The At the Sharp End supplement (P.11) for Chain of Command outlines a campaign that sets the Canadians of the North Shore Regiment against the Germans of the 736th Infantry Regiment on D-Day. This post goes a little deeper and provides the details needed to play through the campaign.

The Context

This campaign is set on D-Day, 6th June 1944, and follows the exploits of a Canadian regiment making their way inland from Juno beach. Their objective is the town of Tailleville about 4km from St. Aubin-Sur-Mer where they landed. Opposing them is a static German regiment which is trying to limit the Allies’ beachhead. As the Canadians are still actively making their way ashore they have limited support available. The Germans are also relatively poorly equipped with no armour available to support them.

The Terrain

Unlike Omaha with its significant bluffs, Juno offered relatively flat access to the inland areas behind it. There are some dunes beyond the beach, with summer homes. Beyond are crops fields and by early June the wheat would be approaching waste height as it ripens towards harvest. There are plenty of hedgerows, often beside roads, but these are not a foreboding as Bocage. The roads towards Tailleville are pretty good, offering a good surface, certainly in mid-Summer. There are occasional copses of trees and some orchards in the area, the Calvados region being well known for producing ciders.

Here’s a map of the area showing the German deployments on D-Day.


Here is a modern day satellite image showing a close up of the region.

The Belligerents

Canadians: Company A of the North Shore Regiment

The North Shore Regiment has a heritage dating back to 1870. They embarked for Great Britain in July 1941 and awaited the invasion of Europe in Liverpool and Scotland. When D-Day arrived they went in in the first wave on Juno beach at about 8:10am. They were supported by the Fort Garry Horse and a number of DD Sherman tanks. Between the bravery exhibited by the Canadian infantry and the hitting power of the tanks they were able to secure the beach within an hour, but at a cost of 50 casualties. They then began working their way in land towards their objectives: they were to take Taileville and then the radar station at Douvres.

Germans: 5./ II. Grenadier-Regiment 736 (5th Company, 2nd Battalion, 736th Infantry Regiment)

The 736th Infantry Regiment, part of the 716th Static Infantry Division, has been in France since 1941 acting as an occupation force and forming a static part of the Atlantic Wall defence. The members of the regiment are highly varied, but it is fair to say that they do not represent the cream of the Wehrmacht. Many of the soldiers are injured replacements from the Eastern Front and there are also many soldiers drafted from occupied countries. Nor is the regiment well equipped; they have practically no transport and no local armoured support. The 716th Static Infantry Division is low on the Wehrmacht’s priority list for equipment. Here is an orbat for the 716th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) on the 6th June 1944.

The Chain of Command Campaign

This is a four-game campaign representing the exploits of Company A of they attempt to capitalise on their success in securing a landing. Their objective is Tailleville. Opposing them are the 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, of the 736th Infantry Regiment. The German army has been digging in and waiting for this day for over three years.

Both the Canadian and German commanders have three platoons available for this campaign. At the outset the CO’s and Men’s opinions on both sides are neutral, i.e. 0.

In my next post I’ll discuss the individual maps, scenarios and the support available to the attacking platoons.

Until next time,

Owen