Braskir Offensive

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Memoir 44, Mobile Artillery, Scenario, Sniper, Strategic, Urban, Winter

Braskir Offensive

Here is General Howitzer’s summary of this fictious battle:

The Braskir Offensive was a brutal winter clash between Axis and Allied forces fought amid snow-covered city ruins. The battlefield centered on three key objective territories, each representing vital control points.

The Allies began congested, bottled up in the eastern ruins, struggling to break out under heavy Axis fire. The Axis initially dominated the field, and using fortified positions to hammer any Allied advance.

Through grinding urban combat, flanking maneuvers, and coordinated assaults, the Allies sought to push past the chokepoints, seize the objectives, and turn the tide. The frozen, rubble-strewn city made every advance costly, turning the Braskir Offensive into a battle of attrition where each medal marked blood, grit, and survival.

~~ General Howitzer

VP’s

10

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 4

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Winter

Context:

Fictional

Location:

The Baltics

Year:

1944

Summary:

Victory Points:

10, including some objective medals for the church, the Schiv, and the bridge.

Terrain:

There is a lot of complexity to this scenario, with city ruins, factory complexes, a navigable river, and forests. With 10 VP’s needed to win, each side must plan out a long, strategic campaign to degrade enemy forces until victory is achieved.

Troops:

Allies – 14 Infantry including 1 Sniper, 4 Armor, 3 Artillery

Axis – 13 Infantry including 1 Sniper, 4 Armor, 2 Artillery

Allies:

1. Your forces begin in a very congested configuration in the left and right corners. You need to get them mobile ASAP, to be prepared for the coming enemy attack.

2. The key to winning this battle is to soften the targets near the medal objectives, and then to position your infantry to take control of the targets in a final push. This will require you to save one card in reserve which allows for multi-sectional attacks, such as a Recon in Force, or Move Out!, or Direct from HQ.

Axis:

1. The three Objective hexes in the center, can be quickly gained with some rapid infantry movements. Once gained the Allies will have to fight hard to take them from Axis control, resulting in many losses for them. This can start the Axis at as much as a 3 VP advantage from the first turn.

2. But do not take them too early. If you do not have the support forces around you, any advance forces that grab Objective hexes will get pummeled. This scenario is really about bringing all of your forces to bear upon your attack objectives.

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Bloody Ridge

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1942, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic

Bloody Ridge

September 1942—Guadalcanal. The place? A godforsaken jungle. The mission? Hold Henderson Field—or lose the whole damn island.

The Japanese came in hard, full of fire and fury, dead set on taking back that airstrip. And standing in their way? A thin line of Marine Raiders and the 1st Marine Division, led by Colonel Merritt Edson—a man who knew how to fight.

They dug in on that ridge near the field, and when the sun went down, hell lit up. The enemy came in waves, screaming, charging, trying to break our line with steel and guts. But Edson’s boys? They didn’t break. They held, bled, and threw everything back in the enemy’s face.

For three nights it was chaos—bayonets, grenades, bullets in the dark. But when the smoke cleared, Henderson was still ours, and the ridge was soaked in blood—American and Japanese alike. That hill earned a new name—“Bloody Ridge”—and it damned well deserved it.

That stand turned the tide on Guadalcanal. It proved that the Japanese could be stopped. It proved that when the enemy thinks we’ll break—we dig in deeper.

That’s the kind of fight I respect—outnumbered, outgunned, and still coming out on top.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

5 – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Jungle

Context:

Historical

Location:

Guadalcanal

Year:

1942

Theater:

Pacific Theater

Campaign

Summary:
Bloody Ridge has a large series of hills in the center of the battlefield, occupied by the Marines who are defending against a vast hoard of Japanese attackers.

Objectives:
6 VP’s, plus the Japanese can target two hexes at the top of the battlefield representing Henderson field as Objective Medals.

Battlefield:
Jungle with a series of bluffs in the center, controlled by the Marines.

Troops:
Marines, 10 infantry, 1 artillery
Japanese, 12 infantry, 1 artillery

Allies:

1. One advantage you have as Allies is your artillery which is placed in the center of the battlefield, straddling the left and center sections.

2. Because the Marines are out-numbered, and behind sandbags, they have a primarily in a defensive role in this game, unless the cards cooperate. So do not rush out of your protection unless given a good reason by the cards and circumstances. And that’s an order!

3. Because of the Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine, and the Banzai War Cry, you positively need to hit every full-power enemy hex unit at least once. This will reduce their attack from the super-powered 4D attack. If not, they will overwhelm your forces.

Axis:

1. The Japanese have a numerical advantage. This fact, combined with the principles of Seishin Kyoiku, and the Banzai War Cry mean that you should rush forward as quickly as possible while your infantry units are still fully intact to get the extra attack dice provided.

2. You have an advantage on your left flank with your artillery and infantry. That is your probably best forward option. Watch out for the Marine artillery on your right flank.

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Battle of Warsaw

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1939, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Location: Poland, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical, Urban

Battle of Warsaw

The Battle of Warsaw on September 1, 1939, marked the beginning of World War II, as Germany invaded Poland and launched a full-scale assault on its capital. German forces, using blitzkrieg tactics with tanks, aircraft, and artillery, quickly overwhelmed Polish defenses.

Warsaw held out for several weeks under heavy bombing and siege, but after intense fighting and massive civilian casualties, the city surrendered on September 28, 1939. The fall of Warsaw marked the collapse of organized Polish resistance and the start of a brutal occupation.

General Howitzer summarizes its impact:
Warsaw was the first hard punch of the war—Germany rolled in with tanks and bombers, and Poland never stood a chance. The city fought like hell, but blitzkrieg was fast, brutal, and unforgiving. When Warsaw fell, the world saw what Hitler was willing to do, and what happened when you weren’t ready. It lit the fuse for everything that followed and proved this war wasn’t going to be clean or quick—it was going to be total.

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 6

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside – Urban

Location:

Warsaw, Poland

Year:

1939

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

The Invasion of Poland

Codename:

Case White / Fall Weib

Summary:

The Axis begin in countryside, and thus, have ease of movement. But as soon as they begin to breach Warsaw, it becomes an urban challenge for them, and the tanks are much less useful.

Objectives:
6 VP’s, which can also include one temporary Medal Objective, if two of the four Fortress hexes are occupied.

Battlefield:
This is a complex scenario with the Allies defending Warsaw as they are surrounded by Axis invaders. The battlefield is composed of roads, wire bales, sandbagged troops protected in city and church hexes. Since this is an urban scenario, the infantry will play a major role for both sides.

Troops:
Allies – 10 Infantry; 2 Artillery
Axis – 10 Infantry; 6 Armor; 1 Artillery

Allies:

1. Note that although the Axis have overwhelming armor advantage, the number of infantry hexes in this scenario are balanced at ten – ten. And since infantry are the primary forces useful for urban warfare, this part, at least, is good news for the Allies.

2. The Allies also have two well-placed artillery in two corners of the city. They can provide an effective deterrent against the Axis onslaught. Use them at every opportunity.

3. The scenario begins with two infantry forces out in the open on unguarded hexes. Get them into a town or church hex as you are able to, as there is no point in giving up easy VP’s to the enemy.

4. The Axis Infantry unit at A5 is in a no-retreat position. If you have the cards, you can gain some hits there early in the game.

Axis:

Big Picture strategy for the Axis is to soften the urban infantry defenses with long-distance shelling from your artillery and armor. Only when they are weakened should you move in for the close assault from the infantry.

1. Two of the four Fortress hexes become a temporary Objective Medal if the Axis can keep and hold them. Note that although they are occupied by Polish troops at the start of the scenario, they are not sandbagged, like some of the town hexes. This makes them a possible point of attack for you.

2. The Axis have overwhelming armor forces, but given that this is an urban scenario, their fire-power is limited. They can be kept at a distance and used to soften the defenses in preparation for an infantry attack. Remember that armor and infantry are designed to work together.

3. However, should you get an armor assault card, you may give consideration to moving right next to all of the heavily guarded infantry hexes, so that you can complete a close assault maneuver with one extra dice for every attack. With two dice per attack, and four armor units, you can do serious damage to the enemy, and soften them up for your infantry assault. This will have the additional benefit of having the armor units automatically removing the barb wire, so that when the infantry does come, they can attack with more firepower. But once this is completed, then pull back your armor as quickly as possible.

4. The placement of your forces on the right flank is awkward. You have an infantry and an armor unit with no retreat option. Unless you move those to a better spot, they will be targeted by the Allied artillery, granting them a quick early VP.

5. Remember that, as Axis, you can convert Recon cards into air attacks. This will give you additional opportunities to take out entrenched units, like the artillery.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

51%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Battle of Kalatch

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1942, Armor, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic

Battle of Kalatch

The Battle of Kalach (August 8–11, 1942) was a significant engagement on the Eastern Front during Operation Blue, the German summer offensive aimed at capturing the oil-rich Caucasus and Stalingrad. The battle occurred near the town of Kalach (now Kalach-na-Donu), located west of Stalingrad.

German forces, primarily from the 6th Army, clashed with Soviet troops in an attempt to secure critical crossings over the Don River. The Germans aimed to encircle Soviet forces defending the area and advance toward Stalingrad. Despite stiff resistance, the Soviets were forced to retreat across the river after suffering heavy casualties. The German victory at Kalach cleared the way for their advance on Stalingrad, where the subsequent battle would become a turning point of the war.

While a tactical success for the Germans, the battle highlighted the growing determination of Soviet forces and set the stage for the eventual encirclement of the 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad later in 1942.

General Howitzer summarizes this battle’s significance:
The Germans may have won the ground, but they missed the bigger picture—those Soviet boys weren’t breaking, they were digging in. This fight lit the fuse that would blow the 6th Army to hell at Stalingrad. You can win a battle and still lose the war if you don’t see what’s coming.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

Russia

Year:

1942

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign:

Codename:

Operation Blue

Summary:

This scenario begins with half of the Russian forces stuck behind an impassable river with only a single bridge from which to advance. At the same time, one third of the German forces are stuck in the corner.

Objectives: 6 Medals, including the town of Dobrinka as a temporary territorial medal for the Axis

Terrain:

Mostly open countryside with a few forests and hills. There are two rivers with bridges behind which many forces for each side are stuck.

Troops:

Allies – 3 Infantry, 6 Armor

Axis – 3 Infantry, 6 Armor

Allies:

1. If you want to defend your units around the town of Dobrinka and the accompanying medal, you will need to get your forces moved forward very quickly. Many of them are stuck behind the Le Don river, so you will need to cross the bridge with your armor quickly.

2. Move your armor on your right flank into the center, to defend your other center section armor which is behind the Le Don River and will need some protection until they do so.

3. About the only way to win this scenario is to get your armored forces out from behind the Le Don river. Make it your first priority, before attacking the enemy, no matter how tempting, to get your forces into play. You each of six Armor units, but with three of yours stuck behind the river, and backed up against the border wall, they are as good as sitting ducks. Get them across the bridge ASAP!

Axis:

1. Historically, the Axis executed a pincer move from both sides. You will have to get your forces across the bridge of the Le Tchir River as rapidly as possible.

2. The natural focus for your first attack is of course the two Allied infantry units defending the town of Dobrinka.

3. The Allies have two Armor units up against the border at columns J and I. If you can get your Armor up there in time, you can smash them against the wall. Six dice on average will give you an extra hit for each flag. It is a very quick way to take out that half of the battle forces.

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Bastogne Corridor West

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Winter, Winter Wars

Bastogne Corridor West

Let me tell you something: Bastogne Corridor West was a knockout punch thrown in a snowstorm, and our boys delivered it with grit frozen to their faces.

In late December ’44, the Germans came crashing in from the west, hell-bent on slicing through the lifeline that kept Bastogne alive. They thought they could slam the door shut before the Third Army reached the paratroopers. Well, they were wrong.

Patton’s tankers, infantry, gunners, and flyboys stood their ground in the worst winter Europe had seen in years. The enemy hit hard—armor, guns, the works—but our men hit harder. Through drifts, smoke, and steel, they held that corridor like it was the spine of the whole damn war—because it was.

By beating back that counterattack, we kept Bastogne supplied, kept the line unbroken, and broke the enemy’s last real chance to split our forces. It was a turning point in the Bulge, and it proved once again: when the Allies are cornered, they don’t fold—they fight their way out.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

including some territorial objective medals.

Card Balance:

5 – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Winter

Location:

Belgium

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Ardennes

Codename:

it was part of the larger Battle of the Bulge (German codename: Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein, or Operation Watch on the Rhine)

Summary:

This is a reverse of the Corridor East scenario. But in this scenario both forces are pressed up against their respective borders. The scattered forests in the center of the battlefield are up for grabs to whomever can get to them first.

Objectives:

6 medals including territorial medals for each side by controlling their town objectives.

Terrain:

Winter, wooded, with open plains for fun tank battles

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 7 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 6 Infantry, 6 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allies:

1. Big picture strategy for Allies is to quickly mobilize your forces before the enemy armor moves in for attack. Get your Infantry into defensive positions in the towns of Moricy, Remagne, Lavaselle, and Sibret if you can. This will slow the Axis attack while you mobilize your own Armor.

2. You have two Artillery. If the enemy moves forward quickly, you can begin using them immediately. If they delay advancement, you can move your own Artillery forward one or two hexes. Air Power cards are played as Artillery Bombardment, so it will be good to have your Artillery in a forward position, should that card become available.

3. The Axis have the advantage of being closer to the forests. So they will be able to place their Armor in there, and blast you if you try to make a frontal assault out in the open middle section. Your best attack vector is your left flank, where your forces can move forward under the protection of the towns and forest’s on that side.

4. Wait them out in the center section until either they come out from the forests, or you have the cards for a massive assault. Of course, if you can capture the forests first, that is the way to go.

Axis:

1. Big picture strategy is to move your Infantry into the forests, and mobilize your Armor rapidly for some early hits against the enemy before they have had a chance to mobilize.

2. Because there are a lot of open spaces, and a lot of Armor, this can become very much a tank battle. So choose your section and focus of attack carefully. The center section gives your forces the most mobility.

3. Capture the center forest hexes. Then begin moving your artillery and your right flank forces forward to put pressure on the enemy.

4. Keep the pressure on your left flank. If you get close enough to the town of Sibret, in the corner, near the end of the game you can grab that as your last Medal.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL

Bastogne Corridor East

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1945, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Winter

Bastogne Corridor East

The Battle of Bastogne Corridor East was a crucial engagement during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. It occurred in late December 1944 and early January 1945, focusing on the eastern approach to the besieged town of Bastogne, Belgium.

German Objective: The German army aimed to break through U.S. defenses east of Bastogne to secure critical roads and regain momentum after their advance stalled.

Allied Response: U.S. forces, including the 101st Airborne and supporting armored divisions, mounted a fierce defense despite being surrounded and outnumbered. The weather improved, allowing Allied air support to deliver supplies and conduct airstrikes.

Outcome: The Allies successfully held the eastern corridor, repelling repeated German attacks. This defense helped maintain the Allied hold on Bastogne and contributed to the eventual German retreat, marking a turning point in the Ardennes Offensive.

General Howizer has some observations on this battle:

The Germans threw everything they had at us—tanks, infantry, the works—but our boys, including the damn fine 101st Airborne and our armor, stood their ground like a stone wall. Surrounded? Outnumbered? Hell, that just meant we could shoot in every direction. Then the skies cleared, and our flyboys swooped in with supplies and bombs, giving the Germans a taste of hell from above.

We held that eastern corridor like bulldogs on a bone, smashed every attack they sent, and kept Bastogne in Allied hands. That stand didn’t just hold the line—it broke the enemy’s back and turned the tide in the Ardennes.

Memoir 44 Details

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

5 – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Winter

Location:

Belgium

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge)

Context:

Historical

Strategy Summary

Objectives:

6 VP’s, including Exit Medals for the Axis forces

Terrain:

In this scenario, the Allies control two-thirds of the battlefield at the start. Because there are scattered forests across the field of play, it makes it difficult for the Axis to push them out. But they begin the round with superior forces, while the Allies are crammed into the back of one flank.

Troops:

Allies – 7 Infantry, 4 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 8 Infantry, 5 Armor, 1 Infantry

Allied Strategy:

1. Big Picture Strategy:

Focus on defending villages and chokepoints, leveraging defensive terrain and slowing down Axis tanks. Keep units close to key areas like the exit markers to prevent breakthroughs.

2. You have four armored units jammed together in the lower left flank. At least half of those will need to shift right to engage the enemy in the center section, to prevent Axis forces from escaping across the exit row.

Axis Strategy:

1. Big Picture Strategy:
Use tanks’ mobility to avoid prolonged battles in forests and villages. Concentrate forces for a decisive breakthrough toward the exit markers or to capture critical objectives like villages.

2. Given the preponderence of the Allied armor on your right flank, this would be your weak flank. So be careful of launching an attack on that side unless you have a tremendous set of cards for it.

3. Also note that the Allied infantry at c6 is within a two dice attack of your no-retreat armor unit. So you will need to move that away quickly.

4. You have a lot of forces on your left flank. Spend a card to get them into the action in the center section when you can.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL: