This is a softback physical book only available to be ordered by UK customers  and will be shipped 13 April 2026 after the Salute wargames show in London 11 April.

For everyone outside of the UK the Print on Demand version in local markets will be available to order Friday 27th March for delivery week commencing 11 April

Battlegroup La Haye du Puits

This book presents a series of World War Two wargame scenarios based on General Middleton’s US VIII Corps' offensive to capture the  market-town and road-hub of La Haye du Puits and break out of the sapping Normandy bocage country, July 1944. The scenarios are all aimed to be played on average sized wargames tables and with forces that range from a few squads up to a couple of platoons per side and using the Battlegroup rule system. 

On July 3rd, General Middleton’s US VIII Corps will begin a new offensive with its three infantry divisions, with the objective of capturing La Haye du Puits, after first surrounding it. The right of this offensive’s sector is held by the US 79th Infantry Division, ‘the Cross of Lorraine’.

Their mission is to attack and breakthrough the German screening positions immediately ahead of them, and then advance to take the slightly higher ground, just west of the town, called the Montgarden Ridge. This higher ground is the main line of resistance of the German 353rd Infantry Division, a full strength and fresh unit in Normandy. It is called ‘the Mahlmann Line’.

BACKGROUND

A history of the six-day offensive by the US 79th Infantry Division as they advance on La Haye du Puits, Hill 121 and Montgarden Ridge. From the first day, under heavy rain, as they isolated Hill 121, north of town, and faced an armoured counter-attack from ‘Gruppe Koenig’, to the arrival of strong German reinforcements from 2nd SS Panzer Division ‘Das Reich’, to the final assault and house-to-house fighting to take La Haye du Puits itself.

SCENARIOS

•   Advance from Bolleville

•   Encounter at Varraville

•   Koenig’s Counter-Attack

•   Night on Hill 121

•   Defence of the Sunken Lane

•   Battle of the Railway Station

•   Assault on Montgarden

•   ‘Das Reich’ Strike

•   Storming La Haye du Puits