General Howitzer’s Field Guide to Memoir 44

A Memoir 44 Strategy & Tactics Community

FROM BORGO A MAZZANO TO BARGA

by | Nov 16, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Countryside, Infantry, Location: Italy, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western

From Borgo a Mazzano to Barga (BrEF)

After victories in the Massarosa, Camaiore and Monte Prana, the Brazilian troops were directed towards the village of Borgo a Mozzano. Aware in advance of the location and capabilities of the Germans in this stretch of the Gothic Line, the US command ordered the Brazilians to follow a course parallel to the Serchio River. While US troops proceeded on the opposite side of the river. By entering the Serchio River valley the FEB could avoid the expected German defences of the Gothic Line. It was discovered however that much of the line in that area had already been abandoned by the Axis, who had retreated about 9 miles to the north.

Further on, crossing the river, the FEB came across a factory of ammunition and aeronautical materials in Fornaci, which the Germans abandoned intact (but tried to recover in a counterattack.) The FEB then headed north to liberate Gallicano and Barga. In the process of doing this they clashed with the battle hardened veterans of the 148th German Division.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:
Allies – 5
Axis – 4

Complexity:

4

Conditions:  

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

Italy

Date:

Sept. – Oct. 1944

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Brazilian Expeditionary Force

Code Name

Context:

Historical

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s

Battlefield:

Battlefield has a road and a river cutting across each other in an x-shape, with a couple of bridges.

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry, 1 Armor

Axis – 8 Infantry

Allied Strategy

Axis Strategy:

This scenario is something a little different. It’s an Axis tactical withdrawal across a bridge and then a regroup in a factory. A well deployed Behind Enemy Lines Card for the Axis can deliver a crushing blow on the Smoking Snakes on the Axis right flank. This can then be followed up with a dash across the bridge. [ Marcus Wallis ]

Battle Reports:

0
BR - BORGO

Author:

Icles Rodriquez & Memoir 44 Japan

Link:

Click Here

Battle of Tebourba

by | Nov 16, 2024 | Memoir 44, Scenario

Battle of Tebourba (Tigerfibel)

On the November 28 1942, the US led Blade Force failed in its attack on the city of Djedeida.
However, the British controlled Tebourba, Djebel Maïana (Hill 186), the bridge on the Medjerda River, El Bathan and the village of Chouigui.
German Generalleutnant Wolfgang Fischer, commander of the 10th Panzer Division, was ordered to clear the threat on Djedeida.

Initially 3 Tigers and 4 Panzer III’s went into action in the Battle of Tebourba. They were later joined by 3 more Tigers on December 1 1942. By the time the Germans had won the battle on December 5 1942, the Allies, under General Kenneth Anderson, had lost 55 tanks, hundreds of vehicles, and more than 1000 troops had been captured. The Tigers had been devastating, and were responsible for knocking out most of the Allied tanks. The Allied troops were forced to evacuate Tebourba.

12 VP’s

Card Balance:
Allies – 6
Axis – 6

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Context:

Historical

Location:

Date:

Nov/Dec 1942

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Code Name

Context:

Historical

Summary:

Objectives:

12 VP’s

Battlefield:

 

Troops:

Allies – 

Axis – 

Allied Strategy

Axis Strategy:

Battle Reports:

0
BR - Tebourba

Author:

Memoir 44 Japan

( Download )

TAKING CAMAIORE

by | Nov 16, 2024 | Armor, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario

TAKING CAMAIORE (BEF)

Once settled into their new environment, the FEB faced a baptism of fire on September 16 1944. With the support of 3 armored units of the US 5th Army, they took control of Massarosa and Camaiore, north of Pisa. This gave them access to an important network of roads and railways which served as an arterial supply route in the area. The challenge of maintaining the positions led to the Germans retreating further back into the mountains, to establish more efficient defences.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:
Allies – 4
Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:  

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

Italy

Date:

Sept. 16-18, 1944

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Brazilian Expeditionary Force

Code Name

Context:

Historical

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, including Temporary Medal Objective

Battlefield:

Battlefield has a railway line, a road, and a river cutting through the field of play at an angle, making movement very interesting.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 3 Armor

Axis – 8 Infantry

Allied Strategy

Axis Strategy:

Battle Reports:

0
BR - TAKING CAMAIORE

Author:

Icles Rodriquez & Memoir 44 Japan

Link:

Click Here

Iwo Jima – The Meat Grinder

by | Nov 10, 2024 | 1945, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario

The Meat Grinder (Iwo Jima)

The “Meat Grinder” on Iwo Jima was not just a nickname—it was exactly what it sounded like. In February ’45, our Marines walked into a hornet’s nest of bunkers, tunnels, and artillery, all dug in by Japanese defenders who were ready to fight to the last man.

Every yard was paid for in blood. Concealed machine guns, artillery, and traps cut men down as they clawed forward. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t quick—it was steel against flesh, and the cost was high. But those Marines never quit. Day after day they smashed into that fortress, until finally the defenses cracked.

Taking the Meat Grinder was hell, but it was necessary. With it in our hands, the island opened up, and the road to victory on Iwo Jima was clear. It was proof again that American grit and guts could chew through anything—even the toughest rock the enemy could throw at us.

~~ General Howitzer

 7 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Jungle

  

Context:

Historical

Location:

Iwo Jima

 

Year:

1945

 

Theater:

Pacific

 

Summary:

Objectives: 

7 VP’s

Battlefield:

Island jungles and hills with caves, allowing for quick movement by Japanese

Troops:
Allies – 10 Infantry, 7 Armor, 2 Artillery 

Axis –  9 Infantry, 2 Armor, 3 Artillery

🔥 Winning as Allies

1. Because the Engineers can avoid terrain restrictions during close assault, you need to quickly get them up to the sandbagged hills where the enemy are lodged, and dislodge them!

2.  Use your artillery to soften up the enemy before the assault.

3.  You need 7 VP’s to win, so you are going to have to address the artillery and deal with it.

4.  Your forces on the right and center sections are really bunched together. You need to get some early movement for your infantry, or they will be subjected to some no-retreat hits.

🔥 Winning as Axis

1.  You are outnumbered in the center and right sections. Your left flank has more units than the enemy. If you can get your armor into position to defend the open terrain, it will make it difficult for the enemy to move approach.

2.  You outnumer the enemy with artillery, 3-2, so use it to soften up the enemy as they approach.

3. Make good use of your full-powered units through the Seishin Kyoiko Doctrine (SKD), to advance on the enemy and roll the extra dice to quickly knock them senseless.

Classic Battle Reports:

(percentage of Allied victories)

30%

Scales-Axis-Weighted
26
BR - Iwo Jima

Author:

Link:

Breakthrough to Gembloux

by | Nov 8, 2024 | 1940, Armor, Artillery, Breakthrough Game, Countryside, Infantry, Location: France, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Mediterranean, Theater: Western

Breakthrough to Gembloux

Historical Background

The Breakthrough to Gembloux was part of the early German invasion of Belgium during May 1940, in the larger Battle of France. German Panzer divisions advanced through central Belgium aiming to break Allied lines near Gembloux, where French forces had fortified positions in the so-called Gembloux Gap—one of the few tank-suitable areas in the region.

Fierce fighting erupted between German armored units and French mechanized divisions, resulting in one of the few early confrontations where French forces held their ground and inflicted significant tank losses. However, the battle was ultimately bypassed when German forces broke through further south in the Ardennes, rendering the defense of Gembloux strategically moot.

General Howitzer summarizes:

At Gembloux, the French finally stood their ground and gave the German Panzers a bloody nose—one of the rare times early in the war they didn’t fold. But while they were trading blows up north, the real storm came through the Ardennes. The fight was solid, but it ended up guarding the wrong damn door.

VP’s

12 VPs

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 6

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside

countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France 

Date:

May 13, 1940

 

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

The Battle of France

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

12 Victory Points, plus one Exit by an Axis unit

Battlefield:

Deep breakthrough battlefield with countryside terrain

Troops:
Allies – 8 Infantry, 7 Armor, 1 Artillery

Axis –  10 Infantry, 8 Armor, 2 Artillery

Big Picture Strategy

The challenge for the Axis is escaping a unit out the Exit Hex at K1. 
Winning battle is easy; escaping the battlefield is not.

🔥 Winning as Allies

1.  If you want to have any hope of holding out against the Germans, as the French did for two days historically, you will need to hold the line right at the beginning with the three towns on row 13.  Get your armor up their to reinforce your infantry.  The Axis have overwhelming force, so if you retreat, they will be able to pick you off one by one. Make your stand immediately!

2.  Once you get pushed back, the final victory medal for the Axis has to come through escaping on the hex at K1.  Guard that with your armor and infantry, and you have some hope of gaining another medal.

3. While you may lose a lot of forces as the Axis pushes you back, be sure to have enough forces to make a good stand to guard the final exit hex at K1.  The Axis can be made to suffer much as they try to get one unit out that escape hex.  In fact, once Axis have achieved their 12 victory points,  you can sacrifice as many Allied forces as you need to in order to prevent them from escaping.

🔥 Winning as Axis

1.  Remember that no matter how many Allied units you destroy, you will have to get one of your units out the exit row at the end of the battlefield.

2.  The very best way to end the game well, and escape your final Axis unit off the board is to save up a Behind Enemy Lines. Then maneuver an infantry within six rows of the border, and make your move.

Battle Reports:
(percentage of Allied victories)

 

5
BR - Breakthrough to Gembeloux

Author:

jdrommel

Link: