FOW D-Day Mega Game

June 28, 2019 | NoDice_Dane | Flames of War, Gaming

Embarking on a Great Crusade D-Day Mega-Game

The Huntsville Historical Gamers gathered on 8 June to recreate the Allied Invasion of Europe. Operation Overlord was the codename for the Allied invasion of northwest Europe. The assault phase of Operation Overlord, was known as Operation Neptune. Operation Neptune began on D-Day (6 June 1944) and ended on 30 June 1944. By this time, the Allies had established a firm foothold in Normandy. Operation Overlord also began on D-Day, and continued until Allied forces crossed the River Seine on 19 August 1944.

The D-Day Mega-Game was conducted using the recently released Fortress Europe LW book.

German Forces: 7. Armee Oberkommando

  • 352nd Infantry Division, Grenadier Regiment 914
  • 352nd Infantry Division, Grenadier Regiment 916
  • 709th Infantry Division
  • 716th Infantry Division
  • Be?nouville Garrison, Grenadier Regiment 736

Allied Forces: 21st Army Group

  • US: 4th Infantry Division
  • US: 1st Infantry Division
  • US: 82nd Airborne Division
  • UK: 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
  • UK: 6th Airborne Division

The Battle Map

Turn 1
Board 1 (Utah): Pre-Invasion Naval Bombardment from the USS Twickenham was successful in killing five Grenadier rifle-machine gun teams. The confident trained 4th Infantry Division first wave landed, rough tides caused some of the landing craft to flounder in the waves. German Pillboxes and HMG nests riddled the landing beach with machine gun fire. The landing craft bearing the mortar platoon ashore landed in front of a German HMG nest, killing three of the four mortar teams.

Board 2 (Omaha): Pre-Invasion Naval Bombardment was successful in waking up the Germans on the beach and letting them know, the invasion was about to begin. It was now time for them to proceed to their battle positions. One of the leFH18 artillery was knocked out of action. The Landing Beach had pre-ranged in artillery targets exactly where the LCVPs of the assaulting 1st Infantry Division were landing. Also landing in the first wave was a platoon of Shermans, which were immediately employed in digging out the Grenadiers from Regiment 916.

Board 3 (Gold): Pre-Invasion Naval bombardment was successful in killing five Grenadier rifle teams and pinning one of the 88mm fortifications. The first assault wave of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division landed in rough seas, forcing some of its landing craft to slow and not land with the others. Shermans from the 7th Royal Dragoons landed with the infantry. The operational German 88, knocked out one of the advancing Shermans. German HMG nests opened fire on the exposed Tommies with devastating effect.

Board 4 (Sainte-Me?re-E?glise): The 82nd Airborne landed scattered, on the outskirts of the city, without injuries. MSGOAP (Multiple Small Groups of Angry Paratroopers) formed into fighting platoons and maneuvered into Sainte-Me?re-E?glise under the cover of darkness.

Board 5 (Pegasus Bridge):
D Company of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, commanded by Major Howard, had trained long and hard for this moment. Now, as the lead the first Horsa glider landed close to the bridge, He was in the fight. Soldiers of First Platoon were within 25 yards of the Objective, Pegasus Bridge.

Turn 2
Board 1 (Utah): The second assault wave of the 4th Infantry Division lands. Rough tides again delay part of the landing force causing congestion at the beach. Offshore bombardment from the USS Twickenham fails to silence the German coastal fortifications. Infantry and armor press forward to clear, wire, minefields, and Czech hedgehogs as the advancing Infantry take cover at the sea wall. The Infantry that was still exposed on the open beach, took considerable casualties from German HMG fire. The remaining mortar team was KIA.

Board 2 (Omaha): The second assault wave lands behind the first, and concentrates on the sea wall breach point. German105mm artillery greeted the newly arriving Amerikans. 1st Division Shermans expanded the beach-head, takes out two German HMG bunkers, and advances inland into town. US infantry continue to reduce the barbed wire and minefields along the sea wall, allowing follow-on waves easier beach egress.

Board 3 (Gold): The second assault wave lands. Motor Rifles and Universal Carriers are now adding much needed Bren Gun support to keep Jerry’s head down. German HMG fire rips through the first landing platoon, eliminating any remaining survivors.

Board 4 (Sainte-Me?re-E?glise): First Battle of the Church: Though the German defenders had heard the steady drone of Amerikanisch Flugzeuge overhead, they were watching the local residents putting out fires caused by Allied bombing. The Amerikanisch Fallschirmja?ger burst forward from nearby hedges outside of the church and assaulted the German defenders inside of the Church. Hauptman Jesionowski received one radio report from his first platoon leader, that they were taking small arms fire before the radio went silent. The Amerikans were everywhere, had taken the church and killed all, or part of his first platoon.

Board 5 (Pegasus Bridge): After hearing the glider aircraft crashing into the wire obstacles and trees nearby, the few teams that were on watch from the Be?nouville Garrison start firing at the Tommies spoiling out of the gliders.

Turn 3
Board 1 (Utah): Third wave of the 4th Infantry stormed ashore into a hail of German machine gun fire. The USS Twickenham continued to target German coastal positions. Rough tides again delay part of the landing force. Infantry, now over the seawall and through the minefield, flanks one of the German fortifications. US casualties continue to grow, but the Assault Company is making good progress as it gets off the deadly beach.

(M36s stand-in for M10s)
Board 2 (Omaha): Third assault wave of 1st Infantry Division lands under an awful bombardment of German 105mm Artillery. The Assistant Division Commander calls in NGFS to silence the German Artillery. German HMG fire from the town engages the US infantry climbing over the sea wall. The Shermans from the second wave flank left of the main breach point and attempt to flank the German R35 Stu?tzpunkt

Board 3 (Gold): The third assault wave lands, including the second platoon of 7th Royal Dragoons Shermans, and a platoon of Churchill’s from the Royal Tank Regiment. One of the heavy Churchill tanks gets stuck in the soft sand while disembarking. The 75mm cannon from the Royal Dragoons begin to systematically take out the remaining beach fortifications. Northumbrian Infantry, unable to move forward, dug in on the beach. The German 88 knocks out another of the advancing Shermans. German HMG fire wipes out the exposed motor company on the beach “Wie so viele fliegen”.

Board 4 (Sainte-Me?re-E?glise): The 82nd Airborne also attempted to takeover a farmhouse at the opposite side of town from the Church, but by now, the Germans were fully aware that the invasion had started, and was not surprised by the Amerikans. Chainsaw fire from German MG34 teams dropped US paratroopers like cordwood. The American Paratroopers were forced to fall back.

Board 5 (Pegasus Bridge):
Second Platoon of D Coy, Ox and Bucks, expand the security perimeter of the objective by assaulting the Be?nouville Garrison HMG team. The assault was short but vicious hand to hand fighting resulted in the Ox and Bucks in control of the building.

Turn 4
Board 1 (Utah): Concerned that his troops are now in danger-close proximity of the NGFS from the Twickenham , the US Commander calls for the ship’s guns to lift, and shift fires to bombard the east side of the town and beyond. The fourth wave of assault troops lands, bringing ashore much needed US artillery support. Red Tail P-47s scream over the German defensive positions, finding the Grenadier mortar platoon with their deadly 500 pound bombs. Local Panzer reserves from the 719 Panzerja?ger Abteilung engage the Amerikanisch Shermans entering the town, knocking out two Shermans.

Board 2 (Omaha): The hard-charging 1st Infantry Division Armor and Infantry drive inland to secure their D-Day Objective. Grenadiers in town and behind stone walls, continue to attrite the advancing US infantry. Marders, from the 352. Panzerja?ger Abteilung recently arriving from reserve, engage the US Shermans entering the town, bailing three. German 105mm artillery continues to fire on the fresh waves of US troops landing on Omaha Beach, inflicting heavy casualties. The now irate, 1st Division ADC again calls for NGFS to: “Silence those damn German guns”.

Board 3 (Gold): Assault wave four lands. The 7th Royal Dragoons Headquarters finally lands, along with 105mm Royal Artillery. Northumbrian Infantry clear wire and minefield obstacles and breach the sea wall. 75mm Sherman fire takes out the remaining German R35 Stu?tzpunkt . Local German panzer reserve Sturmgeschu?tz Abteilung arrives near the approach beach and engages the Tommies at the maximum effective range, taking out one of the M7 Priests. The 88mm beach fortification takes out a second M7 priest finding its stored ammunition compartment, resulting in a massive explosion.

Board 4 (Sainte-Me?re-E?glise): Battle of the Farm House: The German Grenadier Platoon Leader knew there could not have been many of the Amerikanisch Fallschirmja?ger left alive in the farmhouse. After setting up one of his MG34 teams to suppress whatever fire was still coming from the Amerikans, Leutnant von Gruber led his platoon to assault the farmhouse and clear out the Amerikan gangsters. The 82nd Infantry Platoon Leader had different ideas about residency in the farmhouse. However, after several rounds of hand-to-hand melee, the Germans, on the verge of breaking off, finally cleared the Americans.

Board 5 (Pegasus Bridge):
D Coy of Ox and Bucks, now holding both ends of Pegasus Bridge, occupies the entrenchments and fortifications formerly occupied by the Germans.
Looking at his watch, Major Howard thinks to himself…..Hold until relieved, hold until relieved.

Turn 5
Board 1 (Utah): The floundering landing craft gain the upper hand in their battle with the riptide and navigate ashore, allowing much-needed combat power to rejoin their units. The rapidly advancing 4th Infantry, capture some of the seaside villas in this otherwise picturesque resort town. US M3 75mm gun carriers move up to fire point-blank at German defenders in the buildings. The US now contest their D-Day objective. Panzerja?gers continue to engage the lead Amerikan Shermans, adding two more kill- rings onto their KwK L/48 barrels.

Board 2 (Omaha): The US Armor Commander calls forward the recently arrived M10 tank destroyer platoon to engage the Marders on the opposite side of town. The Shermans thus far have been ineffective. The Marders knock out another Sherman and bail out two more. A nearby SdKfz 10/4 Batterie, from the Flak Korps, was pressed into frontline service to engage the advancing US infantry.

Board 3 (Gold): The last assault wave containing the M10s are still in route to the landing beaches. The 7th Royal Dragoons have cleared the sea wall and are driving inland, now contesting their D-day objective. Support from Northumbrian Infantry in Universal Carriers engages German Grenadiers entrenched in nearby woods. A Sherman takes out a German 88mm Fortification. The German Sturmgeschu?tz Oberleutnant engages the Tommie UCs racing down the Hauptstraße and eliminates that threat to the Grenadier Platoon.

Board 4 (Sainte-Me?re-E?glise): Cursing into his radio handset, Captain Hastings lost contact with his second platoon on the other side of town. He, and the remainder of his first platoon were now on their own until the rest of his Parachute Infantry Battalion joined him in town, or the 4th Infantry Division coming inland from Utah Beach linked up with him.

Board 5 (Pegasus Bridge): Major Hans Schmidt, Kommandant of the Be?nouville Garrison has the full garrison on alert and is in route to find out what has happened on the bridge.

Turn 6
Board 1 (Utah): The US M7105mm Artillery, now ashore, set out aiming stakes on the beach and begin fire missions. US Infantry maintains their tenuous control of the seaside villas as they repulse a German counterattack for possession of the buildings. Though the US contests their D-Day objective, so do the Grenadier defenders. A German MG34 team defending the German secondary line, receives the Iron Cross. Sergeant Fritz and his MG34 team caused numerous allied casualties and allied units to be pinned. Sergeant Fritz and his MG team were ordered to Oberbefehlshaber-West to be awarded the Eisernes Kreuz by Generalfeldmarschall von Rundstedt.

Board 2 (Omaha): The US Infantry Division now fully in control of their D-Day objective and with multiple cleared lanes off of Omaha beach for reinforcements to follow, The 1st Division ADC lights up a cigar he brought ashore just for this moment. Seeing his forces ripe this part of France away from the Germans has given him great pleasure. Hauptman Lindgren der Befehlshaber of Grenadier Regiment 916 though completely surrounded, was still directing artillery fire on the Amerkans landing on the beaches in front of his position. Herr Paul knew, if the tide of Amerikans was not met with Artillery fire, there would be nothing that could stop the flow of US soldiers and tanks. Several weeks later, Hauptman Lindgren’s family would posthumously receive his Eisernes Kreuz, that he was awarded on 6 Juni 1944.

Board 3 (Gold): The missing at sea wave of M10s, finally land ashore. Royal Artillery firing from the beach, “brews up” a German STUG. Royal Dragoons begin a bloody assault campaign to clear out the defending Jerrys around the objective. The German STUGs trade fire with the Royal Dragoons, resulting in one knocked out Sherman. German Grenadiers occupying the sea wall fortifications still contest the objective.

Board 4 (Sainte-Me?re-E?glise): Second Battle of the Church: Hauptman Jesionowski and his Second Platoon knew he had to take back the Church before additional Amerikanisch Fallschirmja?ger arrive. He had been monitoring radio traffic from Regiment, that indicated the Amerikans were everywhere and gaining strength. After several rounds from PAK40s and under covering fire from his MG34 teams, he led his Grenadiers in the assault of the church The 82nd Infantry Platoon Leader, dazed from the PAK 40 shelling and HMG fire, engaged the Germans in hand-to-hand combat. However, after a fierce melee, the Amerikans were wiped out.

Board 5 (Pegasus Bridge): Major Schmidt, leads the Be?nouville Garrison in an attempt to regain the critical bridge. Firing every weapon at his disposal, the slow reacting garrison forces cannot dislodge the defenders of the British 6th Airborne Division Major Howard was happy to see Lord Lovat coming toward the bridge, and the sound of bagpipes playing as the Commando reinforcements approached.

Summary
Though the airborne landings were successful, with minimal casualties. They were not successful in obtaining their objectives. The German coastal divisions were able to receive their local reserve forces. The 82nd Airborne landings at Sainte-Me?re-E?glise ran into incredibly fierce German HMG fire as they were assaulting the church in town. Though initially successful, the paratroopers were isolated and destroyed. (German Victory).

On the left flank of the Allied invasion, The 6th British Airborne took their objective and captured Pegasus Bridge (Allied Victory). On Utah Beach, the 4th Infantry Division was successful in getting off the beach and contested their objective on turn six (minor German Victory). On Omaha Beach, 1st Infantry Division was able to secure their objective (Allied Victory). On Gold beach, the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was successful in getting off the beach and contested their objective on turn six. (minor German Victory).

Fun was had by all.

Historical aftermath
In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, 18,000 British and American paratroopers were already on the ground taking objectives and setting up blocking positions. At 06:30, American Forces landed at Utah and Omaha beaches. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture Gold, Juno and Sword beaches. The task of securing beach egress lanes at Omaha beach was very difficult. In addition to stiff German resistance from the 352nd German Infantry division, the U.S. 1st Infantry Division also battled high seas, mines, and German coastal batteries. By the end of the day, 155,000 Allied troops; Americans, British and Canadians, had successfully assaulted Normandy’s beaches and were then able to push inland.

Future Planning
Our Fall Campaign will jump forward in time to WWIII… See you in Stalingrad Comrade.