Author's Note: Apologies all for the lack of photos here. I did take some, they are somewhere, but I just can't find them. As soon as I do, they will be added here. I hope you enjoy the article anyway.
-----------------------
"Nein! Nein!"
The Oberst was shouting down the field telephone again. It should have
been easier than this for subordinates to report, even if it seemed to always
be bad news, the adjutant thought, as he approached his commander's desk and
set down the tray. As a Prussian, the senior officer was supposed to be a
professional - but then as a Prussian he wasn't used to being told about his
troops retreating in disarray. As he began to pour the coffee, the bone china
cups clattered on their saucers as the Oberst abruptly slammed the receiver
down, fuming with frustration.
"More bad news, sir?" the adjutant casually asked, his
question stating the obvious.
The Oberst sighed. "It seems these days there is nothing but
bad news, Manfred," he resigned, leaning back into the leather chair.
"Those fools left behind from 352 Panzerjager failed to even slow the
American advance. We need to gain time to have any chance of regrouping, and I
only have one full strength Company left in the vicinity. And I cannot contact
them to make them aware of the urgency of the situation because the telephone
lines have failed again. This is not how it was supposed to be."
The adjutant did not feel qualified to comment, so kept silent. He finished pouring the coffee as the
general brooded in silence.
"I apologise, Manfred," the Oberst resumed. "This is
simply the way things are now. The enemy has the upper hand, and it is up
to us to respond. If we are to survive, that is. I must trust to German
ingenuity that my junior officers take the initiative to counterattack. And thank
you for the coffee." The Oberst waved the adjutant away, and picked up the receiver again, to try to get through to Hauptmann Krauss in Isigny.
------------------------
Though troubled, Colonel Goode was steadily becoming more reassured. The German positions to the left of the main
line of advance had now been cleared, and he had just been about to order the
general advance along the Isigny road to recommence when news arrived of another
enemy position ahead. One mile along the road, just to the
right of the causeway, a depleted company of German infantry had been spotted in the farmland around
Cardonville, almost certainly originally deployed there to defend
a small radar station. Now a flanking manoeuvre was required to clear this position
before the advance could continue, and he had already given the order.
------------------------
D+4, 10th June 1944
Around midday the Americans become
aware of the German position at Cardonville, and the order is given for a
flanking attack. The main American advance remains halted
in position for the time being. The position at the radar station centres on
two farm buildings within an area of open fields and scattered orchards.
The
patrol phase works well for the Germans, with jump-off points placed in strong
positions to rapidly occupy the buildings, while the Americans will need to
advance quickly from closer to the table edge. The Germans comprise a fresh
infantry platoon supported by one MMG team and an off-table 81mm mortar
battery. The attacking American platoon is supported by its own off-table
mortars and a Sherman tank. The Germans initially lack co-ordination and begin
the game disorganised, having to make an additional roll to deploy.
It
had been barely two hours since the message confirming the enemy's
continued advance along the causeway towards Isigny. All communication lines had
remained broken for the last 24 hours and it was fortunate that the commanding
officer at St Germain had thought to send word by other means. Arriving on a bad-tempered farm
horse, the infantryman who had served as messenger hadn't stayed for long, keen to
continue his progress to a safer position further behind the lines. The
Americans were approaching rapidly now, and were expected at the
outskirts of Cardonville within the hour.
Oberleutnant
Ziegler's platoon had seen no action for months, stationed around the small
village of Cardonville here to garrison the radar station. They had enjoyed the
peace and sunshine of the early summer, while for them the war happened elsewhere. But in the last few days everything had changed. Gathering his junior commanders, he
gave instructions. Three squads would take up defensive positions in the
village, close to the approach the Americans were most likely to take. They would
take the tripod MG42 and a Panzerfaust with them, just in case. Mortar support would be made available should it be required.
Turn 1, Phases 1-4
The Germans position their MMG team in the
central building with a field of fire towards all American jump-off points. The
Americans enter the table with two squads of infantry supported by
the Sherman, which rapidly advances along the road. The Germans fail to deploy
two of their squads, but are able to bring on their mortar observer beside the
MMG team. The MG42 opens fire, killing two Americans and
causing one point of shock.
Despite the best of
intentions, Ziegler's squads were slow to organise and although the MG42 was
set up in a good spot with plenty of time to spare, the Americans could be seen
in the distance approaching before the main body of the platoon was anywhere near being in position.
Two squads of the enemy were advancing slowly, crouching along distant hedge
line, and announced by the unmistakable sound of its approach a Sherman tank came into view, steadily advancing along the main road into the
village. The MG42 was swung around, a clear field of fire opening towards the
American troops behind a distant hedge. They opened fire, and the enemy duly halted as their men hit the dirt.
Turn 1, Phases 5-9; Turn 2, Phase 1
The Sherman opens fires, missing, while the US infantry squads advance
cautiously. The Germans deploy one infantry squad at the central road junction,
but fail to bring on further troops. The Americans deploy their mortar observer
and a sniper. The Sherman fires again, this time killing one man and causing
one shock on the MMG team while their second squad advances through woodland.
A
shell whistled overhead, landing unseen somewhere distant. The enemy tank, now
aware of the defender's presence, had reacted, its aim wayward. In the distance the Germans could see khaki soldiers
shifting, repositioning and advancing cautiously toward safer positions. As one squad closely followed a hedgerow ditch, the other ran to the
right, its men taking turns to clamber and leap across a gate to the
comparative safety of a broad block of woodland beyond, their progress too rapid for the MG42 to respond, unable tio catch them in the small
patch of open ground immediately beside the gate. Urging his men to
hurry, Ziegler ordered one German infantry squad into position near the house at the
main junction in the centre of the village, beside the road
edge, as American troops continued steadily to arrive and advance through the wood.
At the edge of the
tree line, scanning the village ahead through the sight of his sniper rifle,
Corporal Guthrie allowed his mind to relax, cutting out all sounds other than
the calm words of his observer.
"Grey house to
the right. Top left window, with the broken shutters."
He had already seen
the movement, but it could have just been a curtain shifting in the breeze
beside the broken window. No sign of the enemy. And then it suddenly
disappeared from view.
"Sherman got
there first," Private Barrington smirked. "Dust will clear in a
moment."
Guthrie, who had
maintained his view at the same spot, began to make out the window again as the
smoke dissipated. Only one shutter remained attached, but the building seemed
intact. There was still movement inside. Alert, he took aim and waited for
his moment.
Turn 2, Phases 2-7
The sniper opens fire on the MMG team, missing, while
the US lieutenant commands the first squad to open fire on the German infantry,
killing one. The Germans deploy a second infantry squad to meet the threat of
the US advance through the wood, and return fire on the Americans with
unexpected success. Four Americans are killed along with three points of shock.
Despite their losses they return fire, killing two more of the enemy, as the
third US squad is deployed. The Germans respond in kind, concentrating their
fire this time. Three Americans die and the first US squad becomes pinned. The
German senior leader is deployed, and a mortar barrage successfully called as
the Americans continue to advance, their second squad occupying the house at
the edge of the wood.
In the house, men
were coughing, scrambling. The second shell from the Sherman tank had hit the
roof above their heads, and at least one man was wounded too badly to continue.
Plaster dust from the broken ceiling was everywhere, turning uniforms light grey
and leaving a grey-white layer over everything. Men were reminded of snow, but
nothing like some had witnessed in Russia. As ears recovered, they could hear
gunfire from outside, and they rushed to reorganise and reposition the machine
gun. Outside, a firefight had begun between American infantry crouching behind
a hedge on one side of a field, and Germans along a roadside ditch on the
other. Men on both sides were falling, but the Americans, whose position was
just that bit more vulnerable, were taking the worst of it, pinned behind the
thin cover of the hedge, their advance halted.
At the edge of the
wood, Guthrie could make out the helmet of a German through the broken glass
and squeezed the trigger gently.
"No good,"
the observer confirmed what the sniper already knew. "Wide left and
slightly down. "
"Sight must be
damaged," Guthrie mumbled angrily, rolling back and examining, adjusting
the rifle. He could hear more American infantry now, advancing through the wood
beside him to take up better, safer positions. Ahead of them, men had reached
the forward edge of the woodland and entered a house at the lower end of the
street, under fire from a second group of German infantry on the opposite side
of the road.
Turn 2, Phases 8-10
As the Germans deploy their third infantry squad,
their mortar barrage begins, killing two men and causing shock on both US
squads in the open. The sniper shoots and misses again, but shooting from the
second squad in the house is more effective on the Germans opposite, killing
three men. The German mortar barrage continues, shifting slightly, and the US
forward observer is killed. They deploy their Panzershreck team in the house.
German shooting continues to be extremely effective, removing US teams and
wounding one US junior leader, and the US force morale drops rapidly to 2.
In the house,
Oberleutnant Ziegler was organising his men, who were responding well under the
pressure. Above, on the top floor, the MG42 had opened fire again, and he could
hear the dull popping of German mortar shells outside. He smiled. Not only
would the mortars cause the enemy problems directly, their smoke would protect
his men from enemy fire and give them the time they needed to become organised.
Outside, the barrage
was taking its toll on the American troops. In the field, the pinned squad was
suffering. Few men remained active, medics were fussing over the sergeant who
had taken a bad one to the chest, and their forward observer had been killed
outright as he tried to find a safe place to take cover.
From the wood,
Guthrie blocked out the screams of the wounded and fired again.
"Better,"
Barrington stated. "Hit on the window frame, about a foot from the sill on
the left."
Swearing under his
breath, the corporal rolled back again, repositioning the sight carefully. A
thick smoke from the mortar barrage had risen, but the light breeze was keeping
it away from his line of sight for the time being. Guthrie hurriedly finished the
adjustment and rolled back into position for another shot.
While Americans in
the building were exchanging fire with Germans outside, at the rear of the
village, the mortar barrage shifted, and the first American squad, vulnerable
and damaged, pinned beside the field hedge, came under the raking fire of
German infantry and the MG42. Three more GIs dropped to the ground. The
Americans were beginning to lose heart. Their commander, beginning to realise
their progress had been halted, hesitated. There was still a chance if that
Sherman could make its mark.
On the left flank,
as the Sherman moved through the mortar barrage, Ziegler understood the
situation in the same way.
"You two,"
he shouted at the men with the Panzershreck, "With me now". He
pointed through the kitchen window where the tank, too close for comfort, was
clearing the smoke, its turret rotating towards them, and the Panzershreck
fired, its explosion and a flash of flame momentarily obscuring its effect.
Outside, the charge
detonated on the front armour of the tank. There was a burst of earth, dust and
a flash, and a groan of metal twisting unnaturally in anger. There was no
explosion, no flame, but as the Germans recovered they could see the turret
jammed to one side, the tank leaning away from vertical, its hatch open as its
crew abandoned, hands held high.
Guthrie and
Barrington heard the calls. The Lieutenant had ordered the withdrawal. Rolling
back again, they disappeared into the safety of the woods and made their way
back to safety. A few hours respite, perhaps, but they would be back soon, he
knew.
Turn 2, Phases 11-13
The Americans, their options significantly reduced,
shoot to no effect, while The Germans continue to inflict casualties. The
Sherman tank, in an effort to redress the balance, emerges from the mortar
smoke to a shooting position, but before it can fire it is hit by a shot from
the Panzershreck and knocked out. US force morale is reduced to 0 and the
Americans retreat.
------------------------
Ever since that morning Colonel Goode had had the feeling their
progress had been too good to be true. With his troops held back at Cardonville he
knew the line was overstretched. Worried now, he knew they needed artillery
support to advance, and was even more concerned about a counterattack from
the Germans. Muttering to himself, he considered his options once again.
Closer to the action, Oberleutnant Ziegler was also considering the options.
The enemy had been driven back, albeit temporarily, and he had no choice but to
hold position, but there was nothing to stop other platoons in the company from
making a localised counterattack. As the line were down he had sent a messenger
with words to that effect for the attention of the Major at headquarters. And assuming there still was a headquarters, and a Major, someone ought to be able to do something about it.
