German Forces at Villers-Bocage, Part Two: 101. Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung

Here's the next batch of German forces ready to bash into the Brits at Villers-Bocage, the 1. Kompanie, 101 Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung.  What is the Villers-Bocage battle without Tiger tanks?  Even if Oberststurmfuhrer Wittman wasn't here for the main attack on the afternoon of the 12th of June, enough of his Fearless Veteran friends were to make this a memorable engaement.  First off, here are the five Tigers of 1. Kompanie, ready for action. 

1. Kompanie has five Tigers, a Commander and two zugs with two Tigers apiece.  The Tigers were certainly fearsome in battle, but the march to Villers-Bocage left many of them broken down and so only a few were available. 

Herr Oberststurmfuhrer ready for action.

1st zug.

 

2nd zug.

Another view of the commander. 

Tigers on the move. 

Road space is severely limited.  Even without burning Cromwells.

 Attached to the Tigers is an Aufklarungszug with seven Sd Kfz 251/1C halftracks.  The platoon has a Command MG stand and six other MG stands.  The HQ doesn't have a panzerfaust, though mine is modeled with one for generic Normandy forces.  Like the motorcycles, I don't see how the halftracks will survive for long with as many tanks clogging up the roads.  It may be smarter to just use the infantry with the halftracks as long range MG platforms.  Or targets to suck up stray six pounder AT gun fire. 

 

The full Aufklarungszug. 

A MG stand.  The SS panzergrenadiers are among the best of Battlefront's German infantry in marked contrast to the Panzer Lehr ones. 

Command MG stand with panzerfaust. 

A couple more of the FV SS MG stands. 

A Sd Kfz 251/1C halftrack.  I was somewhat surprised that the zug had these instead of the more common Sd Kfz 251/1D halftrack.  I suppose they had survived and were available. 

Elements of 101. Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung wind there way through the mean streets of Villers-Bocage.

Another view. 

 

Having just put out the German forces for show, I know I need to make the road ways wider, whether by sidewalks or just moving the houses back a bit.  I might have to remove on of the houses on the cross roads to do this, but it is definitely possible.  Next up, the famed Desert Rats of the 7th Armoured Division. 

"Make sure you take a lot of pictures for der Signal!"