D-DAY THE CANADIAN PUSH ON CARPIQUET AIRFIELD

Transcription

1 D-DAY THE CANADIAN PUSH ON CARPIQUET AIRFIELD HISTORICAL EVENTS At 0745 hours on 7th June 1944 the Canadian 9th Infantry Brigade resumed their push inland from Juno Beach. The Stuart tanks of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers led the way followed by C Company of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. The other three companies of Highlanders followed, riding on the Sherbrooke Fusiliers Shermans. Initial progress was good and by 1150 hours Buron had been reached and by 1300 hours C Company had entered Authie and the Stuarts were in Franqueville. Most of the tank riding infantry dismounted between Buron and Authie and continued the advance on foot. By now the Canadian advance had extended beyond the range of any supporting artillery fire. Unknown to the Canadians they had run straight into elements of the newly arrived 12th (Hitlerjugend) SS Panzer Division. Their advance crossed the path of a well concealed 2nd Battalion SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 25 and the Panzer IVs of the 6th and 7th Companies of. These units maintained superb fire discipline and allowed the Canadians to pass. When the Shermans passed Franqueville they were engaged and counter-attacked by Panzer IVs of the 5th Company, artillery and SS Panzer Grenadiers from the 3rd Battalion. The other German units broke cover and joined in the battle. The Canadian infantry tried to reach Authie but were overrun as were their colleagues in C company that had occupied the village. The Sherbrooke Fusilier s CO, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, requested help from the rest of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade but none was forthcoming. They withdrew to their starting position. It was a costly day for both sides, the Sherbrooke Fusiliers lost 21 tanks and the North Nova Scotia Highlanders sustained 242 casualties. The Germans lost nine Panzer IVs and suffered 300 casualties. This was Hitlerjugend s first action and they had acquitted themselves well. Although the Germans were unable to capitalise on their victory and press on to the coast it was to be another month before the Allies would recapture this area. The Canadians, on the other hand, performed very badly. Tank/ infantry co- operation left a lot to be desired. The other two infantry battalions in 9th Brigade were not committed to the battle in support of their comrades and most tanks of the 2nd Armoured Brigade ended the day without firing a shot. THE WARGAME SCENARIO The Canadians must capture Franqueville to win. Any other result is a German victory. The table is 11' x 5'. The Germans have two battalion groups for morale purposes. The Canadians have an infantry battalion and five squadrons (, 3 x Sherman squadrons and the Stuart recce troop) for morale purposes. The next two pages (2 and 3) are the Canadian briefing. Pages 4 and 5 are the German briefing. If the game is being played with new players the umpire may wish to withhold the relevant brifing from the opposing players to enhance the surprise factor. The scenario is played with Rapid Fire! basic rules are used with the addition of aircraft from the advanced rules section. There is no restriction on the number of moves.

2 CANADIAN BRIEFING All Canadian troops are regular. The order of march must be followed as the troops advance along the road from Buron to Franqueville. No movement off this road is permitted until either the first elements have passed Authie or an element has been fired on. The Canadians Sherman counts as an air link vehicle and may request support from from a rocket armed Typhoon fighter bomber (see advanced rules 15.4 and 15.12). Canadian Order of March Sherbrooke Fusiliers (27th Armoured Regiment) (Lt Col Gordon) North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Lt Colonel Petch) Recce Squadron 2 x Stuart 37mm Carrier Platoon 3 figures, PIAT, MG Platoon 3 figures, Vickers MMG Anti-Tank Battery M10 tank destroyer 76mm M10 Achilles TD 17pdr 8 figures (tank riders) Assault Pioneer Platoon 2 figures, flame-thrower Support Company 3 figures, 6pdr anti-tank gun 3 figures, 3" mortar A Squadron CO + 3 figures, 2" mortar 4 figures, PIAT Sherman 75mm B Squadron C Squadron

3 N A To Caron Buron The road that connects points A to B is the Buron - Franqueville road. Authie Franqueville B Cussy To Carpiquet Abbey Ardenne

4 GERMAN BRIEFING German tanks are elite, all other troops are regular. Each battalion group must start testing for morale under rule 1.4 when the equivalent of 20 casualties have been taken - each Panzer IV destroyed = 3 casualties. SS PANZER GRENADIER REGIMENT 25 REGIMENTAL (Standartenfuhrer Kurt Panzer Meyer) 3 figures, staff car 3 figures, Sdkfz 251/3 half-track Elements of SS Pz Artillery Regt 12 2 figure OP team Sdkfz 250/5 half-track 2 x 150mm howitzer (off-table) 2ND BATTALLION GROUP SS PANZER GRENADIER BATTALION 25 (Morale Strength 67 Figures) CO + 4 figures, Panzerschrecke 5th Company 6th Company 7th Company 3RD BATTALLION GROUP SS PANZER GRENADIER BATTALION 25 (Morale Strength 51 Figures) CO + 4 figures, Panzerschrecke 9th Company 8th (Heavy) Company 9 figures, 2 x MMG, 81mm mortar Medium truck 13th (Gun) Company Grille SP (150mm) 10th Company 11th Company 14th (AA) Company 6 figures, 2 x 20mm towed AA gun 2 x Sdkfz 10 half-track 12th (Heavy) Company 3 figures, 120mm mortar, Sdkfz 10 half-track 6 figures, 2 x MMG, Panzerfaust, medium truck 15th (Reconnaissance) Company 2 x Schwimmwagen 5th Company 3 x Panzer IV 75mm Platoon SS Panzerjager Regiment 12 4 gunners, 75mm (PaK 40) AT gun Sdkfz 11 half-track prime mover 6th Company 2 x Panzer IV 75mm 7th Company 2 x Panzer IV 75mm

5 N To Caron Buron 2nd battalion battlegroup are deployed in and behind the two woods and may not move or fire until German turn 5. Authie 3rd battalion battlegroup are deployed behind the red line and may not react until German turn 3. Franqueville Cussy To Carpiquet Abbey Ardenne There is an artillery OP team in the Abbey which can observe any movement along the Buron - Franqueville road and which controls an offtable battalion of two 150mm guns.