BATTLE OF LA CAPLAINERIE / A BATTLEGROUP OVERLORD GAME

The focus of our game is on the Panzer Lehr attack aimed against the crossroads between la Charlemenerie and la Caplainerie in the Vire region in Normandy. The Germans already reached la Caplainerie and the crossroads, which proved undefended, for the first time by 02:45 hours. They then probed north. This advance was stalled at la Sellerie 2km further northeast of the crossroads. A fire fight broke out with both sides firing at each other in the darkness. By daylight the Germans realised their exposed position. After an US air strike that destroyed several Panther tanks they decided to retire back to the crossroads near la Caplainerie. This time however the US forces were prepared for the German onslaught. US M10 tank destroyers and supporting infantry had taken up defensive positions at la Caplainerie and were in the process of doing the same at la Charlemenerie.

                                      Battlefield looking from la Charlemenerie towards la Sellerie

There were two players for each Battlegroup. We had some previous experiences with Battlegroup Overlord and Kursk games, but never before in a game of this size and impact. With our initial forces placed on the table we started the game on platoon level. We agreed that when the reinforcements joined in it would become a company level game for the Battlegroup receiving these reinforcements. Reinforcements for the US troops are from the British Armoured Division list. The Brits did have some unfinished business with Panzer Lehr… 

                                        Germans coming from la Sellerie towards la Caplainerie

 

                                         US M10s and Infantry defensive positions at la Caplainerie

 

                                            An US Sherman platoon is moving up

 

                                         Some US infantry and a supply truck in la Charlemenerie

Turn 1

                                        First US M10 Tank Destroyer knocked out near la Caplainerie

                                        First Panther tank knocked out: the platoon commander

                                             The battle for la Caplainerie has started !!

 

 Turn 2: 

                                      German reinforcements arrive and their Company level game

                                                 A second M10 tank destroyer is knocked-out
  

                                              Firefight on the road between an M10 and a Panther
                   

                                      Shermans on the road, Infantry in and near the Charlemenerie farm

                                        And with their tanks on the road the infantry cannot cross

                                        German supply truck is hit by a P-47 attack with small bombs

 

Turn 3:

                                          The Germans try to outflank the Americans at la Caplainerie

                                         US M10 platoon is completely destroyed. Will the Germans win?!

                                     

                                           A reinforcement Panther collapses under an artillery barrage

               Commander in Panther breakes through the bocage but is pinned by the 76mm Sherman 

Turn 4:

                          Two halftracks coming through the bocage, their commander still pinned 

 

  Near the farm a 75mm Sherman is hit by fire from a Panther 

                           

                                  End of battle with an additional Panther, a Puma and a Sdkfz 251/1 destroyed

I do realize this AAR has become more or less a picture report. I hope you still like it. Our Battlegroup Overlord game took 4 turns and lasted between 4 to 5 hours. At the end of turn 4 the German players saw that there was little chance for success and called it a day. So with the Allies (US and British forces) winning the battle and holding ground we followed the historical outcome of this Vire campaign Normandy 1944 clash.

Some thoughts on the game itself. The effect of switching from platoon level to company level when the reinforcements arrived on the table proved very satisfying and effective. It did not disbalance our game. Furthermore we felt that the effect from off-table artillery on armour, vehicles and infantry troops was substantial. Perhaps we did not apply the rules for Indirect Artillery prperly, but we all could imagine the impact of artillery barrages and air attacks on a battlefield. In all we enjoyed our game very much and certainly will be doing more of these Battlegroup games in the near future!

Reference:
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-A-StLo/USA-A-StLo-2.html