#0627_01: Operation Epsom - Day Two - Battles of Normandy

Le Haut du Bosq, West of Caen: June 27th, 1944 (Scenario Size: Corp+. Allied Human vs Axis AI or Head to Head). The first day of Epsom was a hard day for the 15th Scottish Division. While all of the initial objectives had been taken, the young grenadiers of the Hitlerjugend Division had fought with the tenacity and fatalism of youth. The cost to the Scottish infantry had been high and attempts to push on towards the Odon had been stopped cold. Even the commitment of the tanks of 11th Armoured Division had done little. As soon as the tanks crested the top of the 100 meter contour south of Cheux, they suffered a hailstorm of solid shot and they quickly pulled back. For the second day of Epsom, General O'Connor again committed the Scotsmen to the fray. The 227th Brigade, which had been in reserve the previous day, was going to lead the attack towards the Odon. They would be supported by the remaining tanks of the 31st Tank Brigade as well as a regiment from the 11th Armoured. Once the bridges over the Odon had been captured, the 11th Armoured Division would exploit south towards Hill 112 and the Orne River beyond. On the western flank, the 49th Division was also ordered to continue the attack towards Rauray and seize the high ground there. While the Germans had managed to hold the British advance to small gains on the first day of the attack, it had been at a high cost. The battalions of the 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment were only slightly more than half strength. The Pioneer Battalion, which had taken the brunt of the British attack, was a mere skeleton of its former self. The young infantrymen dug in as best they could and prepared for the inevitable onslaught of British men and material. This scenario follows British doctrine of the time and units that have orders to secure the ground gained will become fixed while other formations will be available to continue the attack. The British player will need to be aware of this and try to get the defending units into advantageous positions. The Germans have no such limitations as they will need every man, machine and bullet to stop the British. This scenario is medium to large sized and takes place during daylight. The weather is overcast and rainy reducing Allied air power and causing soft ground conditions.