Battle for rots By Mark PiPer

11th June 1944 Background

After German forces re-captured Rots on the 8th June, the village formed a salient in the allied front line. It also controlled a part of the Mue valley to the north of the main RN 13 highway. It was defended by a battalion sized group based around the 1st & 4th companies of the 1st Battalion of the 26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment as well as the Panthers of the 4th Company of the 12th SS Panzer Division. These forces were dug-in in and around the buildings and woods of Rots and Le Hamel. To eliminate this threat to the flank of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division it was decided to launch an attack by the attached 46th Royal Marine Commando, reinforced by a tank squadron of the 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment.

sources

Rapid Fire D-Day Supplement – Colin RumfordPfeiffer’s Last Ride – The Battle of Le Hamel and Rots– R Mark Davieshttp://fireandfury.com/extra/downloads/rots.pdf (Battlefront scenario)The Panzers and the Battle of Normandy – George Bernage12th SS – History of the Hitler Youth Panzer Division (Volume One) – Hubert MyerJuno Beach (Battlezone Normandy) – Ken FordSteel Inferno (1st SS Panzer Corps in Normandy) – Michael ReynoldsThe Authorised History of the Royal Marine Commandos – James D LaddHolding Juno - Mark Zuehlke

the WargaMe scenario

The game is played on an 8' x 6' table. Woods are open. Hedgerows are treated as per the rules (not bocage). The River Mue may be crossed at all points but is treated as a linear obstacle to movement. Buildings start intact. The game lasts for nine moves.

Allied forces win if they control two out of three objectives at games end (the objectives being Le Hamel, Rots and Chateau). An objective is controlled if only one side has combat elements (not OP teams, abandoned AFVs or crews and empty transports) within 9" of the centre. The Germans win if they prevent the allies from achieving their victory conditions. Any other result is a draw.

Pages 2 and 3 are for the German player’s eyes onlyPages 4 and 5 are for the Canadian player’s eyes onlyPage 1

Hobby Master 1:72 diecast Centaur CS Tank

1st Battalion (grouP)26th ss Panzer grenadier regiMent (MaJor krause) Morale test @ 20 casualties

HQCO + 4 figures, Panzerschreck,heavy car

1st Company8 figures, Panzerfaust, medium truck

16th (Pioneer) Company8 figures, Panzerfaust, flamethrower,Sdkfz 251/7 half-track

12th SS Escort Company6 figures, MMG, 81mm mortar,Panzerfaust, medium truck

4th (Heavy) Company3 figures, 81mm mortar, medium truck,6 figures, 2 x MMG, Panzerfaust, medium truck,3 figures, 75mm AT gun, medium truck

4th Coy, 12th SS Panzer Regiment (Capt Pfeiffer) 2 x Panther (75mm)*

12th SS Artillery Regiment2 figure OP team, Kubelwagen

* AT ranges = short 12", medium 36", long 60". HE = 6 x 10"

gerMan Player inforMationGerman tanks are elite, all other troops are regular. All German forces deploy south of the deployment

line. Infantry are in prepared positions. German guns are deployed south of the Caen – Bayeux road.

on taBle artillery

2nd Battalion SS Panzer Artillery Regiment 128 figures, 2 x 105mm howitzer, 2 x Sdkfz 11 half-track prime mover

Page 2

The German LMG rule (+2 for Panzer Grenadier small arms groups) applies. Germans move first.

Above: Valiant Miniatures plastic Germans painted by Steve Goodhand (www.valiantminiatures.com).

German Defended Area

48"

Page 3

German Battle Map: Rots

N

Bray

lasson

rosel

le haMel

rots

chateau

to caen

to Bayeux

= objective

la regiMent de la chaudiere, 8th canadian infantry BrigadeTest @ 20 casualties (Lt Colonel Mathieu)

HQ Company CO + 6 figures, PIAT, 2" mortar

Carrier Platoon3 figures, PIAT, Bren Carrier

A Company 8 figures

B Company 8 figures

C Company 8 figures

D Company 8 figures

Support Company 6 figures, 6pdr AT gun (no APDS), Lloyd prime mover, 3" mortar, Bren Carrier

MG Platoon, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa3 figures, Vickers MMG, Bren Carrier(Attached to infantry battalion)

Troop, 3rd AT Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery4 figures, 17pdr AT gun, M5 HT prime mover

46th royal Marine coMMando, 4th sPecial service Brigade Test @ 20 casualties (lt colonel hardy)

HQ CO + 6 figures, PIAT

A Troop5 figures

B Troop5 figures

X Troop5 figures

Y Troop5 figures

Z Troop5 figures

S Troop 5 figures, MMG, 3" mortar

12th Field Regiment, RCAOP Carrier, OP Sherman

Troop, 2nd Independent Royal Marine Armoured Support BatteryCentaur (95mm)*

A Squadron, 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Fort Garry Horse) 2 x Sherman (75mm), Firefly (17pdr)**

*

**

Centaur CS (95mm howitzer), C class armour, gun 2, HE 12 pts table 4 (or VMG). Test as independant AFV.

17pdr AT ranges = short 12", medium 36", long 60".No HE or hull MG

canadian Player inforMationAll troops are regular.

off taBle artillery

12th Field Regiment RCA3 x 25pdr battery (2 guns in each battery)

The elements above start on the northern edge of the table.

Page 4

The elements above start on-table in the deployment area as indicated on the scenario map. British move second.

Canadian Start Line

24"

Canadian Battle Map: Rots

Page 5

N

Bray

lasson

rosel

le haMel

rots

chateau

to caen

to Bayeux

= objective