43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division at Hill 112, 10th July 1944 Major General Gwilym Ivo Thomas Commanding

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1 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division at Hill 112, 10th July 1944 Major General Gwilym Ivo Thomas ing 43 Divisional Headquarters & Defence Platoon x1 er x1 Humber Light Car Mk III x3 Infantry (1 with PIAT) / x2 15cwt Truck BR-71 BR BATTLEGROUP th Infantry Brigade - Brigadier GHL Mole BATTLEGROUP th Infantry Brigade - Brigadier ND Leslie BATTLEGROUP th Infantry Brigade Brigadier H Essame th (Dorset & Hampshire) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Lieutenant Colonel TI Bishell (Attached to 129th Brigade) th (Wessex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Lieutenant Colonel GEG Gadsden (Attached to 130th Brigade) th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Lieutenant Colonel GL Pethick (Attached to 214th Brigade) BATTLEGROUP th (7th Dorsets) Light Antiaircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Lt Col OWR Dent (Mainly defending rear areas, but partly brought forward to support the 5th DCLI in direct fire role) 59 59th (Gloucestershire) Antitank Regiment, Royal Artillery Lieutenant Colonel HS Barker (Distributed to Infantry Brigades and Divisional Reserve) 8Mx 8th (Machinegun) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Distributed to Infantry Brigades and Divisional Reserve) 43 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Lane-Fox (Not present having suffered heavy losses at sea and being reformed) th Field Company, Royal Engineers (Not present conducting bridging and road-building operations to the rear) 333rd Field Company, Royal Engineers (Not present conducting bridging and road-building operations to the rear) 362nd Field Company, Royal Engineers (Not present conducting bridging and road-building operations to the rear)

2 Attached Elements From XII Corps, VIII Corps and 2nd Army From XII Corps: 86 BATTLEGROUP 86th (5th Prince of Wales ) Antitank Regiment, Royal Artillery rd AGRA -04 Artillery Group, 53rd (Welsh) Division From VIII Corps: th (Highland) Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division Brigadier CM Barber (a) -03 8th AGRA -04 Artillery Group, 15th (Scottish) Division -05 Artillery Group, 11th Armoured Division From 2nd Army: 4 BATTLEGROUP-07 4th Armoured Brigade Group Brigadier RMP Carver 31 BATTLEGROUP-10 31st Army Tank Brigade Brigadier GS Knight 141st Battalion, Royal Armoured Corps, 79th Armoured Division (Squadrons distributed to Infantry Brigades) (a) 46th (Highland) Brigade conducted a separate attack, in concert with Operation Jupiter, down the Odon valley, northeast towards Caen. The brigade (with B Squadron, 7 RTR, from 31st Army Tank Brigade) made good progress against little opposition and soon linked up with the Canadians near Carpiquet. Consequently, one battalion was detached from the brigade to support 130th Brigade at Eterville, which was having a much harder time of it. Therefore, this single battalion (the 9th Cameron Highlanders) is the only element of 46th Brigade that need be represented in this scenario.

3 129th Infantry Brigade Group 129 BATTLEGROUP th Infantry Brigade Group Brigadier GHL Mole Brigade Headquarters & Defence Platoon x1 er x1 M5/M9 Halftrack Carrier BR-34 x3 Infantry (1 with PIAT) BR-49 / x2 15cwt Truck 30th Independent AA Troop, RA x1 20mm Polsten AA Gun BR-P16 x1 15cwt Truck Attachments/RAF Forward Air Controller x1 Forward Observer x1 M5/M9 Halftrack Carrier BR-34 A Company, 8th Middlesex Regiment x1 er x6 Vickers MMG (d) x7 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) (d) 235th Bty, 59th (Glocs) Antitank Regt, RA x1 er x1 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) x2 6pdr Antitank Gun x2 Lloyd Carrier x2 17pdr Antitank Gun BR-54 BR-46 BR-32 BR-47 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry Lieutenant Colonel CG Lippy Lipscomb (a) 4th Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Edward L Ted Luce (b) 5th Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment (c) Lieutenant Colonel NCE Kenrick (a) Known company commanders for 4th SLI are: A Company Major Edward Trotman S Company Major Majendie (b) Known company commanders for 4th Wiltshires are: C Company Major ASP Jeans (c) Company commanders for 5th Wiltshires are not known. (d) Vickers MMGs may be fired from their Carriers, but may not conduct Grazing Fire while doing so (see website Optional Rules). (e) Two artillery observers are allocated to each infantry battalion. x2 Quad Artillery Tractor x2 M10 Wolverine BR-45 BR th (Dorset & Hants) Field Regiment, RA Lieutenant Colonel TI Bishell On-Table Attachments x6 Forward Observer (e) x6 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) P Battery x4 25pdr Field Gun Q Battery (same as P Battery) R Battery (same as P Battery) A Squadron, 141st RAC x1 Churchill VII Crocodile Flame Tank x8 Churchill VII Crocodile Flame Tank BR-14 BR-14

4 130th Infantry Brigade Group 130 BATTLEGROUP th Infantry Brigade Group Brigadier BB Walton Brigade Headquarters & Defence Platoon x1 er x1 M5/M9 Halftrack Carrier BR-34 x3 Infantry (1 with PIAT) BR-49 / x2 15cwt Truck 32nd Independent AA Troop, RA x1 20mm Polsten AA Gun BR-P16 x1 15cwt Truck Attachments/RAF Forward Air Controller x1 Forward Observer x1 M5/M9 Halftrack Carrier BR-34 B Company, 8th Middlesex Regiment 233rd Bty, 59th (Glocs) Antitank Regt, RA x1 er x6 Vickers MMG (e) x7 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) (e) x1 er x1 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) x2 6pdr Antitank Gun x2 Lloyd Carrier x2 17pdr Antitank Gun BR-54 BR-46 BR-32 BR-47 7th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment Lieutenant Colonel DWG Ray (a) 4th Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Cowie (b) 5th Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment (c) Lieutenant Colonel BA Coad 9th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders (d) (a) Known company commanders for 7th Hampshires are: A Company Major Gordon Viner B Company Major Tompkins C Company Major Phillips x2 Quad Artillery Tractor x2 M10 Wolverine th (Wessex) Field Regiment, RA Lieutenant Colonel GEG Gadsden On-Table Attachments x6 Forward Observer (f) x6 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) P Battery x4 25pdr Field Gun BR-45 BR-15 (b) Known company commanders for 4th Dorsets are: B Company Major Symonds (c) Known company commanders for 5th Dorsets are: C Company Major Roe D Company Major Newton (d) This battalion was the reserve for 46th (Highland) Brigade of 15th (Scottish) Division, which was temporarily attached to 43rd (Wessex) Division and was conducting its own attack down the Odon valley to the northeast. In the event, the 9th Cameronians weren t needed and were instead ordered to support the 4th Dorsets and 7th Hampshires at Eterville. (e) Vickers MMGs may be fired from their Carriers, but may not conduct Grazing Fire while doing so (see website Optional Rules). (f) Two artillery observers are allocated to each infantry battalion. Q Battery (same as P Battery) R Battery (same as P Battery) B Squadron, 141st RAC x1 Churchill VII Crocodile Flame Tank x8 Churchill VII Crocodile Flame Tank BR-14 BR-14

5 214th Infantry Brigade Group 214 BATTLEGROUP th Infantry Brigade Group Brigadier H Essame Brigade Headquarters & Defence Platoon x1 er x1 M5/M9 Halftrack Carrier BR-34 x3 Infantry (1 with PIAT) BR-49 / x2 15cwt Truck 31st Independent AA Troop, RA x1 20mm Polsten AA Gun BR-P16 x1 15cwt Truck Attachments/RAF Forward Air Controller x1 Forward Observer x1 M5/M9 Halftrack Carrier BR-34 C Company, 8th Middlesex Regiment 333rd Bty, 59th (Glocs) Antitank Regt, RA x1 er x6 Vickers MMG (d) x7 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) (d) x1 er x1 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) x2 6pdr Antitank Gun x2 Lloyd Carrier x2 17pdr Antitank Gun BR-54 BR-46 BR-32 BR-47 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry Lieutenant Colonel GCP Lance (a) 1st Btn, The Worcestershire Regiment Lieutenant Colonel AR Harrison (b) 5th Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall s Light Infantry (c) Lieutenant Colonel RW James (a) Known company commanders for 4th SLI are: Major Young Major Chalmers (b) Company commanders for 1st Worcesters are not known x2 Quad Artillery Tractor x2 M10 Wolverine th Field Regiment, RA Lieutenant Colonel GL Pethick On-Table Attachments x6 Forward Observer (e) x6 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) P Battery x4 25pdr Field Gun BR-45 BR-15 (c) Known company commanders for 5th DCLI are: A Company Major Roberts B Company Major Vawdrey C Company Captain Blackwell D Company Major JEE Fry (d) Vickers MMGs may be fired from their Carriers, but may not conduct Grazing Fire while doing so (see website Optional Rules). (e) Two artillery observers are allocated to each infantry battalion. (f) Troop-Carrying Vehicles (TCVs) are allocated to each rifle company in the brigade 1x 15cwt and 3x 3-Tonners per company. Q Battery (same as P Battery) R Battery (same as P Battery) ATTACHMENTS Troop-Carrying Vehicle Detachments, Royal Army Service Corps (f) x12 15cwt Truck x36 3-ton Truck BR-44

6 Infantry Battalion Organisation Infantry Battalion Company x1 er x1 Humber Scout Car BR-38 A Company x1 er x9 Infantry (1 with PIAT) Organic Fire Support x1 2-inch Mortar BR-49 BR-55 B Company (Same as A Company) C Company (Same as A Company) D Company (Same as A Company) Carrier/Scout Platoon / x1 er x4 Infantry (2 with PIAT) / x5 Universal Carrier (with MG) BR-49 ATTACHMENTS Support ( S ) Company x3 6pdr Antitank Gun x3 Lloyd Carrier Organic Fire Support x3 3-inch Mortar x3 Universal Carrier (no MG) x2 Assault Pioneer (1 with Flamethrower) x2 Jeep (no MG) BR-46 BR-32 BR-56 BR-51 BR-42

7 Divisional Reserve Formations 236th Battery, 59th (Gloucester) Antitank Regiment, Royal Artillery x1 er x1 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) x2 6pdr Antitank Gun x2 Lloyd Carrier x2 17pdr Antitank Gun x2 Quad Artillery Tractor x2 M10 Wolverine BR-46 BR-32 BR-47 BR-45 BR-15 /-02 D (Mortar) Company, 8th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment Major Kenyon x1 er x1 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) Attachment x1 Forward Observer (a) x1 Universal Carrier Fire Support x8 4.2-inch Mortar x8 Lloyd Carrier (& trailer) no card BR-32 (a) The mortars of the 8th Middlesex may only respond to calls from their own Forward Observer, or to the regiment s company commanders as Direct Fire Support or by infantry commanders of 43rd Division as General Fire Support. They may not be called by Royal Artillery Forward Observers or any other commanders. 110 BATTLEGROUP th (7th Dorsets) Light Antiaircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (a) Lieutenant Colonel OWR Dent x1 er x1 Jeep (no MG) 360th Battery x1 er x1 Jeep (no MG) x3 20mm Polsten AA Gun x3 15cwt Truck x6 40mm Bofors AA Gun 361st Battery (Same as A Battery) 362nd Battery (Same as A Battery) BR-42 BR-42 BR-P16 BR-48 x3 Bedford QLB 3-Ton Truck use BR-44 (a) In usual keeping with usual British practice, the divisional Light Antiaircraft Regiment was kept at the rear (owing to a lack of Luftwaffe targets in Normandy). However, with the failure of the initial attacks against Hill 112 and the subsequent shortage of artillery ammunition after the colossal shoots of the morning, 110 LAA Regt was brought forward in the afternoon to provide direct fire support for 5th DCLI (214th Brigade) in itsassault on Hill 112.

8 Attached Elements, XII Corps: (86th (5th Prince of Wales ) Antitank Regiment, Royal Artillery) 86 BATTLEGROUP-06 86th (5th Prince of Wales ) Antitank Regiment, Royal Artillery x1 er x1 Crusader III OP Tank MANOUEVRE ELEMENT 128th Antitank Battery (ac) x1 er x1 Crusader III OP Tank BR-P36 (a) You will have noticed that I have massed these assets as complete batteries as opposed to individual Antitank Troop MEs. This is to cut down the overall number of MEs in the scenario, which will considerably reduce playing time without too much loss of realism in BF:WW2 there is nothing to prevent the player splitting an ME to the four winds though the ME commander can only be in one place at a time! I would strongly advise against allowing direct attachment of these antitank units to other s or MEs, as this would afford an unrealistic degree of integration and flexibility. x6 17pdr Antitank Gun x6 Crusader II Hi-Speed Tractor MANOUEVRE ELEMENT 129th Antitank Battery (ab) x1 Crusader III OP Tank x6 M10 Achilles MANOUEVRE ELEMENT 130th Antitank Battery (ac) BR-P36 BR-47 BR-P45 BR-P36 BR-16 (b) The 129th and 340th Batteries were attached to 31st Army Tank Brigade for Operation Jupiter, with each squadron being directly attached to either 7 RTR or 9 RTR. Each troop (i.e. two M10 models) would support one tank squadron. However, as mentioned above, I would not allow the direct attachment of M10s to tank squadrons they were most definitely not under the command of the tanks on the day and indeed, RTR accounts I have come across make absolutely no mention of the role of the M10s, despite their creditable performance against the SS Tigers on Hill 112. (c) I know nothing about the employment of 128th and 130th Batteries during Operation Jupiter, though I do know that 17pdrs of 43rd Division (59th Antitank Regiment) were pushed forward on several occasions usually with disastrous consequences, owing to their softskinned tractors. I would expect that these armoured tractors came in very handy during the battle. A pity no-one does a model of a Crusader Tractor in 15mm! I would use Ram Kangaroo models in lieu (the Canadian Corps Antitank Regiments did, in fact, use turretless Rams as tractors until they were replaced by Crusaders, so it s not actually that wacky an idea!). x1 er x1 Crusader III OP Tank x6 17pdr Antitank Gun x6 Crusader II Hi-Speed Tractor BR-P36 BR-47 BR-P45 MANOUEVRE ELEMENT 340th Antitank Battery (ab) x1 Crusader III OP Tank x6 M10 Achilles BR-P36 BR-16

9 4 Attached Elements, 2nd Army: (4th Armoured Brigade Group) BATTLEGROUP-07 4th Armoured Brigade Group Brigadier RMP Carver Brigade Headquarters x1 Sherman II 75mm Tank x3 Sherman II 75mm Tank x1 Crusader AA Tank Mk II/III BR-03 BR-03 BR-20 x1 Valentine Bridgelayer Tank BR-P12 BATTLEGROUP-08 Royal Scots Greys (a) Lieutenant Colonel AGJ Readman BATTLEGROUP-08 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) (b) Lieutenant Colonel AA Sandy Cameron BATTLEGROUP-08 44th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Hopkinson BATTLEGROUP-09 2nd (Motor) Battalion, King s Royal Rifle Corps (c) Lieutenant Colonel RB Littledale MANOUEVRE ELEMENT 144th Antitank Battery, Royal Artillery Major Simpson x1 Crusader III OP Tank x6 M10 Achilles -01 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery On-Table Attachments x6 Forward Observer (d) x6 Sherman Observation Post Tank P Battery x4 25pdr Field Gun Q Battery (same as P Battery) R Battery (same as P Battery) BR-P36 BR-16 BR-30 (a) Squadron commanders for the Scots Greys are: A Squadron Major Stewart B Squadron Major JD Callender C Squadron Major Paget (b) Known squadron commanders for 3 CLY are: A Squadron Major Oliver Woods B Squadron Major Harold Phelps (c) Company commanders for 2 KRRC are: A Company Major Hereward Wake B Company Major DF Fletcher C Company Major Roly Gibbs (d) Two artillery observers are attached to each armoured regiment. (e) 4th Armoured Brigade, together with the truck-mounted 214th Infantry Brigade, was the operational reserve and breakthrough formation for Operation Jupiter. However, as the initial attacks against Hill 112 by 129th and 130th Brigade had failed to secure their objectives, Brigadier Carver rebuffed General Thomas order to commit the brigade to the battle believing (almost certainly correctly) that it would be suicide to send his tanks up and over Hill 112. In the event, 214th Brigade was taken away from Carver to bolster the attacks on Hill 112 and Carver eventually had to send the Scots Greys up Hill 112 in a doomed attempt to save 5 DCLI. 144th Antitank Battery also saw action on the day against the Tigers of SS-Schwere-Panzer-Abteilung 102. The remainder of the brigade eventually saw some action during the night and over the next few days, but there was no major commitment of the brigade en masse as originally planned. This battlegroup may therefore only be committed to the game if the initial objectives are taken and held by the leading infantry brigades as per the plan.

10 4th Armoured Brigade Battalion Organisations BATTLEGROUP-08 Armoured Regiment (Sherman) BATTLEGROUP-09 2nd (Motor) Battalion, King s Royal Rifle Corps (c) Squadron Company x1 Sherman II 75mm Tank (M4A1) (a) BR-03 x1 er x1 Sherman II 75mm Tank BR-03 x1 M3A1 White Scout Car BR-35 x4 Crusader AA Tank Mk II/III x4 Stuart III Light Tank (M3A1) (b) A Squadron x1 Sherman II 75mm Tank BR20 BR-01 BR-03 A Company Major Hereward Wake x1 er x1 M3A1 White Scout Car x9 Infantry (1 with PIAT) BR-35 BR-49 x6 Sherman II 75mm Tank BR-03 Organic Fire Support x1 2-inch Mortar BR-55 x2 Sherman IIc Firefly 17pdr Tank BR-04 x6 M5/M9 Halftrack Carrier BR-34 B Squadron (Same as A Squadron) C Squadron (Same as A Squadron) (a) Initially in Normandy, 4th Armoured Brigade was equipped almost exclusively with the Sherman Mk II (M4A1 with the round-edged cast hull). However, battlefield replacements could be of any type and therefore, by Operation Jupiter, there were likely to have been a large number of Mk III (M4A2) and Mk V (M4A4) in the ranks. (b) Note that the Troop has been massed within the Squadron. The reason is twofold first, it keeps the overall number of manoeuvre elements down and speeds up play. Second, when not being used for recce duties (as indeed, they weren t on this occasion), the Troop was used mainly for protection. Carrier/Scout Platoon (d) / x1 er x4 Infantry (2 with PIAT) BR-49 / x5 Universal Carrier (w. MG) B Company Major DF Fletcher (Same as A Company) C Company Major Roly Gibbs (Same as A Company) (c) The usual practice for Motor Battalions at this time was for one Motor Company to be attached to each armoured regiment of the brigade. However, in this instance, the battalion seems to have remained as an integral whole. If you re interested, the company/regiment affiliation was as follows: A Company attached to 3 CLY B Company attached to 44 RTR C Company attached to Scots Greys (d) Note that each company in a Motor Battalion had its own Carrier (a.k.a. Scout ) Platoon, whereas the line infantry would only have one such platoon per battalion. (e) Vickers MMGs may be fired from their Carriers, but may not conduct Grazing Fire while doing so (see website Optional Rules). ATTACHMENTS x3 6pdr Antitank Gun x3 Lloyd Carrier x4 Vickers MMG (e) x4 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) Organic Fire Support x3 3-inch Mortar x3 Universal Carrier (no Bren MG) BR-46 BR-32 BR-54 BR-56

11 31 BATTLEGROUP-10 31st Army Tank Brigade Brigadier GS Knight Brigade Headquarters x1 Churchill VI 75mm Infantry Tank x3 Churchill VI 75mm Infantry Tank x1 Crusader AA Tank Mk II/III x1 Churchill Bridgelayer Tank Attached Elements, 2nd Army: (31st Army Tank Brigade) BR-10 BR-10 BR-20 no card BATTLEGROUP-11 7th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment (abi) Lieutenant Colonel Gaisford BATTLEGROUP-11 Armoured Regiment (Churchill) Squadron x1 Churchill VI 75mm Infantry Tank x1 Churchill VI 75mm Infantry Tank x4 Crusader AA Tank Mk II/III BR-10 BR-10 BR-20 x4 Stuart III Light Tank (M3A1) BR-01 Fire Support Attachment (e) x2 Forward Observer / (e) x2 Churchill VI 75mm Infantry (OP) Tank BR-10 BATTLEGROUP-11 9th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment (cdi) Lieutenant Colonel, Sir Nugent Paddy Everard A Squadron x1 Churchill VI 75mm Infantry Tank BR-10 x1 Churchill V 95mm Close Support Tank BR-09 (a) Known squadron commanders for 7 RTR are: A Squadron Major Richard Dick Joscelyne (b) 7 RTR was split between 129th Infantry Brigade and 46th (Highland) Infantry Brigade for Operation Jupiter. Sub-allocation of squadrons was as follows: A Squadron 4th Wiltshires (objective Hill 112) B Squadron 46th (Highland) Brigade (not in this scenario) (h) C Squadron 4th Somerset and 5th Wiltshires (objective Hill 112) (c) Squadron commanders for 9 RTR are: A Squadron Major Douglas Ballantine B Squadron Major Bob Warren C Squadron Major Ronnie Holden (d) 9 RTR was allocated to 130th Infantry Brigade for Operation Jupiter. Sub-allocation of squadrons was as follows: A Squadron 7th Hampshires (in reserve) B Squadron 5th Dorsets (objective Château de Fontaine) C Squadron 4th Dorsets (objective Eterville) (e) The artillery observers are attached from local artillery units. Their OP tanks were provided by the tank regiment and were ordinary gun tanks, though with an extra radio set. The artillery officer would fill the vacant role of vehicle commander and his artillery radio operator would fill the role of loader. This often left the Tankie gunner as the de facto tank commander! Give these OP tanks an additional -1 modifier in all shooting and close assault die rolls. (f) The Churchill III/IV was retained at a ratio of one tank per troop, as it was discovered that the new 6pdr APDS ammo outperformed the 75mm in armour penetration. The Churchill III/IV is due to be released shortly as a new card in the Desert War Supplement. At present it exists as Website Prototype BR-P06. x3 Churchill VI 75mm Infantry Tank x2 Churchill III/IV 6pdr Infantry Tank (f) B Squadron (Same as A Squadron) C Squadron (Same as A Squadron) BR-10 BR-P06 (g) You may be wondering where the much-beloved Churchill VIIs are? They simply had not been delivered yet! 9 RTR received its first ten Mk VIIs as replacements on 13th July ironically, as replacements for the terrible losses suffered during Operation Jupiter. The first production Mk VIIs were all used to produce Crocodiles for 79th Armoured Division, which resulted in considerable delays in delivery of the Mk VII to the line tank regiments. Indeed, even by the end of the war, Mk VIIs still made up only one tank per troop on average. This news often comes as a severe blow to dyed-in-the-wool wargamers who can t bear to be parted from all that armour, so break it to them gently! (h) Just to reiterate in case you missed it B Squadron, 7 RTR was supporting 46th (Highland) Brigade on 10th July and so will not be included in any Hill 112 scenario. (i) You will note that 31st Army Tank Brigade had only two armoured regiments at this time as 141st RAC had previously been transferred to 79th Armoured Division to be re-equipped with Crocodiles and the resultant gap in the order of battle was never re-filled.

12 Elements, XII Corps: (3rd Army Group Royal Artillery) rd AGRA -04 6th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery P Battery x4 Sexton SP 25pdr Q Battery (Same as P Battery) R Battery (Same as P Battery) th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery A Battery x2 7.2-inch Howitzer B Battery (Same as A Battery) C Battery x2 M1A1 155mm Gun D Battery (Same as C Battery) A Battery x4 5.5-inch Gun B Battery (Same as A Battery) th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery th (Suffolk) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery

13 8-03 8th AGRA Elements, VIII Corps: (8th Army Group Royal Artillery) th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery rd Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery A Battery P Battery x4 Sexton SP 25pdr Q Battery (Same as P Battery) R Battery (Same as P Battery) st (Caernarfon & Denbighshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery A Battery x2 7.2-inch Howitzer B Battery (Same as A Battery) C Battery x2 M1A1 155mm Gun D Battery (Same as C Battery) x4 5.5-inch Gun B Battery (Same as A Battery) rd (Midland) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery th (Duke of Lancaster s Own Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery

14 Supporting Divisional Artillery Groups (Initial Barrage Only) From XII Corps: -05 Artillery Group, 53rd (Welsh) Division st (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery rd (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery rd (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery From VIII Corps: -05 Artillery Group, 15th (Scottish) Division st (Lowland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery -06 Artillery Group, 11th Armoured Division th (Honourable Artillery Company) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery st (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

15 Deployment & Objectives (infantry battalions listed left to right across divisional frontage) Brigade Battalions Objective Attached Tanks 46th (H) Brigade 2nd Glasgow Highlanders Bretteville-sur-Odon (left bank) 7th Seaforth Highlanders Bretteville-sur-Odon (right bank) ( B Sqn 7 RTR) 9th Cameron Highlanders Brigade Reserve then sent to 130th Bde 130th Brigade 4th Dorsets Eterville ( C Sqn 9 RTR) 5th Dorsets Château de Fontaine ( B Sqn 9 RTR) 7th Hampshires Brigade Reserve (then Maltot) ( A Sqn 9 RTR) 129th Brigade 4th Wiltshires Hill 112 (Left Shoulder) ( A Sqn 7 RTR) 4th Somersets Hill 112 (Crest) ( C Sqn 7 RTR) 5th Wiltshires Hill 112 (Right Shoulder) ( C Sqn 7 RTR) 214 Brigade Divisional Reserve and breakthrough formation mounted in TCVs (4th Armoured Brigade) 4th Armoured Brigade and 214th Infantry Brigade will be committed to the battle once the infantry s objectives have been secured. However, the umpire should note that this event will trigger the release of further Tigers from SS-Schweres-Panzer-Abteilung 102 (and probably further armour from I. SS-Panzer-Korps (see the German order of battle). Note that General Thomas may order the commitment of 214th Brigade to the battle at any time, though if he does so, 4th Armoured Brigade will become unavailable (Brigadier Carver will rebuff any further orders and will be supported by the corps commander). However, the Scots Greys, 144th Antitank Battery and one Motor Company may still be used to support 214th Brigade. As previously mentioned, the only element of 46th (Highland) Brigade that need be represented is the 9th Cameron Highlanders. However, the umpire should only make this battalion available quite late in the scenario, as it would be rather premature to strip 46th Brigade of its reserve before it had completed its objectives!

16 Preparatory Artillery Fire Plan & Tactical Artillery/Air Support The er Royal Artillery (CRA) for 43rd (Wessex) Division is Brigadier Heath. I strongly suggest that this role be filled by a player! For the opening barrage, he has all the assets listed in this order of battle. As with German regimental commanders, each British Brigadier has his own regiment (I.e. battalion) of field artillery loosely under his command. However, the big difference here is that Brigadier Heath has the authority to overrule the infantry Brigadiers and re-allocate their artillery to higher-priority and larger missions each Royal Artillery Forward Observer has the capacity to call in colossal amounts of artillery and it is up to Brigadier Heath to approve such requests and re-allocate the resources which should produce some highly entertaining inter-player friction! An anti-mortar and counter-battery programme started at H-60 (0400hrs). This would probably have consisted of the divisional 4.2-inch mortars and the battalion 3-inch mortars firing at German batteries previously located by flash and sound location, as well as by reconnaissance and air OPs. So allow six turns or so of mortaring German mortar platoons and Nebelwerfers before the troops start moving, as well as some AGRA assets allocated to countering off-table artillery (which of course, would not then be available for the main barrage). Or this could alternatively be abstracted - make up your own rules for this. The AGRAs opened up at H-15 (0445hrs). These heavy-hitters laid concentrations on every likely point of resistance (mainly the villages and the crest of Hill 112). These should be standing concentrations feel free to use your imagination here! This is the creative part of British artillery planning! I don t have a cease-fire time, but these barrages typically went on for 20 to thirty minutes (2-4 turns). This might also include a single concentration from the Royal Navy Bombardment Group (which is known to have included the battleship Warspite, the cruiser Belfast and the monitor Lord Roberts). Once the AGRAs lifted, 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force came into play RAF Tentacles directed Typhoons and Spitfires onto targets. Each FAC may call in up to one aircraft per turn. After each half hour, the FACs apply an additional -1 modifier to their die roll as the quantity of air support is reduced (i.e. apply the modifiers in turns 4, 7, 11 etc). The main barrage was a 3,500 yard-wide (roughly 7 feet of table) walking barrage, fired by the pdrs of 43rd, 53rd,15th and 11th Armoured Divisions (33 batteries), which began at H-Hour (0500hrs) and moved at walking pace over the forward German positions at Eterville and Hill 112. It overlapped the frontage to be attacked by 500 yards on each flank. This equates roughly to a barrage thirty-three templates wide by two deep, moving two templates forward each turn. This is a concentrated 25pdr barrage with factors of +0 v. V and +1 v. TGsV. The walking barrage should last maybe three or four turns. The artillery from 11th Armoured, 15th and 53rd Divisions will not be available again thereafter, but the 43rd Division artillery will revert to the control of the infantry Brigadiers/Brigadier Heath. 4th RHA (4th Armoured Brigade) does not seem to have been involved in all this I expect it was held in reserve for the planned breakout. As far as the scenario goes, I would not allow 4th RHA to be used unless 4th Armoured Brigade are committed to the battle en masse (see above). Each Field Regiment from 43rd Division suffers an additional -1 Call For Fire modifier at the end of every hour (i.e. in turns 7, 13, 19 etc). This is to simulate reduction of ammunition stocks, as well as slackening of fire due to gunners fatigue. Each Royal Artillery Forward Observer is also the Troop er for one of the Field Artillery troops (i.e. half-batteries) and the two Troop ers from one battery are always attached to the same infantry battalion/armoured regiment. Therefore, if calling for a Troop or Battery target, roll for Organic Fire Support. Each FOO may also call for a Mike Target (i.e. regimental fire mission), in which the entire Field Regiment is allocated to that observer as Direct Fire Support. The Infantry Brigadier concerned will need to approve any call for a Mike, though he may be overruled by the CRA. A FOO may also call for an Uncle Target, which is all three Field Regiments in the division. Obviously the CRA will need to approve all Uncles. An Uncle is called as General Fire Support. Once an objective has been taken, the Royal Artillery FOOs may set up their OP and register Defensive Fire (DF) targets for AGRA. This is done simultaneously to Improving Position, so once the FOO has improver his position, he is also assumed to sorted out his DF plan with the local battalion commander. From this point forth, the FOO may route calls for Victor or Yoke DF missions through the CRA as General Fire Support. AGRA may only fire DF missions after the initial barrage. The umpire must enforce this. A Victor target for our purposes is the fire of one or the other AGRA and a Yoke for our purposes is the fire of both AGRAs combined (maybe with the addition of the Royal Navy!). Field Artillery from 43rd Division (and 4th RHA if available) may thicken these missions as required. I ll do some diagrams to show the size of these missions and suggested factors! You ll find that it is MUCH easier to print your own templates onto card (with the factors marked on them) rather than fiddle with hundreds of stacked-up little templates as supplied with the game! During DF missions, an entire AGRA must fire at the same target it may be split during the initial barrage, but not during DF. Mortars may not thicken Royal Artillery missions. In addition to allocating and planning artillery resources, it is also the CRA s job to ensure that the same asset doesn t get fired twice in the same turn! For example, a Mike mission means that all guns from one Field Regiment are firing at the target selected by one FOO so the other five FOOs from that regiment are going to be disappointed! However, even though a FOO s troop may be busy firing into someone else s Mike, he may still be able to call in higher-level artillery such as Victor. A -1 modifier is added to the Call For Fire roll for an AGRA after every successful DF mission. This is to simulate ammunition expenditure and encourage careful consideration by the CRA as to the priority of targets hit by AGRA (it should not be an unlimited resource!). This may need playtesting, but I think it s a better system than finite artillery ammunition.

17 Bibliography Impossible Victories Bryan Perrett Hill 112 (Battles on the Odon, 1944) Tim Saunders Steel Inferno (I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy) Michael Reynolds Monty s Marauders ( Black Rat 4th Armoured Brigade & Red Fox 8th Armoured Brigade) Patrick Delaforce The Fighting Wessex Wyverns (43rd Wessex) Division) Patrick Delaforce Marching To The Sound Of Gunfire Patrick Delaforce Tank Tracks (9 RTR At War ) Peter Beale La Bataille de Caen Georges Benamou Hill 112 (Cornerstone of the Normandy Campaign) J. J. How The British Soldier, Vol. 2 Jean Bouchery Royal Artillery Homepage Nigel F. Evans Acknowledgements My Thanks to Mike Hickling and Edward Sturges for their help and information.