Battle of Carentan 13th June 1944 for Rules of Engagement
Note- I am using multiple platoons, this is not strictly covered under the game’s rules, but from experience I have found it is perfectly feasible. Ideally there will be a separate human player for each platoon.
Background
The Battle of Carentan was an engagement in World War II between airborne forces of the United States Army and the German Wehrmacht during the Battle of Normandy. The battle took place between 10 and 15 June 1944, on the approaches to and within the city of Carentan, France.[1]
The objective of the attacking American forces was consolidation of the U.S. beachheads (Utah Beach and Omaha Beach) and establishment of a continuous defensive line against expected German counterattacks. The defending German force attempted to hold the city long enough to allow reinforcements en route from the south to arrive, prevent or delay the merging of the lodgments, and keep the U.S. First Army from launching an attack towards Lessay-Périers that would cut off the Cotentin Peninsula.
Carentan was defended by the 6th Parachute Regiment, two Ost battalions and remnants of other German forces. The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division, ordered to reinforce Carentan, was delayed by transport shortages and attacks by Allied aircraft. The attacking 101st Airborne Division, landed by parachute on 6 June as part of the American airborne landings in Normandy, was ordered to seize Carentan.
In the ensuing battle, the 101st forced passage across the causeway into Carentan on 10 June and 11 June. A lack of ammunition forced the German forces to withdraw on 12 June. The 17th SS PzG Division counter-attacked the 101st Airborne on 13 June. Initially successful, its attack was thrown back by Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division.
(Copyright of Wikipedia, I do not claim to own this material.)
German counter-attack
Terrain
Normandy Bocage. In the Allied deployment zone several houses (roll a D3+1) should be placed along the edge of the board in a random fashion. These houses are the main objectives, being the edge of the town of Carentan.
Deployment
The board should be as large as possible, recommended size at least 6’x6’.
The Axis may deploy anywhere within 20cm of either end of the board, and no more than 30cm onto the board from their board edge.
The Allies may deploy the two paratrooper platoons anywhere within 30cm from their board edge, but may not deploy in any of the objective buildings as they are preparing to launch their own assault on the Germans which was pre-empted by the German counter-attack.
Victory conditions
Attacker decisive victory
Has twice as many troops within 20cm of the objectives as the defender, and has broken both Paratrooper platoons.
Attacker marginal victory
Has only achieved one of the following objectives: Has twice as many troops within 20cm of the objectives as the defender, and has broken both Paratrooper platoons.
Defender marginal victory
Has twice as many troops within 20cm of the objectives as the attacker, but one or more of the defending platoons has been broken.
Defender decisive victory
Has twice as many troops within 20cm of the objectives as the attacker, and no defending platoons have been broken.
Any other result is a draw
Scenario general rules applicable to both sides
Unacceptable losses
Random operational length
How long does the battle last?
12 turns plus Random operational length
Participants
Axis (Attacker, get first turn)
Waffen SS Recce platoon 25 SP
Fallschirmjager platoon 25 SP
Allies (Defender)
American Paratrooper platoon 16 SP
American Paratrooper platoon 16 SP
(the two Para platoons may use hidden deployment and fortifications, but only use slit trenches)
American Armoured Infantry platoon 20 SP
(Come on as reserves using the reserve table p62 of the rules book, but instead of potentially being available from turn 2, they are only potentially available from turn 6, but when they become available, the entire platoon will enter the table. When available, roll a D6. On a 1-3 the platoon comes on from anywhere to the left of the centre of the Allied deployment zone board edge, on a 4-6 they come on from anywhere to the right of the centre of the Allied deployment zone board edge)
