The Scottish Corridor

28/6/44

V1.1 - tweaks to deployment areas and victory conditions

Operation Epson was launched on the 26th of June with the objective of breaking through German  lines west of Caen and making a bridgehead over the river Odon. Once the Bridgehead was established the 11th Armoured Division was to exploit into the green fields beyond the front lines and make havoc in the German rear areas.

Day one went well and the British made good headway. Day two things started to go wrong. The British got over the Odon but the German defence of Hill 112 ensured the advance would go no further. The British had forced a long salient into the German lines, which was a tenuous link to the armoured spearhead. The salient was defended by, amongst others, the 15th Scottish Infantry Division, hence its appellation: The Scottish Corridor

The Germans eyed the salient and saw an opportunity. The lead elements of 1SS and 2SS Panzer Divisions had just arrived in Normandy and these forces were aligned either side of the corridor to act as a pincer intended to cut of the head of the Allied incursion

The scenario depicts the attack on the corridor on the 28th of June starting 7:00am in the morning

Map and Order of Battle

British Deployment

The majority of British units are deployed on table in the areas delineated by the pink dashed lines

All personnel stands (not towed gun stands) are dug in fox holes (-2 cover) EXCEPT the 7th Seaforths and Cameronians (actually the majority of the Monmouths would not be dug in at the game start but they will be dug in by the time the Germans arrive from the West)

The Recce Squadron 3^rd County of London Yeomanry is a reinforcement arriving turn 3 within 12" of  road L

46^th Highland Infantry Brigade Bde HQ is a special reinforcement. It only arrives if the BHQ in one of the brigade's battalions goes shaken or demoralised. If that happens the brigadier enters the table two turn later down roads K or L. For example if the BHQ goes shaken end of turn three, the Brigadier will arrive start of turn five

German Deployment

The majority of Kampfgruppe Frey may enter the table turn 1 between points B & D. I Bataillon must enter turn 1. II Bataillon enters turn 2 between points D & E. The regimental assets and attached panzers may enter with either I or II Bataillon

Kampfgruppe Weidinger enters the table turn 6 within 12" of point G

Terrain

The map is an 6ft x 4ft area assuming 1"=50m.

The grey areas are built up areas, the buildings in which are widely spaced. Personnel stands within get +3 cover. Vehicle and towed gun stands within get +1 cover (they are assumed to be in the gaps between buildings)

The green areas are orchards. Visibility within is 6". All stands within get -1 cover. The orchards are surrounded by hedges (+1 cover) or walls (+2 Cover) both break LOS

Red lines are roads. They all have dense hedges alongside (-1 cover) . Due to undulations in the road and overhanging branches the max visibility down a road is 12". Any stand on the road is considered to be adjacent to the hedges on either side

Road KF is the main supply route to the 11th Armoured Division on Hill 112. It is jammed with British trucks. Neither side may use road movement along it. These trucks do not trigger German morale checks or give a -1 penalty

The black dotted line is a railway. It has dense hedges alongside (-1 cover). Max visibility down the line is 12". Any stand on the railway  is considered to be adjacent to the hedges on either side

The blue line is a small stream. it is no impediment to movement and for the most part offers no cover. The stream is tree lined (except the part marked with brown dashes) which gives +1 cover and breaks LOS. The stream and trees are considered one linear obstacle so a stand touching the trees can be seen from the other side.

The stream where marked with the brown dashed line, is in a steep narrow valley. Stands can not see into or out of the valleys unless touching the lines. Stands in the valley can be shot over by units not in the valley

The green dotted lines are hedges, these provide light cover (+1) and break LOS

The open areas are fields. South of the railway is bocage country and there are many more hedges than shown on the table. All cross country movement, south of the railway is at half speed

Special Rules

The game starts at 7:00am and is played with 1hr turns (fighting in bocage is slow). The game lasts 14 turns. (At 20:00 the 10 HLI with tank support launched a counter attack from area KL, which is outside the scope of the scenario)

The British are limited in what they can move

The area containing the 9th Cameronians is out of play and can not be entered by any German unit. The British player only gets a company of infantry from the battalion and a 6pdr to place on the table. That unit may only fire at Germans within 9" and may not be moved.

The 7th Seaforths are not under the British player's control at the start of the game. If a German stand enters in LOS and 9" of a stand from the battalion, or a German stand in LOS shoots at a British stand then the battalion reverts to the British player's control. On turn 6, if the battalion has not yet reverted to the British players control, at least three companies of the Seaforths MUST advance so as they get closer to objective G. One company at least must make a hasty advance.

The 1SS were supported by artillery of the 12SS over which they had limited control, and ammo was short. This is reflected in the poor calling chances

Victory Conditions

The Germans must cut road FK for a moderate victory

For a decisive victory they must have a stand from both Kampfgruppe Frey and Kampfgruppe Weidinger cutting the road FK

The British win a moderate victory if they deny the Germans their victory conditions

The British win a decisive victory if they deny the Germans their victory conditions and hold Point G

To cut the road the Germans must have a PERSONNEL stand in good morale touching the road at the end of the game

To hold point G the British must have at least one stand in good morale and the only stands in good morale within 3" of the middle of the road where it leaves the table at the end of turn 14

References

Breaking the Panzers - Kevin Baverstock

Fire Brigades - Kamen Nevkin

Hill 112 - Major JJ How

Normandy 1944 - Niklas Zetterling

Operation Epson - Tim Saunders

The 12SS Vol 1 - Hubert Meyer