St. Vith, Ardennes

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Base Game, Countryside, Infantry, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic

St. Vith

The Battle of St. Vith, fought in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge, was a critical engagement on the Western Front in World War II. Located in Belgium, St. Vith was a key road junction that the German Army sought to capture to facilitate their advance into the Ardennes.

Men — what you saw at St. Vith was grit forged in steel. Outnumbered, outgunned, and half-frozen, those boys of the 106th Infantry and 7th Armored stood toe-to-toe with the damned 5th Panzer Army and said, “You’ll move through us only over our dead bodies.”

They fought for every yard of ground, every shell hole and hedgerow, and by God, they made the Germans pay for every inch. Their stand wrecked the enemy’s timetable, blunted his spearhead, and bought the time our armies needed to gather their strength for the counterblow.

When they finally withdrew on December 23rd, it wasn’t defeat — it was a tactical victory paid in blood and courage. St. Vith was no retreat; it was a wall of American willpower that helped break Hitler’s last gamble in the west.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

Belgium

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Ardennes

Context:

Historical

Summary:

Objectives:

6 VP’s

Battlefield:

The St. Vith scenario has a large central battlefield surrounded by forests blocking access to each of the flanks, and a long ridge of impassible mountain hexes (the Prumerberg) across the back of the field. It makes for intense warfare of armor, infantry and artillery battling it out for dominance in the center.

Troops:

Allies – 7 Infantry, 6 Armor

Axis – 10 Infantry, 4 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy

1. The Allies are on the defensive here, receiving only 4 cards vs. the Axis’ 5 cards. You have sandbags; use them, and don’t be too quick to move out from them.

2. The center section with the impassable mountains behind and the enemy artillery in front is kind of a kill-zone unless you are prepared for it. Your best assault tactics may be found on the flanks.

Axis Strategy

1. Your forces are bunched together making for many no-retreat situaions. Move your Infantry into the woods as soon as possible.

2. Note that the enemy has their backs to the wall with the impassable mountains behind them. Once your infantry are deployed in the woods, use your armor and artillery to hit any forces in the center section. Most of your hits will be enhanced by another 17% because of the no-retreat situation in which the Allied forces find themselves.

3. Note that although the Allies have a 6-4 armor advantage, their two armor in the back center section will be slow to get into the action. If you can hit or eliminate one or more of the forward armor units before the others come into play, it will even out the battle for you.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

45%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Slopes of Mount Austen (Gaudalcanal)

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1943, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario

Slopes of Mount Austen

The Battle of the Slopes of Mount Austen (December 1942–January 1943) was a critical engagement during the Guadalcanal Campaign in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Mount Austen, a strategic high point on Guadalcanal, was vital for controlling the surrounding terrain and protecting Henderson Field, a key Allied airbase.

The battle involved intense fighting between U.S. forces, primarily the Americal Division, and entrenched Japanese defenders, including the elite Ichiki and Kawaguchi Detachments. The Japanese had fortified positions on the rugged slopes, including a stronghold known as the Gifu.

The fight for Mount Austen was no Sunday stroll—it was a slugfest in choking jungle against an enemy dug in like ticks and mean as hell. The Japs were camouflaged, stubborn, and ready to die where they stood. But our boys hammered them with infantry, blasted them with artillery, and pounded them from the air until every inch was ours. By mid-January ’43, we owned that mountain and the ground around it—breaking their grip on Guadalcanal and shoving the whole damned campaign toward victory.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Jungle

Location:

Gaudalcanal

Year:

1943

Theater:

Pacific Theater

Campaign:

Guadalcanal Campaign

Codename

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s

Battlefield:

The battlefield is pretty wide open, except for three hilly hexes spread across all three sections.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 2 Armor, 3 Artillery

Axis – 9 Infantry, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. The right flank has no artillery defending, so it presents a possible path for attack for the Allies.

2. The Allies have three artillery. This is a powerful assist to the Marines. Use the artillery to soften the Japanese forces. The goal is to knock out at least one figure per hex, in order to elminate the Seishin Kyoiku advantage.

3. Get your armor into fire positions as soon as you can. The open pathway between the jungle hexes will provide you with the quickest access to the enemy.

Axis Strategy:

1. Make use of your artillery on the right flank. There are a couple of Allied units with no retreat, which you can hit with 2D attacks.

2. You have a couple of infantry units that are well behind the field of play. Bring them forward so that they can have some fun too!

Classic Battlefield Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

63%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Sidi Rezegh Airfield

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1941, Armor, Desert, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Mediterranean Theater, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic

Sidi Rezegh Airfield

“Listen up, boys! Back in November ‘41, the battle for Sidi Rezegh Airfield was one hell of a dust-up in the North African sands. The South Africans and the British 7th Armoured Division—those Desert Rats—were gunning to knock the Axis on their heels and bust open that siege at Tobruk.

The Germans and their Italian pals weren’t about to give up that airfield without a fight. Our boys slammed into those anti-tank guns and Panzers like a battering ram, and at first, they made some headway. But Rommel, that desert fox, came roaring back with his own counterattack, and it turned into a slugfest—blood, sweat, and tanks grinding it out in the sand.

In the end, the Brits had to pull back from the airfield, but they gave Rommel a bloody nose and knocked his supply lines out of whack. And don’t forget—Operation Crusader didn’t end there. That airfield scrap was part of the bigger plan that finally lifted the siege of Tobruk and turned the tables in North Africa.

So remember this, men: sometimes you take a few lumps, but you keep punching, and that’s how you win the war!”

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Desert

Location:

North Africa

Year:

1941

Theater:

Mediterranean

Campaign:

Operation Crusader

Summary:
This desert scenario has a roadway passing through two sections cutting at an angle, blocked by escarpments. This is a tank battle ‘mano-a-mano’ and in many cases the attacker with the early momentum can gain the upper-hand and win.

Objectives:
This is a 5 VP game, and since it is a tank battle will go very quickly. The Axis begins with one point already, thanks to their control of the airfiled. 2.

Battlefield:
The field of play is all desert, with an escarpment and road running at any angle through much of the right flank. The small opening between escarpments is where the Axis will have to attack. The British can attempt to use the road for rapid progress towards the top of the map where the airfield lies.

Troops:
The Axis begin with an armor and mobility advantage to their side. The British also have no infantry, so some of infantry command cards will be converted to sigle armor unit commands.

Allied Strategy:

1. Allies need to remember that because of North African Desert rules, your armor can only move two hexes, while Axis can move three. Watch your armor placement carefully to avoid a series of close assault attacks.

2. The Allied armor begins in a congested formation with several units having no retreat options. This places the Allies in a position, since they move first of attacking the Axis armor immediately, before they are attacked – while they are still pinned against the back border – by the three-hex moving Axis units. So even if the card do not allow you to move a lot of units, you simply must attack and get your forces forward.

3. The British will need to attack an overwhelming tank force which has greater mobility than them (3 hex moves vs. 2 hex moves). In order to do this, it may help to threaten an attack on the airfield, thus diverting some Axis armor resources towards defense of said airfield.

Axis Strategy:

1. Axis begins with one victory medal for the airfield. As long as they hold the airfield, they keep the medal. So part of Axis’ considerations and planning must not only include the outright attack on the Allies in the sand, but also thought must be given to defending the airfield. Do not allow the Allies to distract you, while they prepare for an assault against it.

Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

28%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Securing the Flank

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1944, Armor, Desert, Medal Objectives, Mediterranean Theater, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical

Securing the Flank

The battle “Securing the Flank” near Caen, France, was part of the Allied efforts during the Normandy Campaign of World War II in the summer of 1944. Following the D-Day landings, the Allies sought to expand their beachheads and secure strategic positions to enable further advances into German-occupied France. The fighting around Caen was marked by intense battles in open fields, villages, and bocage (hedgerow) terrain, which slowed Allied progress and caused heavy casualties. Despite these challenges, the Allies ultimately succeeded in securing the area, paving the way for the liberation of Normandy and the advance toward Paris.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 4

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Countryside

Location:

France

Year:

1944

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

Normandy Invasion

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, including two temporary Medal Objectives

Battlefield:

The center of this battlefield has a range of hills facing a three hex town with a Objective medal for the Allies. Control of the center will determine success in this scenario.

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry, 4 Armor

Axis – 7 Infantry, 3 Armor, 1 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. The Allies have a temporary medal objective in the town of Fontenay le Pesnel in the top center section. So grab the hilly ridge just below it, to launch the attack. As you attack the Axis forces around the battle field, you can continue to push up into the city, forcing the enemy to defend on multiple fronts.

2. Your two infantry in the right section are open and undefended. Get them into the forest hexes as soon as you can. The Axis have a couple of armor stuck behind hedgerows so you have a bit of time to secure your forces.

3. Because of the enemy artillery, the left flank is your weak flank. The large open countryside is dangerous territory for your troops to try to cross with the enemy infantry sandbagged in the woods, combined with the artillery.

Axis Strategy:

1. Your armor in the lower left flank needs to get into action as soon as possible. It will take one move just to move them into a position where they can respond to enemy threats. Do that at your first opporunity.

2. Once you have your armor in place on the left flank, your next concern is your right flank, which can become overwhelmed if the enemy is aggressive and has the right set of cards.

3. Move your artillery on your right flank forward when you can. This will give you 2D attack on the front two hexes of the center hill. This will mute the Axis attack against your fortified infantry in the center.

4. Protect the city of Fontenay le Pesnel. Do not let the enemy troops get close enough to hide in the city. If they control two hexes, you lose the medal to them.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL

Schwammenauel Dam

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1945, Armor, Countryside, Infantry, Location: Germany, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Terrain Exp Pack, Theater: Western

Schwammenauel Dam

SchwamDam_center

SchwamDam_Dam1

SchwamDam_full

SchwamDam_left

SchwamDam_right

Historical Summary

We didn’t fight our way to the Schwammenauel Dam for scenery — we took it because it was choking our advance. The Germans thought they could hold the Roer hostage by flooding the valley and buying themselves time. That was a mistake. American infantry went in, took that dam under fire, and shut the valve on German delay tactics. Once the dam was secured, Operation Grenade could roll forward without interference, and the Roer was crossed on our terms. That action tore down the last real barrier in the Rhineland and put our armies back on the march straight into the heart of Germany — exactly where we intended to go.

~~ General Howitzer

VP’s:

5

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Mountains & Countryside

Location:

Germany

Year:

1945

Theater:

Western Front

Campaign:

Allied Rhineland Campaign

Summary

This is an exciting scenario with some unique features which recreate actual events on the battlefield in 1945.

Objective:

Six Medals will win, but the principle objective for the Allies is to preserve the two dams, Schwammenauel and Urft. Should either of them get successfully sabotaged by the Germans, and the Allies will likely lose the scenario.

Battlefield:

It is rugged mountainous terrain encircled by a river, mountains, and forests, with a dam at either end of the River Roer.

Troops:

Allies: 10 Infantry, 2 Armor

Axis: 8 Infantry

Special Rules:

Sabotaging a Dam – each of the two dams require a total of 4 stars to be destroyed. At the start of every turn, no matter what cards they hold in their hand, the Axis player rolls two dice, one of each dam. However, the dice will only count and apply to a dam if an Axis unit is on the actual dam hex. For each Star rolled, if the dam is occupied by Axis forces, a star icon is placed on that dam. Once a total of four stars accrue, the dam is destroyed, and the Axis player receives 4! victory medals per dam.

Allied Strategy:

1. Big Picture Strategy: Destroy the enemy or capture the dams before they are sabotaged. Your best option, historically is to capture the Urft Dam first.

2. You have two Armor units, but given the rugged terrain, they will be almost useless to you. If you waste your time trying to get them out from behind the mountain, you will be giving the Axis time to sabotage the dam.

3. Your paratroopers have landed in a dangerous spot, pressed up against the mountain wall as they are. Move them forward to attack ASAP, before they are destroyed.

4. Your right flank is your strongest at the start. Move quickly forward to overwhelm the enemy and secure the Urft Dam.

Axis Strategy:

1. Big Picture Strategy: the goal is to delay the Allies (delaying tactics) as long as possible so that you can blow the dam(s). This will take at least four turns, but in reality, much longer. If you successfully sabotage one dam, (worth 4 medals!), you only need to take out one other Allied unit to win. Should you blow both dams, you are guaranteed a win. (Historically, the Germans were able to blow the discharge valves of the Schwammenauel Dam and flood the Roer River.

2. The Dam provides no battle protection. The only reason to stay on the hex is to attempt to sabotage the dame. But once the Allies get close, keep some forces in the woods to attack and slow down the enemy.

3. The Allied Paratroopers are easy prey, backed up against the mountain. Take them out quickly before they can attack your forces in the town of Kommerscheit.

Author:

Days of Wonder

URL