Rauray: the attack on Point 110

On 28th June 1944 11 DLI's attack on Point 110 was an attempt to relieve the pressure on 15th Scottish Division's Western flank.  The "Spur" of high ground at Rauray represented a significant threat, and this was the culmination of four days of fighting.  

The key objective on the attack on Brettvillette was the high ground at Point 110.  This was the scene of major fighting on June 28th.  

The Durhams have already lost the equivalent of two platoons in my pint sized campaign, and a fresh platoon (the last of my reserve) has been allocated to this attack.  In addition 24th lancers have added two Shermans as the reserve.   This is getting desperate for 49 Division.

If the DLI can win this game they can press on to table 6 and prepare to attack Bretvillette.  

Historically however, although they took Point 110, they were exhausted and it was the Tyneside Scottish attacking through the equivalent of table 7 and 9 that took the manor, only to be later repulsed.

The Tyneside Scottish in Op Epsom

11DLI British Platoon

Platoon HQ
Lieutenant, Senior Leader armed with pistol 
Platoon Sergeant, Senior Leader, armed with SMG 
PIAT Team, 2 men 
2" mortar Team, 2 men 
SECTIONS 1-3
Corporal, Junior Leader armed with Sten 
BREN TEAM  Bren LMG Three crew 
RIFLE TEAM Six riflemen

Reserve
2 x Sherman tanks, Junior Leader
1 Forward Obs Mortar battery
1 MMG five crew.

III/26 PzGren 12SS

Platoon HQ 
Oberscharführer, Senior Leader with Machine 
Pistol 
Three panzerfaust 30 
SQUADS 1-3
Scharführer, Junior Leader armed with machine pistol. 
LMG TEAM MG42 Three crew 
LMG TEAM MG42 Three crew 

88mm A/T gun five crew, Scharführer, Junior Leader

ATTACHED ARMOUR
2 Sdkfz 251 half tracks
additional Squad
Scharführer, Junior Leader armed with machine pistol. 
LMG TEAM MG42 Three crew 
LMG TEAM MG42 Three crew

So I`m finally at Point 110, but like the historical DLI I have run out of reserves.  Any significant casualties in this game will mean that 11 DLI must halt here to consolidate the position.  Historically they were relieved by 10DLI who then faced and attack by the SS Kampfgruppe.

12SS Pz Gren however remain a force to be reckoned with.  They have more than two platoons available, and four sections are available for use here including two Sdkfz 251 half tracks each with an Mmg mounted.    

A half track goes down and gets on Overwatch with the MMG

The Pz Gren also get a section down covering both lanes of approach

And the Platoon Mortar falls short, but still blocking LOS.

11 DLI get a full section down on the furthest hedgerow.

The British Mortar Obs puts his barrage down on target.

But the Pz Gren move the half tracks forward.

And that's bridging equipment so I have to wonder where they think they are going.  Its not like I don`t literally have a dozen Sdkfz251 I could have used.

The German Lmg move out from under the barrage and hit the advancing DLI section.  Ouch!

That forward Obs guy looks isolated

The german half tracks begin to hose down the hedgerows.  Poor effort here.

The bridging half track is bang on though.  The DLI are really suffering losses.

The Platoon Sergeant gets on table with the Piat guys.  They take out one half track.

But the withering fire from the second German half track is devastating. 

The advancing DLI section are wiped out.  The British are losing this!

On come the 24th Lancers, my last reserves.  The Half track is done for. 

Turns out the 24th have allocated a Firefly for this attack.  My Infantry game is lost but the Armour has stabilised the situation. 

Or so I think.  I realise that the Germans have a Panzerknacker team among the advancing section.  These boys take out the Firefly, but fall to the machine guns of the other M4

And that is my campaign done.  It ends where 11DLI's attack actually ended, out of all reserves but with Point 110 taken.  10DLI came in to hold the position as 11 DLI were withdrawn, having suffered hundreds of casualties in four days of intense fighting.
In retrospect I commanded the Pz Gren much better than I did the British, or perhaps the Germans had more luck.  I am going to do another Pint Sized Campaign some time this year, possibly Op Martlet, although the research I did for these games were part of the enjoyment.