Operation Market Garden (Overlord)

by GeneralHowitzer | Apr 29, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Location: Netherlands, Overlord, Overlord Game, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western

Operation Market Garden (Overlord Map)

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Operation Market Garden, fought in September 1944, was a major Allied offensive during World War II aimed at ending the war quickly by capturing key bridges in the Netherlands and entering Germany’s industrial heartland.

The operation combined a massive airborne assault (Market) by British, American and Polish paratroopers with a ground advance (Garden) by British XXX Corps. The goal was to seize bridges over several rivers, including the Rhine at Arnhem, to create a direct route into Germany.

While initial objectives were captured, the operation stalled at Arnhem, where British paratroopers faced fierce German resistance and were eventually overwhelmed after days of heavy fighting. The final bridge remained in German hands, and the ground forces failed to link up in time.

Operation Market Garden was a costly Allied failure, with heavy casualties, especially among the British 1st Airborne Division. It did not shorten the war as hoped and marked one of the last major German defensive victories in the West.

13 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 13 (!)

Axis – 3 (!)

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

Netherlands

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Codename:

Operation Market Garden

Summary:

Objectives:

13 VP’s with Temporary Majority Medal Objectives for whomever holds the majority of the 13 town hexes; plus Turn Start Temporary Uncontested Medal Objectives for the three key bridges.

Battlefield:

Countryside with many roads, towns, rivers, and forests

Troops:

Allies – 20 Infantry, 8 Armor, 1 Artillery

Axis – 17 Infanty, 7 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1.

Axis Strategy

1.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Saint-Martin and Bull Bridge

by GeneralHowitzer | Apr 28, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Location: France, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Special Weapons, Tactical

Saint-Martin and Bull Bridge

After the Allied breakout from Normandy (Operation Cobra, late July 1944), U.S. forces rapidly advanced across northern France. As they pursued retreating German forces, small but fierce battles flared up at key defensive points.
Battle Overview:
In early August 1944, elements of the U.S. Army (likely from Patton’s Third Army) encountered stiff German resistance at St. Martin and the nearby Bull Bridge, vital crossings over local waterways.
The Germans, using hastily organized rear-guard units, attempted to delay the American advance by holding these positions. Fighting involved close-quarters combat, sniper fire, artillery strikes, and quick assaults to seize the bridge intact before the Germans could demolish it.
Outcome:
U.S. forces ultimately captured St. Martin and secured Bull Bridge, helping to maintain the momentum of the Allied advance toward the Seine River.
German forces were forced into further retreat, suffering losses in men and equipment.
Significance:
Though a relatively small engagement compared to larger battles like Falaise, holding key river crossings like Bull Bridge was critical for sustaining the speed of the Allied liberation of France.

General Howitzer’s observation:
We took St. Martin and locked down Bull Bridge—small on the map, but damned vital. Every bridge we held kept our boys rolling toward the Seine and sent the Germans running with their tails between their legs, bleeding men and steel all the way.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Operation Cobra

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, plus the temporary Allied Objectives of city of St. Martin and Bull Bridge

Battlefield:

Countryside with forests and hedgerows, and a small river in the corner with Bull Bridge crossing it.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor

Axis – 6 Infantry, 3 Armor, 2 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Big picture strategy is that you can put the pressure on the enemy by both attacking units, and pushing towards the Bull Bridge medal objective. This is only a 5 medal game, so there is not a lot of time for deep strategy. You mainly just have to get into good attacking positions, and take out the enemy.

Axis Strategy

1. Big picture strategy is that you need to defend the town of St. Martin and the Bull Bridge. Historically, the bridge was completely undefended, so you need to get some forces near there to protect it from enemy capture.

2. You have an Infantry Mortar unit. With it you can ignore terrain restrictions and attack anything that comes near you with a range of 3,2,1,1. Use it to defend the town of St. Martin.

Battle Reports

Author:

Link:

Quick Placement vs. Slow Advance plus Attack

by GeneralHowitzer | Apr 13, 2025 | Memoir 44, Smackdown

What is the best way to advance against the enemy with infantry?

Quickly move two hexes to get right next to them; no attack this turn, but stronger attack next turn?

or

Move one hex, and attack; but giving them more time to attack you?

Depends on the scenario?

For example, in Pushing through Caen, the Allies only have three bridges available to cross the Orne River. They must cross it as quickly as possible to get all their troops into fighting positions; pausing to attack while still on the bridge will just jam up your forces, and prevent a more effective attack later. Much better in this case, to simply pour across the bridges with as many troops as you can. You may expect 50% casualties, [ “I can live with those odds.” ~Simpsons ] but once across, you will have the mobility to overwhelm the enemy and achieve your objectives.

On the other hand, there are other times, when you must simply move one hex, attack; move one more hex, and attack again.

Does anyone have some hard and fast principles they follow, to make this decision of Quick Placement or Slow Attacking Advance?

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

Mount Pincon

by GeneralHowitzer | Mar 28, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Countryside, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic

Mount Pinçon

“Listen up! In July ‘44, our British allies climbed that Mount Pinçon, the highest ground in Normandy, and they weren’t going to let anything stop them.

That hill was a fortress—machine guns, mortars, and some of the toughest terrain you could imagine. The 43rd Wessex Infantry Division took it step by step, pushing through hedgerows and driving the enemy out of their defenses.

This wasn’t just about one hill—it was about the whole campaign. Taking Mount Pinçon meant commanding the area, opening the door to Falaise and Paris. That’s how you win a fight—you secure the high ground and keep the enemy on the move!”

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Mediterranean

Campaign:

Normandy

Codename:

Operation Bluecoat

Summary:

Objectives:

6 VP’s, plus the Mount Pincon

Battlefield:

The terrain is covered with trees scattered across field, with the six hexes of Mount Pincon hugging one border.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor

Axis – 7 Infantry, 3 Armor

Allied Strategy:

1. Historically, the Allies are on the advance and won this battle. So in this scenario, the Allies have one extra armor, and one more Infantry than the Axis. Use your additional strength to push against the enemy forces and put them under extreme pressure.

2. Watch the corridor on your right flank. The enemy has three armor in that section, and you need to get into the forest next to it to defend. If they make it past that corridor, they will decimate your infantry forces in the rear.

Axis Strategy

1. Historically, this is a defensive scenario for the Axis, which is why you begin with one territorial medal already secured, which you must defend. But you can do great damage to the enemy on your left flank with your armor.

2. Be wary of moving your defensive Infantry in the center section, unless you have a tremendous set of attack cards. You must keep at least two units on the hilltop. If the enemy gets a Behind Enemy Lines card, they could destroy an infantry unit, and then lodge on the hill to get an additional medal, so be careful!

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

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.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link: