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Hellcat Commander
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Post subject: Caen Campaign- Scenario 2: Le Mesnil-Patry
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The second in the series:
Battle of Le Mesnil-Patry
June 11th, 1944
On the afternoon of Sunday, 11 June, 'B' Squadron of the 1st Hussars was decimated during an abortive attack with The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada on the hamlet of Le Mesnil Patry, North-West of Caen.
Panzergrenadiers, pioneers and tanks of the 12th SS Panzer Division were able to ambush the tanks of 'B' Squadron in part due to intelligence gleaned from the Hussar's own radio traffic after capturing wireless codes from a destroyed Canadian tank on 9 June. Using Panzerfausts, Panzerschrecks and anti-tank guns, the German forces were able destroy 51 Shermans, and inflict 61 killed or missing, 2 wounded and 11 captured on the 1st Hussars. The Queen's Own Rifles suffered 55 killed, 33 wounded and 11 taken prisoner during the attack.
The attack is remembered as "The Black Day", "Black Sunday" and the "Black Sabbath" within the Regiment. It accounted for roughly one third of the 1st Hussars' dead over the entire war.
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend ("Hitler Youth") was a German Waffen SS armoured division during World War II. Described as a "crack" division,[1] the Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth born in 1926, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern Front.
On 7 June, Kurt Meyer's SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 25, along with the II Battalion of Max Wünsche's SS Panzer Regiment 12, supported by artillery, were ordered to crush the advancing Canadian infantry and tanks and drive through to the coast, still only a few miles away. In Meyer's words they were to "throw the fish into the sea".
Meyer had three Panzergrenadier battalions and two companies of tanks on each flank with artillery in support. Watching the Canadian advance unfold from the tower of the Ardenne Abbey, he saw an opportunity opening in front of him. At 1000 hours 7 June, the 50 Panzer IV tanks of the II Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 12, arrived and moved into position. The Canadians continued to file across the German front. Once the lead Canadian tanks reached the ridge south of Franqueville, they spotted one of the panzer companies waiting in ambush (they had allowed the tanks to move forward without firing a shot). Meyer reported that "The battalion maintained excellent fire discipline," and the advancing tanks moving across the front were then hit in their unprotected flank by the tanks of SS Panzer Regiment 12. The attack by the 12th SS had caught the Canadians unawares, and their infantry were forced to fall back to Authie with Meyer's III Battalion in pursuit. They captured Authie and Franqueville in their initial attack and the next objective was Buron, a kilometer to the north.
Under the plan adopted for the Canadian attack the 6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars) and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada were to attack through Norrey-en-Bessin with a view to seizing and holding the high ground south of Cheux This was to be effected by a right flanking movement through Le Mesnil-Patry, Cheux itself being by-passed. The remainder of the armoured brigade would be prepared to join the 6th Armoured Regiment on the objective.
The attack actually began shortly after 2:30 p.m. on 11 June. It was a complete and costly failure.
"B" Squadron of the Hussars led the advance, with the men of “D” Company of the "Queen's Own riding on its tanks. This force had not gone far across the level grainfields between Norrey and Le Mesnil-Patry when very heavy mortar and machine-gun fire came down. The infantry were forced to dismount from the tanks, which pushed on in an attempt to deal with the opposition. Both the tanks and a party of infantry fought their way into Le Mesnil-Patry. The situation grew worse as enemy armour (which was at first believed to be British) and anti-tank guns came into action. Lt-Col. Colwell of the Hussars, who was commanding the advanced group, ordered his force to withdraw to the start-line. But "B" Squadron evidently did not receive the order and was virtually annihilated. All its officers and all save three N.C.Os. were listed as missing, and only two of its tanks returned. As for "D, Company of the Queen's Own it was found to have suffered 96 casualties, more than half of whom were missing. The total casualties for this day were 80 for the 6th Armoured Regiment and 99 for the Queen's Own Rifles, the fatal casualties being 59 and 55 respectively.
During the first six hectic days of Operation "Overlord" Canadian battle casualties had totalled 196 officers and 2635 other ranks; 72 officers and 945 all ranks lost their lives. All these losses had fallen upon the 3rd Division and attached troops. The other Canadian formations remained for the moment in England in mingled eagerness and anxiety the opportunity to take their places in the battle line.
The costly affair at Le Mesnil-Patry was the last considerable Canada operation during the month of June. The nature of Allied strategy resulted in the major action thereafter being concentrated elsewhere. On the night of 16-17 June Le Mesnil-Patry was occupied without opposition, thanks to progress by British troops on the right. The most important development on the Canadian front during the latter part of the month was the relief of the 7th Brigade in the Putot-Bretteville-Norrey positions by the 8th. This was effected on the night of 17-18 June, one of the shortest of the year * the two brigades "exchanged areas in the face of the enemy, and without incident".
Maps:
Map 5 is below Map 6. The # 5 is on the upper left corner. (NW Corner)
Map 6 is above Map 5. The #6 is in the upper left corner. (NW Corner)
Deployment:
12th SS Deploys in any town hex, or any hex that is adjacent to the town on Map 6, any hex that touches a Bocage area, or any Hill or Bluff Hex.
Queens Own Rifles will deploy in any Clear or Forest hex on Map 5.
1st Hussars will deploy in any Clear or Road hex on Map 5.
Germany - Kurt Meyer's 12th SS Hitlerjugend Division
HQ 7 Pts
Spotter 6 Pts
SS-Haupsturmfuhrer 7 Pts
Panzerfausts X2 8 Pts
Panzerschrek X2 14 Pts
SS-Panzergrenadiers X2 14 Pts
Sniper 11 Pts
MG 42 X2 20 Pts
Pioneer X2 14 Pts
Mauser Kar 98 X3 9 Pts -
The Mauser Kar are SS Infantry and these units gain Steely Resolve SA
Pak 36 AT Gun 8 Pts
81mm Mortars 11 Pts
88 mm Flak 36 19 Pts
SS Panther 42 Pts
SDFZ 251 X2 14 Pts
PzIV Commander 45 Pts
Pz IV's Ausf G X3 66 Pts
Total 305 Points
Queens Own Rifles -This units soldiers gain exposed transport - soldiers will start mounted on tanks or vehicles.
Canadian Infantry X5 9 Pts
Bren Gunner X2 10 Pts
Vickers MG 8 Pts
Piat Gunner 5 Pts
Uni Carrier X3 24 Pts
M7 105mm Priest 27 Pts
M3 Stuart 15 Pts
Bedford Truck 4 Pts
Sherman X2 42 Pts
Total: 144
1st Hussars -
Sherman DD 24 Pts
Sherman X2 42 Pts
Vickers MG 8 Pts
Canadain Infantry X3 9 Pts (Use SMLE for Proxies)
6 Pounder 7 Pts
Cromwell 22 Pts
Sherman VC Firefly 24 Pts
Bedford Truck 4 Pts
Total: 140
Special Rules:
Forced Dismount: The Axis player can attack enemy infantry mounted on trucks and tanks which are targeted seperatly from the vehicle during the assault phase, or if Defensive Fire is provoked. The German player can choose to shoot the vehicle or the mounted infantry. Use the appropriate AI or AV value for the attack.
Spotter in the Abbey Tower: The German Spotter must deploy within a town hex and cannot leave the town hex he start in. He has an unobstructed view out to 8 hexes in all directions from his position. The Spotter can be attaked as per normal rules.
Cracked the Code: At the start of the movement phase on Turn 3, the Hussars must move first. Initiative is then rolled only between the Queens Own Rifles and the 12th SS. Once initiative is resolved, and each player has moved, the 12th SS can move 3 units a second time to a more advantageous position. These can be infantry or vehicles, but only 3 units. This only occurs during Turn 3.
Poor Communication: The 1st Hussar army cannot retreat during the battle. They must move forward or laterally only.
Victory Conditions:
The Objective is to hold both town hexes which represent Le Mesnil-Patry.
12th SS- Total Victory: Stop the Canadians from reaching Le Mesnil-Patry, and deny them any terrain on Map 6.
12th SS- Major Victory: Hold Le Mesnil-Patry uncontested!
12th SS- Partial Victoy: Hold Le Mesnil-Patry despite being contested.
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QoR & 1st Hussar- Total Victory: Eradicate the Germans and capture Le Mesnil-Patry uncontested.
QoR & 1st Hussar- Major Victory: Capture Le Mesnil-Patry (contested) and destroy 50% or 12th SS Division.
QoR & 1st Hussar- Partial Victory: Contest Le Mesnil-Patry and destroy HQ of the 12th SS Division.
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Last edited by Snippersly on Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:52 am; edited 2 times in total |
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 Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:38 pm |
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"My dear general, the war can now only be won by the politicians." Von Rundstedt to Kurt Meyer.
Posts: 1475
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:27 pm |
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Hellcat Commander
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Posts: 1075
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:54 am |
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Holding the line...
Posts: 1655
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Excellent work, keep it up.
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 2:09 pm |
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"My dear general, the war can now only be won by the politicians." Von Rundstedt to Kurt Meyer.
Posts: 1475
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Post subject:
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Hello Snips.
I've just realised something with our two mini Normandy campaign going on:
players now could play the left flank (caen) and the right flank (1st US) at the same time! 
maybe when we're done we could link them?
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Scenarios?:
http://aaminis.myfastforum.org/forum3.php. |
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| Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:19 am |
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Hellcat Commander
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Posts: 1075
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That would be sweet!! I'm alread into the next one...with a few more to go.
PM me, we'll come up with a plan. The Brits did ahve to get US help to finally push into Caen.
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| Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:30 pm |
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Posts: 258
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Post subject:
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| general Hoth wrote: | Hello Snips.
I've just realised something with our two mini Normandy campaign going on:
players now could play the left flank (caen) and the right flank (1st US) at the same time!
maybe when we're done we could link them? |
And I've got "later" (August) left flank - II Canadian Corps' drive to Falaise - following on their heels. I've playtested an Operation: Tractable scenario and another about the 1st Polish Armored Division's attempt to close the Falaise Pocket.
Coming soon... |
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| Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:16 am |
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"My dear general, the war can now only be won by the politicians." Von Rundstedt to Kurt Meyer.
Posts: 1475
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Post subject:
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Cool!
it seems we're really into the normandy campaign at the moment. It must be the D-Day anniversary's effect.
Usually I'm really much more into the eastern front but i must say visiting the beaches and seeing all the programs on telly about it made me want to experiment with the western allies units! They have some really interesting units. I like the red devil-garand combo a lot.
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Scenarios?:
http://aaminis.myfastforum.org/forum3.php. |
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| Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:03 am |
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Hellcat Commander
AHF Silver-Rated Trader
Posts: 1075
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When we are all done I'll have to take all these scenarios and play them all on a Sunday, all day game with my buddies. From the beach to the Gap!!
Snips
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| Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:21 pm |
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Post subject:
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| How many rounds is this scenario??? |
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| Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:59 am |
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Posts: 15
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Also, one nit: Shouldn't it be the "King's Own Rifles"? After all, George VI was monarch in 1944.
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"Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning." -- Erwin Rommel |
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| Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:06 pm |
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