Capturing the Crossing

The main thrust of Operation Epsom began at 0700 hrs. on June 26th. Early British progress was good, with solid artillery support and even some naval gunfire. It looked like the way was clear. The forward German positions, however, were lightly manned and the British soon discovered the German defence in depth. The goal for the first day was to capture the bridge that spanned the Odon just south of Cheux. The crossing was critical to maintain the operation’s momentum. The 15th Scottish Division, supported by the 31st Tank Brigade, made its way toward Cheux where it soon was bogged down in hours of bitter hand-to-hand fighting.

The German 12th SS Hitlerjugend Panzer Division with elements from the 21st Panzer Division launched a counterattack to repel the British and deny the crossing. The Germans were beaten back with the aid of the British artillery but succeeded in temporarily halting the Allied advance. The British pressed the attack with the 11th Armoured Division, but it too stalled out. Without the support or armour, the British infantry soon ran into trouble and opted to dig in for the night well short of its desired crossing. The German commander, General Dollman viewed the containment as an outright defensive victory.

British armour supports infantry in the attack on the bridge

Their right flank advances with some artillery support - they'll need it as the Germans as well-ensconced in the hill beyond

Germans advancing to take control of the central hill overlooking the farmhouse and bocage are met with a brief armoured thrust

The British tanks are driven back, taking significant damage

In the centre, the struggle over the farm sees the elite German armour take a hammering

The Luftwaffe (twice in one day!) shows up to wreak havoc on the strong British left flank 

Staying around to knock out an armour troop and the artillery battery

The struggle over the farm intensifies, with a infantry assault pushing the German control there to the limit

A final armoured attack nearly cuts off the farm, but the counter-punch leaves the British reeling

A hard-fought German victory leaves the campaign for Caen in the balance...

Securing the Flank

So after a month-long hiatus of posting I'm back! I do have a few in the pipeline, so expect some posts in quick succession next week. I suppose I've been pursuing my other gaming hobbies a bit more recently:

• Roleplaying: Dungeon World and writing a Fiasco Playset based on the Iliad)
• Boardgaming: playing Mice & Mystics at home with Isabel as well as weekly sessions with my new group locally

Anyway, back in May we got together for a day-long Memoir '44 campaign of the British attack on Caen...

In preparation for Montgomery’s Operation Epsom, the 49^th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Polar Bears because of their arm path, was order to take the town of Fontenay le Pesnel. Their second objective was to secure Raury and the heights that surrounded it. The capture of these two locations would protect the 15^th Division’s flank as they made the main push against their primary objective of Epsom – an outflanking action that would finally take Caen. 

The 49^th Infantry was faced with the 12^th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjugend) and bumped into Panzer Lehr’s flank, bring them into the battle. The German defenders held tough and the inexperience division was unable to take its objective that day.

Allied command chose to move ahead anyway and Operation Epsom was kicked off on June 26 with the high ground around Raury still in the hands of the enemy. German armour and artillery overlooked the ground that the 15^th was moving over, leading to heavier resistance than Montgomery had hoped to face.

The battle lines are drawn; some elite German armour backs up PanzerGrenadiers in the centre, while another unit lies behind some bocage on the extreme German left flank

The British have some unexpected help in the form of an artillery battery (tucked in behind the ridgeline separating the two sides)

The Luftwaffe makes a surprise appearance; this must be the sortie of the day!

With British armour still at its start line, they're incredibly susceptible to the strafing run. The attack is a great success!

The British right flank advances in strength, mostly infantry but with some armoured support - the German units beyond are dug in on the hillside

With the German armour making a move through the hedgerows, a British attack is launched

The British tanks, with significant infantry support drive the German infantry out of their defences and force the German armour to retreat

The German air cover is still making a nuisance of itself, and now is supporting the elite German units' attack in the centre

With some reverse-slope support from its armour units behind, the British infantry attacks and wipes out the Tigers and PanzerGrenadiers in short order

The Luftwaffe plane follows in quick succession!

A overwhelming victory by the British; but one where many of their units were on their last legs. 

Will they be able to maintain their momentum to capture the bridge crossing over the Odon?

Rescue

What kind of crazed warriors would, having just escaped from a pit of vipers, return there?

Only the insane have strength enough to prosper...

After nightfall, Grak and Bruul approach the chaos lair; eager to recover arms and equipment which will aid their resistance to the vile invaders...

Strong spotlights reach out into the surrounding countryside, but they leave several good approaches open to the pair

To their astonishment they notice an ancient dreadnought being raised from the depths of the facility - the minions of chaos cannot be allowed to make it full operational!

Climbing to the top of a lift shaft they can see the venerable warmachine being marched into the central area to be worked on

Bruul climbs up to a platform, and aiming to be as quiet as possible tries to take out the two cultists up there - however one falls to his death as they struggle and the alarm is raised

Another spotlight is turned on and they see a tech--priest at work on the dreadnought; though of more immediate concern is the heavy stubber on station on a tower beyond!

They leap to the ground to take cover and clear the platform to the other site

Laying waste around the compound, Bruul suppresses the cultist on the other side of the compound while Grak takes care of the heavy stubber in the tower

Charging into the compound, Grak covers the other entrances into the courtyard while Bruul takes on the Tech-Priest. Wiping out all the cultists they can see they take control of the area.

They complete the start-up routines on the dreadnought (which had been on the verge of being made a weapon for chaos) and march back to the landing zone to make contact with the Valkyrie

Escape!

Most tragic of all was the quick capture of the “frozen berths”, in order for their family to receive a stipend for generations some volunteered for “extended PDF duties” and went into hypersleep to await a crisis. The PDF on rotation put up fierce resistance but after two months regular army resistance ceased. It fell on guerrilla cells hiding in the industrial wasteland of the capital and in the barren “Ironies”. Vast fields of alien grass cultivated for off-world export, but of no nutritional to local wildlife.

This is the story of one such band.

The story starts with the two heroes having been just brought out of hypersleep two years on to fight each other in a duel for the amusement of a group of chaos marauders. These have been tasked by their overlords with rounding up the remainder of the population into camps and fighting the rebels. Our two heroes find themselves disorientated, confused, in an arena holding a sword and  facing each other. Suddenly in the distance the sound of heavy gunfire erupts and all hell breaks loose…

High walkways overlook the ad-hoc arena which has been set up by the Chaos marauders. Members of the gang are fixated on the action below as Grak Zekka, renowned pistol fighter (known for his iron constitution, sheer determination and brusque manner) squares off against Bruul Stranga the fierce close-in fighter (whose ritual scarring and tattoos celebrating his various deeds adorn his body).

Across the river, an unheralded Valkyrie dropship lands, disgorging a squad of planetary defence troopers 

Taking advantage of the marauders' dismay Grak and Bruul help each other climb the wall and seek to keep out of the view of the defenders - they're still just armed with swords

The troopers engage the marauders on the walkways, keeping their heads down while giving the second group a chance to outflank the defences

They start taking fire themselves and take cover behind some rocks. They spot two marauders across the river from the main compound who must be guarding something

Grak and Bruul encounter those two marauders, with Bruul taking the lead with his sword

Spotted nearby, is a hideous Chaos monument which gives the PDF troopers pause as they pass

One unfortunate marauder, running from one side of the complex to another along the walkway slips and falls to the ground  (ultimately drowning in the stream)

Bruul still fights from the river against the two marauders, but Grak has backed him up and they win out. One surviving marauder runs for it

The troopers have finally gotten to the scene and as the second marauder runs, he's shot down by the leading trooper

Grak enters the bunker the two marauders were guarding, which has a deep shaft going down 

The troopers take cover behind a defensive structure and suppress the remaining marauders nearby before heading down the shaft - which leads back to the landing zone the Valkyrie is idling at

Having picked up some extra equipment from the PDF, Grak and Bruul resolve to raid the facility for heavier weaponry in an attempt to fight back!

Rest Stop

Holed up in an isolated farmhouse outside of Tranch, Markham and company need to gather supplies urgently. Of course finding reliable survivors and weapons would also be great if they are to cope with the strange walking dead...

They roll up outside a highway rest stop - Markham goes inside the store, while the others investigate the fuel station (they'll need to top up the truck if they want to go on many more shopping excursions).

At the crossroads - there's some activity in the distance but so long as they remain quiet they should get away with it 

Markham checks his six before heading to the store room to load up a pallet

Outside the fuel station, there's a burnt-out Militia armoured vehicle - with some dead crew members nearby.  

Exploring the fuel station, everything's locked up inside, but there's a way up to get the fuel pumps going manually

Markham hears a sound from somewhere - he tries to remember his CQB training, but it could get pretty hairy without someone to back him up

His caution is rewarded - there are two of those things near the checkout. He takes one down with a pistol shot while the other almost gets the jump on a buddy who's come inside to warn him

Across the way, two militia men come running out - they're the surviving crew members of the tank who'd holed up inside the fuel station. 

They hollering has attracted the attention of the shambling horde nearby - the lead militia soldier lets rip with his autogun, but that's the end of the shopping trip. 

They load everything handy aboard the truck and drive away - they've only got one trip's worth of fuel left for the truck...