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 In the summer of 1944, the Western Allies wanted to take the fight directly to Germany. To do so, they needed a real foothold on the continent, and that meant landing in France. Normandy was chosen as the invasion site. It would be the largest amphibious invasion in history Historically the Allies managed to secure the invasion site, but were unable to break out of a small portion of it for several weeks, as they were unable to secure a good port until ??. This time, we're playing the Germans and we'll see if we can put a stop to it even sooner. D-Day June 10, 1944 15 Turns  Objectives (defensive scenario): (Cherbourg), (Saint Lo), (Caen), Port Facility Major victory: hold all original objectives, Minor: Hold at least 2.  As previously mentioned, less than half this map will be seeing any action. The fact that there are so few objectives is a double-edged sword: we can focus our defensive forces, but it could also end quickly if the Allies grab those points first. While most of the region is connected by roads, the area off of the roads is good defensive terrain - a lot of bocage. Both St. Lo and Caen have a river line on at least one side (most favorably at Caen), and Cherbourg has heavily built-up fortifications, so we are in good shape as long as we can keep our units alive. OOB pre:Unit Name Unit Type [Transport] Exp Land Units 2 Pioniere [SPW 251] ** 15 43 Wehr Inf ** 7 43 Wehr HW ** 2 43 LuftW FJ [SPW 250] ** 1 Panther D ** 1 Tiger II ** 1 Tiger II **** 1 Panther G ** 1 Stug IIIF/8 ** 1 Hetzer ** 1 Elefant ** 1 Jagdpanther **** 1 Hummel ** 5 10.5 leFH ** 1 SdKfz 7/1 ** 1 FlakPz IV ** 1 SdKfz 6/2 ** 11 Strongpoint (7 strength) 7 Fort (8 strength) Air Units 2 FW 190a ** 1 FW 190a *** 2 FW 190d9 *** 2 Ju 87d ** Starting Prestige: 1096 We have a lot of infantry here, and we're probably going to need it. Hardly any transports, but they aren't likely to be of much use anyway. The infantry will need to hold their ground wherever possible and not be exposed to air attacks. While the total amount of armor at our disposal is not much, we do have quite the menagerie. The Panther is our most versatile tank, combining speed and power in a deadly package. The AT Jagdpanther is just as fast, and nearly as dangerous. The Tiger II is quite slow but extremely powerful, and the Elefant is just a slower Jagdpanther. Even the Hetzer and the venerable Stug will come in handy. For once I'm going to wish for more anti-air guns. What we have isn't terribly strong, and we know that the Allies can demolish us from the air at will. Getting more flak will be crucial, as will preserving the precious few air units allotted to us.  The plan, as best as we can do it with the invasion already underway, is to get most of our armor in the area around Caen, which has the most favorable terrain for tanks. This is where the British are landing (and they have the best Allied tanks right now). Our own armor should be far enough inland to avoid the enemy naval guns, and we'll try to keep the fighters close at hand to protect them. In the middle, we want to rally our forces at Bayeux and then set up ambushes all along the route to Saint Lo. This is the easiest route for the Allies to take and we must defend it. Luckily there were no airborne drops close to it; we can move troops from the rear area to establish its defenses. Cherbourg will need to hold out as best it can. Aside from the fortified city, we'll be pulling out of the Carentan peninsula fairly quickly to try and preserve the troops for defending the area west of Saint Lo. We won't have many armored assets here, but it's expected that the Americans likely won't send their tanks into the marshy ground here either. Axis Turn 1 : June 6, 1944 Clear (Dry)  Our vehicles aren't having an easy time fighting their way out of the bocage with paratroopers blocking their way.  Just to see how strong the Allied air force reaction will be, we use our bombers (escorted, of course) to weaken the paratroopers that landed in the night.  We pull our troops together near Bayeux and set up more air defense guns at Caen. Allied Turn 1 : June 6, 1944  The Allied bombers don't even care about our attempt to defend Caen from air attack. They simply bomb the guns to pieces and go after our tanks as well.  The response to our bombing raids near Carentan is massive bombing attacks against almost all our troops. American fighters take the task of knocking out the Luftwaffe squadrons.  They have little trouble dealing with the FW 190a, once the most feared fighter in the skies.  Heavy naval shelling precedes the landing of the troops, who have little difficulty dispatching the weakened infantry.  On the other side, the story is much the same. The strongpoints are suppressed by the ships while the soldiers get ashore. At least here they have slightly fewer heavy bombers, but the Typhoon is no joke for units in the open. Axis Turn 2 : June 8, 1944 Clear (Dry) Units lost on Turn 1: 7  We're trying to salvage a few units from the Cotentin peninusla, but with the number of enemy bombers, it's unlikely that many units will survive this.  There is an occasional spot of success, however moderate.  We build up the defenses of Bayeux, and begin to lay traps along the road to Saint Lo. At Caen, we hold back the armor for now to keep it protected from air raids. Allied Turn 2 : June 8, 1944  Air attacks remain heavy on the route to Cherbourg, but a few units barely manage to survive.  British bombers continue to knock out or severly weaken the strongpoints.  The Americans secure the beaches near Carentan.  At the town itself, we maintain a heroic defense and nearly wipe out two units of paratroopers. Axis Turn 3 : June 10, 1944 Clear (Dry)  Whatever we can salvage will hunker down in Cherbourg. The Americans may be attempting a direct landing there.  We repulse the first elements of the British attack at Caen, but it's clear that many more units are on their way.  We could definitely use more anti-air at Bayeux, but we appear to have a satisfactory position in the middle. Allied Turn 3 : June 10, 1944  Cherbourg is spared from attacks for now, but the Allies are having no trouble clearing themselves a path to the city.  Enemy planes swarm all over the peninsula as the enemy troops stream out from the beaches.  With Caen now coming under fire from offshore, we may be forced to pull back across the river.  Bayeux stands firm as the ground troops approach. As long as the ships stay away, we should hold the town for another few days at least. The Allies are coming fast and hard. We're only just getting our footing here, and it may get worse before it gets better. 
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| ← # ? Apr 7, 2016 05:36 |
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