"The Dawn of Freedom" ~ A D-Day inspired game.

As I promised in the previous blog post, here is a brief AAR for our D-Day game in the form of my usual anotated photomontage. We played the game using Rapid Fire Reloaded and although somewhat rusty and unsure we got up to speed by Turn 3 and managed 9 Turns before our alloted time ran out. All the figures, vehicles, boats and aircraft are from my own collection built up over the years from many sources, though Wargames Foundry and AB provide much of the infantry and Ready to Roll from Colin Rumford most of the vehicles. Anyway, introductions over, here we go ~

The game is preceded by bombardments from sea and air. As Allied commander, Phil chose five targets, concentrating on the obvious bunkers housing artillery or machine gun emplacements.

Let's be kind and say the capricious 'dice gods' were not awake yet, patiently awaiting Turn 1! Only one Bunker was hit and destroyed! Von Bikelburgher was more than relieved! 

Using the supplementary rules from RFR we opened proceedings by checking for losses amongst the approaching land craft and DD Sherman's of the first wave. This time those 'dice gods' were on their game: one DD Sherman struck a mine and sank, landing craft drifted left or right but the first wave were ashore! The shell shocked Germans did not achieve more than a single hit!

Engineers in the first wave advance up the beach on foot and by armoured 'dozer clearing the way for the assault infantry. German fire becomes more affective, infantry losses occur and the ARV is damaged, though this gives its neighbouring DD Sherman a breathing space 

On the Allied left flank the Sherman crab clears a path through the wire and begins to clear the minefield. The Churchill bunker buster is ashore supporting the infantry assault as is the second DD Sherman. German fire remains ineffective.

Meanwhile the engineers reach their target and succeed in destroying a second bunker. Infantry losses mount on the Allied right flank as the second wave of landing craft approach the beach, once again without loss!

The engineers turn their attention to breaching the sea wall successfully. The first wave of infantry advance in their support coordinated by the HQ element. German fire remains ineffectual sadly. 

The Allied right is still hung up on the beach, holding up the deployment of the second wave of infantry. Casualties have begun to mount both on the Allies and on the German defenders.

The engineers lead the way, turning their attention to the entrenchments on the rise beyond the beach, where the Germans are holding up the assault. The first wave of the infantry assault are advancing through the breach to take the sea wall defenders from the flank and rear.

The Sherman Crab has cleared a path through the wire and minefield which the infantry are quick to exploit allowing the congestion caused by the arrival of the second assault wave to ease.

The Beach Master in this section is at last able to get the men moving in the right direction as confusion eases. German 80mm mortar and 150mm artillery fire rain down on the beach area to little effect. Communication has been disrupted it seems by activity from the Maquis. 

The Allies have now cleared two exits from the landing beaches. Losses have been considerable but the men have pressed home the attack with determination. For the Germans it must be said the troop quality in this section looks to have been poor!

Another flying dustbin round from the Churchill takes out the anti aircraft bunker atop the low rise beyond the beach, while the engineers deploy their flamethrower team to the eastern section of the entrenchments.

German resistance in the forward area on the Allied left has been neutered effectively and the landing force begins to move inland towards the next objective. Churchill's land successfully without loss in the third wave of the assault and move inland to support the advancing infantry.

In the western sector the Allies are off the beach in strength and engaging the next objective of the heavily defended ruined farm complex. 

German morale amongst the frontline defenders having finally collapsed as they are effectively destroyed, the beachhead has been secured, and troops begin to move inland in strength despite losses.

It was all up for  Von Bikelburgher's Germans in Turn 9 when as a result of failing my third consecutive Morale check, the first line troops having been destroyed and the second line loosing 50% casualties, we called a halt as darkness fell on what seemed to have been The Longest Day...