Normandie!

William had asked for a D-Day game and had helped me set up the terrain for this week's game here in GHQ. Come Tuesday and he's a no show, whisked away to some Egyptian light show in Birmingham with his family! So Phil and I were left to play out the game using Bolt Action. As an interesting aside, Phil has version 3 while I prefer version 2, largely because of the stupid pricing at Warlord Games. Anyway, the table at the onset of hostilities with Phil commanding the Allies and yours truly the Germans ~

The view from 'Beyaux', the third objective, towards the beach head. The first being the sea wall and hamlet of 'Vers Sous Mer' and the second either of the two farms on the flanks. In 6 Turns, plus a possible 7th, a difficult ask for the Allies!

The Beach head viewed from a passing aircraft! The Allies may opt for a naval bombardment of one target in Turn 1 using up one Command dice. In Turn 4 they get a possible Bomber attack, again using up a Command dice.

The sea wall protecting 'Vers Sous Mer' is heavily defended, but these men are Inexperienced! How will they react under intense fire is a German concern!

The Algerian front line troops who will take the brunt of the Allies firepower are supported by squads in each of the ruined farms and in 'Vers Sous Mer' itself. They cannot activate until the Allied troops exit the beach.

Anti-tank guns are placed to create a killing zone of cross fire, if any Allied tanks make it off the beach that is!

The Germans' forward Command Post is protected from air attack by the rooftop anti-aircraft gun. This may drive off any Allied bombers later in the game of course!

The Allies storm ashore in Turn 1! The naval bombardment hits the troops defending the sea wall hard. No casualties luckily but Pins mount up.

The 'Flying Dustbin' fired from the Churchill makes short work of the Pak40's bunker!

In similar fashion the Sherman DD surges through the breaking surf and destroys the other Bunker in Turn 2!

The Sherman DD on the opposite flank comes under fire from the central bunker on the sea wall. The shot is close...but no cigar!

The Allies consolidate their landing and strengthen the beach head in Turns 2 and 3. The 'Stomach Battalion' squads on the sea wall are putting up stiff resistance despite intense incoming fire!

The Allies are off the beach and advancing on the second line of defense. Again more Inexperienced troops awaiting their fate with trepidation?

Despite some losses and Pins, the Churchill leads more Allied infantry off the Beach to enfilade the defenders on the sea wall!

As the Allies exit the beach the Sherman DDs come under fire. The tank in the centre is knocked out but the others survive and press forward.

The defenders of the sea wall are finally overwhelmed! The next to fall must be 'Vers Sous Mer' itself! The second wave of Infantry will form up to assault the village ruins!

More Allied infantry pour ashore. The Churchill leads the survivors of the assault wave towards the next objective, the ruined farm. If they succeed they will earn a second Victory point.

On the opposite flank the Assault wave are Pinned down under machine gun fire. The second wave surge past them and make short work of the position on the edge of the woods.

At the end of Turn 3 the Allies have achieved 2 Victory points and Germans have lost 4 Command dice to the Allies' 1.

The Allies opt for a bombing run, targeting the ruined farm on their right flank.  The German anti-aircraft crew prepare for their moment in the spotlight as the bomber roars inlans!

They're on target! The bomber suffers 2 Hits! It takes 3 though to drive it off, so the bombing run continues!

Bombs are raining down on the shocked troops occupying the farm. Losses are severe and Pins mount up alarmingly!

By the conclusion of Turn 5 its clear the Allies will succeed in reaching 'Beyaux'. The German losses are so severe they are down to 1 Command dice while the Allies have lost only 4!

A gripping game on reflection. At the conclusion of Turn 2 the German position looked promising with the Allies struggling to exit the beach. The destruction of the anti-tank bunkers greatly aided the Allies from Turn 3, as did indifferent German defensive fire. The bomber certainly helped turn the tide too! All in all though we agreed a challenging and engrossing game for both of us!