Counterattack at Villers-Bocage


Villers-Bocage, France, June 13th, 1944: Six days after the landing, in the sector reserved for the 2nd
British Army, the 12th SS Panzer Division and the 21st Panzer Divisions held the bastion of Caen too
firmly to be taken frontally by the 1st British Corps. The decision was made to attack Caen from both
sides, known as Operation Perch. A little before 0900 Hrs Squadron B of the 4th County of London
Yeomanry arrived, as a point element, at Villers-Bocage with a section of the motorized infantry 1st
Rifle Brigade (called Green Jackets) and took up a position in the village. Squadron A continued to a
position on the western slope of Hill 213. The Germans decided to halt the encirclement. At 0915 Hrs, 
a detachment of tanks from Schwere SS Panzer Abeitling 101 controlled by SS Obersturmfuhrer Michael
Wittman and supported by Panzergrenadiers, attacked the British at Villers-Bocage.

Game Length: 8.5 Turns

For the Germans to win they must capture the village of Villers-Bocage with 19 VP's
For the British to win they must prevent the Germans from capturing the village

Germans: Squads, MMG's, LMG's, PSK's, AFV's
British: Squads, MMG, LMG's, MTR, PIAT, AFV's

Boards: #10, #11, #18

Aftermath: Benefitting from surprise, and after having destroyed a column of light vehicles on Hill 213,
Wittman led the attack of 5 Tigers. Tanks and Grenadiers erupted into the village where a confused fight
followed. The British tanks were destroyed one after the other. Overrun, the Green Jackets resisted as
well as they could until the arrival of reinforcements of the Queens. But the very aggresive Germans
were also reinforced by armored tanks of Panzer-Lehr. The fighting was house to house, and by the end of
the day the pressure from the Germans forced the British to withdraw from Villers-Bocage. That evening,
Bomber Command of the RAF crushed the village, which the Germans partially evacuated. The British attack
to widen their bridgehead was stopped. They would make a new attempt two weeks later with Operation Epsom.


Source: Tactiques Magazine, Scenario ASL TAC6, Counterattack at Village-Bocage
   