Scenario and AAR Forward the Guards Scenario 6 Assault of Frenouville

Battalion size game

Scenario 6 Assault on Frenouville 19th July 1944

Background

The Guards Armoured Division has lost about 60 tanks on the 18th July. The morning of the 19th July saw them preparing to press onward to there objectives. Overnight the Germans had moved a Kampfgruppe from 12th SS Panzer Division into the Frenouville area.

The Grenadier Guards with air and artillery support toward Frenouville and soon became engaged with Kampfgruppe Waldmuller.

Fierce fighting raged throughout the day with the Grenadier Guards battles a determined and skillful defence with Jadgpanzer IV of 12th anti-tank battalion lurking behind hedgerows. The Grenadier guards failed to make any progress and the high ground beyond with its excellent fields of fire remained in German hands.

There are four objectives 2 in the town and 2 more in the fields to the north.

German Forces

from Kampfgruppe Waldmuller 12th SS Panzer Division

Panzer IV squadron

1 Panzer IVH HQ

2 Panzer IV H

2 Panzer Grenadier Platoon (Veterans)

each consists of

1 Platoon HQ

3 Panzer Grenadier squads with 2 Panzerfausts

3 Medium Machinegun teams

1 FO team with kubelwagon

1 offtable 105mm LeFH18 battery

Re enforcements

2 Jagdpanzer IV mit L/48

Add to this any surviving Tiger II from Scenario 2 at +3BR each

( in my game this is all three!)

British Forces

from Grenadier Guards Battle Group

2 Sherman Tank Squadrons

each consisting of

1 M4A2 Sherman Tank (including 1 HQ tank)

2 M4A2 Sherman Tanks

2 M10 17 pounder self propelled anti tank guns

1 Motorised Infantry platoon

consisting of ;

1 Motorised Infantry Platoon HQ in M5 halftrack

3 Motorised Infantry sections in M5 halftracks

3 PIAT teams in Bren Carriers

1 Infantry platoon

consisting of ;

1 Infantry platoon HQ

3 Infantry sections

1 PIAT team in Bren Carrier

FAO in Sherman tank

FO team in Dingo armoured car

off table 2 batteries of 2 25 pounder guns

add 1 squadron of 3 Cromwell tanks if the British won Scenario 5 Capturing Le Pourier

in my game this was more Shermans!

After Action Report

Ran into KG Waldmuller with King Tigers. Ouch!

We played clash between the Grenadier Guards and Kampfgruppe Waldmueller on 19 July 3044 at for Freneuville. Kampfgruppe Waldmueller set up its defenses with its infantry and anti tank guns and a Panzer IV it would bring its armour later from reserve.

The Grenadier Guards made the first move heading up the two roads into the village and beginning a wide sweeping move to the left flank this move to the left flank and involve a troop of tanks allowed to tank gun done under the cover of Achilles tank destroyer

Whilst the infantry in their half trucks moved up the main Rd to contest the village forward observer and one platoon of infantry in the half tracks made for the Manor house in the village not to use it's good visibility to support the main attack with artillery support from the 25 pounders.

The Germans sent its Panzer IV straight down the main village to support the infant rate already holding various houses

Whilst the British infantry mounted and began to take the houses one at a time

Meanwhile the armoured sweep on the left hand side run into trouble facing the enemy tank guns in the hedges this slowed them considerably

Tough close quarters fighting with bloody close assaults broke out in the village.

The Germans awaited reserves which consisted of three King Tigers which were bypassed by the British near Emieville earlier in the day but now it would have to be faced down.

These were supported by Panzerjaeger IV positioned themselves to stop the British is advance.

However between the German artillery and of the tank fire sweeping armoured move meter check although the British infantry seized the village what's the King Tigers began to roll the artillery our only real defence against them didn't hold up

Tank destroyers and 17 pounders had a crack at slowing things down but apart from the pin.

Once the German armoured counter thrust got rolling it really pushed the British armour back out of Freneuville meaning that the infantry would have to withdraw as the Grenadier Guards battle group passed its break rating and realise the town was unachievable