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Title
Carentan
Description
The town of Carentan was the key to the American drive west to cut off the base of the Cotentin Peninsula. After two days of fighting and desperately short of ammunition, the Germans pulled their forces out of Carentan and …
Subject
Source
Publisher
Date
1944-06-13
Scenario#
1222
Scenario Description
The town of Carentan was the key to the American drive west to cut off the base of the Cotentin Peninsula. After two days of fighting and desperately short of ammunition, the Germans pulled their forces out of Carentan and set up a new line of defense to the southwest of the city. A counter attack by the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division was delayed on June 12th because its support battalion of assault guns was held up by Allied air attacks. On the morning of the 13th the Germans attacked the forward positions of both parachute units and almost drove them back into Carentan. Allied Intelligence had cracked the German code and learned of this planned counter attack, but because they did not want to risk revealing their intelligence breakthrough, the paratroopers were not warned of the forthcoming attack. Despite the surprise, the 2nd Armored battle group, nicknamed "Hell on Wheels", was able to move into position to counter the German strike. The armored task force tore into the German positions and quickly turned the tide of battle in favor of the Allied forces.
Location
Carentan, France
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Battle of Carentan was an engagement in World War II between airborne forces of the United States Army and the German Wehrmacht during the Battle of Normandy. The battle took place between 6 and 13 June 1944, on the approaches to and within the town of Carentan, France. The objective of the attacking American forces was consolidation of the U.S. beachheads (Utah Beach and Omaha Beach) and establishment of a continuous defensive line against expected German counterattacks. The defending German force attempted to hold the town long enough to allow reinforcements en route from the south to arrive, prevent or delay the merging of the lodgments, and keep the U.S. First Army from launching an attack towards Lessay-Périers that would cut off the Cotentin Peninsula. Carentan was defended by two battalions of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 (6th Parachute Regiment) of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger-Division and two Ost battalions. The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division, ordered to reinforce Carentan, was delayed by transport shortages and attacks by Allied aircraft. The attacking 10ist Airborne Division, landed by parachute on 6 June as part of the American airborne landings in Normandy, was ordered to seize Carentan. In the ensuing battle, the 10ist forced passage across the causeway into Carentan on 10 and 11 June. A lack of ammunition forced the German forces to withdraw on 12 June. The 17th SS PzG Division counter-attacked the 10ist Airborne on 13 June. Initially successful, its attack was thrown back by Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division.
Narrative Source
Combatants
German
American
Additional Information
Game Type: Standard
Board Type: Countryside
Website Access: Available

Geolocation