Operation Charnwood (FOW campaign): Attack on La Bijude

In parallel with task force Micheal's attack Galmanche, task force Paul attacked La Bijude. The attack started at 04.30. The East Riding Yeomanry had two platoons of tanks in support each with two shermans and one firefly. Opposing task force Paul was Kampfgruppe Micha consisting of D Kompanie, 31^st Luftwaffe Jaegerregiment with a large number of supporting units including some dreaded 88's.

Note: Game wise luftwaffe units a very cheap, balancing the sides meant the luftwaffe got a lot of support.

Battlefield viewed from the West

The Forces

	Taskforce Paul	Kampfgruppe Micha
	A company 7th Royal Norfolks regiment Company HQ 1st platoon with 3 section 2nd platoon with 3 section 3rd platoon with 3 section Support units Mortar platoon, S company with 3 section 1st Squadron East Riding Yeomanry 1 ERY (tank platoon) B company 7th Royal Norfolks regiment Company HQ 4th platoon with 3 section 5th platoon with 3 section 6th platoon with 3 section Support units Pioneer platoon with 3 section 2nd Squadron East Riding Yeomanry 2 ERY (tank platoon)	D Kompanie 31st Luftwaffe Jaegerregiment Kompanie HQ with Anti Tank section 7th platoon with 3 section 8th platoon with 3 section 9th platoon with 3 section Support units Luftwaffe MG platoon with 2 sections Luftwaffe MG platoon with 2 sections Luftwaffe Mortar platoon with 2 sections Luftwaffe Pioneer platoon with 3 sections Luftwaffe Anti tank platoon with 3 Pak7.5 Luftwaffe Anti Air battery with 2 88s Luftwaffe scout platoon with 2 sections SS panzergrenadier platoon with 3 section Fortifications 3 HMG nests 2 minefeilds

The Battle

Note: Based on the last campaign game we increased the playing area to allow the British a better chance to outflank. The down side was this created a fairly open battlefield as opposed to the dense Normandy terrain.

Machine gun nest

The German objective went to the far end of the eastern, German side, of the battlefield while the British objective was deployed far forward towards the centre of the battlefield. The initial German defence consisted of the pioneers, mortars and 1^st grenadier platoon deployed. The mortars went to the rear, The Pioneers covered the British objective with support from the CiC and the anti tank section. While the 1^st Grenadier platoon with the 2iC covered the German objective. The machine-gun nests and the minefields were deployed right at the front. In addition, the 88's and a machine-gun platoon. The machine-guns from the second platoon were attached to the grenadier and pioneer platoons.

Luftwaffe Pioneers line the road in defense of La Bijude

In response the British deploy two platoons from A company and one platoon from B company with mortar support to along the Northern route. The rest of the task force deployed on the Southern route hoping to exploit a line of terrain that led to the British objective.

British assault group North

British assault group South

The British attack started well, the ERY platoons quickly destroyed two HMG nests while the infantry pushed on through cover. To counter the German 88's sprung their ambush sooner than planned and destroyed 1^st squadron ERY. The remaining German units opted to dig in. The mortar spotter tried and failed to spot any British units in the dark. The presence of the 88's stalled the advance northern British attack. For several turn both side traded fire. Or more accurately the British fired on the 88's while the 88's failed to spot any British (rolling one's to spot every time). 

88's see a tank platoon

88's roll to see the other platoon

The stale mate was broken by 1^st platoon A company which assaulted and destroyed the guns before moving into the northern part of La Bijude. The German mortar spotter caught a glimpse of the Firefly from 2 ERY. The mortar strike forced the crew to bail out, being reluctant they stayed out of the tank for the rest of the game. The lead platoons from B company were also hit and pinned, leaving 1^st platoon to go it alone. The pioneers tried to out flank the village to give support but ran into a machine-gun nest, lost half their number and were pinned.

The SS grenadiers arrived in half tracks and moved towards the southern British attack intent on breaking A company. In La Bijude, 1^st platoon overran the mortar spotter who could not get away fast enough. They then were attacked by the pioneers. The two units fought for several turns with key buildings changing hands several times before the pioneers finally destroyed the platoon. This was to be the furtherest the brutish could advance.

German reinforcement began to pour in. The machine-gun platoon ambushed the southern British attack inflicting heavy casualties as the platoons attempted to dismantle the minefields. To make it worst the newly arrived SS grenadier platoon drove through the gapped minefield and assaulted the three platoons of British infantry. With ruthless efficient the grenadiers cut down the men of A company wiping out three platoons in the process destroying the company. On the Northern flank the Luftwaffe grenadiers broke cover and wiped out the remaining of the pioneers. B company was still largely intact but day break showed a mass of Luftwaffe unit converging on their position so they opted to withdraw but not before destroying two machince guns from the ambushing German platoon. The attack was called of at 07.00.

SS grenadiers attack North group

The Aftermath

	Taskforce Paul	Kampfgruppe Micha
	A company 7th Royal Norfolks regiment Company HQ -destroyed 1st platoon -destroyed 2nd platoon -destroyed 3rd platoon -destroyed Support units Mortar platoon, S company -destroyed 1st Squadron East Riding Yeomanry (tank platoon) -destroyed B company 7th Royal Norfolks regiment Company HQ 4th platoon 6 teams lost 5th platoon 6th platoon Support units Pioneer platoon -destroyed 2nd Squadron East Riding Yeomanry (tank platoon)	D Kompanie 31st Luftwaffe Jaegerregiment Kompanie HQ with Anti Tank section 7th platoon 8th platoon 9th platoon Support units Luftwaffe MG platoon Luftwaffe MG platoon Luftwaffe Mortar platoon -spotter lost Luftwaffe Pioneer platoon -3 teams lost Luftwaffe Anti tank platoon Luftwaffe Anti Air battery -destroyed Luftwaffe scout platoon SS panzergrenadier platoon Fortifications 3 HMG nests – 2 destroyed 2 minefeilds -1 destroyed

The failed attack leaves the British in spot. Task Force Paul has been disbanded The 1^st Squadron East Riding Yeomanry was destroyed, and A Company completely wiped out. B company lost its pioneers. B company and the 2^nd Squadron have gone back into the British reserve pool. Campaign-wise it means the British second phase attacks will go ahead but will take fire from the Germans holding the forward villages.

The Germans again got away lightly with one platoon lost, the 88's and two platoons with moderate damaged (the machine-gun and pioneers platoons). The Germans failed to repair the destroyed British tanks (forgot to roll for them, again). They continue to hold the line but keep losing anti tank assets.