Counter-Attack with Assault – or Not?

by GeneralHowitzer | Apr 5, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Smackdown, Special Weapons, Strategic

STRATEGY SMACKDOWN:

Take a look at this situation in the Drive on Caen scenario.

Historically, in 1944, the Allies, through Operation Charnwood, were attempting to take the city of Caen.

In this battle, the Allies have just barraged and taken out the Axis armor in the center section at h6. With the armor out of the way, the Allies have a dominating position in the center.

Axis has just played Assault on the Center, and made a couple of defensive moves with their infantry.

Now an Assault on the Center would be a pretty powerful move for the Allies. They have six units in the center section.

So the question is, do the Allies take advantage of their Counter-Attack card and also play Assault on the Center? Or, would that be a waste of a good counter-attack card? (Since they would not be in a position to do great damage to the enemy.) ?

GeneralHowitzer.com

Drive on Caen

by GeneralHowitzer | Feb 23, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical, Theater: Western

Drive on Caen

The “Drive on Caen” was a series of battles during the Normandy Campaign in World War II, aimed at capturing the city of Caen in France. This was a key objective for British and Canadian forces following the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. The battle unfolded in multiple phases, including Operations Perch, Epsom, Charnwood, and Goodwood, as the Allies attempted to break through German defenses.

The city of Caen was heavily defended by the German 21st Panzer Division and SS Panzer units, leading to intense urban combat and bombardment. While the British and Canadian forces faced stiff resistance, they gradually secured portions of Caen by mid-July 1944. The battle played a crucial role in drawing German forces away from the U.S. sector, aiding the overall success of Operation Overlord.

“Listen up! The Drive on Caen wasn’t just one fight—it was a whole series of hammer blows aimed at the heart of the German line in Normandy. The British and Canadians were tasked with taking that key city after D-Day, and by God, they were going to get it.

It wasn’t easy—21st Panzer, SS Panzer, and every last German who could hold a rifle was dug in deep. It turned into a meat grinder—street fights, rubble, tanks trading shots at point-blank range. Operations Perch, Epsom, Charnwood, Goodwood—each one was another turn of the screw, breaking those Germans down piece by piece.

By mid-July, they finally cracked Caen open. It didn’t just put that city back on the map for the Allies—it kept Germany’s attention right there, which meant the Americans could make their big breakout in the west.

So remember, boys—it’s not always about speed; it’s about grinding down the enemy, one bloody inch at a time, until they crack! That’s how you win a campaign!”

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Battle of Normandy Campaign

Codename:

Operation Charnwood

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, plus the objective medals

Battlefield:

Countryside with a few forests

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor, Artillery

Axis – 7 Infantry, 2 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Big picture strategy for Allies is to make a relentless push towads the town of Caen, which has medal objectives, as you also attack the enemy.

2. Be aware that on your left flank, are Anti-tank equipped Infantry forces. And on your right flank, the enemy has an Artillery. This means, the center section may actually be your best way forward.

Axis Strategy:

1. Big picture strategy for the Axis is that this is primarily a defensive scenario for the Axis as they attempt to prevent the historical push of the Allies toward the city of Caen.

2. The Allies have you outnumbered with armor, but if you put your two Anti-Tank Infantry to good use, you may be able to even the score.

3. You have two Medal Objectives to protect in the city of Caen. Make sure the enemy does not get close enough to capture it.

4. Be careful of moving your Armor into unprotected territory in the center section. The Allies have two armored units which can very quickly attack.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Pushing Through Caen

by GeneralHowitzer | Jan 24, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario

Pushing Through Caen

The battle for Caen, often referred to as “Pushing Through Caen,” was a key engagement during the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II, taking place between June and August 1944. The city of Caen was a strategic objective for the Allies due to its road networks and its importance to German defenses in the region.

Initially targeted to be captured on D-Day (June 6, 1944) by British and Canadian forces, heavy German resistance, including elite Panzer divisions, delayed the city’s capture. The fighting around Caen involved multiple operations, such as Operation Perch, Epsom, Charnwood, and Goodwood, which aimed to break through German defenses and secure the city.

General Howitzer’s summary:

Caen turned into a meat grinder—street-by-street brawls and bombing runs leveled the place, but the Allies hammered through and took the city by mid-July. That win locked down our eastern flank, shoved the Germans back, and opened the gates for the breakout at Normandy. One more step on the road to crushing them for good.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 4

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Codename:

Operation Atlantic

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Date:

June 18-21, 1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Normandy Campaign

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, plus Verrieres Ridge for the Allies

Terrain:

The battlefield is scattered with hills, towns, hedgerows, and forests.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 3 Armor

Axis – 9 Infantry, 1 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Get your forces across the Orne River as quickly as possible. Behind the river, you are sitting ducks; across the river, you will have battlefield movement.

Axis Strategy:

1. You need to get your armor and artillery into the fight as quickly as possible, while the Allies are still on the other side of the Orne River. Your artillery will need to be moved one hex row forward so that you can breach the river with your shells. Your armor needs to move forward to attack the enemy armor while it is still behind the river.

Classic DoW Battle Reports: Allies win 36% of the time

Author:

Campaign Book, Vol. 1

Link:

Night Withdrawal

by GeneralHowitzer | Jan 19, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Theater: Western

Night Withdrawal

“Listen up, boys! In the summer of ‘44, near Caen, the Germans knew the writing was on the wall. The British and Canadians were hammering them day and night with everything they had—artillery, tanks, and raw guts—as part of Operations Atlantic and Goodwood.

So what did those Germans do? They pulled a night withdrawal, slipping out under the cover of darkness to dodge the hammer blows and set up shop further south. It was a smart move to avoid being boxed in and crushed outright, but let’s be clear: they gave up precious ground and lost their grip on Caen.

That’s the way of war, boys—sometimes you gotta know when to pull back before the jaws of encirclement snap shut. But every step back they took was another step forward for us—paving the road for our breakout from Normandy and the final drive to finish the job.

Remember this—you can run, but you can’t hide forever!”

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Normandy Campaign

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, plus the a exit row medals for the Axis(!) forces.

Terrain:

The battlefield is scattered with hills, towns, hedgerows, and forests.

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry, 3 Armor, 1 Artillery

Axis – 9 Infantry, 1 Armor

Allied Strategy:

1. The goal for the Allies is to pick off the Axis forces as they seek to escape across the Orne River. If you can get one of your armor units in front of the bridge, you are almost guaranteed a victory.

Axis Strategy:

1. The goal for the Axis is to make a successful ‘Night Withdrawal’. But the scenarios starts in daylight, while the Allies are able to blast you with Barrage, Air Power, and Artillery Bombardment. So escape out the backdoor as soon as you are able to do so.

2. Be wary of just running, as your forces will be picked off by the overwhelming Allied force before you can get away. So you need to do a strategic retreat in which some of your forces which are better positioned to either win, or quickly escape, can do so.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Martinville Ridge

by GeneralHowitzer | Jan 10, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical

Martinville Ridge

“Listen here, men! The Battle of Martinville Ridge was a mean slugfest in July ‘44, right in the thick of the Normandy bocage. That damn hedgerow country turned every field into a fortress, and every ridge was a death trap. Our boys from the 35th Infantry Division went up that ridge with grit and guts, trying to crack those Nazi defenses wide open.

The Germans had the high ground and those thick hedgerows, making every inch of dirt a hellhole to fight for. We took the ridge at first—bayonets and grenades leading the way—but those Germans counterattacked like devils, forcing us to pull back and regroup. But I’ll tell you what: every drop of sweat and blood we left on that ridge kept the enemy tied up and bleeding too.

We didn’t take Martinville Ridge outright, but we sure as hell rattled the Germans’ cages and cleared the way for our breakout later in Cobra. That’s the price of victory, boys—no easy ground, no easy days. Keep pushing, keep killing, and never give ‘em an inch!”

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Normandy Campaign

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, plus territorial objectives for each side.

Allies can target St. Lo and the ridge by Martinville. Axis targets Hill 122.

Terrain:

The battlefield is scattered with hills, towns, hedgerows, and forests.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 4 Armor

Axis – 7 Infantry, 2 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Your forces are scattered and in disarray. You need to coordinate them into a cohesive attack force.

2. Be aware that the enemy will quickly mass their forces for an attack against your forward infantry unit at d8. If you can move your left flank Armor up to support it, you may be able to hold the position for a while and inflict some damage on the Axis.

3. Beware the enemy Artillery in the corner of your right flank. Although he is locked in there, he can still roll powerful attacks on that flank. Stay away and nullify any firepower from there.

4. Your strategy should include plans for a continual push up the center in order to bring pressure to bear upon the two Medal Objectives on the hill and in the city of St. Lo.

5. Possible Attack Vector: One attack plan you can pursue is on the left flank. You only need five medals to win, and there are three enemy units up in the corner. If you get a good set of attack cards, such as Infantry Assault you can quickly surround them and take them out.

Axis Strategy:

1. Your forces are outnumbered, so you will need to get your armor out of the town into attack positions. You also need to move your infantry from the corner on your right flank and into a more centralized position. An early win for you can be the forward Allied Infantry unit at d8.

2. You have two Territorial Medals to protect. Be aware of the mobility range of their Armor should they push up the center. If you move your units off of those hexes, be certain the enemy cannot sneak in at the end and grab a final medal.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Panzer Lehr Counter Attacks

by GeneralHowitzer | Jan 9, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Location: France, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical, Theater: Western

Panzer Lehr Counter-Attacks

The Panzer Lehr Counterattacks occurred in July 1944 during the Normandy Campaign in World War II. The Panzer Lehr Division, an elite German armored unit, launched a series of counterattacks against advancing Allied forces, particularly around the town of Saint-Lô, in an effort to halt the Allies’ breakout from the beachheads.

Listen up, men—Panzer Lehr was no ragtag outfit. It was Germany’s pride: tanks gleaming, engines roaring, veterans in every seat. But when the hammer fell, all that iron and swagger met the full fury of Allied steel and sky. Our fighter-bombers tore them apart from above, our artillery shook the ground beneath them, and when the dust cleared, Lehr was bleeding oil and fire across the Norman fields.

Their counterattacks? Brave but doomed—crushed under the weight of Operation Cobra, the breakout that ripped open Hitler’s precious front and sent his armies reeling toward the Falaise trap. Panzer Lehr learned the hard way what happens when you stand in the path of an army that’s rolling for victory.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Normandy Campaign

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, plus the a exit row medals for the Axis

Terrain:

The battlefield is scattered with hills, towns, hedgerows, and forests.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor, 1 Artillery

Axis – 8 Infantry, 2 Armor

Allied Strategy:

1. You have an Armor superiority, but only if you get your armor that are stuck in the right corner, out into the action. It will take two turns to get them out and mobile.

2. You have an Artillery in the center, protect it, and use it.

Axis Strategy:

1. Big Picture strategy is that your forces begin in disarray. You need to consolidate your forces, and coordinate your efforts. The Allies begin with control of two-thirds of the battlefield. They are protected by hedgerows, towns, and hills. You will need to develop a strategy to attack those units one by one with concentrated firepower until each one is eliminated.

2. Because there are a row of exit hexes which can provide additional medals for you, you should continue a relentless push deep into the enemy territory. If you can bring in your flank forces toward the center, it will make your forces unstoppable.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link: