Normandy 1944: A Bloody Summer
Normandy 1944: A Bloody Summer Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
0 – Definitions
The game includes a map, the rules, one game aid and two counter sheets. The game requires the use of a 6-sided die (1d6) and three cups.
Counters are split into military units and markers.
For ease of use the following terms and hexagon are abbreviated in the text:
- hex = hexagon
- Box = a box on the Strategic Movement Map («Mouvements Stratégiques»)
- ZOC = Zone of Control
- EZOC = Enemy Zone of Control
- TEC = Terrain Effect Chart
- CRT = Combat Result Table
- BT = Bombardment Table
- FBAT = Fighter-Bomber Allocation Table
- AFAT = Air Force Availability Table
- CS = Column Shift on the CRT
- LS/RS = Left or Right Shift on CRT
- SV = Stacking Value
- SP = Stacking Point
- MP = Movement Point
"Off-board" is used for all action taking place on the strategic map, or in any other box outside the tactical map, as opposed to action that takes place «on-board», on the tactical map superimposed with the hexagonal grid.
Maps and counters are written in French. French equivalents of the English names are given in italic and between brackets in this booklet to help English-speaking players.
0.1 The Counters
Each counter of Normandy 44 represents either a combat unit (division, regiment, brigade, battalion) or an Army Corps headquarters (HQ).
An army corps is a group of an HQ and several divisions or brigades (cf § 5.1).
Because of the complexity of the attachments of units in the course of the Normandy campaign, in particular the German and English battle orders, the identification of units is a simplification of the historical order of battle.
The printed counter key (page 2 of the rulebook) labels the following fields on the German, American and Anglo-Canadian unit counters and on the HQ counters: collar patch, elite ribbon, sleeve patch, unit patch, unit type symbol (vehicles marking), movement allowance, attack value, stacking value, defense value, combat bonus, regiment or brigade identification, division number, entry turn/hex/box (campaign game), corps number, available (ready side) and finished (back side).
0.1.1 Corps Headquarters
The HQs represent the commander of each corps, and also artillery, armour and logistic support, which is used to assist the combat units.
Two figures are seen on the front of each HQ counter (ready side): on the left is the combat bonus (number of column shifts on the combat table), on the right is its movement value. At the bottom, from left to right, are shown the Corps emblems, its number and nationality.
The back (finished side) of an HQ counter has another function. The counter is flipped on this side when engaging combat, used or not for tactical support (cf § 5.2), or for an Off Map Extended Movement (cf § 4.1.2). These actions are always done when spending an "Offensive" marker.
A HQ is "supported" when stacked with at least one offensive marker (cf § 0.2.1).
At the end of phases (A) and (B), the HQ is reset on its ready side again, to indicate its availability for further activation.
HQs are not treated as a combat unit.
0.1.2 Combat Units
Battalions, brigades, regiments or divisions are seen in the game as combat units.
The following information is printed on the front side:
- In the upper right is the division. Brigades, regiments or battalions not associated with a division have no information at this level.
- In the middle, vertically, from left to right, respectively: attack, movement and defense values.
- Bottom, from left to right: the stacking value, a symbol for the type of unit (infantry, armor, ...), and possibly the number of the regiment, brigade, or battalion.
Motorized Units: Units with a movement value exceeding 6 are considered motorized. Units with a movement value of 6 are either footmen, cyclists or horse-drawn units.
Cyclist Unit: These units use motorized movement costs when traveling along roads.
Armored Units: The following symbols depict armored units: German Panzer and Allied Armor. Armored units have restrictions (movement in marsh hex), and may Overrun (cf § 4.3) or Breakthrough after combat (cf § 6.6). Each unit possesses from one to three steps of loss, representing its ability to sustain combat losses (§ 6.10).
Garrison: A Garrison represents the specific defense troops of the Atlantic Wall. Garrisons have no movement values and only a defense value (no possible attack). They have only one step loss, have no ZOC and ignore retreat results. Bombing a garrison is affected by a -1 modifier.
Festung: A Festung is a special kind of garrison because it is considered as having also the benefits of being behind a fortified line.
Off Map, a Festung is considered as a separate «box» in a holding «box» (for example, St Nazaire is a box in the box «Rennes»), and is not a unit for «confusion» determination purposes. Each Festung is considered as a separate box. The German player may reinforce a Festung with units up to a 5 SV limit. These units and the Festung are always considered as supplied, even under a siege (cf. § 6.13).
Units in a Festung are placed under the Festung counter. Their defense points are added to the Festung defense value. Units above the Festung counter are considered outside the Festung.
Festungs are Garrisons protected behind a fortified line and benefit from both conditions.
0.2 The Markers
0.2.1 Offensive Marker
These markers represent the additional supply needed for large-scale operations, operations that consume a large quantity of ammunition and fuel.
These markers allow an HQ to activate combat operations (cf § 1.1.3) or Extended Off map movements (cf § 5.2).
Offensive markers do not count for stacking, however no more than two can share the same hex. They have no defense value, no nationality, and have a movement value of 12. They are therefore considered as motorized and move with the HQ they are stacked with. They are subject to aerial interdiction like any other units during movement. (If needed, players can orient Offensive Markers in cases where it is not clear which side "owns" the marker.)
0.2.2 Control Markers
These two-sided markers are used on or off map to show control of one hex or box by the owning player.
1 – Sequence of Play
1.0 General Points
Each turn is composed of several phases which are played in the following order:
- Start of turn
- 1.1 Weather phase and Air Power availability.
- 1.2 Logistic phase. The Allied player may construct his ports. Each side identifies unsupplied units, determines the number of Offensive markers available for the turn and positions them Off Map or in the Strategic Reserve (cf § 1.1.1.2).
- 1.3 Administrative phases. Initiative is determined; the visible side on the turn marker shows the active side. Each side receives reinforcements and may put units to rest.
- Activation phase (A)
- Allied aerial phase. The Allied player tests for storm and assigns aerial support units to air missions: air superiority, tactical interdiction, strategic interdiction and tactical support.
- 2.1 Phase (A) of player 1. Reinforcement / Off map movements: Player 1 may receive his reinforcements and make off map movements. On map Movement phase: all units on map may move. Combat phase: HQs are activated one by one. Each HQ chooses between Pass or Combat.
- 2.2 Phase (A) of player 2. The turn marker is flipped. The player 2 performs all actions listed above in 2.1 for his side.
- 2.3 End phase. Air support units "used" are put back in the "Ready" box. "Finished" HQs are put on their front side, the turn marker is flipped and advanced on the Phase B for the turn. "Affected" markers are removed.
- Phase (B). Players perform as in Phase (A) (§ 2.1 through 2.3).
- End turn
- 4.1 Air Power mission return
- 4.2 Reorganization
- 4.3 The turn marker advances to the next turn Phase A box.
1.1 Detailed Sequence
1.1.1 Start of Turn
1.1.1.1 Weather Phase and Air Availability Phase
Beginning with turn 2, the Allied player checks for the weather (Weather is cloudy («Couvert/Averses») for phases 0O and 0A, clear («Clair») for phases 0B, 1A and 1B).
The Allied player rolls a die on the weather table. He places the Weather («Météo») marker on the corresponding box on the map. For each preceding and consecutive turn of bad weather (i.e. not clear), subtract 1 from the die roll, with a maximum adjustment of -2. The first clear weather roll cancels this adjustment.
The Weather adjustment marker is positioned in the printed Weather adjustment box on the map.
Example: if weather is Overcast/Cloudy on Turn 2, then, in the Weather Phase of Turn 3, deduct 1 from the die. During this phase, the Allied player scores 6, which becomes 5 with the adjustment of -1 and gives again Overcast/Cloudy weather. In Turn 4, the adjustment will be -2.
Storm Test: After an unmodified die roll of 6 on the weather table, the Allied player should check for Storm («tempête») at the start of the following phase (A) and (B), i.e. twice a turn before any movement, (see the Weather table). A Storm has the following consequences (only for the phase in progress, (A) or (B)):
- All Air and naval support missions are cancelled and are put in the "used" («Finies») box, or reset to zero.
- Tactical interdiction missions are cancelled, the counters put in the used box.
- Troops or supply (Offensive marker) landings in a port or on a beach are impossible.
A storm lasts only for one phase. If it starts in phase (A), weather in phase (B) is set automatically to rain/overcast. If it starts in phase (B), there is no Storm test in the following phase (A).
Air Missions: The Allied player checks the AFAT and draws the Air counters according to the current weather from the relevant cups: Heavy Bomber (HB), Medium Bomber (MB) or Fighter Bomber (FB). The Allied player distributes Air units to the map (see also § 9):
- Air Superiority missions: the Allied player puts the number of FB units designated for this mission in the «Air interdiction box», according to the Air interdiction allocation table. These counters may not be used for Air support or Air interdiction.
- Tactical Air Interdiction missions: FB units assigned to tactical interdiction (strafing) are put on the interdiction table, at the Allied player's choice.
- Tactical Air Support, bombing or "Carpet bombing" missions: HB, MB and FB units assigned to these missions are put in the «available» («Disponibles») box off-map.
- Strategic Air interdiction missions: HB, MB and FB units assigned for these missions are put in the corresponding box, off-map on the strategic movement map.
1.1.1.2 Logistics Phase
The following actions are performed:
- The Allied player builds Ports (§ 7.1).
- Each player checks supply for all of his units and puts an "unsupplied" («Non Ravitaillé») marker when appropriate.
- Each player rolls a die and checks on their Resource Allocation Table the number of Offensive markers he gets for the turn.
- The Allied player puts them in the strategic reserve; the German player puts them on available depot, on-map (Cherbourg) or Off-Map (Paris, Pas-de-Calais, Le Mans, Rennes), according to each depot capacity.
- Offensive marker movement: players alternately move Offensive markers towards HQs one at a time, beginning with the player with the highest number of markers available in depots (Allied player in case of ties).
1.1.1.3 Administration Phase
Initiative: Each player rolls a die and adds to the result the number of supported HQs on map. The player with the highest number gets the Initiative for the turn. In case of equality the Allied player has the initiative while the weather is clear; the German player gets it otherwise.
The player with the initiative becomes «Player 1», his adversary «Player 2». The Player 1 side is indicated by the visible side of the turn marker.
The German player uses his Administrative Phase die roll on the German resource table to determine the type of replacements available. Available unused replacements are marked on the victory point track, with the relevant replacement marker (infantry, Luftwaffe, armor, ...) until spent. Only the German player needs to keep track of unused replacements because of their scarcity. The Allied player has all the replacements he wishes each turn.
Rest and Replacement: During this phase the following actions are possible:
- Units already in «Rest» may regain a step with the expenditure of one replacement (cf § 6.10).
- Units Off-map, already fully rebuilt in the Rest box, may enter as reinforcement in any friendly depot.
- Off-map, units in the «Destroyed» box are moved to the «Rest» box.
- On-map, units with one or two-step loss, out of enemy ZOC, may be put to rest. Put a «Rest» marker on top of them.
Units On-map, under a «Rest» marker, suffer no adverse effect, except that they can't move or attack for the turn. The «Rest» marker is immediately removed if adjacent to an enemy unit.
Strategic Reserve Rebuilding: In 1944, the Allies wanted to save as much as possible their special troops for use in future operations. Thus, the Allied player has the opportunity to repatriate its airborne divisions, commandos and rangers in the strategic reserve.
The Allied player receives 1 VP per Regiment, Airborne Brigade unit or Ranger / Commando sent back to his strategic reserve. The reservation of these troops is made like in a «Rest», except that these units are placed directly in the Allied strategic reserve.
1.1.2 Movement Phase
1.1.2.1 Reinforcement Arrival and Map Entry
The Allied player tests for Storm appearance (cf. § 1.1.1.1).
Strategic Map: Units located Off-map on the Strategic Map in an entry box (colored) are put on map if the entry hex is not enemy occupied. Units located On-Map on an exit hex (lettered from "a" to "l") may be positioned in the corresponding (colored) Off-map box on the strategic map.
Turn Track: Reinforcements received from the turn track are positioned:
- In the Strategic Reserve Box for the Allies.
- Directly on an entry hex for turn 1, or in the corresponding Off-map Strategic Map box (turn 1 and later) for the Germans.
Note: units are only transferred from one map to another. Movements occur in the Movement phase.
1.1.2.2 Movement
On-Map Movement: The active player moves his units and HQs freely on the map (cf § 4.1.1).
Off-Map Movement: The active player may move his units from one box (normal Allied movement) or two boxes for an Extended Allied movement (cf § 4.1.2) or any German movement. Straight lines between boxes show possible moves. Movement may be subjected to:
- Interdiction die roll (German).
- Expenditure of an Offensive marker (Allied).
- Confusion exit die roll (both sides, cf § 6.11).
HQs making an extended movement are flipped over.
If units enter enemy occupied boxes, the movement stops and a confusion marker is put in the box. Confusion rules apply.
1.1.3 Combat Phase
The active player, for each of his HQs, selects and performs an action: «Pass» or «Combat». Actions are completed before activating the next HQ.
If he chooses «Pass», the HQ stays on its available side, and the player then activates directly the next HQ.
If he chooses «Combat», the HQ may initiate combat (§ 6) with its attached units (§ 5.1). The HQ must be supported (cf § 0.1.1) and must spend one Offensive marker. Combats are resolved and results applied before the next HQ is activated. The HQ is then put on its backside. After all HQs have performed an action, the phase end starts.
1.1.4 Phase End
During the end phase the following actions occur:
- Air counters in the "Finished" box are put in the "Available" box.
- The Navy counters are available again.
- "Affected" markers are removed.
- HQs are put on their front side.
When the active player is finished, his adversary becomes the active player and the turn marker is flipped over.
At the end of phase (B) of player 2, the End turn phase starts.
1.1.5 Turn End
In this phase, the following actions occur:
- Allied air counters are put back in their cups.
- Disorganized units are reorganized (remove D1 marker and flip D2 marker to D1 side).
- The turn marker is moved one step forward, on the (A) Phase of the next turn.
Process resumes according to the start of this chapter.
1.2 End of Game
The game ends when the maximum number of turns for the scenario are played or when automatic victory conditions are fulfilled.
2 – Terrain
2.1 Stacking
Each unit has a SV printed on the lower left corner of its counter.
Note: some units have a SV of 0 (HQs, battalions, etc.).
Each hex may contain up to 5 SP, plus one unit of a SV of 0 and one HQ.
Stacking limits are calculated only at the end of the movement phase. They do not apply during the Movement Phase: units may move without consideration to stacking, but they may not exceed the stacking limits at the end of the Movement Phase. There are no stacking limits on the strategic map boxes. American and British units may NOT stack together in the same hex or box.
2.2 Terrain Effects
The effects on combat or movement are shown on the Terrain Effects Chart (TEC).
Some useful remarks:
- Bocage is a typical part of the Normandy campaign. The land is partitioned into small fields separated by large hedges impassable to vehicles and men. This partitioning strongly favors the defender because it provides protection and camouflage. Progressions are slow and costly.
- Roads / railroads: Road or railroad movement costs may only be used if the unit moves from hex to hex following the path of the road/railroad. The use of a road/railroad removes the cost in movement points of obstacles (river, bocage, forests, etc.).
- Motorized infantry units may choose for each phase to be considered motorized or on foot (one may consider that they temporarily abandon their vehicles). A combination of the two kinds of movement in one phase is not possible.
- Allied paratroopers on turn 0 and after are considered non-motorized until they are supplied.
- Multiple terrain types may exist in a hex for aesthetic reasons: clear, bocage or forest. Use the center of the hex to determine the terrain effect applicable.
- Town/Village: The defender chooses which effects apply for the combat (ex: hex 1213 may be considered either village or bocage).
3 – Zone of Control
Except special terrain effects listed in the TEC, combat units with a stacking value of 1 or more exert a ZOC into the six adjacent hexes. This zone represents the area where the units exert influence thanks to its firepower. All combat units or HQs must stop their movement when entering an EZOC (except Overrun, see § 4.3).
A unit may move directly from an EZOC to the next EZOC but has to stop, after the first EZOC entered. A friendly unit in EZOC has no effect on it. Leaving an EZOC is free for commando units, costs 1 additional MP for paratroopers or elite units, and 2 additional MP for all other units.
4 – Movement
4.1 General Rule
4.1.1 On Map Movement
In the Movement Phase, the active player may move his units up to their maximum movement allowance. The movement of one unit must be completed before moving the next one.
A unit pays a number of MP corresponding to the cost of the hex to enter it. The cost of moving through each kind of terrain is given on the TEC, depending on the type of movement the unit uses (motorized or not). MP cannot be accumulated from one turn to another.
Whatever the movement cost of terrain, a unit may always move one hex with the exception of impassable terrain (see also § 4.4).
Moving into a hex occupied by an enemy unit is prohibited, except during an Overrun (see § 4.3) or entering into Confusion (§ 6.11).
During the Movement Phase, the active player may put armored or Panzergrenadier units in Reserve for possible Exploitation (§ 6.8). Reserve units may not move more than one hex before entering into a «Reserve» mode.
4.1.2 Off Map Movement
Off-Map movement follows specific rules. Movements are made along the straight lines between the boxes. These lines are considered as road for supply purposes (see § 7.3.1). Off-map movement may not exceed 2 boxes. There is no ZOC off board, but movement must end when a unit enters a box occupied by an enemy unit or if the box is controlled by him (use nationality markers to identify them). Armored units may ignore the latter. A country controls a box if it is the last to pass through it (German at start of each game). A lone Festung, empty or not, exerts no control on a box.
[Figure: Strategic Movement Map («Mouvements Stratégiques») showing the off-map boxes.]
Off-map, the Allies face logistic problems. Thus «Normal» Allied movement is limited to 1 box for 1 division per HQ. In order to move more than 1 division or move more than one box, the Allied player must perform an «Extended» movement (§ 5.2).
The German player undergoes Allied Air interdiction. Each unit that wants to leave a box must roll a die lower than the current interdiction value of the box. If it fails it may not leave the box during the current phase. The die roll is modified in case of Allied interdiction missions (§ 9.5).
Two boxes are subject to Maquis actions (Partisan counters). They are the Languedoc and South East boxes. As soon as German units wish to leave the box, the Allied player may initiate a delaying «Résistance» action.
A Partisan counter adds 2 to the interdiction die roll. A Partisan counter stays until eliminated in combat. It has a defense value of 2, only one step loss, and is eliminated by a retreat result. When eliminated, the counter is flipped on its «Police» side. Partisan elimination is definitive.
Liberation of Paris
Paris was not a strategic objective neither for the Allies nor for the Germans. The French capital represents a major objective for De Gaulle and the new French government: the Allied player gains a 20 VP bonus if a 2DB counter liberates Paris.
The FFI PARIS counter appears in Paris with a confusion marker as soon as the Allied player has a unit beyond the Seine (Pas-de-Calais, Paris or Orléans boxes). The FFI counter has an attack and a defense value of 5 and one two-step loss.
4.2 Landing
During his movement phase, the Allied player may land reinforcements on the beach or the ports. Beach or port landing capacities are printed in the Stacking Value on the lower left corner of the counters (for example, the CRANVILLE landing counter).
[Figure: Allied Strategic Reserve box (RÉSERVE STRATÉGIQUE ALLIÉE).]
Units in excess of the landing capacity are kept in the Allied strategic reserve box.
4.3 Overrun
A pile of armored combat units (cf § 0.1.2) may enter a hex occupied by an enemy stack and attempt an overrun at the cost of three additional MP on-board (at no cost off board). The Overrun must be declared as soon as the attacking stack is adjacent to the enemy hex. Only units making the overrun participate in the attack. Tactical Air Support is allowed, only after turn 7 (cf § 9.1).
The resolution of the overrun is done immediately on the CRT, before any other movement. An Overrun is counted as a movement, not a combat, and does not cost any «Offensive» marker.
If the defending unit retreats or is eliminated, the overrun is a success; any other result is considered a failure.
When successful, the moving stack may continue moving.
The path of retreat of the defending unit is decided by the attacking player, following the «retreat after combat» rules. However, a retreat cannot lead to the elimination of the defending stack if another solution is available.
If the overrun fails, the attacking stack is returned to its starting hex and undergoes an additional step of disorganization.
An HQ unit alone subject to overrun is immediately eliminated without "combat" (the HQ is captured! § 5.4).
Offensive marker overrun is possible at no MP cost, and the marker is now in possession of the moving player.
4.4 Special Operations
US ranger units, British commandos and elite paratroops that are not disorganized may conduct the following special operations:
- Impassable hex crossing
- Confusion exit
- Assault of a hex occupied by enemy units, thus creating a «confusion»
These movements are subject to a successful die roll on the Infiltration table.
Exception: on D-Day, British commandos and US rangers have special capacities (no die roll is required): these units do not have to stop after a beach landing, even if the beach is still occupied by an enemy garrison.
In any case, these special movements are limited to one hex per movement phase.
[Figure: three counter examples of special-operation units.]
5 – HQ and Support
Each HQ represents the command structure of an Army corps. The HQs have command, control and supply roles. Command & Control checks are performed at the start of the Combat Phase.
5.1 Control Limits
An HQ controls a maximum of 5 divisions plus 3 independent units of his choice, but from the same nationality: German, U.S. or British/Canadian (see § 8).
Printed-rule correction (Errata, Art 5.1): the sentence "An HQ provides control and supply…" and the "(Stacking Value = 0)" qualifier are removed. An independent unit may have a Stacking Value. Independent units are those that are not assigned to a division (lack of No. Div at the top right of the counter), and there is no limitation to the number an HQ may supply.
Exception: The British 79th Armoured Division may always be controlled, and is not counted in the number of supplied divisions.
A unit may never be controlled by more than one HQ each turn.
On-map, each unit must be in a radius of four hexes or less to the controlling HQ (cf § 7.3.1).
Off-map units must be in the same or adjacent box. An HQ in a confusion hex controls only the units in the same hex.
5.2 Extended Movement
Off Map, a supplied HQ allows «Extended» movement for units under its control, at the cost of one Offensive marker (§ 4.1.2).
The HQ is flipped after the movement, and may not be used for combat on the same turn.
Overrun is not considered combat and is thus allowed during movement.
5.3 Tactical Support
An HQ can give a bonus for a combat within a 2-hex range, performed by the units under its control. This bonus gives the combat (one per phase and per HQ) one or two column shifts in favor of the supported units, depending on the support value of the HQ and the type of support (defense or attack).
Errata (Art 5.3): the range of "two hexes" is two hexes inclusive.
For example, the American 4th Infantry Division is attacked at 2:1 odds. The US V Corps within 2 hexes may add its support in defense, shifting the odds to 3:2.
The support of HQs is declared before the die roll.
Only one HQ may support an Allied attack. The German player may combine the support of different HQs in the same attack. In any case all supporting HQs are flipped and must spend one Offensive marker each.
A defensive support does not require the expenditure of an Offensive marker, but is limited to one CS. The HQ is only flipped on its "finished" side.
5.4 HQ Destruction
An HQ may not engage in combat. It is vulnerable to any enemy attacks when alone in a hex. An HQ is in this case automatically destroyed.
When stacked with friendly units, the HQ shares their fate: it is eliminated when all the units in its hex are destroyed in combat. Otherwise, it is not affected, even in a retreat.
When an HQ is destroyed, it is removed from play and placed on the game turn track, as a reinforcement unit, one turn after the current one (e.g. destroyed in turn 1, placed on turn 2).
6 – Combat
6.1 General Rule
During the Combat Phase, the active player may attack enemy units with his adjacent units.
A unit can only make one attack per phase, and an enemy unit can only be attacked once per phase (one attack and one defense per phase, not counting counterattack and breakthrough). Attacking an isolated HQ (overrun excluded, even if the result is automatic) counts as an attack. Any friendly units adjacent to an attacked enemy unit may join the attack and add their strength to the attacking total strength.
It is forbidden to attack more than one hex in the same combat (each hex must be treated independently).
All enemy units in the same hex must be attacked as a whole. Each attack is declared and resolved independently. There is no particular order of attack.
Attacking is never obligatory.
6.2 Bombardment
Before the resolution of an attack, the Allied player may perform naval and/or air bombardment with any Battle cruiser, Destroyer, or Heavy and medium bomber available. One hex may only undergo one bombing of each type (aerial or naval) per combat phase. Naval or aerial points are not cumulative.
Battle cruisers have a range of 3 hexes and destroyers a range of 2, counted from any coastal hex, between hex 0216 and 0713 for the Western Task Force (WTF), and between hex 0712 and 0502 for the Eastern Task Force (ETF). WTF may support only US units and ETF may support only British/Canadian units.
Resolution of a bombardment is made as follows: the Allied player spends a number of bombardment points on the se lected target hex. He then rolls a die and affects all units in the target hex by the result read on the BT. Each point spent in Naval bombardment is deducted from the Naval Bombardment track, under the corresponding category: ETF or WTF, Battle cruiser or destroyer.
Bomber counters are moved to the "Finished" box off-map.
No bombardment may occur during a Storm.
German Bombardment: The German player may bombard at any time, once per phase, any unit landing on a beach hex, if he still has an operational (not in a confused hex, disorganized or stunned) coastal battery in range. Each selected coastal battery (beaches in range are indicated with their initials on the map, in each battery hex) counts for one bombardment point. The result applies only to the target unit, not for the entire hex.
6.3 Combat Resolution
Combats are resolved following the order of the HQ activation. All combat and Overrun resolution must follow this procedure:
- Calculation of odds. Each player adds together his combat factors (attack or defense). These totals are then reduced to odds of Attack to Defense (rounding in favor of the defender). Example: two units of British infantry (4 attack points each) attack a German unit (3 on defense). The odds are 8 to 3, reduced to 2:1.
- The Allied player can choose to involve Tactical Air Support (see the airpower rule, § 9.1).
- The active player applies any right column shifts in his favor. The inactive player then applies any relevant left column shifts in his favor.
- The active player rolls 1d6, applies any modifier (elite units) and reads the result from the CRT.
Odds lower than 1:3 are treated as 1:3. Odds greater than 6:1 are considered to be at 6:1.
In each stack, the attacking player is free to withhold any combat unit (cf § 6.5).
6.4 Combat Results
The CRT gives the amount of step loss and level of disorganization, according to the combat odds and a die roll. Results are given for both the attacker and the defender.
Retreat result: All units in the hex must retreat even if some attacking units were not engaged; however, the path of retreat may be different for each unit.
6.5 Disorganized or Affected Units
There are two levels of disorganization, D1 and D2, and two levels of affected units. The difference between Disorganized and Affected units is in the duration of the effect.
Units are affected as a result of bombardment, and the effect lasts only for the current combat resolution.
A disorganized unit stays disorganized until the reorganization phase, at the end of each turn.
When disorganized for the first time, the appropriate disorganized marker (D1 or D2) is placed on top of the stack.
In a given stack, the units should be placed in the following order, from top to bottom:
- Any Affected marker
- Non-disorganized units
- D1 marker
- D1 units
- D2 marker
- D2 units
D1 units who receive an additional level of disorganization become D2. D2 units who receive an additional level of disorganization suffer a step loss.
"Affected" results apply to the entire stack. Put the whole stack under the relevant "Affected" marker.
Successive "Affected" results are possible (naval and then air bombardment). In this case, follow the same procedure as disorganization: an A1 stack that is affected one additional level is "Affected 2". However, a stack already A2 that suffers an additional Affected result does not take a step loss but instead gains a level of disorganization.
Effects:
- A Disorganized/Affected unit impairs the combat effectiveness of its side if it participates in a combat; they have no effect otherwise. Nevertheless, at least one unit must defend a hex when attacked.
- D1 or A1 units offer a one-column bonus shift for the adverse side.
- D2 or A2 units offer a two-column bonus shift for the adverse side.
- The attacker may decide not to involve any D or A unit in combat before the die roll, at the owning player's option.
- If different levels of D units or A units coexist in the same hex, the highest level of D and A is taken into consideration, at the opposite player's favor.
- If an already Disorganized unit is affected after a bombardment, the effects are cumulative, i.e. D2 + A1 will give a three-column shift bonus in favor of the adversary.
- In a multiple-stack attack, use the less favorable stack shift for the attacker.
6.6 Retreat Result
In the case of a retreat following combat, the following rules apply:
- A stack of units that cannot retreat is eliminated.
- Retreat into an EZOC is allowed with the loss of one step for each unit in the stack.
- During a retreat, if the stacking capacity of a hex is exceeded (or if British/Canadian units and US units are in the same hex), the retreating units must continue the retreat (with all effects attached to it) until they find a suitable hex. If it is not possible, the exceeding stacking points are eliminated, at the owner's choice.
Errata (Art 6.6): the sentence "Air interdiction also affects German units retreating (cf. § 9.1)" (printed in red on the rule page as "TAS also affects German units retreating") is deleted.
Some terrains have an effect on retreat after combat; consult the TEC.
Units eliminated after retreat are permanently lost (captured), and may not be rebuilt.
Section 6.12 discusses retreats for Off-Map combat.
6.7 Advance After Combat
The active player may advance one attacking stack one or two hexes following any retreating unit or if all defending units are eliminated. The cost of the terrain and/or the presence of enemy ZOCs are ignored for this movement; the advance is free.
Errata (Q&A 38): an advance after an "E" result includes an advance of two hexes.
6.8 Exploitation
If the combat result allows "Exploitation", the HQ that activated the combat receives one free additional activation (no need to spend an «Offensive» marker). It is then flipped to its "Finished" side.
The objective of a «Breakthrough» is to attack the enemy units from the rear and capture strategic objectives behind his lines.
The HQ may activate two stacks previously put on "Reserve" during the last movement phase (§ 4.1.1). These units may move and attack as a normal move and combat. These units do not need to stay stacked together.
The HQ may spend an Offensive marker to support these attacks.
There is no Exploitation during Off Map combat.
6.9 Counterattack
When there is an advance after combat without Exploitation (§ 6.4.1), the defender may immediately launch a counterattack to gain back any abandoned hex. He can activate one available HQ in a 2-hex range of the abandoned hex and attack the stack in the target hex. If the hex is free of units, it may be taken back without combat. In case of combat, the HQ must spend an Offensive marker.
Units that may counter-attack are those that previously retreated and any units adjacent to the vacated hex or to the retreated units. These units may only move one hex.
There is no Exploitation or counterattack following a counterattack.
There is no counterattack possible during Off Map combat.
6.10 Losses – Replacement
Each combat unit counter has, unless otherwise specified, a full-power front side and a one-step-loss back side. When a unit suffers a step loss in combat, its counter is simply flipped to its reduced side. Some units have three steps of loss. A second counter replaces the original counter in case a second step loss occurs.
A unit with only one remaining step that suffers an additional step loss is eliminated and put Off Map in the "Cadre" box of the "Destroyed Units" («Unités Détruites») box.
These units may be rebuilt after a Rest period (cf § 1.1.1.3).
Units destroyed after a retreat are definitively eliminated from the game and are put aside (§ 6.6).
Replacement: The Allies may rebuild as many units as they wish during the Administration Phase.
German replacements are limited in number and quality. Available replacements are determined each turn during the Administration Phase, according to the German Resources Allocation Table.
Replacements not used are recorded on the Victory Point track with the appropriate markers (Infantry, Panzer Grenadier, Panzer).
6.11 Confusion
On Map, when a combat occurs after a beach landing or a paratroop drop, and there is no retreat or elimination of either side, all the units stay stacked together. A confusion marker is put on top. The hex is considered occupied by both sides, and stacking limits are 5 points for each side. Each side may enter the hex, but the only way to exit the hex is by elimination of the enemy units (exception: special units, § 4.5). No bombing or aerial support is allowed for this hex.
Errata (Art 6.11, Q&A 43–46): no advance after combat is allowed after confusion; units must enter a confused hex to take part in combat; conventional units may enter a confused hex immediately after an assault in the same movement phase, but no other combat is allowed in that phase; units in confusion still exert a ZOC; and no unit can go in and out of confusion in the same phase.
6.12 Off Map Combat
Off Map, on the strategic movement map, when units of both sides are stacked together after movement, a confusion marker is placed on top of the pile in the box. The confusion rule (§ 6.11) applies, and combat on the strategic map follows the same rules as on-map combat except:
- All units of both sides in the box are taken into account for computing the combat odds (no attacking units may be left out).
- There is no retreat, exploitation or counterattack during Off Map combat.
Exit from a box under "confusion" is possible but only towards a friendly controlled box, and units must pass a strategic interdiction die roll (see § 9.5) with an additional adjusted die roll depending on the force ratio in the hex.
Adjust by +/- 1 for each column shift away from 1:1 on the combat table. For example, a German pile with 20 attack points makes a try to exit a box defended by an Allied defense force of 12 points and where a Medium Bomber unit has been positioned for strategic interdiction. The German player rolls a 3, adjusted by -1 for the odds ratio (20 / 12 => 1.5 against 1 => one column shift in favor of the German player) and +1 for the aerial interdiction. Result is 3 + 1 - 1 = 3, the German stack may escape.
When a Partisan counter is in the box, there is no adjustment for odds ratio, and the German player adds 2 to the interdiction roll (see § 4.1.1).
6.13 Siege
The Allied player may either attack or besiege a German Festung. To besiege a Festung, the holding box units outside the Festung must be free of German units, and the Allied player must have a stack of units with a defense value of at least half of the defense value of the Festung and its occupying units. A Siege marker is provided to indicate this status.
Each Festung siege provides victory points to the Allied player.
7 – Logistics
The logistics rule simulates the Army needs for ammunition, petrol, food and replacements. To be supplied, a combat unit must be able to trace a supply line to an HQ that is itself in supply. Supply determination is made at the beginning of each turn in the Logistic phase.
7.1 Allied Logistics
Allied units can land via a depot placed either in a port (cf § 4.2) or in a beach hex: Utah or Omaha for the US; Gold, Sword or Juno for British/Canadian units.
To be operational, the depot must be «Open» and outside any EZOC. The procedure to «Open» a depot is as follows:
- Once the hex is controlled by the Allied player, the corresponding depot counter is made available as a reinforcement on the turn track, taking into consideration its construction time. The construction times are specified below (example: St Laurent is taken turn 0, phase B, it is placed on the turn track, turn 3, as the construction time for a Mulberry is two turns).
- At the logistic phase of the entry turn, the depot is placed on the map.
- The depot is immediately operational, with its printed capacity (either full or reduced, as specified below).
- Any enemy unit entering a hex containing a depot destroys it, except for Cherbourg (cf § 7.2).
- If a depot under construction in a port is ever in an EZOC, that construction is delayed (no turns are accrued) until the port is no longer in an EZOC. EZOC has no effect on a depot on a beach.
7.1.1 Mulberry
The Allies came across the Channel with two artificial ports to support the landing troops, before they could use the Cherbourg harbor facilities. These harbors are the Mulberry A and B. Mulberry A may be built in St Laurent (0714) and Mulberry B in Arromanches (0711). The construction time is two turns, for a «reduced» Mulberry. It is flipped on its front «Full» side in the following logistic phase.
The Mulberries were not invulnerable, and a storm gravely damaged one of the two, leaving it unusable. Whenever a storm occurs, the Allied player rolls a die for each Mulberry. A result of 4, 5 or 6 destroys the Mulberry. A destroyed Mulberry cannot be rebuilt.
7.1.2 Minor Ports and Beaches
The construction time of a depot in a minor port is 2 turns. Beach depots are available immediately; the German garrison counter is simply flipped.
7.1.3 Cherbourg
The Cherbourg deep-water port was a major Allied objective of the Normandy campaign. The construction time of the «reduced» harbor is 3 turns. It takes 3 extra turns to complete the «full» capacity Cherbourg harbor.
Any German unit occupying the Cherbourg hex for a full turn reduces the port capacity by half (the counter is put on its back side, then eliminated after 2 turns, during the port construction phase).
Any HQ without this line or un-supported is considered "Out of supply" or «isolated». An "Out of supply" HQ may not receive «Offensive» markers.
Depot counter key (printed figure):
[Figure: depot counter key showing the depot symbol, depot identification, «Offensive» marker capacity and SV capacity, shown for the German depots (Le Mans, Festung Paris) and the Allied depots at full and reduced strength (Cherbourg).]
7.2 German Logistics
German depots are Cherbourg port (hex 0223) and any of the following off-map depots: Pas de Calais, Paris, Le Mans, Rennes or Brest.
At the start of the game, German depots are placed in their boxes on the strategic movement map.
The German Cherbourg depot automatically gives the German player a bonus Offensive marker each turn (without any consideration for the weather). The Offensive marker is made available at Cherbourg.
Some German depots have no defense value (Rennes, Le Mans, Pas de Calais). They disappear as soon as Allied units appear in the box if they are alone. Depots are blocked if the box is in a "Confusion" state.
7.3 Supply Lines
7.3.1 Unit Supply Lines
A supply line is an unlimited path of continuous hexes or boxes from a unit to an HQ, and from that HQ to a depot, via a road. Each hex must be outside any EZOC, and allow motorized movement. For this rule only, a friendly unit cancels any enemy ZOC in a hex.
Errata (Art 7.3.1): the sentence "Each unit must be controlled by a supplied HQ (see § 5.1)" is deleted. There is no such distance limit for supply; the distance limit of four hexes applies to command (control) only, per § 5.1 and the Q&A.
If it is not able to trace such a supply line, a unit is considered "unsupplied".
7.3.2 HQ Supply
To be supplied, each HQ must trace an uninterrupted road path toward a friendly operational depot, or be «supported» (stacked with an «Offensive» marker). The length of this road line is not limited.
An "Out of supply" HQ may not receive «Offensive» markers.
7.4 Out of Supply Units
An «out of supply» marker («Non ravitaillé») is placed on top of the isolated units. HQ or units keep this status for one turn, until the next Logistic phase, even if the unit may restore a supply line before the end of that turn. (Airborne Supply § 7.5 may restore supply during that turn.)
Isolated units have their defense value halved (rounded up), and no attack value. Their movement ability is halved except for non-motorized units, which retain their normal movement allowance.
Off-map isolated units may not move.
7.5 Airborne Supply
The Allied player may supply by air the equivalent of one infantry division. On each clear or overcast weather turn, the Allied player may remove up to 4 SP "Out of supply" markers on infantry units of his choice during the supply phase.
8 – Inter-Allied Coordination
Allied troops regrouped many nationalities; however, they were organized according to the US or the British model. The French 2e DB is considered an American troop; the Polish, Belgian and Canadian are treated as British troops. The background color of these counters is a reminder of this.
An HQ may control only its own nationality; therefore no combined attack may be made with British and US units together. Stacking US and British troops is forbidden.
Naval or Air units may only support land troops from the same nationality.
Errata (Q&A 14): Allied HQs cannot support units under the control of another HQ. Only the German EM can support a combat initiated by another HQ.
9 – Allied Airpower
During the Air Availability Phase (cf § 1.1.1.1), the Allied player checks the number of air counters available on the AFAT and assigns them to the different missions available: Air superiority (according to a mandatory die roll on the FBAT), Strategic or Tactical interdiction, Tactical Air Support, Bombing.
Air counters are placed on the corresponding box (tactical interdiction («interdiction tactique»), or available air mission («missions aériennes disponibles»).
Each counter can perform only one type of mission per turn.
[Figure: the «Disponibles» / «Finies» / MISSIONS AÉRIENNES air-mission boxes.]
9.1 Tactical Air Support (TAS)
Fighters assigned to Tactical Air Support are placed in the «Available» («Disponibles») box of the «Air Mission» («Missions aériennes») box.
During any combat, before the combat odds calculation, the Allied player has the option to take a fighter counter from the «available» box to support friendly troops in an attack or a defense. Some terrain prohibits tactical support (see the TEC).
Effective ground control coordination was difficult to achieve with advancing units. The 9th US Air Force pioneered in that field and was able to introduce the Armored Column Cover system for COBRA. Therefore Overrun (cf § 4.3) and Exploitation (cf § 6.8) may not benefit from TAS before turn 7, only available for the US troops.
The benefit of TAS is a 1 CS in favor of the Allied player on the CRT. At the end of the combat, the Air unit that provided TAS is returned to the «Finished» («Finies») box.
Moreover, after such combat, any German unit retreating in at least one TAC Air activity hex suffers a supplementary level of disorganization.
Errata (Q&A 40): the additional level of disorganization is applied only under tactical air support; the reference to § 9.2 in § 6.6 is deleted.
9.2 Tactical Interdiction
Up to 4 FB counters may be used for Tactical interdiction. The counters are placed, at the Allied player's option, over the «tactical interdiction» («Interdiction Tactique») map. A maximum of one FB may be placed per interdiction zone. The nationality of the Air units has no influence.
A FB counter in a zone doubles the movement cost for clear terrain or river crossing in that zone, including road and rail costs. Zone boundaries are marked in dotted red lines on the map. The tactical interdiction has no effect in town or forest hexes.
Errata (Art 9.2, Q&A 51): the cost of roads and railways on clear terrain is also doubled.
[Figure: the «Interdiction Tactique» map with four numbered interdiction zones and the Strategic Interdiction box.]
9.3 Bombardment
Medium Bombers assigned to this mission are placed in the «Available» («Disponibles») box.
Before a combat (attack or defense), the Allied player may use available MB to bombard any attacking or defending pile (see § 6.2). Air counters return to the «Finished» («Finies») box after the bombardment.
Note: MB were more accurate than HB; any bombardment strength made of at least 50% MB benefits from a +1 die roll adjustment. Light Bombers are classified as MB, but do not benefit from the +1 adjustment.
Errata (Art 9.3, Q&A 52): it is possible to bomb any hex adjacent to a friendly unit (except for the landing, where it is possible to bomb beaches and batteries). The interest is limited because the effect only lasts for the combat phase following (except for turn 0).
[Figure: air counter key showing the Command/Wing identification (US), Group/Sector identification (UK), Air Force patch, interdiction value (one bomb = +1), bombardment value, combat bonus and die-roll adjustment on the MB, HB and FB counters.]
9.4 HB – Carpet Bombing
The Allied player may use HB and combine them with MB to perform a "Carpet Bombing". Note: heavy bomber ground support has always been highly controversial; land forces requested bombers for ground operations, whereas Air forces were busy with the destruction of V1 launching sites, and armament and oil plants in the Reich. Therefore, HB usage is optional and each HB counter used gives +2 VP to the German player.
Exception: Carpet Bombing may also be used in turn 0A, before the beach landings, only for garrison and battery bombardment, and without VP penalties. Carpet Bombing may be used more than once per nationality during that turn.
Carpet Bombing is a specific kind of bombardment that follows these rules:
- The Allied player may perform one carpet bombing per turn and nationality (US & British).
- A carpet bombing may be split between two adjacent hexes, each hex being bombarded at 50% of the bombardment strength.
- Apply normal bombardment procedure.
- Used HB counters will be available 2 turns later; place them on the relevant turn track box.
- If the target hex is a town, the HB counter stays on map, back side up. The terrain movement cost is increased by 2 per HB counter involved (rubble and broken land). When an HB counter is placed over two hexes, the penalty is +1 MP per counter and per hex.
9.5 Strategic Interdiction
The Allied player has the option to delay the arrival of German reinforcements on the map (see § 4.1.2). To do this he may place, during the Allied Air Phase, either one HB, one or two MB, or one or two FB counters on any box of the Strategic Movement Map.
10 – The D-Day
The first turn of the campaign is specific, named Turn 0 (D-Day).
For this turn and turn 1, the Allied player has initiative and all units and HQs in play are considered supplied. HQs may activate combats without the expenditure of an «Offensive» marker. Only landed HQs may support combat.
Note as printed (red): for turn 0 only, the "Affected" markers are removed only at the end of the TURN (and not Phase (A) or (B)). (Errata Q&A 57 confirms this.)
Turn 0 has several distinct phases.
Phase 0 – 6 June 44, Before Dawn
O.1 Airborne Landings
The weather is cloudy; night conditions apply. No Air or Naval support is possible.
Paratroops are dropped on their respective Drop/Landing zone (DZ/LZ on the map). For each drop, roll two dice. Check the coloured die first, adjusted for modifiers, and consult the Drop/Infiltration table on the game's aids:
- 5-6: adjust the Disorganization level.
- 1-5: Drop/Landing is successful.
- 6 or above: the unit drifts, and falls on an adjacent hex. Use then the second die result with the drop table for drift direction.
Note: after a drift, no unit may fall in a town or a sea hex, if this would occur, the unit lands on the targeted hex.
If the unit lands on an enemy unit, the combat is mandatory and resolved at once, taking into account only drop disorganization.
Retreat after combat may be done toward any adjacent hex, at the owner's choice. If there is no retreat after combat, all units stay stacked and a «Confusion» marker is placed on the hex (see § 6.8).
All paratroops not in a «Confusion» hex may then move one hex and attack an adjacent hex.
Follow normal combat rules.
Eliminated German garrison units are flipped showing the Allied Depot side.
The second wave lands (as reserve) and this ends movement on the beaches.
British Commandos of the Special Service (1SS, 4SS) land on any hex between Arromanches and Ouistreham included (hexes 0808 and 0712 are available for the special operations landings).
Combat (not the landings on the beaches) may benefit from TAS.
Errata (Art 10, Q&A 63–64): units of the first wave must land on the hex they are assigned to (what-if play excepted); HQs may not land on a beach that contains German units.
O.2 German Reaction
The German player may activate any unit adjacent to an Allied unit. These units may enter a hex under a «Confusion» marker, or attack an adjacent unit. Follow normal combat rules.
Phase A – 6 June 44, Morning
A.1 First Assault Waves Landing
Normal day conditions apply.
Air sequence: (Air Availability table – turn 0 column). Air units may be assigned to Interdiction missions or kept «Available» for later Bombardment or TAS. Allied aviation may bombard beach or battery hexes.
Naval sequence: the Navy may now bombard any beach or battery hex.
1st wave: The first wave lands and combats according to the map indications. All Allied tanks of the first wave are DD units (duplex drive) and must roll a survival die (cf. DD Tanks Survival Table). Each landing attack is resolved on the spot. All attacks made from the sea on a beach hex suffer a one-column shift to the left (see TEC).
Note as printed: the US Ranger units, British 1SS and 4SS do not suffer this left column shift (cf. § 4.4) when attacking alone.
If attacking and defending units stay in the combat hex after combat, «Confusion» rules apply (cf. § 6.8).
Units of the British 79th Armoured give support for all British beach-landing hexes. Place the units in the relevant boxes across the beach hex side. These units stay "across" until all beaches in front are free of German units.
Eliminated German garrison units are flipped to show the Allied Depot side.
2nd wave: Movement phase: troops already ashore and not under a «Confusion» marker may move at half their movement potential.
The 5th Ranger may land in support of the 2nd Ranger, or at Omaha Beach, according to a die roll (see map).
Movement phase: troops already on the map and not under a «Confusion» marker may move at half potential.
Combat Phase: the last wave lands on the beaches. Units and HQs unable to land due to stacking conditions stay in the Allied Strategic Reserve Box. Combats are resolved.
Errata (Q&A 56): units disembarking stop after landing (except CMDO).
A.2 German Reaction
The German player may activate any units/HQ on map. Movement is halved; strategic movement is not allowed. Normal combat rules apply.
The turn marker is moved to Phase B. Adjust the weather marker to clear.
The Allied player does not get his Air Force or Navy markers back.
Phase B – 6 June 44, Afternoon
Weather: clear («Clair»).
B.1 Follow-Up Landings
Movement phase: troops already ashore and not under a «Confusion» marker may move at half their movement potential.
Combat Phase: the last wave lands on the beaches. Units and HQs unable to land due to stacking conditions stay in the Allied Strategic Reserve Box. Combats are resolved.
Errata (Q&A 61–62): a beach hex left in confusion is attacked a second time in phase A, and units of the second wave may take part in that attack.
B.2 German Reaction
The German player may activate any units/divisions on map. Movement is at half potential and combat follows normal rules (same as phase A.2).
B.3 Turn 0 End
The Allied player may land the 6th Airlanding Brigade of the British 6th Airborne Division.
"Affected" markers are removed. Disorganization levels are reduced by one.
HQs are flipped on their front side, Air units are removed from the map, and the turn marker is advanced to turn 1.
Weather is clear for turn 1; otherwise normal rules apply.
11 – Scenarios
The game can be played with two or three players: one German and one or two Allies (one U.S. player, one British/Canadian player).
After choosing the scenario, the game is set up as follows:
- The available units for the scenario are placed on the numbered hex grid map or in the appropriate box of the reinforcements turn track.
- Naval support counters are placed on the corresponding track.
- Aerial support units are placed in three cups: one for the Heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force and Bomber Command (six tokens marked HB); one for all medium and light bombers of the 9th Air Force and 2nd TAC (4 counters marked MB on the back); and the last for all fighter-bombers of the 9th Air Force and 2nd TAC (12 FB counters marked FB).
- German supply depots are positioned off map in their respective box.
11.1 Scenario 1 – The Race to Cherbourg
The scenario covers the drive of US troops landed at Utah Beach toward the Cherbourg Harbor.
Scenario 1 begins on turn 1, after the landings (turn 0 is not played), and ends 4 turns later, July the 3rd.
Use only the west side of the Map, Column 17 included.
Replacement rules and Heavy Bombers are not used. Players receive only 50% of their «Offensive» markers, rounded up.
Errata (Art 11.1): "Scenario Cherbourg: HB allowed to ally take 50% of markers 'offensive' Allied and German." The errata wording is ambiguous against the printed line above ("Heavy Bombers are not used"); the printed rule is kept as printed and this is flagged for review.
1. Initial German Set-Up
German set-up for the campaign is used. Troops east of column 17 are ignored.
Exception: LXXXIV corps start at Marigny (0218). Utah Beach is a US depot (German garrison WN Madeleine flipped to its reverse side).
2. Initial US Set-Up
- 82e/505: 619
- 82e/507 (D1) + 508 (D1): 0620
- 101e (D1): 0718
- 4e/8 + 70Tk + 746Tk: 0619
- 4e/12 + 22 + 899Td: 0518
- Navy (WTF only): Destroyers 2; Battle Cruisers 1 each turn
- Air Force: 50% of Aerial US missions
- Utah Beach US depot is operational.
3. German Reinforcements
77e, 353e, 17eSS, 265e available as per campaign entry turn.
4. US Reinforcements
83e, 9e, 79e available as per campaign entry turn, via Utah Beach.
5. Victory Conditions
US victory levels:
- Strategic: Cherbourg two hexes are under US control at the end of turn 2 (historical objective).
- Operational: control of Cherbourg at the end of turn 3.
- Marginal: control of Cherbourg at the end of turn 4 (historical achievement).
German victory level:
- Strategic: if a German unit moves into 0617 (Utah Beach is destroyed) and the German player retains control of Cherbourg and St Vaast-la-Hougue.
- Operational: Cherbourg depot still in German hands at the end of turn 4, and two divisions (one of them the 17th SS) have a valid supply line with the south border of the map.
- Marginal: control of the depot of Cherbourg at the end of turn 4.
11.2 Scenario 2 – Operation Cobra
The scenario covers Patton's 3rd Army breakthrough (Cobra operation), the fighting for St Lô, and Montgomery's efforts to break the German resistance south of Caen (Operation Goodwood).
The scenario starts turn 7 (July the 18th) and ends on turn 12, late August. The weather is clear at start. The full map is used. VP track is set to 0.
1. Initial German Set-Up
Panzer Gruppe West (Reserve):
- 654e Schw Pz Abt. + 1+2+3 Flak: anywhere east of column XX13
- 86e Korps: 0905
- 711e: 0805
- 346e: 0905
- 503e Schw Pz Abt. + 16eLw: 1006
- 21ePz (-1): 1007
- 1er SS Pz Korps: 1107
- 1eSS: 1008
- 101e Schw Pz Abt. + 272e: 1108
- 12eSS (-1): 1107
- 2eSS Pz Korps: 1210
- 10eSS/21 + II/10: 1110
- 10eSS/22 + 271e: 1109
- 277e: 1110
- 276e: 1111
- 102e Schw Pz Abt. + 9eSS: 1210
- 47ePz Korps: 1310
- 2ePz/304 (-1) + II/3 (-1): 1212
- 2ePz/2 + I/3 (-1): 1213
- 2eFj Korps: 1314
- 3eFj/9: 1214
- 3eFj/8 + 5: 1215
- 266e + 352e/915: 1216
- 84e Korps: 1119
- 275e + Lehr/II/130 (-1): 1217
- Lehr/I/130 (-1)/901/902 (-1): 1218
- 17eSS/15Fj + Lehr/14FJ: 1118
- 17eSS/37 (-1) + 38 (-1) + 2eSS/3 + I/2: 1019
- 353e (-1): 1119
2. US Initial Set-Up
US
Reserve:
- 4e + 70Tk.Bat.: 0420
- 8e Corps: 0820
- 79e: 1022
- 8e: 0921
- 90e: 0920
- 4e Arm.: 0820
- 83e: 0918
- 7e Corps: 1017
- 1e + 745Tk.Bat.: 1016
- 3e Arm. CCA + CCB: 0917; CCR: 0818
- 2e Arm. CCA + CCB: 0814; CCR: 0714
- 9e + 746Tk.Bat: 1018
- 30e + 743Tk.Bat.: 1117
- 19e Corps: 1015
- 35e: 1116
- 29e: 1115
- 5e Corps: 1014
- 2e + 741Tk.Bat.: 1114
- 5e + 899e TD.Bat.: 1113
British/Canadian:
- 30e Corps: 1013
- 8e Arm.Brig.: 0913
- 33e Arm.Brig.: 1013
- 50e/69 + 49e + 56e Inf.Brig.: 1112
- 50e/231 + 151 + 59e: 1012
- 12e Corps: 0910
- 4e Arm.Brig.: 0910
- 53e: 0811
- 15e: 1011
- 31e Arm.Brig.: 0911
- 43e: 1010
- 34e Arm.Brig.: 0909
- 2e Can. Corps: 0909
- 2e Can. Arm.Brig. 6/2 + 27/2: 0909; 10/2: 1009
- 2e Can.: 1009
- 3e Can.: 0908
- 1er Corps: 0906
- 51e + H/27: 0907
- 3e + S/27 + 1SS: 0906
- 6e Airb. + 4SS + E/27: 0806
- 8e Corps: 0807
- GD Arm./32 + 11e Arm.: 0808
- GD Arm./15: 0708
- 7e Arm.: 0807
The 3 armoured brigades of the 79th Armoured at the player's discretion.
The Allied player gets 2 «Offensive» markers that he may stack with any HQ.
3. Reinforcements
All units scheduled in the campaign game, starting from turn 7.
4. Victory Conditions
See campaign victory conditions.
11.3 Campaign Game
The campaign covers the whole conflict between June 6th and the end of August 1944.
1. Set-Up, Reinforcement and Special Rules
Set-up indications are printed on the right side of the HQ and unit counters. Place the HQs and units with these indications either on the map or in the Reinforcement columns of the turn track.
The Campaign game starts with a night phase, with all aircraft counters in the «Available» («Disponibles») box.
(The printed acknowledgment paragraph is credits and is not transcribed.)
Countersheet Errata
- The back of the German counter KG 275 is blank (it has only one step loss).
- The back of the RAF air unit BOMB CD 3 is FB and not HB.
- (Errata sheet, Art 1 and countersheet item 2: the back of the counter 85th Aviation Group of the 2nd TAC must be FB and not MB; FB is used for availability, but the unit must be used as an MB, as the Mosquito night fighters were used as bombers.)
2. Victory Conditions
The following points are recorded on the VP track of the map:
Common VPs:
- +1 VP per step loss inflicted on the opposing side.
- +1 VP per Elite step loss inflicted on the opposing side (cumulative). See the Design Notes for Elite unit designations.
- +3 VP per City hex controlled on map.
Allied VPs:
- +3+x VP per Allied depot outside any EZOC, where x is the depot capacity.
- +3 VP per Festung besieged.
- -1 VP per Allied paratroops, ranger or commando unit per turn not returned to the Allied strategic reserve after turn 5.
- +5 VP per Festung destroyed.
- +5 VP per depot destroyed.
- +10 VP for the control of Paris.
Automatic victory if any of the following conditions is met:
- The Allied player controls Paris, Cherbourg and at least two Atlantic harbors (Lorient, Saint-Nazaire, Brest).
- There are fewer than 10 German units left on the map.
- The Allied player controls Paris and the Pas de Calais.
German VPs:
- +20 VP per turn.
- +10 VP per Allied depot destroyed with 0 or 1 «Offensive» capacity.
- +20 VP per Allied depot destroyed with 2+ «Offensive» capacity.
- +3 VP per city hex taken back from the Allies (per hex).
Automatic victory when the German player controls 4 beach hexes.
Victory levels: A VP track at 0 represents the historical level achieved by the Allies in 1944. The side with +25 VP achieves a Marginal victory; a Decisive victory is reached at +50 VP.
Designer's Notes
Overview
Counter backgrounds reproduce, in some measure, the uniforms of soldiers of the different units and some vehicle markings. It was the designers' intent to use the most historical, realist and faithful representation of symbols and garments in what they hope is an original patchwork. Thus, the usual NATO symbols used for Allied counters have been replaced by Wehrmacht symbols for German counters.
Units and HQ
Unit counters depict the typical soldier uniform; for HQs it is the commanding officer's uniform. The upper side is for the collar. US and German troops wear collar insignia which distinguish soldiers of different forces. US soldiers wear buttons; German soldiers ornate their collar with "Kragenspiegel". British and Canadian soldiers have a strip of cloth on their sleeves; only officers wear distinctive symbols on their collar.
(The printed table of collar, sleeve and branch badges for Americans, Anglo-Canadians and Germans is a graphic reference and is not reproduced here.)
Elite Troops
Elite troops wear medals or ribbons to distinguish them, on the top of their tunic. US units have the "Medal of Honor", British units use the "Victoria Cross" ribbon, and German units the «Eisernes Kreuz».
(The printed ribbon table shows the Medal of Honor, Victoria Cross and Eisernes Kreuz ribbons.)