Operation Deadstick

 is a scenario in Back to Hell, set on June 6, 1944 at Pegasus Bridge.

Briefing
Operation Deadstick covers the battle between British & German troops for British airborne bridgehead on D-Day.

While the paratroopers have secured the bridges at Bénouville and the village of Ranville on the eve of the Allied invasion, they have to hold them under increasing pressure from the Germans until reinforcements get through them from Sword Beach.

Meanwhile, paratroopers from 3rd Para Brigade dropped further North around Merville are now trying to link up with the main bridgehead.

Historical outcome
Reinforced in the nick of time by 3rd Infantry Division, Major Howard's Ox & Bucks company managed to keep hold of the bridges at Bénouville.

Surrounded for most of the day, the paratroopers (including 6th Airborne Division's CO General Gale) in Ranville broke eight German counter-attacks before being relieved by Lord Lovat's commandos. By the end of the day, the 6th Airlanding Brigade managed to land around the city, despite the LZ being still under German fire.

Amfreville fell to the joint effort of the British & Canadian paratroopers from Merville and the British & French commandos from 1st SSB. Yet, by the end of June 6th, the Germans were still counter-attacking the village which couldn't be considered as entirely secured.

Bréville proved to be the « village too far »: on June 6th, the British & Canadian paratroopers from 3 Para Brigade weren't strong enough to expel its garrison, which was quickly reinforced. Several attacks were launched against Bréville in the next days, by the paratroopers, commandos or elements from 51st Infantry Division, but the Germans held their position until June 13th!

Objectives

 * British:
 * Hold both the bridge & Ranville to secure the airborne bridgehead for the arrival of the 6th Airlanding Brigade.
 * Capture both the Bréville & Amfreville to link up with the British & Canadian paratroopers dropped around Merville.
 * German:
 * Capture both the bridge & Ranville to crush the airborne bridgehead.
 * Hold both the Bréville & Amfreville to prevent the two airborne forces around Merville & Bénouville to link up.

British

 * 3rd Para Brigade: 3 Para had been dropped further North, near Merville and must now link up with the main airborne bridgehead. Initially moving on its objectives with what few & lightly equipped men it could muster during the night, it gets reinforced over the course of the battle with more airborne troops, including the airborne tanks & anti-tank or AA guns. Reinforcements may come from both across the bridge (elements from 5 Para Brigade) and the direction Vierville (elements from 3 Para Brigade).


 * 3rd Division Group: is made of layers of different units. First are elements from 5 Para Brigade holding the objectives until being relieved, but later builds up its strength with commandos, DD tanks and then the 'Iron Division' own infantry.

Germans

 * 736. Infanterie-Regiment: Unfortunately for the 716. Infanterie-Division, both the landings at Omaha, Gold, Sword & Junot AND the British airborne landing occurred in its sector! Stretched thin, gathering whatever intervention force it could from its dispersed garrison, its 736. Grenadier-Regiment is nevertheless the first unit to stand against the British paratroopers.


 * Kampfgruppe von Luck: Built around a core of 21. Panzer's Panzergrenadier, assault guns and armored artillery, with one Panzer IV company in support, KG von Luck is amongst the first mobile forces to counter-attack the Allied invasion on D-Day. With a simple goal: recapturing the bridges at Bénouville.