AAR OVERLORD (135 Turns) Timian (Allies) vs OrderInChaos (Germans)

[OrderInChaos]

House Rules = None

Background

5 June 1944 through 20 July 1944
Turns in Campaign: 135
Turns per day: 3
Map size: Medium (64 x 62)
Scale: 2500 meters per Hex
Number of units (Axis/Allies): 800/972
Force Level: High
Complexity: High
Advantage: Allies

Force makeup

Axis / Allies
Men: 216577 / 308620
Vehicles: 1607 /6182
Guns: 1551 /2834
Planes: 658 /2743
Command and control Value (Axis/Allies): -20 / -20

[OrderInChaos]

Thank you Timian for the game and doing the Allied side of the AAR. I already know I have my work cut out for me with your experience in the game. I hope to put up at least decent fight.

Please if any have any tips as I play please send them my way since I will be trying to keep this close to current turn as possible.

[OrderInChaos]

Victory Conditions (per the Scenario):

The goal is to gain more victory points than the other side by destroying enemy units and/or capturing objective hexes. Points are awarded "each turn" to the player owning the following objectives numbered on the map 1 through 17 starting at the top working to the bottom from left to right

(Axis points/Allies points) if held:

1. Cherbourg: 1/2
2. Valognes: 1/1
3. Saint Mere Eglise: 1/1
4. Carentain: 2/1
5. Bayeux: 2/1
6. Entry A: 0/1
7. St Lo: 0/1
8. Caumont: 0/1
9. Villers-Bocage: 0/1
10. Caen: 1/2
11. Entry B: 0/1
12. Granville: 0/1
13. Vire: 0/1
14. Falaise: 0/1
15. Entry G: 0/2
16. Flers: 0/1
17. Entry C: 0/1

Here is a visual map of these Victory Point locations:

VP Locations.png (1.83 MiB) Viewed 261 times

[OrderInChaos]

Considering that in real life Bayeux fell on June 7, Carentain by June 14th, Valognes on the 20th, and Cherburg by the 30th of June the Germans are going to have to do a great deal of eliminating units it looks like to gain Victory Points. But this is just me thinking out loud here looking over the VP aquisition cities that give Germans VP's.

Looks like I am going to have to defend forward as best I can to preserve these VP locations.

Will update each turn using this snapshot in the AAR keeping an eye on the VP's for kill on units and locations

VP's.png (135.63 KiB) Viewed 257 times

[OrderInChaos]

For those that have not read the following AAR I would highly recommend reading this short AAR to get some really nice insight into the game.

https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=413483


Setup Phase


Our Game starts with a "setup phase". This phase is where certain units can be repositioned in specified areas within their command area highlighted for ease of reference prior to the actual commencement of Turn 1. For the German player everything, and I mean everything is locked down and unable to move, refered to as "FIXED" in place except for "DEMO" units (Demolition Companies).

These DEMO units can be moved to a bridge hex during the "Setup phase" to blow the bridges, during planning phase, or used to defend.

Typical DEMO unit

Demo Company.png (17.44 KiB) Viewed 229 times

[OrderInChaos]

Setup phase moves

Here are my reposition of some of the Demo Units. Please realize that once these DEMO units are repositioned they are fixed in place for the rest of the game. These units can retreat when attacked but realize they have "zero" movement points.


Cherburg - Move one hex to SW. Figured just start digging in and can always blow bridges when Allies get closer

1.png (392.73 KiB) Viewed 228 times

West of St Mere Eglise - Move to to bridge south east in the picture. Note that this unit can be set up anywhere in the yellow highlighted area. This was a hard choice for me since I could have put it North of St Mere Eglise to stop the Allies rushing North. But in the end I didn't want the allies get across this bridge early thus cutting off the Peninsula.

2.png (704.43 KiB) Viewed 228 times

Carentan - Move to the north east to blow a key bridge, seems to be a no brainer there.

3.png (485.37 KiB) Viewed 228 times

352 DEMO company behind Omaha - Move this unit two hexes to the east to blow this bridge, I hope since this looks to be a key area to get over the river. remember that dark blue rivers are impassable in this game without a bridge. Thus knocking out this bridge is key to slowing the Allies advance until they get their bridging units on the map buying the Germans some critical "time".

4.png (669.09 KiB) Viewed 228 times

[OrderInChaos]

Setup Phase Moves continued

Bayeux - I leave this DEMO company in the hex, no repositioning required here to "try" and blow the 3 bridges. Bayeux is also a Victory Point hex and in real life this fell on June 7 1944. Something is telling me I have my work cut out for me defending this area. Just a note that I have never played this game so all of this is learn as I go and figure it out. I am sure it will be fun and interesting

Bayeux.png (1.16 MiB) Viewed 226 times

Caen - I move the 716th DEMO company to cut the bridge at Ranville, Ranville is a town also which gives Infantry types a 200% increase in defense. So I take the chance at blowing up this bridge.

5.png (637.99 KiB) Viewed 226 times

Cabourg - I move the 21st PZ DEMO to Cabourg to add in the defense

6.png (463.15 KiB) Viewed 226 times

[OrderInChaos]

T1 Planning Phase

Really nothing much I can do turn 1 other than set the DEMO units to "try" and blow up the bridges.

and

I set the defensive posture of my units using the following commands

Defensive posture.png (83.51 KiB) Viewed 206 times

Just for future reference can also have offensive postures too

Offensive Posture.png (79.93 KiB) Viewed 206 times

[OrderInChaos]

Here are my defensive postures for Turn 1 across the line (you will also notices the bridge blowing icon too on the bridges set for DEMO)

Utah area

Utah.png (1.62 MiB) Viewed 205 times

Omaha / Gold area

Omaha Gold beaches.png (1.66 MiB) Viewed 205 times

Sword area

Sword.png (1.62 MiB) Viewed 205 times

[OrderInChaos]

Weather & Casualties

Next time I will put the weather at the beginning of the turn along with the casualties, makes more sense.

Weather.png (691.19 KiB) Viewed 202 times

Casualties.png (550.42 KiB) Viewed 202 times

[OrderInChaos]

End of Turn 1 June 6 Morning

I have put in a great deal of basic information because I am learning the game and putting my learning here in this AAR. Please bear with me as I get through the basics. I am hoping it is helping others too. But this ends Turn 1 (morning phase of a 3 phase day (morning/afternoon/night)

[OrderInChaos]

In an earlier post I mentioned all units were pretty much "fixed" in place for turn 1. I was incorrect in that "Von Der Heydte's 6th Fallschirmjager Regiment is not "fixed" on turns 1 and 2". It was the only German unit that immediately responded to the Allied Landings. Specifically, to the drop of the 101st Air landings.

Thank you Don (Timian) for correcting me on that statement. Feel free to post in the AAR any of my misgivings, greatly appreciate the feedback


P.S. I did overlook moving it because I was under the assumption everything was fixed . Live and learn...

[OrderInChaos]

Here is a picture of 6th Fallschirmjager being not fixed in place on turn 1. My next game as Germany I will "not" be forgetting to move these units

6th Fallschirmjager.png (1.81 MiB) Viewed 132 times

[Timian]

Start of Allied Turn 3 Planning (12 PM / 6 June 1944

The Allies are ashore and all three Airborne Divisions are close to achieving or achieved their initial objectives.

In the West, the 4th Infantry Division seized the hex just Northwest of Tare Green (24, 19) and was able to eliminate the German unit in 25, 21 (Uncle Red), but is still along the water’s edge (not yet in the hex).



The 101st is in good shape, about to start attacking to help clear the causeways. And the 82nd has captured Ste. Mare Englise. In addition the 82nd’s 507th and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments are just about done pulling back behind the Merdievel River (just West of Ste. Mare Englise).*

* For what it’s worth, . . . In previous games . . . Both Regiments got badly beat-up by the German 91st Air Landing Division and the 243rd Infantry Divisions.

The Ranges have secured Pointe du Hoc – thanks in no small part to the Battleship Texas – and Norm Cota was able to secure the Vierville Draw (Exit D-1). But the 1st Infantry Division is still fighting to get ashore.



In the East, the British + Canadians are all ashore, although Lord Lovat has not yet linked-up with Major Howard (at Pegasus Bridge).



Speaking of Pegasus Bridge, had a bit of a fight (using just about all 6th Para troops, who landed just after Midnight with help from the Battleship Warspite) destroying a German Bridge Demo unit in hex 53, 34. Fortunately, Pegasus and Horsa Bridges are intact and in British hands.

[OrderInChaos]

Thank you Timian (Don) for the upate for the Allies. Looks like you have done to the end of Turn 2 execution phase, I will update the AAR Saturday night/Sunday Morning since I will be away for a little bit. I am currently finishing up turn 4 (Night Turn for 6 June) which should be back this afternoon.

Just some disclosures;

* Never played the Campaign Game before (Nor played more than 9 turns learning basic basic info in any WEGO game) - so if I mess up and Timian (Don) decimates me quickly please bear with me.
* There will be some items I put into the AAR that I am just asking questions for a clearer picture of "why" something was put into the game that way.
* I really like the system how the game plays, really makes you think ahead