Operation Jupiter: 5th Dorsets**

by David Boutwell (boutwell@erols.com)**

British Advance vs German Defend*
Normandy, France, July 10, 1944*
Turns:20**

Play as British Human**

In an effort to develop a bridgehead across the Orne River, Montgomery assigned the 43rd Wessex Division to take the "dominating bulk of Hill 112". 129 Brigade was assigned to clear Hill 112 and establish artillery observation posts on the crestline, while 130 Brigade was to take the low ground to the east. This ground, which was assigned to 130 Brigade's 4th and 5th Dorsets and 9/Royal Tank Regiment, included les Duanes farm, barely 400 meters from the Dorsets' start line, the chateau and farm complex of Chateau de Fontaine and the village of Eterville. The 5th Dorsets and B Squadron of 9/RTR were to take les Duanes and Chateau Fontaine, while the 4th Dorsets and 9/RTR's C Squadron were to seize Eterville after 5th Dorsets' objectives were taken.**

les Duanes and Chateau de Fontaine were defended by the 10th SS Panzer Division's 2/22nd Panzer Grenadier Regiment. Eterville was held by the same regiment's first battalion.**

This scenario depicts the attack of the 5th Dorsets on les Duanes and Chateau de Fontaine.**

Historically, the tremendous bombardment that preceded the attack left the defenders of les Duanes stunned, and the farm was taken within ten minutes. The Horseshoe Wood, scene of viscious hand-to-hand fighting between Wyvern and SS soldier, and Chateau de Fontaine were much more difficult "nuts to crack". Several days after the chateau complex was taken, snipers, sometimes only seventeen years old, were still being rooted from duck ponds, wet ditches and hayricks around the ruins of the chateau and its complex of farm buildings.**
 
Sources**

Hill 112: Battles of the Odon-1944- Saunders*
The Fighting Wessex Wyverns-From Normandy to Bremerhaven with the 43rd Wessex Division- Delaforce*
Hill 112- Cornerstone of the Normandy Campaign- How**

A special thanks to Fabio Mantegazza for making his knowledge and resources available to me*

