To commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we wanted to play a beach landing game – the only problem was, we had no suitable terrain to do this….so I volunteered to create the necessary scenery, hoping it would spur me on to finish a project I had started some time ago.
Terrain
A few years ago, I created some modular terrain tiles using the Terraformers system from Sally 4th, a company based in North Yorkshire, and run by Chris Abbey. I already had enough tiles for a 4 feet by 3 feet grassed area, and to do the scenario I had in mind, I needed 4 beach tiles and 8 sea tiles creating, making a 6 feet by four feet board.
It’s quite a lot of work (and isn’t the cheapest option) but it looks great once finished…basically, you buy the frames, then you fill them with polystyrene, texture, paint and flock them!
I also needed a gun emplacement, some landing craft, barbed wire, sand dunes and various other bits and pieces for the game….4 weeks was beginning to look like not nearly long enough….but with a day to spare, everything was finished ready for our game to take place on 6 June 2024.
The Scenario
I decided early on to use the Gold Beach: Jig Green East scenario using the Rapid Fire Reloaded rules. The game represents part of the landing of 231st Infantry Brigade on Gold Beach, defended by elements of the 716th and 352nd Infantry Divisions. Specifically, it was the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment attacking WN36. It can be downloaded at Rapid Fire: Free Downloads.
Historically, The British 231st Infantry Brigade landed over half a mile east of its intended sector. The 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment landed near to WN 36 and soon captured it. They then moved eastwards to capture their planned objective, Le Hamel WN37.
The 1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment, who were originally tasked with the capture of WN36, had landed well to the east. They advanced through marsh land and captured their second objective of Les Roquettes. The 1st Dorset then repulsed a German counter-attack on Les Roquettes, by the 1st Battalion 916th Grenadier Regiment of the 352nd Infantry Division.
For further information on WN36, see Atlantik Wall: WN36
The Game
The objective for the British players (Steve and John, who were playing the 1st Hampshire) was to secure the beach, neutralise WN36 and with the help of reinforcements from the West (Tony, playing 1st Dorset) take the town of Les Roquettes so that they could push on towards WN37 later in the day).
The Germans garrison (Bob) had to delay the invasion for as long as possible whilst the 1st Battalion, 916th Grenadiers (Mal) arrived to support the defence of Les Roquettes.
The first wave brought the DD Sherman tanks ashore, not quite where they wanted to be, but in a useful place nevertheless.
The second and third waves brought a Sherman Flail, a Churchill Petard and the first company of the 1st Hampshire, the Flail taking a hit from an emplaced anti-tank gun suffering damage, but still remaining in action.
The Shermans, though hitting mines on the beach, avoided damage and made progress whilst the Churchill Petard managed to take out the German MMG in the enclosed encasement by reducing it to dust!
The Sherman Flail successfully exited the beach, and the anti-tank gun was also knocked out.
The landing was going well, though casualties were being taken, and the German entrenched platoon, with mortar support was picking of the brave British soldiers on the beach.
Meanwhile, both British and German reinforcements had arrived….
The battle for Les Roquettes had begun, as the defenders of WN36 were hanging on in desperation…
Finally the defenders of WN36 crumbled as the Sherman Flail tank attacked and the surviving occupants surrendered.
Meanwhile, the German reinforcements has made their way into Les Roquettes and had established a defensive position as the British advanced.
The Hampshire’s, having secured the beach, now advanced on Les Roquettes supported by their Armoured Vehicles, however, the Sherman DDs were forced back after a flank attack from Panzerschreck Anti-Tank guns. The brave Sherman flail tank took out the German StuG IIIG allowing the Hampshires to advance…
The Dorset#s had failed their morale test at this point after taking heavy casualties from German mortar fire, it was up to the Hampshire’s, with their armoured support, to save the day.
Finally, the remaining German survivors, under heavy fire, and with both building sectors reduced to rubble from heavy mortar and high explosive fire, decided to call it a day and surrendered to the victorious British.
Conclusion
What a great game, and a fitting tribute to the bravery of our D Day veterans – I do like Rapid Fire Reloaded…yes, it has it’s flaws, like all rulesets, but it is quick and easy to play, and produces historical results – though in this case, the Dorset Battalion was forced back, whilst historically, both the Hampshire’s and the Dorset’s were successful – finally advancing West and neutralising WN37 at around 4.00pm.
They shall not grow old.
Graeme C.