Schwammenauel Dam

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1945, Armor, Countryside, Infantry, Location: Germany, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Terrain Exp Pack, Theater: Western

Schwammenauel Dam

SchwamDam_center

SchwamDam_Dam1

SchwamDam_full

SchwamDam_left

SchwamDam_right

Historical Summary

We didn’t fight our way to the Schwammenauel Dam for scenery — we took it because it was choking our advance. The Germans thought they could hold the Roer hostage by flooding the valley and buying themselves time. That was a mistake. American infantry went in, took that dam under fire, and shut the valve on German delay tactics. Once the dam was secured, Operation Grenade could roll forward without interference, and the Roer was crossed on our terms. That action tore down the last real barrier in the Rhineland and put our armies back on the march straight into the heart of Germany — exactly where we intended to go.

~~ General Howitzer

VP’s:

5

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Mountains & Countryside

Location:

Germany

Year:

1945

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Allied Rhineland Campaign

Summary

This is an exciting scenario with some unique features which recreate actual events on the battlefield in 1945.

Objective:

Six Medals will win, but the principle objective for the Allies is to preserve the two dams, Schwammenauel and Urft. Should either of them get successfully sabotaged by the Germans, and the Allies will likely lose the scenario.

Battlefield:

It is rugged mountainous terrain encircled by a river, mountains, and forests, with a dam at either end of the River Roer.

Troops:

Allies: 10 Infantry, 2 Armor

Axis: 8 Infantry

Special Rules:

Sabotaging a Dam – each of the two dams require a total of 4 stars to be destroyed. At the start of every turn, no matter what cards they hold in their hand, the Axis player rolls two dice, one of each dam. However, the dice will only count and apply to a dam if an Axis unit is on the actual dam hex. For each Star rolled, if the dam is occupied by Axis forces, a star icon is placed on that dam. Once a total of four stars accrue, the dam is destroyed, and the Axis player receives 4! victory medals per dam.

Allied Strategy:

1. Big Picture Strategy: Destroy the enemy or capture the dams before they are sabotaged. Your best option, historically is to capture the Urft Dam first.

2. You have two Armor units, but given the rugged terrain, they will be almost useless to you. If you waste your time trying to get them out from behind the mountain, you will be giving the Axis time to sabotage the dam.

3. Your paratroopers have landed in a dangerous spot, pressed up against the mountain wall as they are. Move them forward to attack ASAP, before they are destroyed.

4. Your right flank is your strongest at the start. Move quickly forward to overwhelm the enemy and secure the Urft Dam.

Axis Strategy:

1. Big Picture Strategy: the goal is to delay the Allies (delaying tactics) as long as possible so that you can blow the dam(s). This will take at least four turns, but in reality, much longer. If you successfully sabotage one dam, (worth 4 medals!), you only need to take out one other Allied unit to win. Should you blow both dams, you are guaranteed a win. (Historically, the Germans were able to blow the discharge valves of the Schwammenauel Dam and flood the Roer River.

2. The Dam provides no battle protection. The only reason to stay on the hex is to attempt to sabotage the dame. But once the Allies get close, keep some forces in the woods to attack and slow down the enemy.

3. The Allied Paratroopers are easy prey, backed up against the mountain. Take them out quickly before they can attack your forces in the town of Kommerscheit.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL

Saverne Gap, Vosges

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

Saverne Gap

Listen up, soldiers. The Saverne Gap is the low door through the Vosges—and the key to Strasbourg. On 21 November, XV Corps under Haislip hit the line at Phalsbourg and started prying that door open. While our infantry pressed the pass, Leclerc did exactly what I like—speed and audacity—splitting his 2e DB into two hard-driving task forces: one swinging north via La Petite-Pierre, the other knifing south through the woods by Dabo. They struck Saverne from both flanks, and a southern column punched in from the west, climbing to the Gap and rolling the defenses from behind. The enemy fought, but without depth or reserves you can’t stop a three-pronged hammer. Result: Saverne falls, the hinge breaks, and the road to Strasbourg yawns wide.

Lesson: find the gap, hit it fast, hit it twice, and exploit without blinking. Keep moving—because momentum, not caution, wins cities and ends campaigns.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 4

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Moutaneous Countryside

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign

Codename

Summary:

Because of the impassable mountains, Saverne Gap is almost like three separate battles taking place.

Allied Strategy:

1. As Allies, there is very little opportunity to move troops from one section to another, so you need to watch your tactics carefully and be careful with your attack.

2. One possible opportunity for attack is up the center, if you have the right combination of cards, such as Infantry Assault, you goal is to quickly overwhelm the first town in your way. While they enemy controls that town they can force you back against the wall and score some extra hits with retreat flags. The wire bales in front of the town will definitely decrease your attacking power, but with two or three good center section attack cards, you will eventually be successful. From there, your forces will be able to spread out a bit for the attack against the forces defending town of Saverne.

3. Your right flank will be the most difficult one to maneuver through. With the tight quarters and the enemy protected in a town and forest hex, it will be difficult for your tanks to succeed agains them. The tanks can only fire with one dice at a time. And you only have one infantry force to attack the town and forest hexes. If you can lead with your infantry, they will be more successful by being able to throw two dice at a time for each close assault attack.

4. Watch your card play, and when you get the right combination of special Combat cards, use that as the basis for your decision of which section to pursue your victorious attack.

5. With a number of left flank cards, you can attack the infantry in the woods and town at a distance. Degrade and eliminate them, and then move in to attack the town of Saverne itself from the flank, surprising the enemy, just as they did historically.

Axis Strategy:

1. Note that because the mountains are impassible, you will not be able to fire your artillery at the outer sections.

2. The center section will be the most important to guard as the town of Saverne represents one VP. If you can delay the advance of the infantry up the center, you may be able to wait for the right combination of cards to assist you with the task of preventing their forward advance.

3. Keep your forces in the forests and town hexes and never leave them. Just stay safely hidden inside as you continuously attack them relentlessly degrading their attacking power.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

46%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Sainte-Mere-Eglise

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

Sainte-Mere-Eglise

“Listen up! On June 6th, 1944—D-Day—the boys of the 82nd Airborne Division as part of Operation Neptune, jumped out of those planes and straight into history. Sainte-Mère-Église—that was the prize. Those paratroopers were dropped right on top of the town, some hanging from steeples and some dropping straight into Germany’s lap!

But those boys didn’t flinch. They fought like hell, street by street, house by house, until Sainte-Mère-Église was ours. That town was the first piece of France to taste freedom again, and by God, it stayed that way.

They didn’t just take a town—they choked off German reinforcements and cleared the way for the boys coming in at Utah Beach. That’s how you make a landing stick, boys—you seize the ground, hold it like a bulldog, and keep moving forward! Sainte-Mère-Église was just the start of the march that would bring Hitler’s Reich to its knees!”

~~ General Howitzer

4 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 4

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

countryside

Location:

France

Year:

June 6th, 1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Normandy Campaign

Codename:

Operation Neptune

Summary:

The option to drop paratroopers in either of the three sections at the start of the battle makes for a very interesting strategy, and a battle that varies quite a bit from game to game. Is there a better choice between dropping the paratroopers in the center section, or left or right flank? It comes down to the cards in your hand. So before you do the para-drop, check your cards, and determine where your most likely result of overwhelming force will occur. Combine a strong set of cards, with the presence of 3 or 4 additional infantry, could turn the tide in favor of the Allies.

Objectives: 4 VP’s

This is a four VP game, so there it is fast, and there is no room for mistakes. It is not so much about strategic positioning; it is about hitting the enemy hard and fast.

Terrain:

Countryside with forests on each side of the town of Mere-Eglise in the center section.

Troops:

Allies – Infantry, 6 -10, depending on the success of the paradrop.

Axis – 9 Infantry, 1 Armor

Allied Strategy:

1. Check your cards before you drop. Then use the drop to give even more power in your strong section. However, note that there is no guarantee that all four paratrooper units will survive the drop. You may end up with half of the force you expect. And you must be prepared for that contingency, should you drop them in the midst of enemy forces. A good commander prepares for this eventuality.

2. Your center section infantry should be ready to deploy in either direction, depending on enemy actions.

3. If you can maximize your firepower in one section, and quickly destroy the enemy, then you may have enough time and movement to bring your forces to strengthen the attack in the next section.

4. The Allies control five cards to the Axis four, so the principles of flexibility and responsiveness are on your side.

Axis Strategy:

1. You are going to have to respond to the surprise attack by the Allies before you can do much else. But as soon as you have a chance, move your Armor out into the battle.

2. You will have superior forces on whichever side they did not drop into, so do what you can to get your four kills before their forces overwhelm you. Your armor will be essential to the win.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

62%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Russian Breakout

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1941, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario

Russian Breakout

The Russian Breakout of 1941, often referring to Soviet counteroffensives following the initial German advance during Operation Barbarossa, marked a desperate but determined attempt by the Red Army to halt the Wehrmacht’s momentum. After suffering massive losses and encirclements, Soviet forces launched breakout attacks—particularly around Kiev, Smolensk, and later Moscow—aimed at escaping German pockets and stabilizing the front.

General Howitzer summarizes it:
The Russians took one hell of a beating in ’41, but instead of folding, they came out swinging—fighting their way out of pockets around Kiev, Smolensk, and Moscow. It was messy, bloody, and half-mad, but it stalled the German steamroller just long enough for winter to slam the door. That breakout didn’t win the war—but it sure as hell kept them in it.

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Russian – 4

Axis – 6

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

Russia

Year:

1941

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign:

Barbarossa

Codename

Summary:

This scenario begins with both forces arrayed across the battlefield and ready to engage in warfare. If the Russian forces are able to break through to the other side, they can gain a VP for each unit that escapes the battlefield.

Objectives:

Battlefield:

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 2 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 5 Infantry, 6 Armor, 3 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. As the Russian commander, you are hindered by needing pre-approval on almost everything from the Political Commissar. This will make your card management – responsiveness – much more difficult. You will need to arrange your forces to maximize mobility, and preserve the multi-sectional and Tactics cards for when you are in a real emergency.

2. You are outnumbered in every section except the center, where although you have more units the enemy has more fire-power with three armored units to your one. But the enemy artillery in the right flank is not protected by the woods, so is a bit weaker. If you have the cards for a breakout on the right, you should pursue it.

3. Many of your infantry are exposed on the open countryside right in front of the enemy armor. If you can get some of them into the woods, to give you artillery and armor time to weaken the enemy, then your infantry can come out to play shortly thereafter.

4. However, if you get a great set of cards, like Infantry Assault, or center section Assault, you absolutely can overwhelm the armor by your sheer numbers. If you can get right next to armor with infantry, you are rolling 3D’s, just like them.

Axis Strategy:

1. Big picture strategy for you is that you have overwhelming armored force, and you should use it before you get overwhelmed by the enemy infantry.

2. You need to prevent the enemy from forcing their way through your lines to the exit row.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL

Pruzana

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1941, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical

Pruzana

The Battle of Pruzana, part of the larger Eastern Front conflicts in World War II, took place in the area around Pruzana (now in Belarus) during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, in 1941. German forces, advancing rapidly through Soviet-held territory, encountered Soviet resistance in Pruzana as part of the initial Soviet defenses against the Axis invasion.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 3

Axis – 6

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

Russia

Year:

1941

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign:

Operation Barbarossa

Codename

Summary:

Objectives:
Five VP’s; no Objective Medals.

Battlefield:
The principle feature of the Pruzana scenario are the two tree lines intersecting the battlefield in both a horizontal and a diagonal pattern, providing great cover for both sides.

Troops:
Russians – 7 Infantry, 3 Armor, including one T-34, 1 Artillery.
Axis – 6 Infantry, 6 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. The Allies can win this one by staying behind their sandbags and resisting and attacking the the Axis forces as they get near.

2. Make good use of your artillery to degrade the enemy forces as they approach.

3. Possible Attack Vector: If you get the cards and are able to bring your Armor around both sides of the center woods, you can sometimes catch the Axis in the center, and then pummel them with your Infantry in the woods, followed by your Armor. It can create a real kill box in the center, with the right set of cards.

Axis Strategy:
1. As Axis, you need to be wary of the enemy artillery right in the center of the battlefield. It will be able to strike much of the field of play. So if you get an early Barrage, or Air Power, take it out as soon as you can.

2. The big picture strategy is that until the enemy artillery is taken out, your best attack strategy is to move up each flank away from its full power attacks, at the same time as you use your armor to take out the infantry in the woods.

3. You can use your armor to do long distance degrading of the enemy forces, until they are at a point where your infantry can make an assault across the open fields.

4. Use your artillery on the right flank at every opportunity.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL

Ponyri (Kursk)

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1943, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Eastern Front, Infantry, Location: Russia, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Eastern

Ponyri (Kursk)

The Battle of Ponyri took place in Ponyri, a small town in the Kursk Oblast of Russia, during World War II. It occurred in July 1943 as part of the larger Battle of Kursk, one of the biggest tank battles in history.

General Howitzer summarizes:

Ponyri was a slugfest in the mud and blood of Kursk—like a Stalingrad on a smaller scale. The Germans threw their Panzers and infantry at that rail junction with everything they had, trying to break through to Kursk, and the Soviets met them with steel, fire, and sheer grit. House to house, trench to trench, they held the line. The enemy never got past it—and Ponyri became the anvil that broke the German spear.

7 VP’s

Card Balance:

Russian – 4

Axis – 6

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

Russia

Year:

1943

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign:

Battle of Kursk

Codename:

part of Operation Citadel

Summary:

Objectives: 7 VP’s.

The key to winning Ponyri is controlling the town. It is worth two VP’s. Whichever side controls the town will cause the opponent to waste a lot of troops trying to gain control.

Terrain:

Countryside with forest and hills on one side, mines on the other, and the five-hex town of Ponyri in the center.

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry, 4 Armor, 3 Artillery

Axis – 8 Infantry, 7 Armor

Allied Strategy:

1. The town of Ponyri is worth two VP’s. You begin with control of it, but since it has 5 hexes, you should take control of the central hex of Ponyri so that you have majority control. This will force the enemy to waste a lot of forces throwing themself against this well-defended town.

2. The Allied role in this scenario is primarily defensive. Use your sandbags and be slow to leave them. But if the enemy begins pummeling your armor on the left flank, you may need to consider a more aggresive approach, if your cards allow it.

3. You have three artillery. Take the time to move them forward one row early in the battle while you still have time, so that they can improve their hit rate against the enemy.

Axis Strategy:

1. Because the town of Ponyri is worth two VP’s! , you should attempt to get your infantry into it pretty quickly, before the enemy occupies all town hexes. But only take it, if you can keep them there, as they will be surrounded by the enemy on all sides.

2. On your left flank, use the forest and hills to advance your infantry under cover. If you try to make a direct assault in the open countryside, they will get decimated.

3. On your right flank, you have an armor superiority, so you can place yourself behind the mines and continuously degrade the enemy’s strength. But be aware of the artillery on the right. If the Allies move it one row forward, your armor directly behind the row of mines will be subject to 2D rolls against your forces.

4. When the enemy is sufficiently degraded, you may consider breaching the mines. (Expect some hits, but if you use your elite forces that begin with 4 armor figures, you should have a sufficient survival rate to continue the attack.) If you find the opening, you can push through for direct assaults against the enemy armor.

Battle Reports:

( percentage of Allied Victories):

54%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Soviet_troops_and_T-34_tanks_counterattacking_Kursk_Voronezh_Front_July_1943

Battle of Kursk
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