Villers-Bocage Liberation 1944, 2nd Ed #17 |
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(Defender) Germany | vs | Britain (Attacker) |
Formations Involved | ||
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Britain | ![]() |
7th "Desert Rats" Armoured Division |
Germany | ![]() |
101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion |
Germany | ![]() |
130th "Lehr" Panzer Division |
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Overall Rating, 0 votes |
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Scenario Rank: --- of 952 |
Parent Game | Liberation 1944, 2nd Ed |
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Historicity | Historical |
Date | 1944-06-13 |
Start Time | 13:00 |
Turn Count | 16 |
Visibility | Day |
Counters | 82 |
Net Morale | 0 |
Net Initiative | 1 |
Maps | 2: 56, 58 |
Layout Dimensions | 86 x 28 cm 34 x 11 in |
Play Bounty | 229 |
AAR Bounty | 222 |
Total Plays | 0 |
Total AARs | 0 |
Duplicates | LIBE017 |
Battle Types |
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Delaying Action |
Exit the Battle Area |
Inflict Enemy Casualties |
Urban Assault |
Conditions |
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Off-board Artillery |
Scenario Requirements & Playability | |
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Liberation 1944, 2nd Ed | Base Game |
Introduction |
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A successful attack by the U.S. 1st Infantry Division forced a gap in the German lines west of Caen, and the British 7th Armoured Division moved forward to exploit it. A combined-arms force met little resistance, turning the open flank of the German Panzer Lehr Division, until it reached the village of Villers-Bocage. |
Conclusion |
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Using a borrowed Tiger, SS militia tank commander Michael Wittman attacked the British column without waiting for the remaining German tanks to join him or any infantry support. After knocking out a Sherman Firefly, his tank shot up several command tanks, light tanks, and supply vehicles inside the town before an anti-tank gun disabled the Tiger (the first Tiger lost by the Germans in Normandy) and Wittman ran away on foot. When the rest of the German tanks arrived, the now-ready British knocked out all six Tigers of Wittman’s command and eight other German tanks. Wittman, with his Aryan good looks, had already featured in a great deal of SS propaganda, touring German factories, and appearing in newsreels. Pushed by corps commander Sepp Dietrich, the SS propaganda machine quickly churned out a highly modified version of events. This tale, highlighted by a glossy photo spread in Signal magazine, credited all 22 British tanks destroyed at Villers-Bocage to Wittman. The British withdrew from Villers-Bocage, but not because of Wittman; their tanks had also heedlessly advanced without infantry to cover them in the dense terrain. Wittman would become a post-war cult figure as, in the words of historian Steven Zaloga, “the hero of all Nazi fanboys.” His tanks destroyed many Allied machines, but he was no Lafayette Pool. |
AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle |
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6 Errata Items | |
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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)
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All Bren carriers should have a movement value of 7. (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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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)
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The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010
on 2015 Jul 31)
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All SS PzIVH tanks should have a movement of 8. (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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