Escape via the Coastal Road

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1942, Armor, Artillery, Desert, Infantry, Mediterranean Theater, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic

Escape via the Coastal Road

In May of ’40, the Germans came roaring into France, and the Allies—Brits, French, and Commonwealth alike—were staring down the barrel of encirclement. So they fell back, fighting tooth and nail toward Dunkirk. One lifeline was that damned coastal road, hugging the Channel, choked with men, guns, and danger at every turn. It was no pleasure cruise—enemy fire, chaos, and desperation were the order of the day. But by God, they held on long enough for Operation Dynamo to haul over 330,000 soldiers out of the trap and back to Britain, ready to fight another day.
~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

5 – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Desert

Location:

North Africa

Year:

1942

Theater:

Mediterranean Theater

Campaign:

Dunkirk Evacuation

Codename:

Operation Dynamo

Summary:
The Escape scenario is a race to the edge, to either escape or prevent escape. If the Allies can prevent the Axis from getting through the gaps in the escarpment, they can win easily. But if the Axis can move fast enough, and get in front of the Allied troops, they will have the time they need to bring in the rest of the armor and pound the enemy into the dust before they can escape via the Coastal Road.

Objectives:
Six VP’s, combined with the escape hexes on the edge for the Axis.

Battlefield:
Desert, divided in half by an escarpment with three gaps in it.

Troops:
Allies – 10 Infantry, 1 Armor, 1 Artillery
Axis – 6 infantry, 5 Amor

Allied Strategy:

1. For Allies, it is all about providing a protected retreat. Take advantage of the easy VP’s gained by escaping out of the exit markers. The unprotected left exit will be the easiest course of action. Use your tanks to protect your escape, by holding off the Axis long enough to go. Fortunately, the Axis armor has to make it way through the escarpments. This slows down their advance and their ability to mass against the Allies. If you can block entrance through an escarpment with a combination of infantry and armor, it may provide enough tie for the rest of the troops to escape to the left.

2. The right exit is heavily defended by sandbagged infantry, so don’t attack that unless you have overwhelming force.

Axis Strategy:

1. The goal is to get through the escarpments with your armor as quickly as possible and begin attacking the escaping troops.

2. If you can get an armor unit to sit on the unguarded exit marker to block the exit to your right, you will be in a position to pound the Allied infantry into dust with the rest of your armor.

Classic Battle Reports:

(percentage of Allied victories)

52%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Dug in at Sidi Omar

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1941, Armor, Artillery, Desert, Infantry, Mediterranean Theater, Memoir 44, Scenario

Dug in at Sidi Omar

The Battle of Sidi Omar (November 1941) occurred during the broader Operation Crusader in the North African Campaign of World War II. Sidi Omar, located on the Libyan-Egyptian border, was a heavily fortified Axis stronghold defended by Italian and German forces.

On November 25, 1941, British and Commonwealth forces, particularly the 4th Royal Tank Regiment and elements of the 2nd New Zealand Division, launched an assault to capture the position. The defenders, dug in with anti-tank guns and artillery, inflicted significant casualties on the attacking tanks.

At Sidi Omar the enemy fought hard, but it wasn’t enough. Our boys hammered their defenses, smashed the garrison, and bagged hundreds of Italians as prisoners. That victory didn’t just clear the ground—it locked down the left flank for the advance, gave us breathing room, and drove Operation Crusader forward. With Tobruk relieved and the Axis grip on North Africa broken a little more, Sidi Omar proved again: when the Allies hit with weight and will, the enemy breaks.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

5 – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Desert

Context:

Historical

Location:

Libyan – Egyptian border

Year:

1941

Theater:

Mediterranean Theater

Campaign:

North African Campaign

Codename:

Operation Crusader

Summary:

Objectives:

6 VP’s and Exit hexes for the Axis

Battlefield:

The dominant elements of this scenarios are the hilly dunes controlled by the Allied infantry, and the wide open battlefield for the armor units of both sides to meet in the middle section and one flank.

Troops:

Allies – 6 Infantry, 4 Armor, 1 Artillery

Axis – 5 Infantry 7 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Your infantry on the dunes can hold off the enemy for a long time. This should give you enough time to get your armor, which is stuck in the corner on your right flank, into the field of play.

2. Because your armor can only move two hexes at a time, it may take a couple of turns before you pose enough of a threat for them to stop attacking your infantry on the dunes.

3. Quickly get to the center section with your forces, in order to prevent any of the enemy from thinking about escaping out of the Exit hexes.

4. With your artillery in the center section on the dune, you are able to attack any enemy in the center section. Use it to good effect.

Axis Strategy:

1. The principle advantage which the Axis have in this desert scenario, is that the Axis armor can move three hexes vs. the Allies who can only move two. This give you the opportunity to move in quickly on the Allies and take out some armor before they can respond.

2. The enemy have full control of the sand dunes in the middle of the center section and its adjoining flank. But you can keep your armor at a three-hex distance, and just keep attacking them until one or two hexes are eliminated.

3. Remember that there are some Exit hexes in the back of the battlefield for the Axis. If you are able to overwhelm the forces on the dunes, and close in on them, some of your troops may be able to make their way off the field (and make a few attacks on their way).

Battle Reports
(percentage of Allied victories):

47%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Counter-Attack on Mortain

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Base Game, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical

Counter-attack on Mortain

“Alright, boys—here’s the lowdown on that Axis stunt they called Operation Lüttich. Early August ‘44, the Germans thought they’d knock us back on our heels by punching through at Mortain, aiming to cut us off at Avranches and stop our drive into Brittany. Hell of a plan—if we were asleep!

They hit us hard at first, but we didn’t blink. Our boys dug in, held those lines with guts and grit. And don’t forget—our flyboys were on ‘em like hounds on a fox, raining steel and fire from the skies until those Nazis were howling for mercy.

The result? Germany’s counterattack went up in smoke—smashed, scattered, and thrown back with a hell of a lot of their tanks and men left behind in the dust. That’s the way to fight, boys—no retreat, no surrender, and always give ‘em hell!”

~~ General Howitzer

4 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Codename:

Operation Luttich

Summary:

As it was historically, the Allies are very well protected, and controlling most of the field of play.

Objectives:

4 VP’s, and one Objective Medal for Axis

Battlefield:

This scenario has a nice combination of hills, forests, and hedgerows scattered across the battlefield. There is also a river in one corner making it difficult for extra infantry and armor to engage in the war.

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry, 2 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 7 Infantry, 6 Amor

Allied Strategy:

1. You have the advantage of terrain control, defensive positions in hedgrows, forests and towns. But you need to take advantage of it by quickly attacking where you can.

2. Your right flank is your weak one, being outnumbered by enemy forces, 5 to 2. Use your infantry on Hill 317 to attack the no-retreat armor before it moves away.

3. Note that as long as you have your forces on either of the two hexes of Hill 317, you can use any Recon (on the right) cards to call down Airpower attacks against the Axis. Use it, and bomb them back to Berlin!

4. Then move your infantry in the back of the right flank forward into the town of Mortain to support your other infantry unit on the hill, and to box in the enemy even more than they are already.

5. If you have the movement points, you can place your infantry at I1 into the village to defend the Objective Medal.

6. Get your armor in your left corner into the action ASAP. If you can get over to the river before the enemy has moved into safety, you can score one or two VP’s by attacking them in their no-retreat positions.

Axis Strategy:

1. Your forces on the left flank are bunched up, and you have a no-retreat armor ready to get hit by the infantry hidden in the woods. You need to create some mobility on your left and some of your troops into the woods to attack the enemy.

2. Your right flank is equally problematic. You are a sitting duck back against the border. So you need to get those troops into safety into the nearby towns, at least. Even better if you have the cards to move them out into the action. Or else when the enemy armor in the upper right flank becomes mobile, they will make their way down and easily destroy one or two units.

3. It is going to be difficult to get all four VP’s, so you should target the Objective Medal in the village on your left flank. If your armor can survive the infantry attacks as you make your way there, it will be an important VP for you.

4. You only need four Medals to win this scenario, and three of them are on your left flank, ready for the taking. Just take out the two Infantry units and roll into the town of St. Hilaire.

Classic Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

39%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Counter-Attack of the BEF

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1940, Armor, Artillery, Breakthrough Game, Countryside, Infantry, Location: France, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Mobile Artillery, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western

Counter-Attack of the BEF

France, May ’40—Guderian cuts to the Channel and splits the front. Gort answers with a punch at Arras: Franckforce—Matildas and Durhams—drives south of the city, hits Rommel by surprise, scatters his cyclists, and rolls over light guns like they’re tin. Then Rommel does what winners do—drags up heavy artillery and 88s, fires direct, and stops the thrust. Dusk brings the Luftwaffe; the counterattack bleeds out. By nightfall the BEF falls back, and the only road left is the sea—Dunkirk.

Lesson: shock opens the door, but you hold it with guns and air. Mass your armor, keep your flanks covered, bring the big artillery, own the sky—and don’t stop moving.

~~ General Howitzer

VP’s

12

Card Balance

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

France

Year:

1940

Theater:

Western

Campaign

Codename

Summary:

This scenario accurately reflects the difficult job the British had in 1940 to try to stop the Axis onslaught with a courageous Counter-Attack by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).

Allied Strategy:

1. There are a couple of medal objectives available to you, just beyond the train tracks (row 8) at the towns of Agny and Wailly (row 11). If you can position two of your forces within movement distance of both of them, you can set yourself up for a final medal capture and win.

2. Attack Plan: do not cross the railroad tracks on row 8, until you have eliminated all enemy forces on row 7. Just line up – with appropriate safety spacing – your Armor and Artillery and pick off the Infantry units on that row until they are gone. Deal with any enemy Armor that gets moved into the battle as well.

3. It is going to be difficult to protect and hold control of the town of Arras at A9. If you can get enough forces over there in time, you may be able to put up a good fight. But you will be in enemy territory the entire time, and it will be difficult to control. You could consider either a strategic withdrawal, to preserve your Infantry unit, or stay and fight, attempting to take out as many enemy forces as possible before your demise.

4. Your weak section is your right flank. With the enemy 88 Artillery in the woods, they present a formidable challenge to advance in that sector. You will need to deal with it first. The way to do this is to get your Artillery unit in the region up to row 4 or 5. You will be out of reach of the 88, and will be able to pick it off.

5. Your Artillery units are too far back. Take every opportunity to move them forward.

Axis Strategy:

1. You can actually win this one without crossing the railroad tracks on row 8. But the BEF must cooperate by attempting to come in for the kill. You can finish them off, and then save your final coup-de-grace for the Medal in the town at A9.

2. Possible Attack Vector: Target the town of Arras at A9, which has an Axis Temporary Medal Objective. Start moving forces up in that direction. It will have two benefits of concentrating your firepower into one sector, and then after a successful destruction of the enemy in that region, you can capture the town of Arras – and hold it – for an additional medal. This attack plan could potentially yield two to three medals, maybe more.

3. Your Armor is misplaced at the start of the battle. Take every opportunity to move it forward, so it can begin to attack across the railroad tracks at the enemy.

Battle History Results

Author.

URL

Counter-Attack at Arras

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1940, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western

Counter-Attack at Arras

The Counterattack at Arras occurred on May 21, 1940, during the Battle of France in World War II. It was a British and French counteroffensive aimed at halting the rapid German advance during the Blitzkrieg.

Launched by British forces (the 1st Army Tank Brigade and elements of the 50th Infantry Division) and supported by French infantry, the attack targeted German positions around Arras, where General Erwin Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division was advancing. The Allies hoped to disrupt German momentum and relieve pressure on retreating Allied forces.

The counterattack initially achieved surprise, with British Matilda tanks proving highly effective against German anti-tank weapons. However, the Germans quickly regrouped, bringing in heavy artillery and air support to repel the attack. The Allies were eventually forced to withdraw due to superior German numbers and coordination.

General Howitzer summarizes the battle’s impact:
The counterattack didn’t win the day, but it sure kicked sand in the Germans’ gears and bought the time we needed to pull our boys out at Dunkirk. It was a hard lesson in early tank warfare—fast and mean, but still full of cracks if you knew where to hit.

Background

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

France

Year:

1940

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Battle of France

Codename:

Operation Frankforce

Summary:
This scenario has a set of hills on one flank, and a row of forests on the other flank, with a three-hex town in the center. It is around these obstacles that the battle ensues.

Objectives:

Six VP’s, so strategy comes into play; not just tactics.

Battlefield:

Countryside with the three-hex town of Arras in the center.

Troops:

Allies, 6 Infantry, 5 Armor, 1 Artillery;

Axis, 9 Infantry, 6 Armor,1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Axis is very close to Agny, and may secure it quickly. So use your flanks to provide more lucrative avenues of attack. The ridgeline of trees on your left flank give your infantry, and especially your armor great cover to attack the enemy. On your right flank, secure it with both infantry and armor. Don’t leave infantry behind.

2. Move your artillery forward one row to have better hit strength on the entire town of Arras.

Axis Strategy:

1. Your Axis forces begin the scenario very close to Agny. Seize control of the town so that the enemy will have to pay dearly to gain it.

2. There is a path between the forest on your right flank. Seize the town at the end of it, to challenge any forces which may attempt to come through the pass. And as the cards allow, use it yourself to attack the enemy armor at the end of that pass.

3. Move your artillery forward at least one row to gain more dominance in the center section.

4. Remember that as Axis in this scenario, blitz rules are in effect, so you can use a Recon card to call in an airstrike against adjacent units. This is most useful in the beginning when the Allied forces are still lined up agains the back border. The Axis airpower only drops one dice per hex, but since it is a six VP game, this kind of softening up of the enemy in the beginning can pay dividends later on.

Author:

Days of Wonder / RBorg

URL

Matanikau River (Guadalcanal)

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1942, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Location: Pacific, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Pacific

Matanikau River

The battle near the Matanikau River in 1942 was a key engagement during the Guadalcanal Campaign in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It involved several clashes between the United States Marines and Imperial Japanese forces as the Marines sought to secure their perimeter around Henderson Field, a critical airstrip on Guadalcanal.

Listen up. September to November ’42, the Matanikau was the hinge of Guadalcanal. The enemy tried to shove our Marines into the sea; our answer was simple—cross the river, hit hard, and keep hitting. We used infantry up front, artillery and naval guns on call, and fighters overhead to hammer every position that dared resist. Result: their strength bled away, our foothold stiffened, and the initiative swung to us. Lesson—seize the crossing, smash the flank, keep air on the target, and don’t stop until the island is yours.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Japanese – 6

Complexity:

3

Conditions

Location:

Guadalcanal

Year:

1942

Theater:

Pacific Theater

Campaign

Summary:

This scenario is pretty much an infantry battle with a bit of artillery support.

Objectives:

Five VP’s, plus Exit hexes

Battlefield:

The Matanikau River cuts across the battlefield and presents a challenge for both forces as they try to maneuver and attack one another. And there are series of beach hexes along one flank which provides a rapid transit path for attacks.

Troops:

Allies – Infantry 7, Artillery 3

Axis – 10 Infantry, 2 Armor, 2 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Your forces are outnumbered by the Japanese, so unless you have the cards for it, stay behind the sandbags.

2. You have three artillery, so use them whenever you can.

3. Protect the backrow from any Japanese forces that may try to escape.

4. Remember that as Marines, you get the ‘Gung Ho’ advantage, so every section card allows you to move one extra unit than the card states. Remember that advantage, and use it – you will need it.

Axis Strategy:

1. You have a strong presence on the right flank. If you get the cards, you should push forward and take control.

2. If you are able to advance all the way across the battlefield, you may be able to help some troops escape.

3. You have armor and the Allies do not, so move them in and make them feel your firepower! Armor are good candidates for escape across the back line. So if you move in close, you may be able to attack and then escape.

4. You also have two artillery, so if you can move them forward, you will be able to throw 2D attacks across the river.

Battle Reports (percentage of Allied victories):

67%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link: