St. Nazaire Raid Game report

I finally managed to write up a game report of a commando raid game based upon a British commando attack on the St. Nazaire dock in the early hours of 28th March 1942.

Commandos start their assault.

The objective of the raid was to put out of action a dry dock which could be used to repair German warships. An old destroyer, HMS Campbeltown, was converted to resemble a German destroyer and with 18 smaller motor launches left Falmouth for the raid. The plan was to ram the dock and with the Campbeltown which had been packed with delayed-action explosives. Additionally, a force of commandos was landed with the objective of destroying machinery and other structures.

This game is focused on the commandos and their actions in destroying their targets, and starts with the successful ramming of the dock and landing of the commandos.

Dock layout on a 6x4 foot tabletop

The raiding commandos are organised into:

• 3 demolition parties with no limit on the number of attempts at demolition.

• 9 assault parties used to form a bridgehead and put out of action: searchlights, gun emplacements, and pillboxes.

During a number of test games I have reduced the number of demolition parties to just three. trying to get the balance right between forming a protective parameter and running around blowing things up.

Targets for demolition

German defenders arrive at one of three entry points during the game based upon a dice throw. For the most part they are infantry units, but there are a maximum of two armoured car units which can arrive instead if a second dice roll scores a 6.

A series of pillboxes, gun emplacements, and searchlights which can be put out of action by any commando unit.

The reduction in the number of demolition parties, change in arrival of armoured cars, and determining the casualties from coastal gun batteries, where the only changes to the test rules posted previously (here).

The game assumes the naval component follows history. Where the attacking force is able to move down the estuary unobserved and passed the main gun batteries before the final run in lasting few minutes under fire from lighter gun batteries. 

The game preparation begins with determining casualties to the commando landing forces from those lighter gun batteries. One dice is rolled for each motor launch and HMS Campbeltown. On a score of 6 one of the commando parties is lost (players choice).

Commando units and ships lined up.

Two hits causing the loss of two assault units.

On the first turn 3 German units are placed at their entry points and move towards the closest commando units. On all other turns 1 German unit arrives at one of the three entry points determined by a dice roll.

German troops arrive

HMS Campbeltown rams the dock gates and commandos quickly disembark from the destroyer and  motor launches, heading for their targets and to setup a bridgehead.

Commandos attack a pillbox as they attempt to secure the Old Mole.

Landed commando parties fan out through the docks.

The commandos were able to quickly blow up their initial targets: the pump house, outer winding house and caisson. All close to the dock entrance. Progress was slow against the pillboxes defending the oil tanks and Old Mole. Meanwhile German units were starting to appear in greater numbers at the top of the dock.

Initial successes with the inner gate winding house and pump house destroyed.

Defenders start to arrive and head towards the commando parties

Assault parties move into the warehouses to set up a beach head.

For a few turns after their initial successes the commando's progress appeared to stymied by the pillboxes, and defending forces arriving in the dock area. In the centre dock area assault parties were able to move with reasonable freedom with fewer defenders around.

At the main target area the outer set of caisson and dock gates are demolished. With time against them, demolition parties dashed down the length of the dock towards the second set of caisson and dock gates. Nearby assault parties are engaged in combat with defending units in and amongst the warehouses.

The outer Caisson and lock gate is blown up.

Demolition parties scurry past the fighting amongst the warehouses as they head towards the far end of the dock. In the foreground the pillbox is proving to be a real impediment.

Having successfully demolished the outer gates the next major target for the demolition parties was the inner gates, before finally heading towards the Old Mole to re-embark on waiting boats and escape. Any re-embarking could take place if the assault parties had to put out of action the gun emplacements and searchlights, and these efforts were being hampered by the pillboxes.

The Old Mole pillbox is finally put out of action.

Demolition parties start preparing to demolish the inner gates and winding house, and in the background the other pillbox is put out of action. The arrival of an armoured car may make things a bit sticky for the commando parties.

Another armoured car arrives. The continual arrival of defending units is starting to take its toll.

Once the pillboxes were put out of action the commandos quickly set about dealing with the gun emplacements and searchlights. While demolition parties placed their explosives at the inner dock gates and nearby oil tanks. Assault parties held off the defenders, destroying the armoured car and charging into close combat to buy time.

Searchlights are put out of action.

Commandos in close combat as the explosives go off destroying the inner caisson and gates.

With key targets demolished the commandos attempt to make their escape, but the commandos around the Old Mole were getting pushed back by the defenders and the route for them was closed. The final gun emplacement was put out of action and a couple of commando parties were able to re-embark and escape.

Defenders pressure the defenders around the Old Mole.

A few commando parties are able to re-embark and make their escape.

So this was the end of the St. Nazaire Raid project. A fun game to play wth a few tense moments trying to overcome pillboxes and setting explosives at the inner dock gates. All bar one of two of targets were successfully destroyed. It is assumed history is repeated and HMS Campbeltown explodes putting out of action the dry dock for the remainder of the war.

Overall the game played well with simple rules and set moves by the defenders. One change I made was to the defender movement rules to allow for the situation when other defending units are blocking the way, then they would move around to attempt a flanking move.

This will not be the last we see of the commando units. I will be building some landing craft for some further attacks on costal defences.