Need assistance with two scenarios

[Kingfish]

I've designed two scenarios based on the battle for Verrieres (the village, not the ridge). One covers the Canadian attack in the morning, and the second covers the German counterattack later that afternoon.

I have the maps designed, forces in place, setup zones defined, basically everything ready to go...but...I am drawing a complete blank on the briefings. I've tried countless times, never getting past the first sentence. These two scenarios would have been submitted a couple of weeks ago if not for the briefings.

So...can anyone help me out by whipping up a couple of paragraphs? It would be greatly appreciated. I can provide research material to help the process.

My address is in my profile.

Thanks.

[British Tommy]

We need more info so we can fill in the blank bits. Forces involved, place names etc.

[patboy]

Verrieres seems in France to me ! Can't wait to play with your couple of scenarios ! Pat

[Kingfish]

Verrieres is indeed in France. To be exact, it is a small village of about a dozen or so houses, located about halfway between Caen and Cintheaux, just to the west of the Caen-Falaise highway.

As for the forces involved, for the first scenario I have the reinforced Royal Hamiltion Light infantry (the "Rileys") launching a dawn attack on the village. However, due to problems securing their own start line the attack kicks off 40 minutes late. As a result the Candians have now lost the benefit of darkness, surprise and the supporting artillery barrage.

Waiting in the village, now fully alert and in excellent defensive positions, are elements of the 1st SS PzGr Regiment, reinforced with Pioneers, heavy weapons, StuGs and PzIVs.

The distance the Canadians had to cover was a bit over a mile across flat, open ground. The terrain south of Caen differs significantly from that found elsewhere in Normandy. Here the land is generally flat, with very few natural terrain features such as woods, bocage or tree lines. To make matters worse, the Germans hold the high ground, as the village lies at the foot of a broad, low ridge which bears the same name.

For the second scenario we have the roles reversed, with the now heavily depleted Rileys holding on to the ruins of Verrieres in the afternoon, when they are hit by a German counterattack consisting of a German PzGr battalion, reinforced with PzIVs and heavy artillery support. Now the terrain works against the Germans, even though they have lots of firepower on hand.

[Richie]

I'll give it a shot if I'm worthy and you want to email me the pertinant information. Feel free to edit it as you see fit.

(Sometimes I swear it takes longer to write the briefings than it does to generate the whole scenario...)

[John Kettler]

Kingfish,

The man who gave us Tiger Valley wonders if he's worthy? Too rich and beyond surreal!

Regards,

John Kettler

[John Kettler]

Kingfish,

These should help.

Article from LEGION magazine. Terry Copp discusses the action from both sides.

http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/canadianmilitaryhistory/99-05.asp

Excerpt from TANK TACTICS. Seems to have some great stuff on the formations involved, to include German KG composition.

http://tinyurl.com/yonugb

Operation Spring

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Spring

Same guy who wrote TANK TACTICS did this gem, which I believe ran in CANADIAN MILITARY HISTORY complete with pics.

http://tinyurl.com/2pr3hv

Excerpt from FIELDS OF FIRE. Op Spring discussed later in same book.

http://tinyurl.com/34uxu6

Excerpt from THE CANADIAN ARMY IN NORMANDY. Initial attempt against the village.

http://tinyurl.com/2pjbpn

"B" Squadron at Verrieres

http://www.creullyclub.freeuk.com/sept01.htm

BATTLE EXHAUSTION excerpt.

http://tinyurl.com/38j9t5

Excerpt from WARRIOR CHIEFS. View from the command levels of both sides.

http://tinyurl.com/3bo84n

Producers reply to Valour and Horror critics. Highly topical and juicy.

http://www.valourandhorror.com/P_Reply/Normandy.php

Pics of what I hope is the right Verrieres.

http://tinyurl.com/2tm2zw

Excerpt from KURSK IN NORMANDY. Begins right after the RHLI takes Verrieres village. Very good German OOB data.

http://tinyurl.com/296dte

Allied tanker's take on attacking the village.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/65/a1948665.shtml

Excerpt from A WAR OF PATROLS on named battalion's action in Normandy. Has map, highly detailed info on RHLI attack plan, great material for briefing, etc.

http://tinyurl.com/2y45k9

Old photos of Verrieres.

http://tinyurl.com/2vox97

Believe I'll stop now.

Regards,

John Kettler

[Philippe]

Nice postcards, John! And very timely, too, since I'm working on an art project involving postcards. I hope I can unscramble the original link to the [untranslated] version of that site.

I was a bit confused by the range of architecture, until I noticed that only four of those cards are from the town in Normandy.

I'm slow, but I get there eventually.

[patboy]

I found those links about Verrieres ridge

http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/mapnormandy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/battlehonours.htm&h=1105&w=761&sz=84&hl=fr&start =31&tbnid=U8uGOBSQnvlemM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dverrieres,%2Borne%2B%2B%26start%3D21%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D21%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dfr%26sa%3DN

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/mediawiki-1.5.5/index.php?title=Normandy_Landing/Seaborne_Landings

Pat