This battle was played head-to-head with Wayne Baumber on Skype over two sessions. Our random pick system gave us my first ever dabble into the Beyond Normandy box-set which had me a little excited at the prospect. It also threw up one of my favourite adopted Divisions, the 277th Volksgrenadiers. I had previously used these men in two Elsenborn battles against two other different opponents. Alan Rhodes in scenario 1 and Alan Sawyer in scenario 5. Both times these boys had brought me victory ... so could they do it again ?

The battle randomly picked was Cahier. Cahier is a small village in Normandy and set at night, the scenario required both sides to ensure none of the enemy was within 2 hexes of it at game end. There are many variables in this scenario making it have differences each time you play it. As well as the usual leader mix, there is variable OBA, possibility for both sides to get smoke, variable visibility (1-3 hexes), star-shells and of course, each players different set-up tactics. This scenario is eminently replayable !

Setting The Scene

On the north bank of the Odon River the British 53rd Division’s 1st Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry Regiment had the task of widening the western side of the corridor as part of Operation Greenline. For the Germans, recently arrived in the line was the 277th Volksgrenadier Infantry Division’s 991st Infantry Regiment.

This German regiment decided to deploy in a very forward position much ahead of Cahier. This would allow them to hold the enemy off early on and then, any breakthroughs that might occur could be reacted to before the enemy came too close to Cahier town. They were able to start dug-in and were holding a north-south line above the Odon about 1.5km long. Their position meant that they could deploy in a position to hold the hill-lines and the ubiquitous bocage. It would be their two flanks that were the susceptible points. So to the north flank was added an area of entrenchments, whilst to the south end, although protected by the Odon, more men were added and they would be assigned to hold the edge of a sporadically cluttered wooded area. The Ox & Bucks, reinforced with the heavy weapons teams from the Manchesters, plus a platoon of Achillies SP Guns would be launching their attack at 0300 hours, thus using the dark as cover. Unsurprisingly,they would be sending their main thrust against the southern part of the German line. The afore-mentioned wooded area would provide some extra cover on top of the darkness. Neither side would be guaranteed regular artillery support, though of course some would be available, but the British did bring a good supply of medium and heavy mortar teams.

The Tommies Go Forward

The British immediately began probing towards the German southern flank and received some minor casualties on the approach. Coming under some heavy and sometimes accurate fire that caused casualties, the Ox & Bucks began forming a large and powerful fire-line about 300m from the German positions. Despite using artificial moonlight, the Brits experienced some misfortune. Just as they were about to unleash this fire-line salvo, the clouds crept in thick and dark, reducing visibility dramatically and cancelling the fire mission. Having not ordered any star-shells up at this juncture, this cost the British perhaps a telling 15 minutes? With time an issue, the British had to press forward here and that’s what they did. Within 30 minutes, their numbers were beginning to tell on the enemy as the German line appeared to begin cracking. Their morale dropped causing disruption and demoralization. Casualties mounted as well. However, a localised counter-attack was formed by the defenders by scraping up all nearby reserves, and the developing hole in the line was soon plugged. The British found themselves coming under a heavy barrage, their SP guns were knocked out by Volksgrenadiers armed with grenades and panzerfausts and British infantrymen were becoming casualties to assaults and small arms fire alike. For now, the British had only just about been repulsed.

Once More Unto The (non) Breach

5am and two hours into the battle, the British now had to spend sometime regrouping for a second attempt. They had practically left the northern part of the German line free and this was how the Germans were able to drip feed some reinforcements down the line. Both sides had sporodicly received artillery support and I believe it was probably less than both sides thought they might get. The lull in the scrimmage, as well allowing British recovery did just the same for the Germans and they spent the time reforming the thus far unbroken line by re-deploying assets and getting morale back up. The second attack probably began around 0515-0530? Once more it was at the southern end of the line and came in orderly and disciplined fashion. Piling in some heavy firepower from MG and rifle sections, the British inflicted some more losses on their enemy. The Germans remembering defensive lessons of 1916-18, were now defending in some depth. Platoons that were shaken or suffered heavy losses were withdrawn and replaced by fresher men. Holding on as best they could, they soon received the signal to slowly fall-back in orderly fashion. This came by their two supporting mortar platoons firing in some smoke along the line of a creek budding off the Odon, and from this point, the Germans began to retire, albeit very slowly and retaining their fighting line under the smoke cover. The British, despite perhaps having the advantage of initiative, seemed to be losing that initiative just at the wrong time. As the Germans kept getting a jump on them, the British failed to deliver any more serious attacks and also failed to break the German line whatsoever. At 6.15am the attack was called off, giving the Volksgrenadiers a well-earned victory with the British failing to get within a kilometer of the town. Casualties were Germans 11 steps, British 15 steps. German victory.

Admittedly winning tends to assist rating a scenario higher up, but I really do give this a strong 4. What with all the variables for replay value mentioned earlier, the battle was quite exciting and I also enjoyed using the 'Beyond Normandy' Maps. I had a lot of fun with this one

As for the 277th. These mish-mash of seasoned regulars as NCO's, old men, young boys and press-ganged Luftwaffe and Naval staff have bravely brought three tough victories for me to the table. Respect !!. Oh yes, anybody interested in the make-up of a Volksgrenadier Division could do no better than pick up a copy of 'Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp' by Douglas Nash. Its based on papers he has for the 272nd VG Div.