Campaigns and Commanders
Vol. 2: The King’s Officers
Developer's Preview, Part Three:
War in the Hedgerows: Operation Epsom, 1944
By Doug McNair
July 2009

I’m back from Origins and finally getting over the cold I came down with thank to exhaustion, so I can get back into previewing our just-published and soon-to-be-published products. First order of business is to finish previewing Campaigns and Commanders Volume II: The King’s Officers. Here’s a look at the final campaign in the book.

War in the Hedgerows: Operation Epsom, 1944

The Operation Epsom 1944 campaign uses a system specifically designed for historically-accurate battlefield maps, allowing players to field the battalions and support units that actually fought there and adding logistical elements to campaign play. A similar version of these rules appears in our Cassino ’44 game; the rules presented here have been adapted to fit the specifics of the Operation Epsom campaign.

The Operation Epsom campaign game allows players to fight a sequence of battles in which they choose which forces to use and where to fight. The campaign is fought over five days, from 26 through 30 June 1944. It depicts British 8th Corps’ attempt to break through German lines west of Caen and outflank the city to force a German retreat. Each day’s successes or defeats cause the front lines to move and will affect unit deployment and combat on the following day, and ultimately the outcome of the campaign. The goal of the Allied player is to eliminate German units and take control of key positions on the Beyond Normandy maps. The goal of the German player is to eliminate Allied units and hold the line against the Allied advance.

Campaign Concepts

Campaign Days: On each Campaign Day, players follow a sequence of play in which they deploy forces, activate formations, replace unit steps and leaders previously lost, declare attacks and fight battles, and then determine if and where the front lines have moved. Players that wish to attack have the option of attacking during the day, at night, or both (though the latter may not always be possible due to the limited number of Campaign Points available to players). The Operation Epsom campaign consists of five campaign days, and at the end of the fifth campaign day players determine who has won the campaign.

Campaign Order of Battle: Each player has a number of battalions and support units available to him during the campaign game. They are listed in the Order of Battle section. Each player chooses from the battalions and support units listed in his side’s Order of Battle when deploying troops to the various areas on the campaign map at the beginning of each Campaign Day.

Campaign Points: In Operation Epsom, the British player receives ten campaign points each campaign day and the German player receives three campaign points each campaign day. Players use campaign points to activate the battalions and support units which they deploy onto the board, to replace steps and leaders lost in combat, and to modify their offboard artillery dieroll for the day. Only activated battalions and support units can be given attack orders (8.1).

Campaign Map: The campaign game uses a map graphic that divides the Beyond Normandy map into seven different areas, each of which is controlled by one side or the other. The British begin the campaign in control of the British Jump Off Area only, and must try to expand the borders of the British Jump Off Area as much as possible during play. All other areas are controlled by the Germans. Each player must deploy at least one battalion to each friendly-controlled map area each campaign day (6.5).

British Order of Battle

Battalions

44th (Lowland) Infantry Brigade

• 8th Battalion, The Royal Scots
• 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
• 6th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

46th (Highland) Infantry Brigade

• 9th Battalion, Cameronians
• 2nd Battalion, Glasgow Highlanders
• 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

Royal Tank Regiment, 31st Independent Tank Brigade

• 7th Tank Battalion
• 9th Tank Battalion
• 44th Tank Battalion

Support Units

• Armoured Engineer Company
• Tank Squadron A
• Tank Squadron B
• Anti-Mine Squadron
• Flametank Squadron A
• Motor Pools A, B and C

German Order of Battle

Battalions

12th SS Panzer Division

25th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment

• 1st Battalion
• 2nd Battalion

26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment

• 1st Battalion
• 2nd Battalion

Independent Battalions

• 12th SS Reconnaissance Battalion
• 12th SS Panzer Pioneer Battalion
• 12th SS Panzer Artillery Battalion
• 12th SS Anti-Aircraft Battalion

Support Units

• 5th SS Panzer Company
• 7th SS Panzer Company
• 9th SS Panzer Company
• 101st SS Heavy Panzer Company
• SS Assault Gun Company
• SS Motorcycle Company
• Flak Company

German Reinforcements, June 27th

Battalions

• Composite Battalion, 2nd Panzer Division

Support Units

• Panther Company

German Reinforcements, June 28th

Battalions

• Infantry Battalion, Kampfgruppe Frey
• Tank Battalion, Kampfgruppe Frey
• Infantry Battalion, Kampfgruppe Weidinger
• Tank Battalion, Kampfgruppe Weidinger

That covers it for The King’s Officers. Tune in next time for developer’s commentary on our just-released Panzer Grenadier supplement Aachen 1944: Germany Invaded, followed by a preview of the next Panzer Grenadier boxed game 1940: The Fall of France.

The King's Officers is coming soon—get your order in now!