Counter-Attack at Arras

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1940, Armor, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Western

Counter-Attack at Arras

The Counterattack at Arras occurred on May 21, 1940, during the Battle of France in World War II. It was a British and French counteroffensive aimed at halting the rapid German advance during the Blitzkrieg.

Launched by British forces (the 1st Army Tank Brigade and elements of the 50th Infantry Division) and supported by French infantry, the attack targeted German positions around Arras, where General Erwin Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division was advancing. The Allies hoped to disrupt German momentum and relieve pressure on retreating Allied forces.

The counterattack initially achieved surprise, with British Matilda tanks proving highly effective against German anti-tank weapons. However, the Germans quickly regrouped, bringing in heavy artillery and air support to repel the attack. The Allies were eventually forced to withdraw due to superior German numbers and coordination.

General Howitzer summarizes the battle’s impact:
The counterattack didn’t win the day, but it sure kicked sand in the Germans’ gears and bought the time we needed to pull our boys out at Dunkirk. It was a hard lesson in early tank warfare—fast and mean, but still full of cracks if you knew where to hit.

Background

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

France

Year:

1940

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Battle of France

Codename:

Operation Frankforce

Summary:
This scenario has a set of hills on one flank, and a row of forests on the other flank, with a three-hex town in the center. It is around these obstacles that the battle ensues.

Objectives:

Six VP’s, so strategy comes into play; not just tactics.

Battlefield:

Countryside with the three-hex town of Arras in the center.

Troops:

Allies, 6 Infantry, 5 Armor, 1 Artillery;

Axis, 9 Infantry, 6 Armor,1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Axis is very close to Agny, and may secure it quickly. So use your flanks to provide more lucrative avenues of attack. The ridgeline of trees on your left flank give your infantry, and especially your armor great cover to attack the enemy. On your right flank, secure it with both infantry and armor. Don’t leave infantry behind.

2. Move your artillery forward one row to have better hit strength on the entire town of Arras.

Axis Strategy:

1. Your Axis forces begin the scenario very close to Agny. Seize control of the town so that the enemy will have to pay dearly to gain it.

2. There is a path between the forest on your right flank. Seize the town at the end of it, to challenge any forces which may attempt to come through the pass. And as the cards allow, use it yourself to attack the enemy armor at the end of that pass.

3. Move your artillery forward at least one row to gain more dominance in the center section.

4. Remember that as Axis in this scenario, blitz rules are in effect, so you can use a Recon card to call in an airstrike against adjacent units. This is most useful in the beginning when the Allied forces are still lined up agains the back border. The Axis airpower only drops one dice per hex, but since it is a six VP game, this kind of softening up of the enemy in the beginning can pay dividends later on.

Author:

Days of Wonder / RBorg

URL

Matanikau River (Guadalcanal)

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1942, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Location: Pacific, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Pacific

Matanikau River

The battle near the Matanikau River in 1942 was a key engagement during the Guadalcanal Campaign in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It involved several clashes between the United States Marines and Imperial Japanese forces as the Marines sought to secure their perimeter around Henderson Field, a critical airstrip on Guadalcanal.

Listen up. September to November ’42, the Matanikau was the hinge of Guadalcanal. The enemy tried to shove our Marines into the sea; our answer was simple—cross the river, hit hard, and keep hitting. We used infantry up front, artillery and naval guns on call, and fighters overhead to hammer every position that dared resist. Result: their strength bled away, our foothold stiffened, and the initiative swung to us. Lesson—seize the crossing, smash the flank, keep air on the target, and don’t stop until the island is yours.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Japanese – 6

Complexity:

3

Conditions

Location:

Guadalcanal

Year:

1942

Theater:

Pacific Theater

Campaign

Summary:

This scenario is pretty much an infantry battle with a bit of artillery support.

Objectives:

Five VP’s, plus Exit hexes

Battlefield:

The Matanikau River cuts across the battlefield and presents a challenge for both forces as they try to maneuver and attack one another. And there are series of beach hexes along one flank which provides a rapid transit path for attacks.

Troops:

Allies – Infantry 7, Artillery 3

Axis – 10 Infantry, 2 Armor, 2 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Your forces are outnumbered by the Japanese, so unless you have the cards for it, stay behind the sandbags.

2. You have three artillery, so use them whenever you can.

3. Protect the backrow from any Japanese forces that may try to escape.

4. Remember that as Marines, you get the ‘Gung Ho’ advantage, so every section card allows you to move one extra unit than the card states. Remember that advantage, and use it – you will need it.

Axis Strategy:

1. You have a strong presence on the right flank. If you get the cards, you should push forward and take control.

2. If you are able to advance all the way across the battlefield, you may be able to help some troops escape.

3. You have armor and the Allies do not, so move them in and make them feel your firepower! Armor are good candidates for escape across the back line. So if you move in close, you may be able to attack and then escape.

4. You also have two artillery, so if you can move them forward, you will be able to throw 2D attacks across the river.

Battle Reports (percentage of Allied victories):

67%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Capturing the Crossing

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

Capturing the Crossing

“Capturing the Crossing” refers to a World War II battle during the Normandy campaign, focused on securing a key bridge over the Odon River in late June to early July 1944.

Brief Summary:

Context:
Part of Operation Epsom, launched by British forces to outflank Caen and push westward. The Odon River valley was a natural defensive barrier held by the Germans.
The Battle:
British units, fought to capture and hold the bridge crossings over the Odon River. German SS Panzer divisions mounted fierce counterattacks to repel the advance and regain control.
Tactics:
The British used coordinated infantry, armor, and artillery to secure the crossings under heavy fire and poor weather conditions. Engineers rushed to reinforce and repair bridges under fire.
Outcome:
British forces successfully captured and held key crossings, enabling a bridgehead south of the Odon. However, they faced continued German resistance and did not achieve a full breakthrough.
Significance:
The battle was part of the slow Allied grind toward Caen, tying down German armor and paving the way for later operations like Goodwood and Cobra.

General Howitzer’s Summary:

“Boys, let me tell you about the push across the Odon in the summer of ‘44. It was part of Operation Epsom, the British aiming to outflank Caen and punch westward. The Odon River valley was no picnic—it was a natural fortress that the Germans, including those damn SS Panzer divisions, were ready to die defending.

The British didn’t flinch—they threw in everything they had: infantry, tanks, artillery, and those hard-as-nails engineers. They fought like devils in the mud and the rain, grabbing those bridge crossings under heavy fire and refusing to let go.

The Germans counterattacked like rabid dogs, but the British held firm. They didn’t smash through to Caen, but they sure as hell got a bridgehead south of the Odon, and that put Jerry on the back foot. That bridgehead was the key to bigger things—Goodwood and Cobra wouldn’t have happened without it.

So remember, men: sometimes it ain’t about the breakthrough—it’s about digging in, holding on, and bleeding the enemy dry!”

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity: 3

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

The Battle for Caen

Codename:

Operation Epsom

Summary:

Objectives:

6 VP’s, and a territorial objective medal for the Allies

Terrain:

Countryside with forests, hills, some villages and the Odon River.

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry, 5 Armor, 1 Artillery

Axis – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Your left flank is strong. Your right flank is weak. The center section is more balanced. You have a bit more firepower, but the enemy has well protected Infantry in hedgerows. You will need to take up secure positions in the woods facing the enemy and begin to degrade their defensive positions before you launch a frontal attack.

2. Your artillery in the left corner should be moved forward into the nearby town to increase its effectiveness.

3. Be aware that an armor battle from your position at L3 to j6 is likely to be lost due to the fact that the enemy Armor is sandbagged. You will need to bring in your additional Armor at i2 into the fray to even out the battle.

Axis Strategy:

1. The Odon River presents a mobility challenge for the armor units behind it, forcing them to angle to the left flank or cross the bridge before they can engage the enemy in the center or right flanks. You will need to get them mobile as soon as you can.

2. The enemy has you at a disadvantage with slightly more Infantry and Armor, and one additional card, thus increasing their responsiveness. You will need to compensate with strategic care and precision, and not waste resources on ill-conceived attacks.

3. Your right flank is weak. Your left flank is strong. The center section is a little more balanced. Allies have a bit more firepower, but your sandbagged infantry will be hard to dislodge.

Author.

URL

Bug River

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

Bug River

The Battle of the Bug River was the opening crack of thunder in the great storm called Operation Barbarossa, June 1941. When the Germans hurled their legions eastward, the Bug River stood before them—not just a line of water, but the first Soviet shield guarding their vast frontier. That river marked the edge of two empires, a tense, steel-cold border between Nazi-occupied Poland and the Red giant beyond.

But rivers don’t stop armies with purpose. At dawn, the German assault troops slammed across the Bug with the kind of ruthless precision that defines a well-oiled war machine. Pioneers threw down bridges under fire, infantry surged across in rubber boats, and armored columns rumbled forward the moment the crossings held. The Soviets, caught between disbelief and the sheer violence of the assault, fought hard in pockets, but they were hit before they could fully wake to the scale of the invasion.

What happened on the Bug wasn’t just a crossing—it was the first thrust of a colossal campaign, a declaration that the Germans intended to carve their way deep into the Soviet heartland. The river was supposed to be a barrier. Instead, it became the starting line for one of the most brutal struggles in human history.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 3
Axis – 6

Allies are seriously impaired on their card management options in this scenario.

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

Russia

Year:

1941

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign:

Operation Barbarossa

Codename

Summary:

The Axis are making an attack against a fairly well-defended Russian army. It is a countrside terrain with forests and bunkers. There is also a supply train which can drop off additional defenders if it gets to its depot safely. This adds an interesting element to the battlefield game.

Objectives:
There are five VP’s in this scenario. There is also a bridge medal objective for the Axis to attain. Proper hits on the train will also gain VP’s for the Axis.

Battlefield:
The Russians begin with solid control of two sections. In fact their armor are poised in field bunkers only two hexes from Axis infantry which have no retreat available to them. The train tracks cut across the field also impairing movement. The Bug River weaves across the backline in Axis territory, hampering movement and preventing retreats.

Troops:
The Axis possess 6 infantry, 4 armor, and 2 artillery.
The Russians have 5 infantry, 3 armor, no artillery. Plus possibly two more infantry if the train reaches its destination.

Allied Strategy:

1. As the Russian Allied commander, you need to seek your VP’s. You need 5 and there are six enemy Infantry, which you can target initially. Then as the battle develops, see if any armor or artillery become candidates for attack.

2. Note that the artillery is pressed up against the backwall with no retreat, so you can seek the chance to hit it with a three-dice armor attack. Your odds will be 33% per dice roll, vs. 16%. Take the chance to hit no-retreat artillery whenever you can. A Barrage card early in the game comes in very handy.

3. Recognize that your armor in the field bunkers are going to get quickly overwhelmed by the larger Axis forces coming your way. The question is how much you can make them pay for it, before they do so.

Axis Strategy:

1. You have four infantry hexes which have no retreat and are a mere two hexes away from enemy armor in bunkers. You should attack them immediately and quickly move in on them to maximize your attack. You may be able to neutralize one of the armor units before they do a lot of damage. With a card like Move Out! you will be able to advance four infantry immediately and nearly surround both field bunkers for a series of two-dice attacks. In just a couple of turns the enemy should be eliminated.

2. Do not let the Allied Transport Train get to the train station. Because once they do, they will unload additional forces to fight.

3. Use your two Artillery as much as possible to attack the enemy Armor in the field bunkers.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL

Breakout to Lisyanka

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

Breakout to Lisyanka

The Breakout to Lisyanka was a key engagement during World War II, fought in early 1944 on the Eastern Front. The battle saw Soviet forces encircling a large German force. The Germans attempted to break out from the encirclement to link up with their reinforcements near Lisyanka, with fierce fighting as they sought to escape Soviet attacks.

While some German units managed to break through, the escape was costly, with heavy losses in men and equipment. The Soviet success significantly weakened German capabilities in Ukraine, contributing to the broader Soviet advance in the region. The battle is often highlighted as a key moment in the Soviet efforts to liberate occupied Ukraine.

General Howizer summarizes it this way:

The Breakout to Lisyanka was a blood-soaked slugfest where the Soviets slammed the trap shut, and while some of the doomed Germans clawed their way out, they left behind a graveyard of men and machines—crippling their grip on Ukraine and fueling the Red steamroller westward.

7 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Winter

Location:

Ukraine

Year:

1944

Theater:

Eastern Front

Campaign

Codename

Summary:

The goal for the Axis is to breakthrough, as the name implies, over the hilly ridge and across the river exits. For Allies, the goal is to of course prevent this. The forces begin in a non-symmetrical dispersion, which makes for a fun scenario.

Objectives:

7 VP’s, plus the Axis have Exit Medals they can try for.

Battlefield:

There is a ridge of hills going across the center, plus some ravines to provide a bit of cover to infantry.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 4 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 9 Infantry, 3 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. As the Allies you must defend against three objective medal locations, the two-hex towns of Golyadi, and Nekrasino, each worth one VP, there is also the frozen river exits along the bottom of the battlefield. Your objectives however, are simply to destroy six enemy units. There are seven enemy infantry units to target and some armor and artillery, if they give you the chance.

2. Be aware that the Axis have Combat Engineers who can attack your infantry in the trenches at close range – with no combat restrictions. So make it one of your early goals to finish them off.

3. Make good use of your artillery in the middle section to defend your troops in the trenches.

Axis Strategy:

1. Attack with your frontline infantry right away, to create some movement space for your armor, and also to neutralize the nearby enemy who will quickly attack from close range.

2. Try to avoid your right flank which is packed with enemy forces ready to pounce with both armor, infantry, and artillery. You may have better luck on your left flank which has less enemy artillery power.

3. You can also quickly overwhelm the enemy infantry at i6, to provide a proving ground for your forces to prepare for the breakout.

4. Remember that if you get any of your Infantry across the Exit hexes, you will earn two! Medals per Infantry (and one for Armor). So if you get a Behind Enemy Lines, this will provide you with the distance to move in, attack the enemy, and then quickly escape out the back row for an easy two medals.

Classic Battle Reports:

(percentage of Allied victories)

52%

Battle Reports:

Author:

Link: