Untitled Document
ATS ACTION AT CARENTAN - THE BATTLE OF
CHEF DU PONT BY THE 82nd AIRBORNE
On the northern approach to CARENTAN,
FRANCE, 10 June 1944: In an effort
to link up with the 29th Infantry Division, Lieutenant Robert
Cole’s 3rd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment was
assigned to capture Hill 30 at the south-east edge of Carentan.
The men of ‘I’ Company led the way, moving out over
the elevated causeway under enemy sniper and machine-gun fire.
Beyond the last bridge was a farmhouse, dominating a large, open
field. During the morning 84 men of ‘H’ Company passed
through and took on German troops arrayed around a CP established
in the farmhouse. Enemy fire held off the paratroopers, wounding
and killing a number of the Americans. Cole, meanwhile, paced
back and forth, finally passing word down the line, “Fix
bayonets and prepare to charge the farmhouse upon a blast of a
whistle.” While the attack got off piecemeal, as some men
failed to get the word, momentum soon built up. Few paratroopers
actually resorted to the bayonet, but nonetheless the push rooted
the enemy out of the farmhouse. Cole quickly took over and occupied
the house, setting up his own CP. The battle wore on all afternoon,
both sides suffering casualties. By late afternoon the Germans
had been defeated, including elite troopers of the 6th Parachute
Regiment, ordered to fall back and hold Carentan “to the
last man.
Ownership of the ATS Rulebook 2014 and small
and large system markers is required to use this product. ALL
COMBAT COUNTERS NEEDED TO PLAY ARE PROVIDED in the form of American
and German Personnel and the AFVs and H Weapons used in the scenarios.
Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
