Normandy'44 via Vasal fast and slow

Purely for the novelty value...

If that is too fast for you, here is a slowed down version.

Normandy'44 via Vassal - Second Half

June 17 (turn 12) and the fighting continues in overcast conditions.

The SS Pz Corps makes an attack on the British 3rd Division that is holding a part of Caen.  They inflict heavy losses, but at the cost of the last of the Tiger tanks.

The US make four attacks against the Cherbourg perimeter (all at 3 to 1).  The Commonwealth make two attacks to the east of Caen (both at 5 to 1).  The German line east of Caen is now very fragile.  The US attacks are equally successful.  Cherbourg should fall within a few days.

Storms!  This means the Germans can replace their Tiger tank battalion (at reduced strength).  The tank components of 2nd Panzer arrive in the nick of time to mount a counterattack against the 7th Armoured breakthrough east of Caen, throwing them back.

The US launch four attacks to tighten the noose on Cherbourg.  The Commonwealth make one attack east of Caen.  The US took losses, but cleared west Cherbourg.  The Commonwealth had more success.

The weather clears just as the Germans make a massive armoured strike against the Commonwealth forces east of Caen.  Allied fighter bombers fail to interdict, but both sides suffer losses as the Allies put up a determined defence. Some of the defenders near Cherbourg are isolated and start to surrender.

Whoops!  I haven't been keeping an eye on automatic victory conditions.  Seems the Germans won an automatic victory on turn 11 when the US reached seven (three step) units eliminated or reduced to cadre.  However I could have avoided this by withdrawing the 82nd US Airborne, which I could have done and will do now.

After this sobering news of the casualty situation, the Allies settle for just four attacks, trying to take Cherbourg.  The German defenders put up a determined defence, and while losses are high to both sides, Cherbourg remains in enemy hands.

The weather remains clear.  The Germans continue their attacks east of Caen, fearful of the Allied fighter bombers roaming the skies.  The attacks fail in the face of determined allied defence.

Ammunition is brought in lieu of troops and the US make four attacks (all at 3 to 1) and the Commonwealth three attacks, trying to regain the initiative.  While suffering some losses, the Commonwealth attacks were able to push the Germans back.  The US attacks also met with success.

The weather reverts to being overcast, giving the Germans a chance.  No attacks are made, just some desperate re-positioning to reform lines.

Only two attacks. Cherbourg falls. The other attack was a bloody failure.

The weather remains overcast, allowing the Germans to make two 5 to 1 attacks east of Caen to try and recover the Orne river line.   The attacks were only partially successful and resulted in the loss of the remaining Tiger Tanks.

The US make two attacks (at 3 to 1) trying to stop the Germans from further entrenching their lines.  The Commonwealth make one attack (6 to 1) trying to strengthen the bridgehead to the east of Caen.  All attacks use massive artillery bombardments.  All attacks take losses, but at least one of the US attacks is a success as is the Commonwealth attack.

Storms!  The Tiger Tanks are repaired.  The Germans make one attack trying to diminish the bridgehead east of Caen.  It is at 3 to 1.  It fails in the face of a determined defence by British paratroopers, 7th Armoured and artillery support.

The Allies make no attacks.

The weather improves a tiny bit.  The Germans make one counterattack with their Tigers to try and pinch off the River Orne bridgehead.  It is at 5 to 1.  It succeeds, but the desired retreat stops quickly when it reaches a town.

The US make two attacks.  One at 3 to 1, the other at 2 to1 and both heavily supported by artillery.  Casualties were inflicted, but that was all.

Storms. The Germans conserve their Tiger Tanks, but rustle up an attack lead by Panthers to further the pressure on the Orne bridgehead.  The attack is at 4 to 1 and the Panthers are destroyed, but not before taking out a unit of British paratroopers.

The US fire off the last of their artillery ammunition and make two 2 to 1 attacks.  The Commonwealth make one 3 to 1 spoiling attack against the forces trying to reduce the Orne bridgehead.  The Orne attack is a bloody exchange.  The Germans withstand the US attacks, but with heavy losses.

The weather is still overcast, but there will be some air cover and supplies being landed.  Whoops, I found I had failed to bring on the 9th SS Pz Div as reinforcements.  They move on and are put in reserve.  Two attacks are made, both to pinch off the Orne bridgehead.  The 6 to 1 attack lead by the Tigers is thwarted by a determined defence by 7th Armoured, although with heavy losses.  However the 4 to 1 attack succeeds and part of the bridgehead is penetrated.  7th Armoured is in a difficult situation and the freshly arrived 9th SS is ready to strike.

The US redouble their efforts, making three attacks (two at 3 to 1 and one at 2 to 1).  The Commonwealth make two attacks, one at 7 to 1 and another at 4 to 1 (to the west of Caen).  The Commonwealth meets with success, although the bridgehead has contracted.  The US attacks inflicted casualties, making the German line quiet brittle.

Finely some clear weather.  The Germans make two 4 to 1 attacks in a last hope to cut off the Orne Bridgehead.  Allied fighter bombers stopped the Tiger Tanks, but the other German attack succeeded in pushing Commonwealth troops back, but without serious consequences.

The US make four 3 to 1 attacks trying the break the German lines.  The Commonwealth make three 3 to 1 attacks trying to capture Caen.  The Commonwealth attacks are partially successful, and one quarter of Caen is captured.  The US attacks all fail with heavy losses.

It is an Allied Victory as they control 13 VPs worth of towns/cities beyond the historical line, while the Germans just hold one.  They need 10 VPs or more for Victory.  Capturing that quarter of caen contributed 2 VPs.  The Orne Bridgehead contributed 4 VPs.  The Cadre losses are high and a few more German attacks or unsuccessful Allied attacks could trip them over (7 for the US and 5 for the Commonwealth - they finished on 5 and 3 respectively, although the US could recover by withdrawing the 101st Airborne).

Great game.

Normandy'44 via Vassal

Nothing better than one of these GMT games played on Vassal to keep one occupied during lock-down.

The Allies lost a total of 23 steps getting ashore.  Or to put it another way, only 13 units arrived without loss.  The US airborne and Canadians suffered the most.

The Germans made five attacks.  Against the US airborne they forced retreats.  The rangers are defeated at Pointe du Hoc.  The 21st Pz Div attack against the 6th Airborne was not very successful.

The Allies make twelve attacks trying to secure their beachheads.  They have success, particularly Omaha, but again take losses, particularly the British and Canadians.

The Germans make two attacks.  The 82nd Airborne were forced to retreat from St Mere Eglise. The 21st Pz Div took losses fighting the 6th Airborne.  Good news for the Allies is that they can start building their Mulberries.

The Allies make seven attacks.  They meet with modest success.

The Germans had used seven Strategic Movement Markers.  They are only allowed three!  Easily fixed at this stage.

The weather on the 8th of June is clear.  Will this save the Canadians from the onslaught of the recently arrived 12th SS Pz Div?  The 12th SS make two attacks against the Canadians.  They are both successful, even after the intervention of Allied fighter bombers.

The US make five attacks, the Commonwealth two.  All attacks were successful.

The weather remains clear.  The 12th SS makes another two attacks, but the Allied fighter bombers nullified the attacks.

The US make five attacks again and the Commonwealth two. Bayeux is captured.  All attacks are successful.

The weather is overcast.  The Germans launch one attack against the 6th Airborne.  It is a success.

Again seven attacks are made.  There is no air support.  However the attacks are largely a success with Carentan captured and part of the 12th SS Pz Div surrounded.

The weather is still overcast.  The Germans make no attacks as they concentrate on repairing their lines.  12th SS Pz Div escapes.

The US again make five attacks, but the Commonwealth launch a massive six attacks in an attempt to break into Caen.  The US attacks are going in at 3 to 1 while the Commonwealth's are at 2 to 1.  Some progress is made, but at cost.  Again the 12 SS Pz Div is in trouble.

The weather remains overcast.  The Allies remain without air support.  The Germans make one attack, it is an impressive 6 to 1 by the 12 SS Pz Div as it attempts to breakout from the Canadian grip.  The beat up Shermans are no match for two battalions of Panther tanks.  However losses are sustained by both sides.

The US again make five attacks.  The Commonwealth two.  It is very much a war of attrition.  Special Services troops performed their last action, but a foothold was achieved in Caen when the German determined defence failed.

Clear weather, just a hint of cloud.  The newly arrived 17th SS move up to attack with the 12th SS on reserve.  The 17th are successful despite Allied fighter bombers, but the 12th SS fail miserably, losing valuable panther tanks in a futile follow up attack.

The US make seven attacks as they race across to close off the peninsula.  The Commonwealth make one attack against Caen, which just produces a lot of casualties.  The US are more successful and  Cherbourg is now cutoff.

The weather is again clear with a hint of cloud. The Germans rush 2nd Pz Div to the west coast to stop the US breakthrough.  The SS Pz Divisions wait their time.

The US make four attacks, wearing down the German defenders on the peninsula.  The British 6th Airborne start to make attacks to the east of Caen.

Storms! The German panzers launch three attacks against the Commonwealth forces to the west of Caen.  The Germans drive the invaders back, inflicting losses, particularly to the 7th Armoured, but lose valuable elite tanks in the process.  They don't have the strength to follow up. In the west some German units are now trapped and out of supply, while remaining units head for Cherbourg.

I realise at this stage that I haven't been reducing the movement rate for German mechanised units during clear weather.  I don't think it has had too much impact.

The US make three attacks, clearing the way to Cherbourg and attempting to break into the perimeter.  The British 6th Airborne make an attack to the east. All attacks force the Germans to retreat.

The weather returns to being overcast.  The Germans make five attacks.  One in an attempt to reestablish the Cherbourg perimeter, one trying to straighten the line in the west and three from the panzer concentration to the west of Caen.

The US make four attacks, two of which are mopping up.  The Commonwealth makes one attack to the east of Caen.  Mostly successful.  The pressure is mounting for the Germans to reinforce east of Caen.

The game is now at the halfway point.

Normandy 44 - Turns 17 to Completion

Friday Richard and I completed the GMT Normandy 44 game.

 The weather was overcast.

With the benefit of hindsight I can say that the Commonwealth front has stabilised.

 The US front is where the action is.

Particularly the Cherbourg Peninsula.

 Attacks were still being made by the Commonwealth,

but more a war of attrition to tie up German reserves.

 Is that thin grey line ever going to break?

Finally getting progress against Valognes. 

 The weather is remaining clear.

The Commonwealth have landed all their reinforcements.

 Finally.  Cherbourg is cut off.

However time is running out.

 The weather is still clear.  

At this stage this just means the Allies have extra shifts from airpower in combats.

The British kept attacking Caen and the Canadians sploshed into the flooded river on the far left.

Progress on the sector has been better than historical.

 The race to Cherbourg has been won by the US.

Except for this part, the progress on the US sector has also been better than historical.

This was the penultimate turn.

Wind stopped play at this point.

The red line is the historical advance at the end of the game.

The items circled in yellow are the additional town/city hexes captured by the Allies

 and that give victory points.

 Same goes for the US front.

With one turn still to go, there were six places still German controlled

in the Cherbourg area.

Even if the Germans held all six, the Allies were nine up, and so an Allied victory.  It was close...  A bit more stormy weather...  A few more successful German attacks and desperate defences would have made all the difference.

We did learn as we played so we might have made some early mistakes.  Particularly the difficulty of forcing quality troops from cities and strong points.

A good game with lots of thinking.  Some interesting mechanics that take a bit getting used to.

The Allies' paratroops are key fighting troops and perhaps are used more in the game than they were historically.