D-Day. The very word conjures images of courage, chaos, and pivotal moments that shaped the course of history. While much attention rightly goes to Omaha and Utah, for us wargamers, the British assault on Gold Beach offers a particularly compelling and distinct set of tactical considerations and heroic actions worthy of deep dives on our tabletops.
Situated between Omaha (American) and Juno (Canadian), Gold Beach was the central of the three British/Canadian landing zones. Its objectives were ambitious: secure the beachhead, push inland to capture Arromanches (vital for the Mulberry Harbour construction), link up with the Canadian forces from Juno to the east, and drive towards Bayeux, the first significant town to be liberated.
The Forces and the Face-Off:
Leading the charge for the British were elements of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, supported by the redoubtable 8th Armoured Brigade, and crucially, a significant contingent of specialized armour from 79th Armoured Division, famously known as “Hobart’s Funnies.” On a sidenote, if any amongst you are fans of Heroes of Normandie by Devil Pig Games, they have expansion units based on this as well.
Facing them were elements of the German 716th Static Infantry Division, reinforced by units from the 352nd Infantry Division (though much of the latter’s strength was concentrated further west on Omaha). These German defenders occupied formidable concrete emplacements, pillboxes, machine-gun nests, and extensive minefields – the notorious Atlantic Wall.
The Gold Beach Gauntlet:
- Variety of Terrain: Unlike the high bluffs of Omaha, Gold Beach had a flatter, lower-lying profile with coastal villages (Le Hamel, La Rivière) right on the beach, offering immediate urban combat. Behind the beaches lay open fields, orchards, and the Dives River valley, providing diverse tactical environments.
- Hobart’s Funnies in Action: This is where Gold Beach truly shines for wargamers! The British assault relied heavily on specialized vehicles designed to overcome beach obstacles and fortifications:
- Sherman DD tanks: Duplex Drive tanks, designed to “swim” ashore, providing crucial early fire support.
- Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers): Equipped with a spigot mortar (“Petard”) firing a massive 290mm demolition charge, perfect for knocking out pillboxes.
- Crabs (Flail Tanks): Modified Shermans with rotating chains to clear minefields.
- Bridgelayers and Bobbins: For crossing trenches and laying matting over soft ground. Integrating these unique units into your wargame scenarios opens up fascinating tactical puzzles. Do you rely on their specialized capabilities, or do they become priority targets for the Germans?
- Commandos and Breakthroughs: The initial waves weren’t just infantry; 47 (Royal Marine) Commando famously landed on the western flank with the objective of capturing Port-en-Bessin, a crucial port town. Their independent, rapid advance inland provides excellent opportunities for smaller, narrative-driven scenarios.
- The Race Inland: While the beach landing was relatively successful (though certainly not without casualties), the push inland presented its own challenges. German resistance stiffened, and the terrain became more complex. The race to Bayeux and the attempts to link up with Juno created dynamic objectives for subsequent turns in a campaign.
Wargaming on Gold Beach
We did a beachehead campaign before at a fictitious level but not this specific. See picture below. We could recreate the campaign but this time with a different narrative.
- Beach Assault: Focus on the initial landings. How do you integrate DD tanks and Funnies effectively to breach defenses? Can your infantry push through the immediate beach obstacles under fire?
- Village Clearing: Scenarios based around clearing Le Hamel or La Rivière, street by street, house by house.
- The Causeway Push: A scenario where the objective is to push inland along one of the main causeways, facing German strongpoints.
- Commando Raid: A smaller, elite force scenario focused on the 47 RM Commando’s advance on Port-en-Bessin.
With Armies of Great Britain: Third Edition on the horizon, it’s a great time to be planning a British force, and the actions of the 50th Division on Gold Beach are a great inspiration for a heavily-themed force. Our extensive range of British miniatures gives you everything you need to assemble your troops, and the new special rules and units (particularly the new Commando Subsections!) mean you can properly represent many of the units taking part. The Guards option in For King & Country is a great way to represent the veteran Green Howards and 5th Yorkshires, and with plenty of armoured support coming ashore, a force themed around Gold Beach certainly doesn’t lack firepower. Whether you’re looking to build a competitive powerhouse, or faithfully recreate the actions on that fateful June day, Armies of Great Britain has you covered!
