfz 251/1 . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts +1-v BR Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Options: Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
May take up to 2 Panzerfausts . . . . . . . +5 pts each SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
SdKfz 251/1 tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +16 pts
3 Panzer Grenadier Squads
Unit Composition: 5 men
Transport Option: Self Propelled Infantry Gun
Mount in SdKfz 251/1 . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts +1-v BR SdKfz 251/9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 pts 1-r BR
Options:
May take up to 2 Panzerfausts . . . . . . . +5 pts each
Squad may add a bipod MG34 . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts Towed Anti-Aircraft gun . . . . . . .28 pts 2-r BR
Unit Composition: 20mm FlaK and 3 crew
Upgrade the MG34 to a bipod MG42 . . . . . +4 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Options:
Upgrade any MG34 for a bipod MG42 . . . . +4 pts
Armoured Panzer Grenadier Squad . . . . .
Platoon Support Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 pts 3-v BR
Squad Composition: 1 Panzer Grenadier Squad
The platoon may include up to four of the following
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once. and 1 MG Team
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BATTLE GROUP • RULEBOOK
TANK UNITS
Each unit taken from Tanks allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers, Logistics or Specialist units.
Panzer IV
Panther Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235 pts 9-r BR Unit Composition: 1 Panzer IV
Unit Composition: 3 Panther Gs Panzer IV H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 pts 3-r BR
1 Panther G (Officer, Mortar Spotter)
2 Panther G
Panther
Options: Add up to two additional Panther Gs Unit Composition: 1 Panther G
Panther G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +90 pts each Panther G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 pts 3-r BR
ARTILLERY UNITS
Each unit taken from Artillery allows a support choice from: Additional Fire Support.
Forward Observer Team . . . . . . 16 pts 1-r BR Heavy Mortar Team . . . . . . . . . . . 29 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 2 men Unit Composition: 120mm mortar and 3 crew
Transport : Kübelwagen Options:
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+ Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Mount in Medium Truck or Heavy Car. . . . . +4 pts
Options: Upgrade Kübelwagen to:
SdKfz 251/18 (as SdKfz 251/3) . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Off-Table Mortar Fire
Unit Composition: 1 Battery
Light Panzer Artillery Battery . . 64 pts 4-r BR 2 80mm mortars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 pts 0 BR
Unit Composition: 2 Wespe 2 120mm mortars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 pts 0 BR
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DEFENCES
Each unit taken from Defences allows no support choices.
May only be taken if your battle group is the Defenders in an Attack-Defence scenario.
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Options:
Squad may take a Panzerfaust . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
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MG Team
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in platoon’s other vehicles.
Options:
SdKfz 251/7 pioneer half track
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . . +4 pts
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D6 Aircraft
1-3 Me Bf109 G Wespe, self-propelled
105mm howitzer
1-4 No bombs
5-6 2 small bombs
4-5 Fw-190 G
1-4 8 small bombs
5-6 1 large bomb and 4 small bombs
6 Choose
Select any of the above aircraft Timed 150mm Barrage . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
Fired by a battery of four 150mmL30 howitzers. Before
You may always choose an aircraft from lower down the the game, write down which turn the guns will fire on.
table over a higher roll. You must still roll for armament. The points cost includes a pre-registered target as the
target point of the barrage.
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THE BATTLEFIELD
The battlefield is the southern edge of
Norrey, with a few outlying buildings
of the village in the north-east corner,
occupied by the Canadians, then
cornfields, pasture and orchards to
the south.
OBJECTIVES
There is a single objective on the
battlefield, a building on the edge of
Norrey. Neither side can claim an all
objectives secured victory.
GERMAN DEPLOYMENT
SPECIAL RULES
Night Fight: This battle takes place at
Scenario Size: Platoon by their half tracks, will conduct the night and night fighting rules should
assault on Norrey-en-Bessin, striking be used.
Timing: Play this scenerio before turn from the south-east and south-west
1 of the campign, so before any map of the village. They will be supported ALTERNATIVE FORCES
movement has started. by their own self-propelled guns, but This scenario lists historical forces
are expecting to catch the Canadians for the battle, but players might like
SITUATION REPORT by surprise and overrun the village to refight the scenario using their
26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, against minimal resistance. own collections and the army lists.
under Standartenführer Wilhelm In this case the Canadian player get
Mohnke, have instructions to launch Further west, 2nd Battalion will 500 points and can take Defences. The
a rapid night attack to recapture simultaneously assault the Winnipeg German player gets 550 points and
Norrey-en-Bessin and Putot-en- Rifles in Putot-en-Bessin. cannot take any tanks.
Bessin. As yet, no tanks have arrived
in the area to support the attack THE BATTLE CAMPAIGN VICTORY POINTS
and the artillery still isn’t in place Play the game on a 6'x 4' table. The The winner of this battle gains a
either, so the regiment is on its Canadians are defending and are bonus +1 campaign victory point.
own. Sturmbannführer Krause’s 1st deployed first, dug-in on the northern
Battalion, dismounted but supported third of the table, as shown on the
SITUATION REPORT
GERMAN DEPLOYMENT
During their night attack on
Bretteville, 12th SS Panzer Regiment
have divert some Panther tanks
south, splitting from the main assault, CANADIAN DEPLOYMENT
to try to move round and launch an
attack from the west of the town.
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GERMAN DEPLOYMENT
There are no objectives on the table,
this is a straight fight.
SPECIAL RULES
Off-table Firefly: The Canadian
CANADIAN DEPLOYMENT
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SITUATION REPORT
CANADIAN DEPLOYMENT
B Squadron of the 1st
GERMAN DEPLOYMENT
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Turn 12
3 Panzer IV Hs (1 officer)
Turn 13
3 Panzer IV Hs (1 officer)
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CANADIAN EQUIPMENT
ARMOURED VEHICLES
VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT
Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo
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SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES
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CANADIAN GUNS
MORTARS
WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE
0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"
2" HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 1
3" HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 2
4.2" HE 6/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AUTOCANNONS
WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE
0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"
20mm HE - 1 1 1 1 1 1
AP - 2 2 1 1 1 -
40mmL60 Bofors HE - 1 1 1 1 1 1
AP - 3 3 2 2 1 -
37mmL53 HE 2/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
6 pdr HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 -
LIGHT GUNS
75mmL40 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 6 6 5 4 3 -
17 pdr AP - 11 11 10 9 8 7
MEDIUM GUNS
105mmL22 HE 5/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 -
6" naval gun HE 7/3+ 6 6 6 6 6 -
HEAVY GUNS
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PIAT AP - 5 - - - - -
AIRCRAFT WEAPONS
GERMAN EQUIPMENT
ARMOURED VEHICLES
VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT
Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo
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GERMAN GUNS
MORTARS
AUTOCANNONS
20mmL55 HE - 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 2 2 1 1 1 -
37mmL57 HE - 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 3 3 2 2 1 -
LIGHT GUNS
75mmL24 HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
75mmL46 (PaK40) HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 4
75mmL48 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 4
75mmL70 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 11 11 10 9 8 7
MEDIUM GUNS
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SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES
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