Operation Cobra : July 1944

Keen followers will remember I have been working on a 15mm late war German force to take on my Americans, Friday last week saw them take to the battlefield. Although not based on any specific battle it is very loosely based on the battle around Roncey 28th July 1944. During operation Cobra the Americans have broken through the German positions and are driving south into Normandy. Outflanked elements of several SS Panzer Divisions are forced to pull back. As a pocket develops around Roncey these German troops are forced to break through the closing American forces.

We decided on a large game as we had the whole day to game, the Germans have formed into columns driving south entering at the two blue arrows. These roads were designated as narrow roads so would restrict movement. Half of the American forces are deployed on the table already at the red locations shown. The troops at these points would only be revealed when they were activated. American reinforcements would arrive along the three red arrows. There are three objectives, the two villages and the central hill. In terms of rules we wanted something fairly quick so we used bolt action but managed the scale by organising both forces into roughly 12 platoons. Individual units within six inches of their platoon command figure could be collectively activated. Any vehicles or squads moving out of this range would become independent units. So onto the action……..

The first American forces to reveal an antitank platoon in the first village

Tanks tanks tanks the German Panzer platoons with mobile Panzer grenadiers drive forward, leading the way a single Tiger !

The second German column enters, infantry supported by heavy weapons and assault vehicles

Two Platoons of American Sherman’s drive onto contest the Eastern village

American tank destroyer platoon, mortars and Infantry arrive in the centre

and start to spread out towards the central objective

The Americans also have some air support

Early success for the Yanks who knock out two of the leading Panzers

After a couple of turns the battle is developing into three areas

The tank destroyers spread their fire to east and west

As the mounted Panzer grenadiers drive into the open the Americans reveal their hidden heavy machine gun platoon

At the Western village things are looking like a tough infantry combat

The American mortar team have delivered a significant smoke screen in front of the Hill, protecting the Paratroopers in that area

In the centre the Germans attempt to redeploy their 88’s and an infantry platoon head towards the smoke covered hill

American infantry moving forward under cover

The American mortar teams

The Americans are managing to pin down the leading panzers as they try to move off the road

Large infantry platoon heads to secure the central hill

The battle for the Eastern village with another Panzer caught and blown at the junction

But the American tanks are also taking loses

Panzergrenadiers pushing forward under heavy machine gun fire

A second Sherman is brewed up 🙁

A view of two Sherman’s moving to hold the village centre

One more round of reinforcements for both sides, an armoured rifle platoon attempts to secure the western village

The Sherman’s are now struggling against the more powerful Panzers IV’s and then a Fubar in the smoke and confusion the leading Sherman mistakenly puts a shell into the rear of a Sherman in the village !!!

More German panzer arrive in the west but finally the Americans have knocked out the Jagdpanther and the supporting Stug

The battle is now drawing to a close, American armour is contesting the western village

But the Germans have taken the Eastern village

An overview shows the American armour in this area has taken a beating with all but two now burning 

A final shot of the three objectives, the village now in German hands

But the American infantry is holding the hill, in a parting shot the Germans mange to knock out the air support !

The western village is heavily contested.

So after several hours of hard combat we judged it a draw with one objective each and the western village contested. Excellent battle and great to get WW2 on the table. The rules worked well but we do fancy giving flames of war a try in a slightly smaller battle. I have more American infantry and artillery in the lead pile. I am also considering some small additions to my terrain collection in 15mm. I have plenty for smaller battles but not quite enough in my eyes for these bigger battles. I plan to expand the Germans slightly where I have more infantry and a mortar platoon to paint. They need some more transport and perhaps some more recon type vehicles. More to think about.

Thanks as always for checking in….I can now turn my thoughts to the recent crisis in the Americas

Matt