German doctrine emphasized immediate counterattacks when the enemy was relatively weak and had not Yet consolidated the positions they had just seized. During the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the American airborne forces had the mission to prevent or delay such German counterattacks against the Allied beachheads when those landing areas were most vulnerable.
Here men of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" must capture a position held by German troops near a key bridge over the Merderet River. To the American paratroopers, their objective near La Fiere seemed tantalizingly close, but the scattering of their force and the tough German defense will make that goal far from easy.
American | German | |
Division 1 |
11 Squad Bases |
2 Squad Bases 2x Concealed |
Division 2 |
3 Squad Bases |
2 Squad Bases |
Strategy Decks | American Reinforcements 1 Command 1 |
Ground Support 1 Morale 1 |
Starting Strategy Cards | 0 | 2 |
Operations Cards | - | - No Surrender |
Deployment Zone | Div. 1: Any hexes on map 3A. Div. 2: Enters during the Status Phase of round 3 (see Reinforcements). |
Divisions 1 and 2, plus three entrenchments, on any hexes on maps 2A, 6A, IA. 7A, 9B and 11B. |
Starting Initiative | ||
Objective | The Americans win if the Germans are unable to fulfill their objective by the end of round 9. | At the end of Round 9, the Germans win if they control any building hex, or if they have destroyed eight or more American squads. Otherwise, the Americans win. |
Rounds | 9 | |
Actions per turn | 3 | 1 |
Reinforcements |
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- |
Special Rules | - | German units that are not fatigued, pinned or disrupted may attack as if they are on Opportunity Fire (and then are fatigued). |
Terrain Features |
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HINTS | The Americans need to push hard — they have a numerical advantage. The Combined Fire tactic should be used whenever possible. | The Germans need to carefully select avenues of approach to the buildings and cover them with the MG units to delay the American forces as best as they can. |