Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Liberation 1944 #28 - Operation Bluecoat: St. Germain d'Ectot

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Operation Bluecoat: St. Germain d'Ectot Liberation 1944 #28
(Defender) Germany	vs	Britain (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Britain		56th Infantry Brigade
Britain		l3th/18th Hussars
Germany		276th Volksgrenadier Division

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	1
Side 2	1

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

Parent Game	Liberation 1944
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-07-30
Start Time	06:30
Turn Count	30
Visibility	Day
Counters	151
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	2
Maps	4: 56, 57, 58, 59
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	188
AAR Bounty	227
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	0

Battle Types
Hill Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Hidden Units
Minefields
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Smoke

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Liberation 1944	Base Game

Introduction
The opening phase of Operation Bluecoat found the 56th Independent Brigade tasked with forcing the enemy from St. Germain d’Ectot and some hills to the west. The 2nd Gloucesters were detailed to take the heights while the 2nd South Wales Borderers were assigned the town. Once they had the enemy’s attention the 2nd Essex was to occupy as much of the Launay Ridge as possible. The attack received minimum armor support due to losses.

Introduction

The opening phase of Operation Bluecoat found the 56th Independent Brigade tasked with forcing the enemy from St. Germain d’Ectot and some hills to the west. The 2nd Gloucesters were detailed to take the heights while the 2nd South Wales Borderers were assigned the town. Once they had the enemy’s attention the 2nd Essex was to occupy as much of the Launay Ridge as possible. The attack received minimum armor support due to losses.

Conclusion
Perhaps the planners failed to provide sufficient armor support. Regardless, the attack faltered along its entire front and the Brits incurred heavy casualties. Nor did the intrepid Tommies seriously threaten any of the objectives. According to the commander of the Hussars, the attack “lacked artillery support” and required his tanks to be committed in penny-packets, denying them the chance to influence the battle.

Conclusion

Perhaps the planners failed to provide sufficient armor support. Regardless, the attack faltered along its entire front and the Brits incurred heavy casualties. Nor did the intrepid Tommies seriously threaten any of the objectives. According to the commander of the Hussars, the attack “lacked artillery support” and required his tanks to be committed in penny-packets, denying them the chance to influence the battle.

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 Assault Gun: if closed-top, 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
Assault Gun: if closed-top, 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 Towed

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (7)

7 Errata Items
	The "Optional Values" for the Achilles---and by extension the Archer---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)
	The "Optional Values" for the Firefly 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: 5-5 / 8-8 Full Strength and 3-5 / 8-8 Reduced Strength. (caryn on 2012 May 03)
	Two 105mms (ID#s 1204, 1205) have "16-31" fire values in black (direct fire), when they should be in white (indirect fire). (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The movement allowance on the counters in Airborne is misprinted. It should be "3." (rerathbun on 2012 Jan 30)

LIBE027

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