aa OaNPITHE BATTLE FOR CAEN, NORMANDY, JUNE-AUGUST 1944. Written by: Phil Yares Photography: Balefione Suudio Eeivors: Peter Sirnunovieh, John-Paul Bisgost Web Support: Wayne Turner Assistant Writes: Mette Delinge, Sandy Addison, Anshony Playtest Groups: Wh Cavalry (Michael Tunes). R Beaver, Richard Chambers, R Mask Davies, Alun Galley, ‘Auckland City Guard (Damian Reid), Sitmon MeBeth, Marcus Phillips, Ron Trainer Peninsula Praetorian (Mike Parker) Proof Readers: Paul Beach, Mike Haycock, Phowegrapln: National Library of New Zealand, John Hutton, Neal Smith Imperial War Museum, Bovingson Tank Mas Graphic Design: Casey Davies, Dion Holswich ‘Australian War Memorial, Roger Key Private Collection, ‘Miniasures Design: Fvan Allen, Seth Nash NARA, National Archives OF Canada, Gover and Inernal Art: ea Griffin, Vincent Wai swwiww2modelmakercom, Ceris-Normandie.com, ‘Miniatures Pairing: Jeremy Painwes, Mate Paskes ‘US Army Signal Corps ‘Termin Modeling: Dale Pepperell CONTENT! Rommel Returns sisnsnnnenneee Panzerspahkompanie. Invasionfront—D-Day.snsnnenenene E Divisional Support... German Arsenal Rommel’s Funnie: 21, Panzerdivision Histor ee aintig Conan Erikc For The Se “19 Operation Goodwood joao Iarbernope Onsen ace 11 The Royal Air Force in Normandy sss 46 Kampfgruppe Rauch Attacks warns 14 Out OF Luck. nce Major Hans von Latch sssssseseesee “17 Firepower Comparison... 21, Panzerdivision Canadian 3“ Division Panzerkompanie....1. ol8 Captain John Treleaven .. StuG Batterie... eae British 5% Divisio: Gepanzerte Panzergrenadierkompanie... Ride Conipany = Panzergrenadierkompanie€ ...csnnsre Siprore Deena Field Fortifications .sssnnntnnnneeeed British Arsenal Panzerpionierkompanie..sorsmnnnnne Painting British, ‘This isa supplement for Flames Of War, the World War If miniatures game. -A-copy of the rulebook for Flames Of War is necesary co fully use the contents of this book. All rights reserved. No par ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system, or ransmicted, in any form or by any ‘means without the prior writen permission of the publisher, no he otherwise created in any’ orm of binding or corer other than that | in which cis published and without similar condition bing imposed on the subsequent purchasr.When Hider sent armoured forces to aid the collapsing Italian forces in Africa at che start of 1941, no one an- ticipated that the Deussches Afritukorps would become a legend. 5. Leichte Division (5 Light Division) became 21 Panzerdivision (21% Armoured Division) in September 1941, and with 15, Pancerdivision fought in the desert bates that raged back and forth aeross North Africa. Despite always being outnumbered, they very nearly won. ‘The soldiers of 21. Panzerdivtion had confidence in their comrades, their ‘equipment and their commander Generaleldmarschall Ewin Rommel—the ‘Desert Fox’. On 6 May, 1943, after more than two years in Aftiea, the Deutsches frikakorpssureendered (0 the combined British and American armies at Tunis. ‘As the final battle of Tanis was being fought, Schnell Brigade Wear (Mobile Brigade West), the mobile reserve for France, ‘was combined with 100. Pancerregiment to form Schnelle Division West (Mobile Division West). A month later on 27 June, 1943, Schnell Division Westwas renamed 21, Panzer- division io honour of those who foughe and died in North Afiica. Two thousand Afikakorps veterans were assigned (0 this new division being assembled at Rennes, a city in the Brictany region of northwest France. ‘With the priority of men and material being given to the Eastern Front and the upcoming offensive at Kursk, limited resources were available for Army Group West to equip the new division, Fortunately, an answer was found in Baustab Becker (Construction Staff Becker), ander Oberst Alfted Becker. Becker was an enteeprising soldier witha knack for creative use of captured equipment, He firs scrved with the artillery regiment of 227. Infimeriedivsion (227° Infaotty Division) during the invasion of Holland in 1940. Aer the fighting ended, Becker seized capeured British Mark VI light tanks and, withthe aid of an are welder, single-handedly converted hisbatery wo sel propelled artilery. With six months ofhard work, the frst armoured artillery battery of the Webrmache 2s ready in time for the invasion of the Soviet Union, med afier its com- Seeing his endeavouts, Becker's commander transferred him to the Alkett Armour Works in Paris co create more self- propelled guns based on captured French chassis. Necessity is the mother of invention, and Becker earnestly began the task of salvaging all usable vehicles in France. A tora of over 1800 tanks and vehicles were put back into service, many destined for Schnelle Brigade West. Tivo months after its formation, 21. Pancerdivision listed is strength a ust 8,768 men, nine 7em PakAO guns, ewenty- four 10.5em leFH18 guns, ewelve 15cm sFH13 guns, eight $307(F) Reihenwwerfer self-propelled multiple mortars, and accompanying tanspors. Further units were slowly alded to the division as they became available. Nearly a year later, the shortages of men and equipment have finally been overcome and the 16,300 soldiers of 2, Panzerdivision are stationed around the strategically imporcane city of Caen. ‘the Allies consider this one oftheir ‘most importanc D-Day objectives. With its communication routes, and the Ome and Divers Rivers securing the eastern flank of the invasion beaches, control of Caen bypasses the Bocage country and opens the shortest way to Pais The eve of D-Day finds the division’s 22, Panzerragiment composed of eight tank companies. Fortunately, the first battalion of four companies is fully equipped with modern Panzer IV tanks, while the second battalion still retains 23 obsolete ex-French SOMUA 35S tanks thac never do sce battle. The divisional assaule gun battalion is fully equipped with Becker's creations, as is ewo-thirds of the artillery regiment. Even the infantry regiments have plenty of Becker specials, making them one of the best equipped (if oddest looking) divisions in existence. Rommel, now in charge of the defence of France, has eleven Panzer Divisions under his command. OF these, only chrce nediate counterattack against landings fn the Normandy coast, and only 21. Panzerdivision is close are available for enough 0 strike the beachheads early on D-Day, Thus it becomes the only German division to stike out ta the sea 'ROMMEL’S FU} $307(F) (PIONEER) HALF-TRACK “The SOMUA MCGS half-track was France’s standard heavy artillery tractor in 1940, Bewstab Becker converted numberof these into pioneer half-tracks for 220, Paneer pionienabteitung. Like the Sd Kfs 251/7 hall-tracks of | ‘other Panzer divisions, these are equipped with light assaule bridges strapped to the sides Weight: 7 cons (estimated) Crew: 2 Speed: 20 mph/31 km/h Engine: SOMUA 60 hp. $307(F) (Pioniee) mitdere Schiczenpanzerwagen Armies Tro G40 Armour: '/:°/13mm (approximate) $307(F) (PAK40) ANTI-TANK HALF-TRACK 21. Panzerdivision isthe only Panzer division to have all of its battalion anti-tank guns carried in self-propelled mountings. The standard 7.5em PaK40 anti-tank gun - is mounted in an open-topped armoured body on the ze p SOMUA MCG5 half-track. Although the resulting vehicle isa litle underpowered, ir performs well ‘Weight: 8 cons (estimated) Crew: & Speed: 20 mph/31 km/h Engine: SOMUA 80 hp. Armament: 7.5em PaK40, MG 42 7.5em Pak40 (Sf) auf mSPW $307(0) Armour: "13mm (approximate) (Create eeaehadnedacaal ead Ccetaidteneshndaandacsadsadtekd Cicdeabcemsaiadoadnasne kc $307(F) (REIHENWERFER) MULTIPLE-MORTAR HALF-TRACK Bawstab Becker invented a unique infantry support ‘weapon in its Reihenwwerfer (rack mortar, pronounced rie-en-vaitr-ferr), an array of 16 mortars. The mortars are all inked together and aimed athe same target. A simple arrangement holds the mortar bombs as they are loaded, then releases them together when they are fired ‘Weight: 8 cons (estimated) Crew: 3 Speed: 20 mph/31 km/h Engine: SOMUA 80 hp. Bem leichter Reihenwerfer auf mSPW $307(F) Re aca! 1éx Sen Bande GL Armour: #:"/13mm (approximate) $307(F) (R-VIELFACHWERFER) ROCKET LAUNCHER HALF-TRACK ‘The Waffen-SS developed the R-Vielfichwerfer (multiple rocket launcher, pronounced ra-kay-ten feel-fach-vai fere) as a copy of the Soviet BM-8-32 Katyusha rocket launcher. Baustab Becker took this weapon and mounted it on the MCGS half-track giving 21. Pancerdivision its ‘own rocket atlery. Weight: 8 tons (estimated) Crew: 3 Speed: 20 mph/31 kmv/h Engine: SOMUA 80 hp Armament: 24-rail 8m rocket launcher, MG 42 Armour: '/:"/13mm (approximate)