From: Paul Smith Subject: A replay of The Longest Day A Replay of THE LONGEST DAY The Allied strategy was to build up Omaha beach ASAP. The majority of Allied forces are US and they come in on only two of the beaches (Utah and Omaha). Of these, Omaha has about 10 times the debarkation capability of Utah. To do this, they used articles from THE GENERAL to maximize their probability of achieving beachheads. This would, in turn, maximize their build-up and allow them to overwhelm the German defenders with superior manpower and firepower. The German strategy was to hold the key objective cities until the automatic victory conditions of June 20th kicked in. When the average reinforcement rates of the two sides are compared, the Germans can just about keep up with the Allied build-up until June 20th. After this time, the Allies get a massive amount of units. Thus, the prospects for a German win get bleak as time marches on. They must go for the early win. Based on these objectives, the game proceeded as follows: June 6th: The Allies concentrate their interdiction on the roads around Caen and the Cotentin effectively inhibiting the German ability to manuever into advantagous positions near the beaches. Three coastal artillery units are selected for disruption with the remaining bombardment disrupting the coastal strongpoints on Omaha beach. This provides the Allies with all but 1 of the beachheads. However, the Germans achieve 9 hits against the Allied landings (6 on Omaha, 2 on Utah, and 1 on Sword)! Allied airdrops went fairly wild. Essentially all of the British 6th division is disrupted. Also, their HQ and supply landed on enemy units and were thus eliminated. This put them out of supply, probably for the rest of the game. The US faired a little better with only 50% being disrupted. During the combat phases, there was a little skirmish in Carenten but the turn ended with it still in German hands. There are only limited attacks since there are so few troops adjacent to enemy units. The Germans do succeed in moving adjacent to an Omaha beachhead, though. The turn ends with the British on shore in mass. The US is disorganized on Utah and thinly holds the Omaha beaches. June 7th: The weather has turned heavy overcast (the worst)! There is no air power and Allied reinforcements are halved. Cherbourg demolition has begun. Naval bombardment concentrates on coastal artillery near Sword, a fort N of Caen (which is subsequently captured), and flak units near Omaha. Strategic interdiction is spread evenly between the various transportation routes with the result that a good number of German reinforcements make it thru. Many of the US units that arrive this turn are disrupted Build-up wave units. However, the 1st HQ lands at Omaha providing supply for 1/2 of the units there. They then proceed to clear any threatening German units out of the immediate area. The US player is paranoid about German units getting adjacent to his beachheads, and he should be (this is really how they lost a previous game). The units at Utah are out of supply because the airdropped supply and HQ didn't land in the same hexes. The Germans use this to advantage by picking a few of them off. They even get adjacent to the 82nd HQ but the attacked is stopped due to defensive fire (it does succeed in demoralizing the US player, though). The British succeed in bringing on the remainder of their build-up wave troops. They push hard toward the west, linking up with the advanced US units from Omaha. This will releave some pressure on Omaha. They also occupy hexes of the major road leading NW out of Caen. This will prevent the Germans from using it to aid in lateral troop movements. The Germans are weakest where the US and British are meeting. The 12th SS is brought in and occupies the area South of Bayeux. June 8th: The weather has become storm (the earliest possible)! There is no Allied air power, naval power, or reinforcements. The German Panzer Lehr appears and heads toward Omaha. Needless to say, the Allies don't do much. There are a few hotly contested bridges, but basically they use the time to consolidate their lines. The British gain a few more hexes westward (not toward Caen?). Their actions are being restricted due to lack of supply. The Germans use the Panzer Lehr to fill the gap where the US and British troops meet. Both sides now have a continuous front from the flooded areas NE of Caen to just west of Omaha. They also begin mopping up the out of supply British 6th airborne who are trying to move NW to link up with the main body of troops. At Omaha, the Germans are using their flak to great effect. At Utah, the Germans start a small offensive. The flak of the Cherbourg garrison has been released and will soon enter the fray. There are only about 4 units of the US 4th and 90th divisions and these are out of supply. However, the Germans are also quickly running out of supply. June 9th: The storm continues (automatically). One of the mulberries has become damaged and will take an extra 4 days to be completed. The Allies use this turn mainly to consolidate their defenses and to prepare for favorable weather next turn (even though there is a 50% chance of more storm). There are a great many holes in the US line at Utah so they retreat a few hexes to protect their HQs on the beaches. The German offensive continues, however, and a few more US units are lost. Both Utah beachheads are now within artillery range. The Germans place 3 flak brigades in Caen to defend against the expected British advancement. June 10th: The weather becomes light overcast. Allied strategic bombing concentrates on Brittany. This is where the majority of German reinforcements are coming from and is also closest to Utah, which is the most threatened of all the Allied fronts. However, even though this ties up a mass of infantry divisions, the 2nd Panzer division proceeds unmolested, its destination being Caen. The first railroad interdiction strikes are made. These cut the railroads leading off the SW and SE portions of the map. Naval bombardment concentrates on the Caen front with occasional hits against targets of opportunity elsewhere. The British bring in a few independent units while the US is still bringing in units from the build-up wave! In the process, German coastal artillery sinks the 90th HQ! However, the 29th HQ lands successfully at Omaha, putting the remaining US troops there in supply. They concentrate on building up the western defenses of Omaha since several of the Lehr division units seem to be headed that way. The US did succeed in destroying the last remaining coastal artillery facing Omaha, but the Lehr division counterattacked, destroying a number of US units as well as threatening a beach hex there. The US front at Omaha is still only 2 hexes deep! At Utah beach, several supplies are brought on to give them some offensive capability. This front is mainly held by the 82nd and 101st with a smattering of out of supply 4th and 90th remnants. Many of these are eliminated by the German offensive. The British capture the other mountain hex N of Caen but concentrate their efforts toward the west. They seem to be headed BEHIND the German units facing Omaha! Thru judicious use of flak, a few hexes near Caen are regained by the Germans. The British player is now realizing what the US has had to put up with regarding that pesky flak. June 11th: The weather becomes fair. The naval and air missions remain the same as before. The US finally bring the 4th HQ ashore at Utah (although only 1 combat unit is remaining on the map). The US 2nd armored begins to appear at Omaha. The British bring on the supply for the entire Allied effort. They don't want to be caught out of supply when the next storm comes. With the aid of the 2nd Armored division, the US may be making the beginnings of a breakout. They establish a bridgehead across one of the many rivers. Even though the Germans use the 77th infantry division with the Panzer Lehr to form stacks of combined arms, they cannot do much about this since they don't have much supply. Most of the German supply is being used at Utah where their main offensive is. Here the US vacate St. Mere-Eglise, west of the beaches, and form a trianglular front with the beaches as its base. However, after the German offensive, several US units are eliminated due to overstacking after retreating. Also, the German advance bring them adjacent to the 82nd HQ as well as one of the beachheads. Not only that, but here the Germans have enough supply for two more turns of offensive! Meanwhile, the British continue their trek west, easing the burden on the US there. They do gain a few hexes toward Caen, but at a cost. Both sides are very strong here. It is very difficult to gain more than 2 hexes per turn. The British are concentrating their defensive fire on eliminating flak units instead of preparing for an offensive toward the city. It will soon be seen if this tactic is worthwhile. The British do succeed in extricating a few of the lost British airborne. There are about 3 units left E of the canals. June 12th: The last of the US build-up wave units finally appear at Utah. These will be little help, though since they are out of supply. The Germans succeed in capturing one of the two beachheads on Utah. This effectively puts Utah beach out of action. In fact, the front is so restricted now that the entire 243rd division is transferred over to the Omaha front since it is of no use at Utah anymore. It is needed there to help choke the US breakout. At Omaha, the US take another hex across a river and also capture a bridge, opening up another avenue of advance. The Germans here have very little supply and can only provide token resistance. At Caen, the fighting is very bloody. The Germans have filled the city with artillery. Although it comsumes precious supply, it makes the British advance toward the city very slow and very painful. They are only 3 hexes from the city, but the Germans have placed their very best units there (initial units of the 17SS have appeared this turn). It has become obvious that the Germans are going for the automatic victory. The British have 8 more turns to take the city and it will be very tough. June 13th: The railroad is now 2/3 of the way toward total collapse. The US begin to bring the 9th infantry division onto Omaha (Utah is left to whither and tie down German troops). There are still 3 full US division waiting to come on! The US advance out of Omaha forcing the Germans to retreat to form a stronger line behind some rivers and flooded areas. In order to provide more stabilty to this front, the Germans transfer the abundant supply depot from the Utah front to the Omaha front. This shouldn't affect the Utah front very much because almost every hex has flak in it. They don't require supply in order to shoot during the defensive fire phase and may be able to close down the front all by themselves. At Caen, the British gain only 1 hex which is subsequently lost to a German counterattack. The Germans bring in the powerful 3FS Luftwaffe division. They are using strategic road movement now so that when the railroad collapses (next turn?), units won't be stranded in the middle of the bocage. Caen is getting so crowded that the beatup divisions (the 716th and 352nd) will be sent W to help out the Omaha front. June 14th: The German commander gives the Utah front one more supply unit allowing them to eliminate the last of the 4th and 90th divisions, all the remaining US artillery, and the 82nd HQ. Meanwhile, the Allied advance out of Omaha is dealt a severe blow. Not only are they slowed by the flooded areas to the south, but German defensive fire opens a hole thru their lines all the way to the coast. With the supply newly arrived from Utah, exploitation results in a large portion of the US 2nd Armored division being cut off and severely mauled. This provides the Germans with a short respite which is used to consolidate the troops of the Lehr division (which have been spread out all over the Omaha front) to face the more agressive British toward the east. At Caen, the British again capture the hex that was lost last turn. Perhaps more importantly, they blast two holes in the Axis line W of Caen (the Allied front hasn't reached the bocage yet!). This forces the Germans to retreat the whole front one hex to firm up their positions. The 17SS provides needed combined arms effects in front of Caen (here the Germans are armor- strong, but infantry-weak) while the 3FS division fills in the gaps created by the diversionary British manuever. June 15th: The railroad system collapses and is no longer useable. At Utah, the Germans capture the last beachhead and reduce the US to only 1 hex. US naval bombardment helps relieve the pocket of 2nd Armored units at Omaha, but the Germans have expanded the breach to a two hex width. Only 4 units remain in the pocket. The British gain 2 hexes toward Caen only to have one of them taken back during a German counter-offensive. They perform another diversionary attack on the major road leading to St. Lo (a VP city) but this too is quickly repulsed. June 16th: The weather has become heavy overcast (next turn there is a 1/6 chance of storm)! This is the last turn for the x3 debarkation rate for the beachheads. Utah beach finally falls. The German 709th and 91st divisions and 3 flak brigades pull out to aid the Omaha and Caen fronts. Caen desperately need the flak since the British have destroyed almost of all of them. The US again attempts to relieve the pocketed 2nd Armored remnants, but the Germans always manage to keep a line 1 hex deep between them. By the end of the turn, the pocketed units has been eliminated. There are only 4 armored units left at Omaha! However, the US does make headway further east thru the flooded areas. The British gain a few hexes west of Caen but these are stopped up by the 12SS (a strong division) who begin to transfer west out of Caen. The British gain more hexes toward Caen and now have 2 hexes that are within 2 of Caen. The Germans view it as a mistake to not begin the carpet bombing procedure. If the Allies started it now, there is enough time for two carpet bombings at Caen before time runs out. June 17th: The weather turns fair so the Allies initiate the carpet bombing procedure. There is a 50% chance that bad weather will cancel it next turn. Apparently they were waiting for good weather before starting it. The Germans send a new Nebelwerfer and more supply to Caen which is obviously the key to the game. The Germans prepare for the carpet bombing next turn by forming a strong first line followed by a weaker second line of defense, leaving room for retreats. The weakest part of the German line is just west of Caen. This is made even weaker when the 3FS division is transferred into Caen (infantry is doubled in the city). The British gained two more hexes, each 2 away from the city. It is not unusual to have attacks of 50-60 points in this sector. At Omaha the US is beginning to form an offensive capability toward the east. They have 4 full divisions and plenty of supply. They trap several German units behind a river eliminating them. The German troops transferring from Utah are hampered by road interdiction. The Allies use their air power well. June 18th: The weather is fair (!) so the carpet bombing proceeds as planned. They bomb the area just NW of Caen in hopes of providing a corridor to the city. However, the results obtained were just mediocre. Several of the front line troops retreat back only to block the way into Caen. The British gain several hexes within 1 of Caen. They must still take this hex and then also gain one hex into Caen. When reviewing the past history of rates of advance in this sector, they don't think they can do this in the remaining two turns. This is especially true if the Germans sacrificially expend supply to support all the nebelwerfer brigades in the city. Thus the Allies conceed defeat. In retrospect, neither the British nor the Germans realized how close it would be. They decided they could have drastically affected the outcome during the very first turns of the game by being more aggressive. It is at this stage where it is fairly easy to gain hexes toward Caen. Of course the weather was just about the worst it could have been and greatly aided the German efforts. This mostly affected the US build-up rate and so allowed the Germans to use the reinforcements that normally would have been allocated to defending the US fronts to instead help stall the British drive on Caen. Even so, the Germans had a very delicate balancing act. They supported an offensive at Utah while depriving the Omaha front of supply. This nearly allowed an Allied breakout there. It did, however, dash the Allied hopes of capturing Cherbourg in a reasonable time frame. Supposedly this has the most long term affect on the Allied build-up, but we have yet to find out anything at all about long term affects. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul F. Smith mailto:psmith@ftw.mot.com