The Road to Falaise Bobs on going 15mm WW2 Adventure

Now there is no reason in this scale that you can’t do a @warzan and make them up, and for other periods have done exactly that see my other project

https://www.beastsofwar.com/project/1375730/

But when I originally started the project for ‘Tanks’ went for historical units for both the British and Germans.

British – 11th Armoured Division

My original reason for above rather than the more usual 7th or Guards Armoured came literally down when originally looking for a unit was that they were the only one to be equipped with Comets before end of the war!

Created in 1941 , the Black Bulls(later nicknamed ‘The Swell Bison’ when they encountered American units)  were originally created in 1941 is response to the success of the German Panzer Divisions during the campaigns in the low countries and France the year before.

Initially the unit was formed in Yorkshire as part of the Northern command under the famous Percy Hobart who later gained fame for his development of the Funnies used so successfully at the Normandy Invasions and beyond in the 79th Armoured Division.

The unit should have been assigned to to 1st Army in Tunisia and had begun to embark when it was cancelled as it was felt more infantry would be needed due to the difficult terrain encountered.

By 1944 and the Invasion of Normandy the Division had come under command of Phillip ‘Pips’ Robert who at only 37 had proved himself to be a highly competent and experienced armoured commander.

The divison took part in the  Epsom , Goodwood and at Bluecoat operations. At the later it gained fame when it found and intact bridge on Souleurve River, sitting on a point at the edge of two German units sectors , unguarded as both thought the other was watching it. Driving back the any German Counterattack and in what became the famous “Charge of the Bull” the divison liberated Le Beny-Bocage eventually defeating a counter attack by 9th SS Panzer with help of the Guard Armoured and 15th Scottish.

Moved to XXX corps (later Famous or Infamous for the drive on Arnhem,)it pushed on the heels of the Germans after the failure of their Mortain counteroffensive capturing Flrs on 17 August then Putanges , and finally capturing the commander of the German 276th Division at Argentan.

Post Falaise it Liberated L’Aigle on 23rd August and crossed Seined 5 days later . A night move and 60 mile advance in one day saw it capture Amiens on 1st September capturing the General of the German 7th Army General Eberbach on the same day. Involved in the Fighting for Antwerp it avoided being directly involved in Operation Market Garden , but was involved is securing the right flank as part of VIII corps and reached the 101st Airborne and Nuenen on 22/9/44.

Update 27/6/19 

For those like @oriskany who may want know which units I’ve picked in more detail gone for 29th Armoured Brigade for most

Sherman’s are 23rd Hussars (later in war converted to Comets)

My Motorised Infantry are representing 8th Battalion The Rifle Brigade

Recon unit :Cromwell’s are from 15th/19th Kings Royal Hussars

Artillery Sp’s 13th Ref Royal Horse Artillery

Towed 151st Regiment Royal Artillery ( Ayrshire Yeomanry)

German- Panzer Lehr Divison

My decision on this was purely based on they were not SS and didn’t fancy all the Converted French stuff involved in the Reformed 21st Panzer. Plus they fought 1st  the British then  Americans during the Normandy Campaign. Technically the infantry should be in Panzer uniforms but in 15mm! 

I did have some decals for it so ……

Oh and of course there is the cool song!

Originally formed from training and demonstration troops into a division in 1943 to provide additional armoured support in anticipation of the Invasion of Europe. It was unique in being the only Wehrmacht Panzer division equipped with sufficient tanks and mechanised transports for its infantry .

It also was formed with a considerable number of  trained veterans from campaigns in North Africa , Sicily and Italy many decorated and was considered an elite Division from its formation. After taking part in the German occupation of Hungary it was placed in tactical reserve with 17th SS Panzer Grenadiers and Dietrichs SS Panzer Corps for any Allied Invasion under the personal orders of Adolf Hitler.(The reserves that are not released on day  as Hitler was sleeping in famous scene with Kurt Jurgens in ‘The longest Day)

Held back for the 1st few crucial days of the invasion it with the 12 SS Panzer Division were able to stall the British attacks to take Caen only being forced to retreat when it was outflanked by 7th Armoured at Villiers Bockage. By the end of June, the Panzer Lehr Division had suffered 2,972 casualties and reported the loss of 51 tanks and assault guns, 82 halftracks and 294 other vehicles from air attacks and almost continuous fighting , Despite this, it continued to hold against the British and Commonwealth forces, engaging in heavy fighting near the town of Tilly-sur-Seulles.

Down to only 68 tanks and 28 Assault Guns it was moved to Provide armoured support against American operations

On 10 July, Panzer-Lehr launched a counterattack against elements of the American 9th and 30th infantry divisions around the village of Le Dezert were American M10 tank destroyers knocked out 30 of the Panzer Lehr’s tanks and forced the remaining tanks to withdraw over the Vire Canal to relative safety . For two week it was involved St, Lo fighting a battle of attrition against superior U.S forces dropping down to as few as 28 operational tanks  when if  fell prey to the launch of the U.S Operation Cobra. Directly in the path of the Massive Arial assault  by 27 July the German defences has been penetrated. On the same day, Bayerlein reported that Panzer Lehr was “finally annihilated.”

Both above forces I knew quite a bit about before the Bootcamp, as for the Americans I knew little so there development will be more of a learning curve and as such will pick it up in next part.