Pointe-du-Hoc

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Artillery, Base Game, Beach, Countryside, D-Day, Infantry, Location: France, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical, Theater: Western

Pointe-du-Hoc

The Battle of Pointe du Hoc was a critical part of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. Pointe du Hoc, a steep cliff overlooking the English Channel between Utah and Omaha beaches, was targeted because it housed a German gun battery capable of threatening the Allied landings.

U.S. Army Rangers were tasked with scaling the 100-foot cliffs to neutralize the German artillery positions believed to be in bunkers at the top. About 225 Rangers from the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions led by Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder. Using ropes, ladders, and grappling hooks under intense German fire, the Rangers climbed the cliffs while under heavy fire. The Rangers discovered the artillery guns had been moved inland. They located and destroyed the guns using thermite grenades. The Rangers suffered heavy losses—fewer than half were still capable of fighting after the battle.

General Howitzer sums up its importance:

Listen up, men—Pointe du Hoc wasn’t just another hill; it was the lynchpin in the whole damned invasion. Our boys scaled those cliffs under fire, ripped out the German artillery, and made damn sure nothing could rain hell on Utah and Omaha. It was guts, grit, and glory—one of the boldest strikes of D-Day, and it damn well helped crack open Fortress Europe.

~ General Howitzer

4 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 4

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Beach

Location:

Normandy

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Invasion of Normandy

Codename:

Part of Operation Overlord

Briefing:

This scenario is a tough one for the Germans, as the Allies have a 69% success rate.

Objectives:

Because this is a 4 VP scenario, every single hit matters, so both Axis and Allies need to carefully target and concentrate their fire.

Battlefield:

This scenario has a ridge running across the entire battlefield. It is a two-hex move to climb the hill, so it is a challenge for the Allies to mount it. But once they do, it is a short trip to the forest in the corner containing additional victory points.

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry

Axis – 5 Infantry, 1 Artillery

🔥 Winning as Allies

1. Like all beach scenarios, the goal is to get off the beach as quickly as possible. But the ridge running across the beach, does allow Allies to assemble their forces just behind the ridge, massing together, until they are ready to climb the ridge together and attack.

2. Watch out for the infantry hex on the Pointe, and for the artillery on your right flank. You will need to shift your forces to the left as quickly as possible, or the enemy could gain one VP before you even get out of the water. You can move your infantry in a straight lateral move while still in the water, to get away from the Pointe.

3. The best pathway to the VP’s in the forest on your right flank, is to overwhelm the enemy on the left flank, and work your way all the way across the middle section into the forest. Once you make your way off the beach on the left flank, you can take a bit of time to assemble all of your forces, and gather the cards you need for your center section attack. This will keep you out of the Artillery range.

🔥 Winning as Axis

1. Take advantage of the ridge facing the shore. If you have the infantry movement cards, get to the ridge and batter the troops as they approach. If you just sit in your bunkers or sandbags, and wait for them to mass and attack, you will be overwhelmed.

2. First moves are to attack with your infantry from on the point, and your artillery while Allies are still in the water. This will force them up the coast away from your artillery, and most importantly, away from the victory points in the woods.

3. Use your artillery well to slow down, harass, and destroy the troops while they are still on the beach.

4. Once the Allies make it up onto the ridge, if you can restore your remaining forces back into your bunkers, it may give you enough time to degrade the enemy forces enough to prevent their achievement of the VP’s in the forest on your left flank.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

69%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Juno Beach

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Beach, D-Day, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic

Juno Beach

The invasion of Juno Beach was part of the Allied D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, during World War II. Juno Beach, one of the five beaches targeted in the Normandy invasion, was assigned to Canadian forces from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. Their mission was to secure a beachhead, push inland, and capture key objectives such as the town of Caen.

Juno Beach was no picnic—it was hell from the start. The Canadians hit the shore under rough seas, late and scattered, with German guns pouring lead and shells across the sand. Machine guns, artillery, mines—everything the enemy could throw at them was waiting.

But those Canadians didn’t back off. They regrouped fast, pushed inland with infantry and armor working shoulder to shoulder, and smashed through the fortifications. By nightfall, they hadn’t just taken Juno—they’d driven farther inland than any other Allied unit on D-Day.

They paid dearly in blood, but their victory cracked open Hitler’s wall, anchored the Allied foothold in France, and lit the road that led to the liberation of Europe. Juno Beach proved it plain: Canadian steel and courage could punch just as hard as any force in the world.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 4

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Beach

Location:

Normandy

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

D-Day

Codename

Summary:

Objectives:

6 Victory Points, including the possibility of four! Objective Medals for the Allies.

Battlefield:

With the River Seulles going through the center of the battlefield, the Juno Beach scenario is almost two different battles taking place at once. There is no beach ridge to slow down the advance of the Allies.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 3 Armor

Axis – 7 Infantry, 1 Artillery

🔥 Winning as Allies

1. The Allies need to be aware of the VP goal of six points, and then count up the number of medals and forces on the right side of the map: three Objective Medals (two towns and one bridge) and three infantry. This means, that with the “right” set of cards, an Allied player could win the battle completely just by focusing on the right flank. Now it will rarely happen that such a single-minded focus can occur based on the luck of the cards. But keeping the enemy off-balance by occasional forays on the left flank is a good strategy also. But this scenario reminds us of an important principle, to always keep your overall objectives and plan in mind throughout the battle. And do not deviate unless cards, or circumstances dictate otherwise.

2. Of course, the left flank is a little more secure, as it is outside the range of the artillery.

3. With the River Seulles splitting your center section, you will need to make a determination of which direction your troops will head to. This will need to be determined by the cards in your hand.

4. As you move off the beach, the two Medal Objectives on the bridges look very tempting. But they are quite close to the enemy artillery, so you will not want to take those bridges until near the end of the game, so they cannot be chased away.

🔥 Winning as Axis

1. Your Infantry in the bunker at ‘I5’ is in a great location to make some early hits on the enemy while they are still in the water, or backed up against it.

2. Stay in your bunkers and towns. Do not come out, as there are Armor in the area which will make you pay for that mistake.

Battle Reports (percentage of Allied victories):
64%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Gold Beach

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Beach, D-Day, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western

Gold Beach

The Invasion of Gold Beach was one of the five beachheads landed by Allied forces during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was part of Operation Overlord, the Allied effort to liberate Nazi-occupied Western Europe and begin the push toward Germany. Gold Beach was the landing zone assigned to British forces, primarily the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and supporting units from the Royal Marines and Canadian forces.

General Howitzer summarizes its impact:
Gold Beach—June 6, 1944—wasn’t just sand and sea, it was a damned doorway to Germany. The British 50th Northumbrian boys, backed by Royal Marines and tough Canadian allies, slammed ashore under fire as part of the grandest show on earth—Operation Overlord. Their job? Bust through Nazi defenses, plant the Union Jack on French soil, and start the long march east to drive a knife straight into Hitler’s gut.

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 4

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Beach

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

D-Day

Codename:

Operation Overlord

Summary:

Unlike many other beach scenarios, Gold Beach does not have a hill or ridge slowing down the Allied advance. Therefore the Allies are able to very rapidly move up the beach. But Axis forces are protected in bunkers and cities, allowing them more time to attack the unprotected Allies.

Objectives:

This is a six VP scenario, so rather long, with one Objective Medal for the Allies in the town of LeBuhot.

Battlefield:

Beach scenarious are all about getting the Allies off the beach as fast as possible, while the Axis try to push them back and slow them down to allow more time for attack.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 3 Armor

Axis – 7 Infantry, 2 Artillery

🔥 Winning as Allies

1. You must eliminate the Axis artillery as rapidly as possible, or it will decimate your forces.

2. Because there is no enemy artillery on the left flank, it generally poses the best chance of advancement, should the cards allow it. Once you get off the beach on the left side, you can proceed with your forces toward the right until you capture all the VP’s you need.

3. You have three Armor. Get them out of the water and into the action quickly. But they must coordinate their attack with the infantry. It is very difficult to win this scenario, unless you quickly get your artillery off the beach and into the back ranks where you can attack the enemy from behind.

🔥 Winning as Axis

1. Axis has two artillery, which compensate for the overwhelming Allied forces coming at them. The one in the center section near the beach is a powerful force. Every single beach hex in the central section is within the range of full two-dice artillery attacks. This is a very powerful weapon in the Axis arsenal. Use it at every opportunity you have.

2. If you can move the artillery on your left flank forward to a more central position, it will improve your ability to attack the enemy coming up the center section. Of course, you will lose your sandbags when you move, so this move forward is safest if you have a Dig In card at the ready.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

First Assault Wave (Omaha Beach)

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Base Game, Beach, D-Day, Infantry, Location: France, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western

First Assault Wave (Omaha Beach)

The invasion of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal part of the D-Day landings during World War II’s Operation Overlord. Omaha Beach, one of five landing sites in Normandy, was assaulted by U.S. forces, primarily the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions, supported by specialized units.

Heavily fortified by German defenders from the 352nd Infantry Division, the beach presented challenging terrain with high bluffs, barbed wire, and entrenched gun emplacements. American troops faced intense machine-gun fire, artillery, and obstacles as they landed, resulting in high casualties, particularly in the initial waves.

Despite the heavy losses, small groups of soldiers managed to breach the German defenses, scaling the bluffs and neutralizing key positions. By the end of the day, the U.S. forces had secured a tenuous foothold, paving the way for the larger Allied advance into occupied France. The success at Omaha Beach, though costly, was crucial to the ultimate liberation of Europe from Nazi control.

General Howitzer’s perspective:

“Let me tell you something—Omaha Beach was no picnic. The enemy had the high ground, the machine guns, and every advantage. But our boys? They didn’t stop. Through smoke, blood, and hell itself, small squads clawed their way up those bluffs, took out key positions, and broke through the defenses.

By day’s end, we had ourselves a fragile foothold—but it was ours. And that patch of bloody sand became the launch point for the drive to liberate France and crush the enemy war machine.

So don’t ever forget—victory doesn’t come easy. It comes from courage, sacrifice, and the will to fight forward when every instinct says to drop. That’s what won Omaha. That’s what wins wars.”

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Beach

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:
1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

D-Day

Codename

Summary:

True to history, this is a tough battle for the Allies to win.

Objectives:

5 VP’s including Medal Objectives

Battlefield:

Omaha Beach is well-guarded with hedgehogs, barbwire, and numerous hills to slow down the Allied advance. If they successfully make it off the beach, there are three towns at the edge of the battlefield with victory points for them.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 3 Armor

Axis – 7 Infantry, 2 Artillery

🔥 Winning as Allies

1. Get off the beach as quickly as possible!

2. Keep your armor and infantry attack cohesive. They are both needed to successfuly breach the bunkers. The armor fires from a safe distance, and then when ready, the infantry moves in for the kill and take over.

3. One of your Infantry on the right flank is a special forces which can move two hexes and still attack. Get it up to the enemy as quickly as possible.

🔥 Winning as Axis

1. The Axis have artillery on each flank, which gives you control over nearly every hex on the beach. Use them to good effect.

2. There are five! town medal objectives which need to be defended for this scenario. If you can slow down the advance of the Allies, it will give time for your artillery to hit them.

Battle Reports (percentage of Allied victories):

19%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link: