Panzer Lehr Arrives western flank.

The battalion’s 6 pdr anti-tank guns are con-

After his Tiger tank was damaged during his solo attack cealed throughout the town. All around the British troopers
on Villers-Bocage, Obersturmführer Wittmann retired with can be heard the clank of heavy steel tracks advancing down
his crew on foot. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the roads towards the town. The battle is about to begin.
Wittmann headed directly to the headquarters of the Panzer
Lehr Division where Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein was The Tigers Attack
scrounging together a force of Panzer IV tanks to take on After conferring with Wittmann and Ritgen, Obersturmführer
this threat to his rear. Möbius leads his eight remaining Tiger tanks from
1. 
Kompanie, 101. schwere SS-Panzer­ abteilung towards
Wittmann immediately headed back to Point 213 in a
Villers-Bocage supported by some of his own infantry.
Schwimmwagen amphibious jeep to brief the gathering
Ritgen takes the tanks of Panzer Lehr off to the flank. The
forces of 101. schwere SS-Panzerabteilung. Meanwhile a
Germans advance quickly, but in a fragmented manner,
Kampfgruppe of fifteen Panzer IV tanks and a small group
with small groups of tanks moving along streets of the town
of infantry under the command of Major Helmut Ritgen
centre and the railway station area.
advanced towards Villers-Bocage. Their mission was to
seal off the exits from the town to the west and south. The In the close confines of the streets Tiger, Panzer IV, Cromwell
Kampfgruppe soon came under fire from hidden anti-tank and Firefly tanks all stalk one another in a furious game
guns and began to skirt the defences, moving southeast. of cat and mouse. The longer-ranged guns of the German
Near Point 213 they linked up with the SS Tiger tanks. Panzer IV and Tiger tanks are largely negated by the close-in
fighting, giving the agile British Cromwell tanks a chance.
The British Dig In The light 6 pdr anti-tank guns engage the heavy Tiger tanks
After running Wittmann out of Villers-Bocage, the British from the sides and rear as they pass. At this very close range,
begin organising an attempt by B and C Squadrons 4 CLY even their small 57mm round, with a bit of luck, can pen-
to rescue A Squadron trapped on Point 213. But long before etrate a Tiger. One by one the large cats are damaged and
they are ready, A Squadron sends its last frantic message abandoned, left behind until recovery crews can retrieve
and then all contact is lost. With the fall of Point 213, the them.
fighting moves to Villers-Bocage.
British infantry move about in the buildings, waiting for
While the armour seeks a way forward, the infantry of the chance to ambush tanks with their dreaded (or is that
1/7th Battalion of The Queen’s Royal Regiment prepares to dreadful) PIAT anti-tank projectors. The tranquil French
hold Villers-Bocage against the inevitable counterattack. town of Villers-Bocage becomes a killing field of great steel
The railway yard is secured by A Company, while B and C behemoths. Even the dreaded Tigers are not immune to
companies take up positions in the town guarding the main death in this place of hewn stone and timber.
approaches. D Company is placed in reserve covering the

1
 GERMAN PANZER LEHR DIVISION
After finishing off the British tanks on Point 213, Major Helmut Ritgen, deputy commander of
Obersturmführer Rolf Möbius led an ad-hoc group of eight II. Panzerabteilung, collected every available tank and headed
Tigers and supporting troops from the 101. schwere SS- south to seal off the east and west exits out of Villers-Bocage.
Panzerabteilung down towards Villers-Bocage. Obersturm­ Running into a screen of heavy anti-tank guns, he quickly
führer Wittmann had bought them valuable time with realised that the British were there in force. Ritgen ordered
his actions. While the true strength and intentions of the his tanks to break off and concentrate for a thrust into the
British forces in Villers-Bocage are unknown, they must be centre of Villers-Bocage to evict the British.
dislodged from the town to free the main supply route for
Major Ritgen meets briefly with Obersturmführer Möbius to
the Panzer Lehr Division.
plan their joint attack. The plan is simple. Both companies
The division was well aware of the problem on their flank. All will send a small force south to the railway station area to
morning the armoured cars had been watching. Even before clear the British forces there. Meanwhile, the main battle-
Obersturmführer Wittmann arrived at the headquarters of group will thrust straight for the town centre using speed
Panzer Lehr, troops were moving to deal with the threat. and shock to compensate for their lack of infantry and throw
But with all of their Panzergrenadiers committed against the the British forces out of the town.
British 50th Division to their front, the only force available is
The battle for the town of Villers-Bocage has begun. Only
a few Panzer IV H tanks and a small band of infantry.
time and your skill will determine the victor.

5. Kompanie, 130. Panzerregiment Panzer IV Tank Company

(page 44 D-Day: German)
Kompaniegruppe Panzer IV Tank Company HQ (2x Panzer IV)
1. Zug, 5. Kompanie Panzer IV Tank Platoon (3x Panzer IV)
2. Zug, 5. Kompanie Panzer IV Tank Platoon (3x Panzer IV)
3. Zug, 5. Kompanie Panzer IV Tank Platoon (3x Panzer IV)
II/130. Aufklärungszug Reconnaissance Platoon (7x MG42 team)

1. Kompanie, 101. s SS-PzAbt Tiger SS Tank Company (page 17 D-Day: Waffen-SS)

Obersturmführer Möbius Tiger SS Tank Company HQ (1x Tiger)
1. Zug, 1. Kompanie Tiger SS Tank Platoon (2x Tiger)
2. Zug, 1. Kompanie Tiger SS Tank Platoon (2x Tiger)
Aufklärungszug SS Reconnaissance Platoon (7x MG42 team, 7x Sd Kfz
250 (MG) half-track)

2
 BRITISH 7TH ARMOURED DIVISION
With a long list of battle honours, The Queen’s Royal In the meantime, Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Gordon,
Regiment was a source of pride for those that served in its commanding 1/7 Queen’s, positioned his troops. A
ranks. For the 1/7th Battalion, yet another honour would be Company took responsibility for the railway station in the
added for their part in the fight for Villers-Bocage. south with C Squadron, 4 CLY. B and C Companies set up
with the anti-tank platoon in the solid buildings of the town
The 1/7th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment, following
centre, supported by B Squadron. D Company was placed in
the advancing 4th County of London Yeomanry, set about
reserve holding the western part of the town against German
securing Villers-Bocage. At the same time tanks of 4 CLY
attempts to outflank them.
attempted to link up with A Squadron on Point 213. Each
attempt was rebuffed by the intervening enemy forces. As the advancing of Germans push into the town from the
east, Lieutenant Cotton returns to the centre of the town,
In a final act of desperation, Lieutenant Cotton of 4 Troop,
taking up ambush positions with the infantry. The British
B Squadron was sent to find a route around Villers-Bocage.
are ready and waiting.
4 Troop slowly made its way down narrow winding roads
anxiously seeking a way through. The rail line to the south- For the next six hours the battle rages as the two forces clash
east blocks their way and forces them north, back into in the narrow streets and buildings of the town.
Villers-Bocage.

B Company, 1/7th Queen’s Desert Rats Rifle Company

(Page 62 D-Day: British) (Page 62 D-Day: British)
B Company HQ Desert Rats Rifle Company HQ (2x Sten SMG team)
10 Platoon, B Company Desert Rats Rifle Platoon (7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle
team, 1x PIAT anti-tank team, 1x 2-inch mortar team)
11 Platoon, B Company Desert Rats Rifle Platoon (7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle
team, 1x PIAT anti-tank team, 1x 2-inch mortar team)
12 Platoon, B Company Desert Rats Rifle Platoon (7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle
team, 1x PIAT anti-tank team, 1x 2-inch mortar team)
5 (Anti-tank) Platoon Dersert Rats 6 pdr Anti-tank Platoon, (4x 6 pdr guns)
Battery B , 5 Royal Horse Artillery Regiment
th
Sexton Field Troop (Command Card, 4x Sexton)
Sherman OP Observation Post (1x Sherman OP)

B Squadron, 4th CLY Desert Rats Cromwell Armoured

Squadron (page 54 D-Day: British)
B Squadron HQ Desert Rats Cromwell Armoured Squadron HQ
(2x Cromwell (75mm), 2x Cromwell CS (95mm))
1 Troop, B Squadron Desert Rats Cromwell Armoured Troop
(3x Cromwell (75mm), 1x Firefly (17 pdr))
2 Troop, B Squadron Desert Rats Cromwell Armoured Troop (as 1 Troop)
3 Troop, B Squadron Desert Rats Cromwell Armoured Troop (as 1 Troop)
4 Troop, B Squadron Desert Rats Cromwell Armoured Troop (as 1 Troop)
Recce Troop Desert Rats Stuart Recce Patrol (3x Stuart (37mm))

3
 THE BATTLE FOR VILLERS-BOCAGE
The town of Villers-Bocage sits upon a major road hub. This Beginning the Battle
road hub contains one of the only north-south roads in the 1. All Spearhead Units make their Spearhead moves starting
area, while the east-west roads lead directly to Caen in one with the British player.
direction and Avranches in the other. This road structure is
critical to supplying the German troops engaged with the 2. The German force has the first turn.
British Army.
This scenario is designed to allow 2 to 4 players to have a
Ending the Battle
game with a larger number of points than normal So get The battle ends:
together with some friends and have a blast! • At the start of the British turn 11, or
The Villers-Bocage scenario uses the Ambush and Meeting • Whenever one side has no Formation in Good Spirits.
Engagement special rules.
Deciding Who Won
Your Orders
The player or group of players who controls the most objec-
German tives wins. If neither player controls any objectives, or they
control one objective each, then the game is a draw with
You must clear the village of Villers-Bocage in order to neither side able to gain control of the town.
remove the threat of allied action against the rear area of
Panzer Lehr Division. This will also secure the supply lines
being used by units in the sector. Failure is not an option.

British
You must hold the town so that the attack may be renewed Historical Outcome
at a later date. Inflict as many casualties on the enemy as
Wittmann would become famous all across Germany for
possible while limiting your losses.
his destruction of the British column and the stopping of
the Desert Rats. His company on Point 213 would soon
Preparing for Battle be joined by Möbius’ 1. Company and together they would
1. Set up the terrain as shown on page 5. Place Objectives destroy A Squadron 4 CLY upon the point. Soon after-
at the indicated points. The table is 4’/120cm x 6’/180cm. wards the Panzer IV tanks and 1 Company would advance
2. The British player sets up their force in area within into Villers-Bocage. This time the British forces would be
36”/90cm of the table edge. 4 Troop and 5 (Anti-tank) waiting. After a hard fight and three more destroyed Tigers
Platoon may be held in Ambush. the Germans would retreat. Yet as more German forces
arrived the pressure upon the defenders grew. Finally, the
3. The German player now deploys their forces in British pulled back out of Villers-Bocage, not to set foot in
area within 12”/30cm of the table edge. the town again for many weeks.

VILLERS-BOCAGE CAMPAIGN OTHER TIMES AND PLACES

This is the last battle in the Villers-Bocage Campaign. Once again, one could fight this battle with other forces. If
Whichever side wins this battle wins the campaign. The the US 2nd Armored Division had made the dash to Villers-
outcome of the Battle for Point 213 scenario has an effect on Bocage, they would have been fighting with a Sherman Tank
the forces available for this battle. Company equipped entirely with M4 Sherman tanks with
75mm guns and an Armoured Rifle Company supported by
If the Germans won the Battle for Point 213, then the de-
a weak Armoured Field Artillery Battery.
ployment area of the British force is halved in this scenario.
They must deploy within 18”/45cm of the table edge. The If you decided to fight this battle on the Eastern Front, the
Panzers have raced forward putting pressure on the British Soviet force could be a T-34 Tank Battalion and a Motor
forces as they enter the town. Rifle Battalion supported by a IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank
Company or a ISU-122 or ISU-152 Heavy SP Battery.
If the British won the Battle for Point 213, then the Germans
have lost the race and the entire Tiger SS Tank Company is Of course, you could also try the battle with the roles
placed in Reserve instead of deploying on the table, allowing reversed. Take an allied tank force and attack into a mixed
the British build up to continue before the Germans can German tank and infantry force. Anything is possible!
muster all of their force. The Tiger SS Tank Company enters
from the their deployment zone board edge.

4
 British player deploys here German player
deploys here

OBJECTIVE
36”/90cm 12”/30cm

OBJECTIVE

OBJECTIVE

VILLERS-BOCAGE TERRAIN
Roads Buildings
Being on several major road networks has given the town of The main streets of Villers-Bocage were lined with rows of
Villers-Bocage very modern and wide paved roads. terraced houses and businesses, each a separate building unto
its own.
All roads on the map are wide enough to allow vehicles to
pass with plenty of room to spare. Buildings depicted on the map are rows of terraced houses.
As such there are no doors in the shared connecting walls to
Bocage Hedgerows go from one to the next. In order to move from one to the
All hedgerows on the table are Bocage hedgerows. Bocage other Infantry Teams must move through the openings in
hedges are Tall, Bulletproof, Difficult Terrain, so require a the front or back of each house.
Cross Test to get through. They are Tall, blocking fields of
view, and their stony base gives teams hiding behind them
Bulletproof Cover.
The Bocage rules are on pages 78 to 79 of the D-Day: British
book and on our website: www.FlamesOfWar.com.