Achtung-Invasion

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RufusTFirefly
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Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

This is an AAR of Achtung-Invasion, a scenario created by GrumpyMel.

After playing ten turns agains AI which was easy going as you can imaging, hatemf90 and I have started a 1vs1. We are at turn 12 now, so the AAR is written with some delay.

Topic of the scenario is the landing in France on D-Day and the first days of getting a foot in the door to the continent. The scenario is not based on a historically correct situation – so everyone who thinks this is very important might stop reading here. But I think it is a very interesting scenario and it is worth giving it a try. This AAR shall give you an impression about the secanrio and maybe gets some more players interested.

The scenario covers the time from 5th of June til 5th of July, each turn lasts a day. Due to the short time span technical improvements/ upgrades don’t play a role in here. Production of few PP is only necessary to have some points for deploying new units if necessary.

The Allies start at the English coast, having a lot of fighters, bombers, and of course transport planes for parachuters. All heavy equipment and non-airborne units have to be send by transport ships. Allies have a lot of them, as well as five battleship groups for shore bombardment.

Axis has no navy. It starts with some weak infantry units and some artilley at the coat but most units are placed in some distance to the coast and have to be set in march when the invasion begins.

An interesting aspect is that Allies player does not only have to decide where to land and attack but to decide as well whether it is preferable to send first as much fire power to the other side and send HQ at last or whether HQ should be send earlier to support the frontline units from the beginning. As well you have to decide when is the best time to resupply the transport ships as they will run out of supply after some time and move very slowly across the channel then.

So here we go:

June 5th 1944

From a couple of airfields in South England large groups of transport planes started to bring parachuters of 101st US Airborne, 82nd US Airborne, and British 6th Airborne across the channel. Landing behind enemy lines the parachuters should cut supply lines to German units at the coast and prepare the landing of infantry and armoured forces that started to cross the channel on transport ships.

On the right flank 29th US Div. and US 1st Army approaches the French coast, while 3rd British Infantry Div. will land in the center. At left flank French 2nd Armourd Div. will land, supported by Canadian units of 2nd British Army.

The Germans have only small groups of mainly conscripts and some fortified artilley as coastal defend placed at the shores. They are the target of combined Allied air force attacks. Battleship groups got orders to do shore bombardments on entrenched conscripts but are not yet close enough to open fire.


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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

The English coast at turn1.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

June 6th

Units of 101st Airborne move west to secure the flank of the landing infantry.

An 82nd Airborne unit moves south for recon. At a crossing a unit of German 709th Reserve is encircled. Units of that group try to defend their positions at the shore. They are attacked by 29th US Inv. Div. that has landed their first units.

6th Brit Airborne moves southeast along the road to stop approaching enemies. But there is not yet any concact to units coming from German bases. Some parts of 6th Airborne secure the landing point of Canadian and English units of 3rd Brit. Inv. Div. At their flank the first French units liberate the first acres of their homeland again.

Meanwhile the transport ships are on their way back to the English coast to laod the next units.



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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

The situation at the landing areas of Canadian and French troops.



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hatemf90
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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by hatemf90 »

Hi,

I will be telling the story from the german side, and the struggle to push combined allied forces back to the sea.

In late night of June 5th, large transport formations along with fighter escort were reported crossing into France. This could only mean one thing. OKW is informed, and Immediately OKW ordered 7th Army and 5th Panzer Army to mobilize and head for the Sector, while 15th Army is already stationed in Charlois.

While border troops noticed that usual transport trucks stopped arriving as Paratroopers hold more and more strategic roads and bridges.

716th and 709th Reserve divisions holding the beaches are ordered to hold their ground and defend the beach fortifications in preparation of a possible following amphibious invasion, also Promising them reinforcements. But once American infantry started landing, Div. Commanders knew it was hopeless as their small Conscript units are not up to the job.

By June 6th, 716th and 709th Reserves were are completely cut off and surrounded, and with no hope of relief in sight they continued to put up a fight, but as ammunition was limited there was not much they could do. and only after the last rounds were fired the survivors were forced to surrender.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by Widell »

Great! Another AAR that can turn out to be a nail biter! Looking forward to follow the development...
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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by hatemf90 »

This is an overview of the situation at the start of June 5th.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by hatemf90 »

By June 8th, the last pockets of resistance were being cleared.

Landing forces linked with the paratroopers to form a strong foothold on the french shores.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by hatemf90 »

Meanwhile, Commander of the Marbourg Sector -wisely- ordered units manning the shore fortifications to retreat behind the small river passing near Marbourg.

The remaining beach guns fired at enemy ships within range but with little success, Then they were turned on land units, causing confusion in some of them.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

June 7th

At the second day of the invasion first enemy approaches in the west are reported. German flak shot down four bombers during an attack on a coastal battery. Defenders at the shore are defeated or forced to retreat. Fighting still concentrates on shore areas.

June 8th

More and more British and American units landed on the shores. First targets of allied attacks are the harbourgs.

Some units of 101st US Airborne move westwards and cross the river. They are followed by units of 1st US Army and parts of 29th US Inv. Div. A group of 101st Airborne moving along the coastline is attacked by German infantry. All attackers are eliminated with no losses on US side.

As well battleship group Task Force O moves westwards coming in reach of a strong German coastal battery. Both sides start heavy gun fire.

German units at the crossing in the middle of the landing area had been eliminated. Paras and glider infantry of 82nd US Airborne move towards Catrei. No enemy contact reported.


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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

At the eastern flank units of British 6th Airborne Div. report a massive approach of enemy units. Frontline units of 6th Airborne get under fire of German artillery. Recon reports that German group consists of units of 5th Panzer Div. supported by parts of 21st Panzer Div.

Units of Suffolk Reg. And 82nd US Airborne encircle parts of 716th Reserve and attack supported by gun fire of battleship groups Task Force G and S.

Four groups of German 716th Reserve are trapped at a harbour after combined attack of Linconshire and Lanceshire Reg. supported by Royal Ulster Rifles. Canadian Highland Lt. Inf. and Regina Rifles join the fighting.

While the first harbour could have been captured 79th British Armour Div. starts landing heavy equipment. Still a coastal battery beside a small village is held by an unknown German unit.

Meanwhile recon of 6th British Airborne moving south reports approaching German units of unknown kind and strength. British 3rd Inf. Div. are quickly set in march to support the 6th paras.

At the end of the fourth day 300 german infantry were eliminated while allied forces lost a third of that amount. High Command expects higher losses the next days as approaching enemy units are reported to consist of several special forces groups. German Luftwaffe was very effective. 12 fighters could have been shot down, but 10 fighters, 7 level bombers, and 1 tactical bomber got lost.


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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by hatemf90 »

Knowing that every hour the enemy held more ground, Motorized Divisions rushed ahead to hold the invaders as close to the beaches as possible. 21st Pz Division along with 2nd Pz and 12th SS Pz Divisions from 5th Panzer Army head to Mulberry point where the main advance of the enemy is expected. Leading units of the 21 Pz Division have come under attack of allied air force, Luftwaffe fighters are able to respond, 4 tanks are destroyed. 3 Para units have been spotted retreating in fear of being crushed by the advancing Divisions.

In the center 17th SS Division rushed to hold a road passing through a small village near the coast.

To challenge the superior allied air force Luftwaffe Command has dedicated a Fighter wing to the sector. The fighter group succeeds in its first encounter, shooting down 3 out of 4 long-range unescorted bombers. and scoring many kills including fighter escorts in the next encounter.

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In the west, Pz Lehr Division of 7th Army is ordered to take up positions in the town of Catrei and wait for slower infantry Divisions to catch up.

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british exil
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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by british exil »

Now it is getting very interesting.

German armour against Allied Inf.

Can't wait for more, keep it coming ...
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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

June 9th

The day of the heaviest fights so far. German units started a major counter attack.

At the eastern flank British 6th Airborne were attacked by several groups of infantry and tanks.

First the German units started heavy gun fire followed by attacks 70 rifle and 50 smg units supported by armoured vehicles. A group of 50 parachuters was eliminated. In a second attack 80 rifle and 40 smg units were supported by 2 tank units. Another group of 50 paras got lost in fire. The third attack in this area was done by 13 tanks, 80 rifle and 110 smg units. 60 paras were overrun. At least another group of paras lost nearly 50 percent of its men in a combined attack of 30 rifle and 20 smg units together with armoured vehicles.

A group of paras moving through the swamps to capture the nearby bridge was spotted and driven back by German infantry. Half of the men got lost.

Regarding the overwhelming strength of the German counterattack the British 6th Airborne fought a heroic battle and stopped the enemy successfully on their attempt to achieve a breakthrough and recapture the landing zone. This enabled French and Canadian army to land more units and stabilize their lines.

Canadian units moved away from the shore but are not yet able to join the fight. French units got closer to the enemy but lack of supply. They will get support by British 18th Royal Hussars, 22nd Dragoons and 7th Royal Dragoon Guards that land their tanks under cover of the Canadian troops.


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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

In the center massive attacks of infantry and armoured forces caused heavy losses of 185th Royal Norfolk Reg. and the anti-tank group of 3rd Div. Tanks of 1st Assault Brigade (79th Armoured Div.) move fast as possible to help. Paras of US 82nd Airborne have to stand German gunfire and attacks of strong groups of infantry with tanks supporting. 29th US Infantry Div. moves south to stabilize frontline before paras have to retreat.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

Only the western flank has not yet seen heavy fighting. A group of 101st US Airborne got under gun fire of a coastal battery but had only few losses. Airborne and units of 1st US Army consisting of a tank and a tank-destroyer battalion move west. Infantry of 29th US Div. follows. Reinforcements of 1st US Infantry Div. arrived and started moving away from the shores.

This day caused 240 losses of infantry while the enemy lost only 80 infantry. HQ gets very concerned about the large amount of special forces and strong German tanks in this area. Most of the tanks of US and British units are still on the other side of the channel. Only few of them are heavy tanks that are able to stand a direct fire of German tanks and tank destroyers. Air force has to smash the Axis tanks as soon as possible.


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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by hatemf90 »

June 9th/10th:

All along the front initial airborne forces and scouting parties are beaten back with minimal losses.

In the east Panzer Divisions are in full contact with the enemy, and have full control of the road leading to Charlois, but most importantly are only 5 kilometers away from the shores. Enemy is reported to have landed in force. Heavy equipment is spotted including tanks. As expected this is the main advance of the enemy.

Division commanders are ordered to exploit any weaknesses in the enemy line in order to throw them back. But due to lack of recon of exact numbers of enemy forces, Div commanders choose a more careful approach and decide to do concentrated attacks on advancing units supported by artillery. Para units are beaten further down the road.

In the swamp area a scout unit has run into an infantry squad and is quickly beaten back.

In the air, a squad of 25 fighters and 10 bombers launched an attack on 3 infantry units, Luftwaffe fighters responded, both sides receive losses and retreat, then much to the concern of the German Command another equally strong squad appeared and attacked the same units, 4 Armoured cars and 50 infantry are killed.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by hatemf90 »

East of the front, not knowing how strong the invasion force is, the DuPont Sector is stripped of its defenses and sent to the front line.

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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

June12th

In the west near Marbourg the remaining coastal guns fire at units of 101st Airborne that encircles the fortifications.

At the eastern flank the Canadian units have to stand heavy German gun fire. It prepares the way for two german tank divisions and a special forces division that attack the Canadians. After heavy fighting the allied forces have to retreat.

Infantry of 3rd British Inv. Div. blocks the road and the area around the lake to prevent the Germans from a breakthrough towards the coast.

French units supported by tanks of 79th British Armoured Div. take position to launch an attack on the German flank. Battleship groups Task Force G, S, and J are ordered to enter the bay and support the attack with their heavy guns.


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RE: Achtung-Invasion

Post by RufusTFirefly »

June13th

The advance of 29th Us Inf. Div. on Catrei is stopped by counterattacks of German forces. The enemy tries to outflank the 115th Inf. that covers the right flank.

4th Us Inf. Div. has landed and marches towards Catrei.

Meanwhile the attack of the French 2nd Armoured Division was beaten and the French units forced to retreat.


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