Battle of Villers Bocage

Hello There! At last the planets aligned, the blood sacrifice behaved in the correct way and I was able to get to the club at last!

Tonight the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers played the above battle using 20mm figures and some quick play Charles Grant WW II rules.

This enormous table included the village of Villers Bocage and the approach road were the attack by Wittmann commenced. The quick play nature of the rules allowed us to play the game about six times. We played it the same way that Wittmann advanced up the main road to see were he would be knocked out. In the real attack he had no support feeling that the unreadiness of the enemy and the fact that he must have already been spotted meant he had to act immediately.

He knocked out the two leading tanks first and then proceeded to take out the vehicles that were parked along the edge of the road. 

Here is the start of one of the games as Wittmann breaks cover. 

Here is A company the Rifle Brigade and the first tank elements of  A squadron 4th County of London Yeomanry, (Sharpshooters). Wittmann knocked out a Cromwell and then a Sherman firefly which was parked further up the hill on the right and then turned left on to the road towards Villers Bocage.

Here moving down the road spreading confusion!

Here Wittmann continues down the road. In one of the many games we played one Stuart tank decided to pull out into the road.

Next the Reconnaissance Troop of Stuart tank realise that some thing is happening up front and after a short period to crew and start vehicles they get moving. This is on the junction of the Tilly Sur Seulles road next to the calvary. 

Wittmann continues to take out the vehicles of the Rifle Brigade which were not intended to be used to fight from.

Here are a couple of pictures of the combat in another game. We know that Wittmanns tank should be '222' but this model looks chunky compared to the other models used in this game. The black and white effect looks very effective, especially the close up.

Here is the end for Wittmann in one game with 20mm SHQ tank crew figures. In the actual battle Wittmanns tank was disabled by a shot from a 6pdr anti tank round from the rear but the crew left it hoping they would be able to recover it later. Wittmann and crew made it back to their lines.

Further games resulted in the tiger tank getting past the Tilly road junction and continuing into the village.

At one point Wittmann got to the town and engaged the HQ troop and then realising that fighting in a built up area was not a good idea without infantry support he retreated back up the road.  

Here are a few views of the tiger advancing up the street.

Finally a top view and a view of the bend in the road part way in the town.

Here are a few final view of the models used to represent Villers Bocage. These are also used in the owners version of D Day which has been at a number of shows including winning best of show at Salute.