A conversion to Battlefront WWII of the Rapid Fire scenario by Mark Piper
at http://home.worldoptions.com.au/fourpipers/rapid/windsor.doc
Background
The Canadian operation to capture Carpiquet and its airfield was code-named WINDSOR. It was considered an essential prerequisite to the capture of Caen itself. The attack was to be made by the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade supported by tanks, artillery, naval gunfire and Typhoons . Holding both the village and the hangers of the airfield was a single battalion from the 26th SS Pz Gren Regt. Supporting elements were quickly thrown together to halt the Canadian advance.
Elements 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
[Turn 1 – West of Franqueville – Carpiquet road] [entry A]
North Shore Regiment, 8th Brigade
A Company
B Company
[Turn 1 – East of Franqueville – Carpiquet road] [entry B]
A Sqn, Fort Garry Horse (10th Armoured Regiment)
[Turn 2 – West of Franqueville – Carpiquet road] [entry A]
North Shore Regiment 8th Brigade
HQ
C Company
D Company
Support Company
FOO 1 (Jeep)
B Sqn, Fort Garry Horse (10th Armoured Regiment)
[Turn 3 –Marcelot] [entry C]
Royal Wiinipeg Rifles, 8th Brigade
A Company
B Company
C Company
D Company
FOO 2 (Jeep)
[Turn 5 –Marcelot] [entry C]
Fort Garry Horse (10th Armoured Regiment)
HQ
Recce Troop
C Sqn, Fort Garry Horse (10th Armoured Regiment)
FOO 3 (Jeep)
[Turn 8]
Typhoon
[off-board support]
Medium Artillery Regiment
Naval Gunfire Support
1 Battery 4 5.5 inch guns [] [] [] [] []
Elements 9th Hitler Jugend (HJ) Division
[within 6” of Carpiquet BUAs]
26th SS Pz Gren Regt (Motorized)
A Company
75mm infantry gun w/Sdkfz 10 Halftrack [][][][][]
FOO # 1, schimmenwagen
[Southern hangers]
26th SS Pz Gren Regt (Motorized)
HQ
B Company
C Company
Support company
FOO # 2, schimmenwagen
[High Ground to east of airfield]
2nd Coy, 12th SS Flak Battalion
88mm Flak 41 w/ Sdkfz 7 Halftrack [][][][][]
88mm Flak 41 w/ Sdkfz 7 Halftrack [][][][][]
20mm quad AA w/ Sdfkfz Halftrack [][][][][]
20mm quad AA w/ Sdfkfz Halftrack [][][][][]
FOO # 2, schimmenwagen
[South east corner of airfield]
2nd Bn, 9th SS Pz Regt
9th company
[off-board southern edge – turn 3]
1st Bn, 9th SS Pz Regt
4th company
[off board]
3rd SS Pz Artillery Bn(-) Hitlerjungend Division
Battery A
105mm Howitzer [][][][][]
105mm Howitzer [][][][][]
Battery B
105mm Howitzer [][][][][]
105mm Howitzer [][][][][]
83rd Werfer Brigade
Nebelwerfer [] [] [] [] []
Nebelwerfer [] [] [] [] []
Terrain
The game is played on a 9’ X 5’ table. Roads increase movement if the entire move spent on road. The 3 BUAs of Carpiquet start damaged. All other BUA including hangers are not damaged at the start of the game Woods are a continuous feature for movement, provide soft cover and restrict visibility to 3”. Corn Fields are not a continuous feature for movement, provide soft cover to infantry only but do not restrict visibility. The northern edge is deemed to be the “Canadian Lines” and the southern edge the “German Lines”. Roads have approximately 1/4 of their length covered by hedges. Hedges block LOS but do not restrict movement. Tanks may move through hangers without restriction but must not remain in the BUA.
Scenario rules
The game length is 12 turns starting with British turn 1 and ending with German turn 12. German observer teams are allocated to specific batteries. Canadian observer teams may control more than one battery from the same regiment. The Canadians have one turn of pre-game bombardment by both artillery regiments. For each bombardment place the IDF template over a suitable tactical feature i.e. BUAs, wood hex, crossroads and roll 6 X D10 to determine the fall of shells. If desired one bombardment can be replaced by smoke. From Canadian turn 1 all Canadian artillery fire must be observed and rolled for as per normal.
On any turn when a Canadian element is within within 12” (measured centre to centre) of a German element being targeted by a Typhoon, roll a D6. On a 5 or 6 switch the target to the nearest Canadian element and carry out the attack with the original nominated armament.
Deployment and arrivals
German troops start concealed (and where applicable dug-in to 180 degree direct fire to the front) and in reserve fire mode. Canadian forces arrive along the northern edge on the turns indicated. The Typhoon arrives automatically on British turn 6. German reinforcements arrive as indicated at any point along the western edge of the board.
Victory Conditions
Each side scores casualty points as normal as well as 25 points for each built-up area in Carpiquet and 50 points for each of the 6 built-up areas of the airfield held at game’s end. If the points differential is less than 50 points it is considered a draw.
References
Rapid Fire scenario: http://home.worldoptions.com.au/fourpipers/rapid/windsor.doc
Map of the area 1944: http://www.warchronicle.com/canadian_third_div/historiantales_wwii/mesnilmap2.jpg
