Dawn of the Panthers

 is a scenario in Back to Hell, covering the counter-attack against the Carpiquet Airfield executed by 1. SS-Panzer division LSSAH on July 6th, 1944.

Briefing
Dawn of the Panthers covers follow-up battle for Carpiquet in the wake of Operation Windsor, two days earlier.

While the Canadians had captured the village of Carpiquet and the hangars of the airfield, they had failed to secure the control building. But 12. SS-Panzerdivision's commander Kurt Meyer wasn't a man to content himself with a partial defensive victory, or defeat: the next day, he scrapped together whatever units he could muster and launched counter-attacks after counter-attacks to recapture the lost positions. To no avail.

But at dawn on July 6th, the Quebeckers holding Carpiquet village are faced not only with their young SS Nemesis, but also about two dozens of Panthers from 1. SS-Panzerdivision called in support!

Historical details
After breaking off the first three SS attacks on their position, the defenders of the Eastern crossroad were finally overrun by half a dozen Panthers and the survivors taken prisoners.

Exploiting their success and leaving only a token force to deal with the prisoners, the SS resumed their advance against the Northern crossroad, where the Canadian company defending it was the weakest of them all, having no chance to keep the Germans at bay on its own. Yet, the timely appearance at the most critical moment of the two Wolverines quickly put two Panthers in flames, sending the others in retreat.

The Western crossroad, where the Canadians were supposed to make their last stand, was never threatened. The Eastern crossroad was even retaken when the Panther left behind with some infantry was destroyed by the joint effort of a 6-pdr gun and a PIAT for the killing blow.

The Germans then gave up and retreated to their starting positions, harassed all the way by Typhoons & Canadian Shermans finally coming to the rescue.

Objectives

 * Canadians:
 * Hold as much of the three crossroads within Carpiquet village as you can.
 * Germans:
 * Capture as much of the three crossroads within Carpiquet village as you can.

Canadians

 * Régiment de la Chaudière: the Quebeckers holding Carpiquet village initially only have riflemen, Vickers HMG, mortars and light AT weapons (PIAT & 6-pdr) to hold the Panthers at bay. By chance, a pair of Wolverines was also present. But it would have to do until the cavalry, in the form of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade's Shermans and RACF's Typhoon, arrive later in the day.

Germans

 * Kampfgruppe Weidenhaupt: this 1. SS-Panzerdivision's battlegroup is built around III./1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment reinforced with about twenty Panther tanks and some support elements from 12. SS-Panzerdivision. Even the Luftwaffe has contributed to this major counter-attack, providing a few fighters to cover the operation!