Questions regarding invasions

[PanzerMike]

I have 3 cases of Invasions in the picture. I am a little confused.

As stated in the manula, you can invade both BEACH and COASTAL hexes. So what is the exact purpose of a beach hex?

And why in situation 1, can't the UK corps choose between the beach hex and the coastal hex (only the beach hex lights up)? In situation 3 (Normandy) the USA corps CAN choose between the beach and the coastal hex. And in situation 2 the USA corps around Bordeaux can even choose between 2 coastal hexes (there is no beach hex there).

Can somebody explain the rules regarding invasions? And what is the difference between invading a BEACH hex or a COASTAL hex?

Thanks in advance for explaining this

[AlvaroSousa]

I think it has to do with ZoC if I remember. In the 1st picture you are next to a corps.

In the Cherbourg picture likely next to a division.

[PanzerMike]

I think you are right, I looked up the type of units in my examples and added the information.

Remains the question, what is the purpose of a beach hex? Since you can invade a coastal hex, why do we have beach hexes in the game?

[Nirosi]

In theory, the Axis player can put a unit in every coastal hex from South of France to North Germany (I have seen it done). Since it is impossible to garrison beaches, it garantes a possibility to still try to invade.

[PanzerMike]

Ah, I never thought of that

[Nirosi]

Sadly, when you are the Allies on the other side of such a wall, it kinds of discourage you to even try

[AlvaroSousa]

But that is the point of the differentiation. There is also a strategy to placing units for defense against invasions. How many? What hexes? how does ZoC interact? Which units?