10mm WW2 – Epaignes Part 1

My 10mm WW2 collection continues to expand. For the latest wargame, I was able to field two companies of German infantry and three companies of British infantry plus assorted support elements for both sides. Using this as a start point, I started looking for a historical encounter that involved this scale of commitment of forces. I found a reference to a skirmish at Epaignes, just after Falaise and in the initial stages of the Allied breakout from Normandy. I was able to correlate the battle with other sources to build up a scenario that employed all of the available British and German infantry.

The action at Epaignes was fought on D+80 (Friday, 25th August 1944) by a German rearguard against enemy troops leading the British breakout from Normandy, which, historically, was infantry from 49th Infantry Division. This German rearguard, named Bataillon Schleue, comprised two infantry companies drawn from 346. Infanterie-Division of LXXXVI Korps and its mission was to buy time for other German forces to withdraw across the river Seine at Pont Audemer, a few miles to the east. Because, historically, the engagement involved Churchill tanks from 9RTR, I supported Bataillon Schleue with some Panzerjager capability in the form of a Panzerschreck platoon as well as some allocated fire support from the Divisional artillery regiment.

The German order of battle therefore was:

Bataillon Schleue, 346. Infanterie-Division, LXXXVI Korps

Battalion Headquarters

Battalion commander (+2) x 1

SMG section x 1

Panzerfaust x 6

5th and 6th Companies, each

Company Headquarters (veteran)

Company commander (+2) x 1

Sniper x 2

1st Platoon (veteran)

Platoon commander (+2) x 1

Infantry section x 3

2nd and 3rd Platoons (veteran), each:

Platoon commander (+1) x 1

Infantry section x 3

8th Company

MG Platoon (regular)

HMG x 2

Mortar Section (regular)

Forward Observer (12 Fire Missions) x 1

8cm mortar x 2

Attachments under command of Bataillon Schleue

Panzerjager Platoon (regular) from a Regimental Panzerjager company

Platoon commander (+1) x 1

Panzerschreck teams x 3

Anti-tank Section from Divisional Panzerjager battalion

PaK 40 anti-tank gun x 1

Truck x 1

105mm Light Field Howitzer Battery (regular) from Divisional artillery regiment

Forward Observer (3 Fire Missions) x 1

105mm Light Field Howitzers x 4

The attacking force was formed by three companies of the 2nd battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment (2Glosters), supported by a squadron of Churchills from 9RTR, which earlier had deployed so as to surround the village of Epaignes. Appropriate support forces were added to make the British order of battle as follows:

2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, 56th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

Battalion Headquarters (regular)

BC (+1) x 1

SMG Section x1

Headquarters Company

Carrier Platoon (regular)

PC (+1) x 1

PIAT x 1

Infantry Section x 4

Universal Carrier x 4

3” Mortar Platoon (regular)

Forward Observer (12 Fire Missions) x 3

3” Mortar section x 3

A, B and C Companies, each comprising:

Company Headquarters (regular)

CC (+1) x 1

1st, 2nd and 3rd Platoons (regular), each:

PC (+1) x 1

2” Mortar (12 Fire Missions) x 1

PIAT x 1

Infantry section x 3

Attachments under command of 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment

C Squadron, 9th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment, 31st Army Tank Brigade

Squadron Headquarters (regular)

Churchill Mk IV x 1

Churchill Mk VIII CS x 2

1st Troop (regular)

Churchill Mk IV x 2

Churchill Mk VII x 1

2nd Troop (regular)

Churchill Mk IV x 3

5th Troop (regular)

Churchill Mk IV x 2

Churchill Mk VII x 1

The aim, then, was to recreate the flavour of the skirmish at Epaignes by committing a British infantry battalion with armoured support against a weaker German one that was itself supported by enough antitank and artillery firepower to make the British tread carefully.

The combat will be discussed in my next post but here are some photos from the game.

T.A.G.

A general view of the battlefield at Epaignes; lots of farmland, a line of woods and the village with church

The battlefield looking the other way. Pont Audemer is eastwards, behind Epaignes. This view is looking towards the south.

Lots of AT capability. This platoon is equipped with Panzerfausts and is supported by a PaK40 anti-tank gun.

German Panzerschreck team

Churchill Mk IV infantry tank

Germans about to be outflanked by the British advance