The Steelworks: Colombelles, France

The Norman city of Caen and the airfield of Carpiquet were important targets on D-Day. The British and Canadian troops that landed on Sword and Juno Beaches were tasked with capturing these vital objects. The British and Canadian troops did not get that far on D-Day. Carpiquet would finally be captured on 8 July during Operation WINDSOR with Caen falling the following day during Operation CHARNWOOD. CHARNWOOD however only managed to capture of the northwestern part of Caen, the rest of the city would fall during Operation GOODWOOD on 18 July. Colombelles is an industrial town north east of Caen, east of Hérouville and the Orne River. The entire area was dominated by the chimneys of the Société Métallurgique de Normandie (Metallurgic Company of Normandy), a giant steel factory at Colombelles. The chimneys were the ideal observation posts over the battlefield for the Germans. General Bernard Law Montgomery decided on an operation to take these posts out. The operation was aptly called Operation STACK.

StW1 – Secure the Crossroads – East of Colombelles, France, 11 July 1944 [Night Scenario]:  Game Length: 5½ Turns; British: 9½ Squads, 2x Leaders, 3x Machineguns, 2x 2" Mortars, & PIAT; vs. Germans: 3x Squads, 3x Crews, Leader, 2x Machineguns, 75mm Anti-Tank Gun & Fortifications; Estimated Playing Time: 2 hours 28 minutes

StW2 – Clearing Colombelles – Colombelles, France, 11 July 1944: Game Length: 5 Turns; Germans: 7x Squads, 2x Leaders, 3x Machineguns, & Fortifications; vs. British: 10½ x Squads, 4x Leaders, 2x Machineguns, 2x 2" Mortars, 2x PIAT, DC, & 2x BT;  Estimated Playing Time 2 hours 34 minutes

StW3 – Tiger Attack – The Steelworks, South of Colombelles, France, 11 July 1944: Game Length: 5½ Turns; British: 7x Squads, 3x Leaders, 2x Machineguns, PIAT, 2" Mortar & 6x Sherman Tanks; vs. Germans: 12x Squads, 4x Leaders, 2x Machineguns, 2x Psk, Rocket OBA, & 3x Pz VIE Tiger; Estimated Playing Time: 3 hours 55 minutes

StW4 – Knock them Down! – The Steelworks, South of Colombelles, France, 17 July 1944: Game Length:  11½ Turns; British: 33x Squads, 2x Gun Crews, 11x Leaders, 9x Machineguns, 6x 2" Mortars, 6x PIAT, 11x Sherman Tanks, 2x Anti-Tank Guns, & 2x Carriers; vs. Germans: 12x Squads, 12x Crews, 4x Leaders, 6x Machineguns, 2x Psk, 2x Pz IV, 3x Pz VI Tigers, 4x 81mm Mortars, 5x, Guns, Fortifications, & OBA; Estimated Playing Time: 16 hours 6 minutes

StW5 – Securing the Steelworks – The Steelworks, Colombelles, France, 17 July 1944: Game Length: 10 Turns; Canadians: 30x Squads, 7x Leaders, 11x Machineguns, 4x PIAT, 6x 2" Mortars, 2x DC, & 2x BT; vs. Germans: 16x Squads, 9x Crews, 4x Leaders, 10x Machineguns, 5x Guns, & Fortifications; Estimated Playing Time: 10 hours 21 minutes