Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Beyond Normandy #37

Panzer Grenadier Battles on April 27th:
Arctic Front Deluxe #40 - Children's Crusade	Broken Axis #14 - Târgu Frumos: The Second Battle Scenario 3: Sledge Hammer of the Proletariat
Army Group South Ukraine #6 - Consternation	Road to Berlin #73 - She-Wolves of the SS

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Again Beyond Normandy #37
(Attacker) Germany	vs	Britain (Defender)

Formations Involved
Britain		1/8th Middlesex Machine-gun
Britain		235th Anti-tank Battery
Britain		4th Somerset Light Infantry
Britain		5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Britain		Scots Greys
Germany		102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Germany		10th SS Flak Battalion
Germany		22nd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	1

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 4
Scenario Rank: --- of 913

Parent Game	Beyond Normandy
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-07-11
Start Time	15:00
Turn Count	10
Visibility	Day
Counters	104
Net Morale	2
Net Initiative	1
Maps	1: BN2
Layout Dimensions	88 x 58 cm 35 x 23 in
Play Bounty	130
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Delaying Action
Hill Control
Rural Assault

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Beyond Normandy	Base Game

Introduction
After being driven off Hill 112, the 5th DCLI quickly reorganized and advanced up the slope again. The Tommies pushed back the German outposts a again the British stood atop the hill, although sharing it with the Germans. By 1500 the Germans were ready to launch an attack with Tigers in support. The hill remained the cornerstone of the German defense.

Conclusion
The British defense was doomed from the start. In one day of fighting, the 5th SCLI hadsuffered more than 250 casualties prior to re-occupying the hill. Considering that a British battalion was made up of 806 men, about 10% of whom were left out of battle (to rebuild the battalion after action) about 725 men participated in the formation's first action. Thus in the DCLI's first day of fighting the unit lost one third of its personnel. The German attack easily cleared the British from the crest of Hill 112.

Conclusion

The British defense was doomed from the start. In one day of fighting, the 5th SCLI hadsuffered more than 250 casualties prior to re-occupying the hill. Considering that a British battalion was made up of 806 men, about 10% of whom were left out of battle (to rebuild the battalion after action) about 725 men participated in the formation's first action. Thus in the DCLI's first day of fighting the unit lost one third of its personnel. The German attack easily cleared the British from the crest of Hill 112.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).

Display Order of Battle

Britain Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Mechanized

Schutzstaffel
Foot Leader Mechanized Towed

Schutzstaffel

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

Display Errata (8)

8 Errata Items
	The "Optional Values" for the 17-Pdr given in an Avalanche Press Daily Content piece on the 17-Pdr Anti-Tank gun (and printed on a replacement counter sheet Download) are now the Official Ratings, published in games like Cassino '44, Grossdeutschland 1946, and Indian Unity, as shown in one of the two counter images. These are: 5-5 / 8-8 MA 0 (Towed). (caryn on 2012 May 03)
	The "Optional Values" for the Archer---and by extension the Achilles---given in an Avalanche Press Daily Content piece on the 17-Pdr Anti-Tank gun (and printed on a replacement counter sheet Download) are now the Official Ratings, published in games like Cassino '44, Grossdeutschland 1946, and Indian Unity. These are: 8-5 / 8-8 Full Strength and 4-5 / 8-8 Reduced Strength. (caryn on 2012 May 03)
	All Bren carriers should have a movement value of 7. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	Ignore the direct fire values. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The reduced direct fire value of the SS HMG is 5-5 in Beyond Normandy and Road to Berlin. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The Units in Beyond Normandy were misprinted with a movement factor of 5. The movement factor should be 8. (rerathbun on 2012 Mar 21)
	Liberation 1944's counters are mislabeled 'PzIVF2.' The counter's ratings are correct (Armor 5, Move 8, DF 11-6, AT 6-8). (rerathbun on 2014 Feb 14)

Display AARs (1)

Short But Intense

Author	rerathbun
Method	Solo
Victor	Britain
Play Date	2014-01-13
Language	English
Scenario	BeNo037

In this scenario the British start out dug-in Hill 112, but a strong and fanatical SS force with good tank support is dug-in on the lower slope of the hill. Each side has heavy (but variable) artillery support, and the Brits have good (also variable) aircraft support.

Things started well for the Germans. They caught the British napping and inflicted some early casualties. [The Germans got good artillery on the first turn, whereas the Brits got none.] The SS quickly moved up and assaulted the reduced British front line. The combined-arms teams quickly smashed the British line, inflicting numerous casualties. They captured the highest part of the hill in the first 45 minutes of the attack.

That was the German high-water mark. The British artillery woke up and pretty well decimated the attacking German infantry before they could move up to assault the second British line. Some good shooting by the British 17-pounders and Typhoons took out over half of the supporting panzers. The German attack stalled and their casualties mounted alarmingly.

In the end, the weight of the British artillery and aircraft were too much for the German attack and the British hold on the hill was never threatened. The scenario ended before they could counterattack and drive the Germans completely off the hill, but they easily fulfilled their victory conditions. Artillery is definitely the king of the battlefield in this scenario.

Balance in this scenario is tough to tell with any certainty. The variable artillery and aircraft support means that it will play out differently each time. Although short, the amount of firepower makes it a very intense scenario. The action was furious throughout, which is why I rated it a '4.'

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