Caen Campaign- Scenario 1: Operation Perch

Snippersly · Caen Campaign- Scenario 1: Operation Perch

The first in the series:

Operation Perch
Battle of Villers-Bocage
June 7-14, 1944

The Battle for Caen from June to August 1944 was a battle between Allied (primarily British and Canadian troops) and German forces during the Battle of Normandy. Originally the Allies aimed to take the French city of Caen, one of the largest cities in Normandy on D-Day.

Caen was a vital objective for several reasons. First, it lay astride the Orne River and Caen Canal; these two water obstacles could strengthen a German defensive position if not crossed. Second, Caen was a road hub; in German hands it would enable the enemy to shift forces rapidly. Third, the area around Caen was relatively open, especially compared to the bocage country in the west of Normandy. This area was valued for airfield construction.

On D-Day, Caen was an objective for the British 3rd Infantry Division and remained the focal point for a series of battles throughout June, July and into August.

This is the scenario, the first in a series I will be working on to simulate the incredible struggle the allies faced and the price they paid in blood, trying to capture the key city of Caen. Operation Perch was the first attempt at taking the city. Tactically, an indecisive battle, the German Forces had more operational success than the Allies. Operation Perch was the pincer movement used by XXX Corp and I Corp where they met the 21st Panzer Division. The 21st Panzer was the first German Armor company to meet the allies as they pushed inland.

Maps:
Map 8 Above Map 6
Map 8 Double Hill Hex is in the lower right (SE) corner with the #8 in the upper left corner.
Map 6, the #6 is in the lower right corner.

Deployment:

21st Panzer deploys first in the town, farmland (plowed field areas), and any hexes adjacent to and/or touching the bocage / hedgerows hexes.

XXX Corp deploys on Map 8 on or adjacent to the hill hexes.

I Corps deploys on Map 8 in a 4X4 hex area on the NW corner of the map. Count only full hexes of the open grassland above the lake area.

21st Panzer
Generals Leo Geyrvon & Sepp Dietrich

WE Oberleutnant 12
(2X) MG42 20
(2X) Panzerfaust 30 8
(2X) Panzergrenadier 8
Mauser Kar X4 12
(2x) WE Vet Infantry 10
Spotter 6
SD KFZ 251 X2 14
Vet PZ III Ausf L 19
Panzer IV G X2 44
Hummel 30
88mm Flak X2 38
20mm Flak 7

228 Pts

British & Canadian Forces led by Bernard Montgomerey
XXX Corps -Western Arm of Pincer Attack

Inspiring Lieutenant 10
SMLE No.4 X3 9
Vickers MG 8
Royal Engineer 8
Uni-Carrier 8
Cromwell IV (Proxy for Centaur) 22
M4A1 Sherman Tank 21
M5A1 Tank 15

101 Points

I Corps - Eastern Thrust from Orne Bridgehead

Canadian Infantry X4 12
Vickers MG 8
M5 Half Track 8
M3 Stuart 15
(2X) M4A1 Sherman 42
M7 105mm Priest 27

112 Points

American Air Cover: Flies on even turns only

P38 Lightning
P 51 Mustang

Special Rules:

All German MG Teams can use Grazing Fire SA. Grazing Fire allows the MG team to fire at each target seperately in one hex. Double shot is ignored when using Grazing Fire.

Tanks attempting to cross a Bocage are -1 armor during the crossing and provoke immediate defensive fire from any AT soldiers or enemy tanks on the opposite side at any time during movement or assault phases.

For info on Bocage / Hedgerows, visit:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/ah20060726a

Victory Conditions:

Allied Total Victory: Allies push the Germans completely out of the Bocage & Town hexes.

Allied Partial Victory: Control the Bocage / Hedgerows uncontested.

Axis Total Victory: Deny the Allies any part of the town hexes and hold the Bocage hexes.

Axis Partial Victoy: Hold only the town.

RAEVSKI

very cool

general Hoth

Looks good. Cool

Sharpe

What are "AT soldiers?"

Is the DF provoked by bocage-crossing subject to the usual DF rules?

By opposite, do you mean immediately across the hexside?

Snippersly

Sharpe

What are anti-tank soldiers?

general Hoth

Snippersly

AT Soldiers are ones with Anti-tank weapons like the Panerfaust, Bazookas, Piat Gunners, things of that nature.

A soldier whose job it is to attack armor.

Snips

Snippersly

Maps clarified and units updated after our playtest. Reay to go now! I think.