Wyre Forest Gamers - The Attack on Belleval, 1st July 1944

The Attack on Belleval, 1st July 1944

To play this scenario you will need the standard ‘O’ Group rules, published by Reisswitz Press. The battle is designed to be played on a 6’ x 4’ table using 10mm figures.

Background

Operation EPSOM, launched on 26th June, was an attempt by British VIII Corps to cross the Odon River, seize the crossings over the Orne and surround the city of Caen. By 30th June the offensive had run out of steam after an advance of ten kilometres, mainly due to desperate counter-attacks by enemy infantry and armour. As VIII Corps began to consolidate the position, the German attacks persisted and on 1st July, at 06:45, elements of 9th SS Panzer Division ‘Hohenstaufen’ attacked the the 6th Battalion the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in the vicinity of the Chateau Belleval, north-west of the village of Grainville-sur-Odon.

Contemporary Aerial Photograph of the battle area

Game Objectives

The game is a standard attack/defend scenario. The Germans, who are attacking, enter the field from the lower table edge.

The aim of the attacking side is to capture the Chateau of Belleval which consists of one Built-up Area and to get one infantry section off the table at the road to Cheux. To capture the BUA the attacker must have an unsuppressed section within the BUA at the end of a turn with no enemy units present.

If the attacking player has failed to fully occupy the chateau and no infantry units have left the table at the road to Cheux when the game ends, the defender has won. The normal FUBAR rules also apply for victory conditions.

Battle Area Map

British Force

1 Battalion consisting of 3 companies with an off-table 3” mortar platoon and forward observation officer. The battalion HQ is ‘first rate’, the troop rating is ‘regular’ and the battalion morale is classed as ‘combat effective’. One artillery mission is allowed during the game.

The British force receives 12 support points plus 1 D6. At least 6 points of support must be taken from Support List 1.

German Force

1 Battalion consisting of 3 companies with an off-table 81mm mortar platoon and forward observation officer. The battalion HQ is ‘first rate’, the troop rating is ‘regular’ and the battalion morale is classed as ‘combat effective’. Two artillery missions are allowed during the game.

The German force receives 18 support points plus 1 D6. At least 4 points of support must be taken from Support List 1.

British Supports Belleval

German Supports

Special Rules

Any support points not taken may be added to the first initiative roll.

The German start line will be a maximum of 6” from the table edge. The British forward defensive line will be a minimum of 12” from the enemy start line.