Operation Mitten June 27th/28th 1944 Rapid Fire Wargames 20mm

Planning my first new solo game in the new Dundee gaffe, last room to be even looked at is the toy room obviously. So planning Operation Mitten from Normandy Battlegames. Joiner not available for now, obviously, so I’ve squashed the 6x5 into a 6x4, apologies. .

So this is how the battlefield was laid out!

Operation Mitten Battle Field Overview

Chateau de La Londe Looms

A slight crush to get the Rapid Fire Normandy Battlegames 6 X 5 onto a 6 X 4 - but we can't all be perfect.

Deployment time: Operation Mitten starts! Opening dispositions for 21st Pz. 2nd Bn 125 Pz Gren Regt, and the SP Lorraine’s and their OP Lorraine, two Pz IVs, the battle group HQ and the 88 deploy! 5th company in the left flank cottage, 6th company and Bn HQ in the chateau, 7th company in the right flank woods, and the two tanks and Lorraine op at the earth bank, hull down. Let the British appear!

Operation Mitten, the British deploy! As a solo game I’d decided to bring each of the two infantry battalions on one flank each, but I drew cards to deploy the tanks, sadly they decided to head straight for the hull down panzer IVs!! This may not go well. I doubt the Lorraine OP will need his ranging poles, and Von Luck seems to be very relaxed at his command post! Alan McCoubrey might just recognise the British infantry! Arrived today so a quick swap to get them battle tested!

Operation Mitten, Bad news from the front! Well for those of you wondering what would happen if two hull down a Pz IVs spotted two Sherman’s in the open, wonder no more! As the British commander I had sneaked the firefly out of the way and onto the other flank, whereupon it was spotted by the 88. 

Time for a brew! The British infantry in the centre, with good MMG support drive the German infantry out of the wood. But British infantry casualties on the other flank grew from the MNGs upstairs in the chateau and the cottage representing La Londe. With no armour left and little chance of hitting any of their objectives the Brits will retire for another day. Which is exactly what happened in the first assault on the chateau in the real encounter, except that was led by shelling from HNS Belfast and then led by crocodiles, who came a cropper. 

The real life second assault was successful, but at a pretty grim cost. Thoughts on the scenario, deploying the Germans is a challenge, the chateau and the earth bank effectively create a huge divide on the battlefield for AFVs and vehicles, so you need to get that right from the start. For the British, I think they need beefier support. If I replay it I will add a bit more into their side. Great fun. As the German I was victorious. As the Brit I made a tactical retreat.... yeh right! Oh and my wife was upset with me because she thought I had a box of burning martyrs!!