V.E. Are H Q units affected by the fire of coastal 2. The German field replacement unit in the In- U.S.

the In- U.S. 65th Arty Bn: On Non-Divisional Rein-

artillery?
A. Yes. For this reason our tactical experts suggest
that the Allied player keep his H Q units off the
beach as long as possible-even until the beginning
fantry Function category with a movement factor forcements Section of Allied Organization chart; 7
of "8" should be motorized. Similarly, the German June through 24 July.
field replacement unit with a movement factor of The Two German railway engineer units listed
"
4 should be non-motorized. The infantry func-
91

as arriving on 6 June are the units numbered "6"

of the second turn if necessary.
V.E.4.a. This rule says that all units are disrupted
while the bombardment chart states that all units
that landare disrupted. Which is correct, and if it is
the latter, then may those units attack prior to land-
ing, or may some attack while others land?
A. All units are disrupted. Delete " . . . if moved
to coastal hex." from the Bombardment Table.
V.F. When Crocodile units attack enemy units in
bocage is the C.A.M. total + 6 ( + 2 for bocage and
two times + 2 for combined arms) when attacking
in conjunction with an infantry unit?
A. Yes.
V.G.3.c. CLARIFICATION: The Combined
Arms Modifier is doubled whenever a Crocodile
unit is involved in combat with at least one friendly
infantry-type unit, and the enemy unit being
attacked is in clear terrain.
VII. Example #I, Attack A . In the last sentence of
this example, delete the phrase, " . . . and another
half expended for the artillery support for a total of
one full supply unit."
IX.C.3 Rewrite the second sentence of this section
toread: "On the third turn, if storm would be rolled
again, it would become ST-2 again."
IX.E.3.a. CLARIFICATION: In the Campaign
Game, the x 3 multiple for BH hex capacity only
applies beginning with the second turn, up t o and
including the eleventh turn (June 16).
1X.F.S.d. SPECIAL GERMAN UNIT ENTRY:
Units enter German Strategic Movement Track (or
mapboard in the case of the 319 Division) when die
roll is greater than number indicated. Roll once per
turn for each unit, until all units have entered the
mapboard.
tion machine-gun company should be non-
motorized. The artillery function parachute ar-
tillery battalion and the glider artillery battalion
should both be motorized.
THE SCENARIOS
The two units of the 352 Division and the one
unit of the 6FS Regiment (only!) are treated as part
of the 353 Division when using supply rules. Also,
130 Division Recon unit is positioned directly on the
town of Barenton and is treated as an independent
unit.
Scenario Two: The Falaise Pocket
The 9SS Panzer Division is given a position on
the map at the beginning of this scenario. This is in-
correct. It arrives as listed in the rules folder on
August 20th. The 2 Panzer Division should extend
its front one hex t o cover the area in which the 9SS
Panzer Division is listed on the set-up map.
Scenario Three: Operation Cobra
Air units are available for this scenario as
follows:
TAC: Full U.S. complement as listed on the
Allied Aircraft Deployment Display.
SAC: Allied player limited to one carpet
bombing attack o n 25 July within the 130
Panzer Division setup area.
Scenario Four: The Fall of Cherbourg
CLARIFICATION: The first turn in this
scenario is always a clear weather turn.
SET-UP CLARIFICA TION: Ignore the single-
unit placements of the 91st, 243rd and 709th Ger-
man divisions printed on the diagram, because
these are left over from the mapboard. Use only
and "11".
The U.S. 319 and 320Arty. Bns. areattached to
the 82nd Airborne Division, and should land with
the other units of that division at Drop Zone "0" on
6 June, Build-Up Phase.
The three battalions of the German 91st Infan-
try Division that are listed as arriving on 8 June in
Brittany and also appear as part of the initial setup
on the game board d o in fact begin both the inva-
sion and the Campaign Game scenarios on the
board. Their place o n the German unit Entry
Schedule should be taken by the three units of the 2
FS Para. Bn.
The hex listed on the Allied Assault Landing
Schedule under the supply unit attached to the
British 6th Airborne Division should read "Drop
Zone 'M"', which is the mail landing zone. Also,
the important legend "Build-Up Phase" should be
written over the group of seven British units landed
at Drop Zone "M". The Allied Player has the op-
tion of instead landing these units at Drop Zone
"N".
CLARIFICATION: On the Allied Aircraft
Deployment Display, Heavy Bomber (HB) units #5
and #6 may not bomb in the following movement
boxes: Rennes, Redon, Rheims, Rouen, Amiens,
Seine River and Paris. Also, delete "Brittany"
from under pictograph of #5 and #6 HB units.
TERRAIN EFFECTS CHART, ETC.
1. Artillery is not halved firing across rivers.
2. If the combat result o n an attack against a
bocage hex is "LS", and attacking forces include
an armored and an infantry unit, the armored unit
must lose, at "Ll". If armor is involved in an at-
tack against bocage in which losses are called for,

*
those units listed in the Scenario #4 Order of Battle the armor must suffer losses.
1X.E. and F. D o new Allied and German units and the landfronte, minor fort, and fortified areas 3. On the Weather Effects Chart, the effects of
enter the board in a supplied state even if a source of from the scenario diagram. Also, "As per Starting ST-I and ST-2 and OV-2 should be reversed.
supply is not within 8 hexes of their hex of entry? Set-up" should be inserted over the 30th Flak Regi-
A. No. ment units.
XI1.B. Under the chart labeled "Bridge Demoli-
Scenario Five: Normandy Beachhead
tion Table", the third sentence in the legend should
read as follows: "3. If Allied combat unit occupies CLARIFICATION: For both this scenario and
the Campaign Game set-up, units that should be
SERIES 200
one of bridge hexes subtract '2' from die roll."
positioned on the red-starred hexes are identified on
CRESCENDO OF DOOM
UNIT CLASSIFICATION CHART the Scenario #4 set-up map. SCENARIOS
1. HEADQUARTERS UNITS: All Allied air- CAMPAIGN GAME AND SCENARIO # FIVE SERIES 200 is a pad of ten new scenarios for
borne unit HQ's are non-motorized. All armored, SETUP CRESCENDO O F DOOM printed on the same
panzer, and panzer grenadier HQ's are tracked. All 627 Ost: Arrives with the 77 Infantry Division index stock and in thesamestyle used for SQUAD
other HQ's are motorized. June 8 at Redon. LEADER and its gamettes. These scenarios were
designed by COI & COD developer Courtney
Allen and playtested by several of the SL playtest
groups who play so important a role in the con-
SPECIAL GERMAN UNIT ENTRY tinuing development of the game system.
265 DIVISION 275 DIVISION 353 DIVISON 266 DIVISION 319 DIVISION For those disdaining the "design your own"
HQ/supply-2 HQ/supply-2 HQ/supply-1 HQ/supply-1 HQ/supply-2 approach, here is your chance to experience more
1/894-2 1/983-5 1/914-3 1/897-2 1/582-2
11/983-5 11/941-3 11/897-2 11/582-2 CODscenarios which have been tested for balance
11/894-2
1/895-5 1/984-2 1/942-3 111/897-2 111/582-2 andconstitute topquality playingaids. Hereis the
11/895-5 II/984-2 11/942-3 1/8994 1/5834 chance to employ more of those special armor
I/8%-5 I/985-5 1/943-2 11/899-4 11/585-4 units provided with CODwhich don't seeaction in
11/8%-5 11/985-5 11/943-2 111/899-4 III/583-4 any of the gamette's scenarios.
ENG-2 FUS-2 FUS-I ENG-2 1/584--4 The ten ~cenarioscomprising SERIES 2W are
PAK-2 ENG-2 ENG-I PAK-2 11/5844 titled as follows: UNDER COVER O F
1/265-2 PAK-2 PZJG--I 1/266-4 111/5844 DARKNESS (1939), BITTER DEFENSE AT
11/265-5 1/275-2 1353-1 11/266-4 16-4 OTTA (1940). SACRIFICEOFPOLISH ARMOR
111/265-5 11/275-5 1/353-3 111/266-4 ENG4
450SDR/-2 (1939). CHANCE D'une AFFAIRE (1940). LAST
285/OST-2 II1/275-5 11/353-5 629/OST-4
634/OST-5 1/275-2 111/353-5 602/OST-4 Schnell-2 DEFENSE LINE (1940). FIGHTING AT
2/275-4 IV/353-5 1/394 WORLD'S EDGE (1940), THE FRENCH
3/275-4 FE-5 111/319-4 PERIMETER (1940). ROAD TO KOZANI PASS
FE-4 643/OST-5 (1941). THE AKROIRI PENINSULA DEFENSE
798/OST-5 213-5 (1941). COMMANDO RAID AT DIEPPE (1942).
800/OST-5 11/319-4 SERIES 2W is available by mail from Avalon
11/319-4 Hill for $4.00plus usual postagecharges. Maryland
823/OST-5
residents please add 5% state sales tax.
L
Now that I know where the rules are,
What do I do with them?
What follows here are a few suggestions t o con-
sider when using the various rules for the Advance
Phase. They are intended for the beginner; those of
you with combat experience will find these much
too simplified and incomplete. The more ex-
perience you have with the system, the more varied
uses of the powerful Advance Phase will become
apparent. For example:
(1) The Advance-to-the-Rear Phase-instead
of "breaking" a leader to rout with a broken squad
(see section 15.8). leave the leader where he is if
possible and Advance him backward to the broken
unit. This assumes, of course, that the broken
squad could rout to the hex directly behind its cur-
rent position. Now you don't have t o worry about
the leader "self-rallying."
(2) Advancing units can turn separate squads
into lethal fire-groups for the next turn's Defensive
Fire Phase. Consider the converse-squads and fire
groups can fire during the turn and then pull back t o
safety (perhaps even out of range or LOS) before
the enemy gets to shoot at you in his next Prep Fire
Phase.
(3) Particularly important is the ability t o move
here without drawing fire. If you must go out onto
the streets, look both ways, and then wait until the
Advance Phase if at all possible. Your squads are,
in effect, "low-crawling" now instead of
"moving" and though they only move one hex,
they are not subject t o that terrible " - 2" modifier
next turn. The streets are never safe, but this is one
way to lessen your problems.
(4) Finally, except in cases where Advance
Phase movement is specifically prohibited (sewer
movement, cliffs, more than one level building
change etc.), keep in mind that you are moving your
squad one hex regardless of terrain o r other con-
siderations. Move up behind a building in the
Movement Phase-out of LOS-then enter in the
Advance Phase. Move over walls, hedges, gullies,
up or down hills etc. all in the Advance Phase. You
may find you can move a squad to places that are
extremely difficult t o reach during normal
movement.
The Advance Phase is a powerful part of your
turn. In many ways, the Advance Phase can help
you out of a bad situation or into a very good one.
Know your rules-lesson number one; use
them-lesson number two. I'm sure that I have
managed to leave something out of this short clinic.
Literally hundreds of implications arise when you
consider the possibilities of this phase. I'll be
satisfied if new players gained some insight into
approaching the SQUAD L E A D E R system rule
books. If you're new, stay with it-you're struggling
with the finest game in the history of wargaming. If
you are an "old head" and perhaps you've caught
an omission here, I'm satisfied also. You know
your rules quite well.
One final thought-if you like this approach to
SQUAD L E A D E R rules study you might try the
following on your own. Consider "Fatew-do you
know all the implications of rolling a "2" or a " 12"
at any point during the turn sequence? How about
everything possible that can and cannot happen
during the Advancing Fire Phase? I think if
you approach the system in "study modules"
you'll find your game improves significantly.
Happy gaming!
Next rime we'll take a look at moderared postal
play methodsfor SL enrhusiasts who refuse ro allow
rhe eight phase player turn to deter them from pbm.
THE LONGEST DAY-Clarifications and Addenda
By Bruce Milligan
Errata? Please don't use that word; it hurts my
ears! Besides, for $65.00 we wouldn't dare put out a
game with any errors in it. Printed below are some
of the most common questions we have received
about this game, along with some rules clarifica-
tions, and a few itsy-bitsy items that were in-
advertently left out o r incorrectly presented in the
original game.
THE UNIT COUNTERS AND MAPBOARD
1. Coastal battery MKB Cher does not appear on
the mapboard, but there is a counter for it. MKB
Cher is actually the battery north of Cherbourg
which has no unit designation.
2. There are extra strongpoint counters in the mix.
They should be considered spares, and may be used
as blank counters.
3. Headquarters and supply units do not have an
attack factor. The top number is thedefense factor,
and the bottom number is the movement factor.
4. Coastal hexes are not considered sea hexes for
the purposes of naval bombardment. In other
words, you may not bombard one hex inland unless
the target is spotted.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
I.F.5. May units stack o n top of coastal strong-
points?
A . Yes.
1.G.1. Do units in landfronte fortifications and
field fortifications (not the forts themselves) have
zones of control extending into all six adjacent
hexes or just the three to their front?
A. Just the three hexes t o their front.
1I.D. Are supply units affected by "LS", "LI",
and "L2" casualties?
A. No. Only combat units are affected. Note that
an H Q is a combat unit.
II.D.1. Are units that enter the game as rein-
forcements considered in supply o n their turn of
entry to the game board?
A . Only if the first hex which they enter is one in
which they can be considered to be supplied. Other-
wise, they are unsupplied for that movement phase.
II.D.3. Are the combat factors of units which are
halved in strength rounded up or down?
A. They are rounded up.
II.D.3. Are units in landfronte fortifications
halved in strength when unsupplied?
A. Yes, even though the intrinsic strength of the
fortifications themselves is not halved.
II.D.3. May artillery units trace a line of supply to
a corps H Q of another nation?
A . Yes, in the scenarios. No, in the Campaign
Game.
II.D.3. Is German railroad artillery considered to
be always in supply?
A. No, it must trace a supply line to a friendly
corps HQ.
II.D.6. Can a supply unit move with a mechanized
H Q during the mechanized movement phase?
A . Yes. But it may never move alone during the
mechanized movement phase, even if it begins in a
hex with a mechanized HQ.
III.B.2. Can a unit with an attack strength of "0"
still add its function to an attack for the purpose of
modifying the die roll via the Combined Arms
Chart?
A. Yes. A remnant with an attack strength of "0"
is still considered to be a unit, albeit with an offen-
sive capability not large enough to be reflected in
the number of factors taking part in the attack: it is
still significant enough to be of value in that attack.
III.C.3.e.l. If a unit is forced to retreat into
another hex containing a carpet bombing target as a
result of being carpet bombed itself, does it then
undergo another attack?
A. No. All attacks are presumed to take place
simultaneously.
1V.A.l.a. May naval bombardment be executed
during storm turns?
A . No. This question would not be asked had we
not inadvertently reversed the results for ST-1 and
ST-2, and OV-2. Please note o n your Weather Ef-
fects Chart.
IV.B.5. C L A R I F I C A T I O N : When attacking,
units in fortifications are considered to have left the
fortification, at least temporarily, and as such is the
case the Armor modification o n the C.A.M. chart is
ignored for them.
V . A . C L A R I F I C A T I O N : Although there is no
German Replacement Phase on the first turn of the
Campaign Game, German reinforcements for 6
June begin the game set up on the German Strategic
Movement Track, and are therefore eligible to
move in that turn. This does not apply to supply
units, which may not move (if on the Strategic
Movement Track) until 7 June.
V.A.1. A D D I T I O N : During the Allied Player Seg-
ment of the Invasion Turn of both the Normandy
and the Campaign scenarios, there should be an
Allied Reset Phase immediately following the
Allied Combat Phase.
V.B. When does the D + 1 Drop Phase occur?
During the Allied Replacement Phase of the Allied
Player Segment on the 7 June turn.
V.B.4.c C L A R I F I C A T I O N : Attacking airborne
units always retreat just one hex if forced to retreat
as a result of drift combat.
V . C . Can all units in a landing box attack the
adjoining beach hex regardless of the six stacking
point limit?
A . Yes, but they must be within the stacking point
limit at the end of the next Allied Movement Phase.
V . C . May disrupted Allied units land on unoc-
cupied beach hexes during the invasion turn?
A . Yes.
V.C.12. If the defender in a beach hexiseliminated
during the Allied Beach Assault Phase, but the
attacker is also, can the Allied player still place a
BH marker on that hex?
A . No.
V.E. Are units that are disrupted by coastal
artillery forced to attack the adjacent coastal hex,
and if so are they then automatically eliminated in
accordance with the rules governing disrupted units
which are forced to attack?
A. No to both halves of this question.
 THE LONGEST DAY
AN OVERVIEW
By Jim Burnett
.
. . A BIG, BIG game about a big, big battle!
Available from Avalon Hill for just $65.00 (AH ad
COPY).
In times of inflation and penny-pinching
personal finances, everyone seems to be intent on
getting the most value for a dollar. Why should I
cough up $65 for a game? After all, didn't I get
TACTICS I1 a few years ago for less than the 10%
postage charge will be? I can get a good steak for
four dollars a pound and a fairly good car for less
than that. Why should I pay eight dollars per
pound for THE LONGEST DA Y?
If you wish to look at mere components THE
LONGEST DAY delivers over 2500 counters,
seven mapboards, three large and one small set-up
charts, four CRT/TEC/etc. charts, a 48-page rule
book, and a six-sided random number generator.
All this does, however, is create a big heap of card-
board and paper.
The myriad of counters provides the most
novel portion of the hardware. The familiar
counter symbology from the days of the classics is
gone. In its place is a close derivation of the actual
German WWII system. The new symbols sharply
delineate unit function designations. (Refer to
Figures 1and 2 for an example.) There are over 60
individual types of combat units; most of these are
either battalion or battery size within three main
movement classifications of non-motorized,
motorized, and tracked and are further divided
into three functional classes of infantry, artillery,
and armor. Headquarters units are typically divi-
sion or corps level with a few brigadehegimental
HQs thrown in. These counters are round-as are
the supply unit counters-for easy distinction
from the other types during play. There are five
different types of fortification counters available
to the German and eight types of air and naval
units for the Allies. A dozen functional counters
are included to keep the game flowing smoothly.
When you consider that almost all of the counters
are also back printed, there are over 4500 separate
counter faces in over 100 different types and
categories-no small amount.
The counters are also functionally arranged so
that their information content reflects the practical
need for such information. The numerical data for
attack, defense, and movement factors, stacking
factor, and range for indirect weapons is presented
in larger type than that presented for historical in-
formation. It may take a small amount of time to
become used to a new system, but it's well worth
the effort.
The mounted mapboards cover the entire
Normandy campaign area from Cherbourg to
Cabourg, Avrances to Argentan at a scale of two
km/hex. A total grid of about 80 by 75 hexes (ap-
 proximately 115 by 95 miles) gives some idea of the
immensity of the campaign. The terrain
represented includes clear ground, bocage, hill,
forest, swamp, flooded, and river with the
appropriate movement and combat effects for
each. Movement is affected by the terrain and the
road and rail net which covers the board. Roads
come in three types and the rivers are bridged.
Other miscellaneous "goodies" on the map are
beachhead and port designators and the symbol
for each unit that begins the Normandy Scenario
and the Campaign Game on the board. The
Cherbourg area units are shown on the ap-
propriate set-up chart. These counter pictures are
quite unobtrusive-so much so that at times one
must search a bit for a particular location. A
minor correction is that the names of MKB Nich
and Pair are swapped. In addition to all the other
terrain presented, there are over 2000 individual
named cities, towns, and villages. While the names
are not generally applicable to play, the amount of
research in the game is reflected by this fine touch.
One area in which THE LONGESTDA Y really
impresses the buyer is in the charts. There are a
total of ten front and back sections of 14" x 11 "
heavy stock with a true wealth of information.
One side of each of the three-section charts is totally
devoted to one of the first three scenarios. These
are complete with units, strengths, reinforcements,
and a full scale map of starting positions. Scenario
Four is on a single-sized card (front and back)
which is also used to set up the Cherbourg area for
the Campaign Game. The reverse side of the three
cards contains information and off-board move-
ment tracks necessary to play the Campaign
Game. One card contains the time track, weather
cycles, port logistics, naval gunfire and
bombardment tables, Allied aircraft deployment
and utilization, railroad interdiction and status,
and the Allied invasion units and their destina-
tions. The other two cards are each devoted to
Allied and German unit entry, strategic disposi-
tion, replacements, and supply entry. Since each
counter is pictured in its individual location, the
use of the four cards and the mapboard counter
start locations would allow the buyer to quickly
determine if any counter was lost, and to replace
attack strength
size symbol (battalion)
type symbol (armor) defense strength
movement allowance
stack~ngvalue # AFV in unit (40)
range
type
(min
of7gun
m
x$F
a*
#guns in unit (2)
(203mm rad)
type symbol size symbol
(rad artillewl (battery)
Figure 1.
it-quite a feat considering the number of counters
available.
The four smaller (9 X 12) cards included oro-
vide each player with a copy df the Terrain ~ f f e c t s
Chart, Fortifications Chart, Combat Results
Table, Combined Arms Modifier Chart, Remnant
Exchange Chart, DD Calamity Table, and
Debarkation Capacities Chart plus a summary of
all possible Air Operations and a Standard
Sequence of Play. As these charts are strictly for in-
formation, they will contain no counters during
play.
Last, but certainly not least, is the rule book.
Perhaps the major fear engendered so far is that the
player will be inundated with the detail of informa-
tion contained in the game. Not so! This game is
definitely a "friendly monster" and its information
is not for the purpose of burying the player, but to
allow him to use it to actually simplify play. T o wit,
the rule book only contains eight pages of basic and
scenario rules, four pages of Campaign Game rules,
and five of optional rules and variants. Two pages
are devoted to the scenario setup and another six are
detailed information and examples. At this point,
the wise reader has added in one page for the front
picture and wants to know why we are up to only a
26-page count. The remaining sections of the
rulebook serve to give the thoughtful player insights
into the research, design, development, and
playtest of the game-with two pages of Player's
Notes from playtesters, eight pages of Designer's
Commentary and Notes covering the entire scope o f
the game with unit and equipment charts
interspersed for some German divisions, a five-
page index to the rules, five (!) pages of annotated
bibliography used in the design, and two pages of
Game Design Annotation which cross-references
the rules and comments to the appropriate
bibliographical reference. Thus, if a small annota-
tion number is spotted in the rules or comments, a
quick look will provide the designer's rational
and/or the reference@)used. In a time of critique of
designers/developers for their game conclusions,
here is an easy road for the player or reviewer to
check sources and draw conclusions as to the merit
of design and development decisions made based on
fact.
So what d o you get for your money? I think a
lot. A lot if you just count the research and develop-
ment and information, a lot if you just count the
physical components, but a real deal if you count
the fact that you have a playable game in the end.
THE GAME
Yes, the game is playable. A monster game can
be a monster because of the complexity (per
SQUAD LEADER) or size (as is THE LONGEST
DAY). (We hereby ignore the combination of the
two as just not practical nor playable.) In either in-
stance, it is capable of becoming a great game. It
may also be noted here that we speak of the Cam-
paign Game with its full use of all counters and 87
possible (but not probable) turns. The scenarios
themselves are not monsters, encompassing three to
seven turns and 150 to 500 counters (the sole excep-
tion: the setup time for the Normandy Scenario
which is the same as the Campaign Game and takes
about one and a half hours). All this means that you
can spend a day with a scenario or a couple of
months with the Campaign Game and still get the
flavor of the game and be involved in the beauty of
the whole system.
To provide some order to the rest of this article
and some basis for those who own the game to
follow along, the comments on the form and effects
of the rules will be presented as they are in the Rules
of Play (i.e.: by scenario). Comments on the play of
the scenarios will be held until that section would
normally be reached in the rule book. It is hoped
that this will provide a better overview of the game.

t
UNIT SYMBOL CHART
SIZE
is indicated by
type of 'flag'
in unit symbol:
company
dl
battery
battalion regiment
I"
brigade/
group division corps

TYPE
indicated by
symbol
tion oforsymbols
combina-

added below
&
infantry &
parachute &
glider L
pioniere z
armored
engineers
recon l &
security railroad
engineer
&
panzer
grenadier
size-flag.

TA
coastal defense
& & f , C f
armored assault
gun
self-prop
gun
howitzer anti-tank B i i i
flak gun nebel-
werfer
mortar

d' L + t ! A TA
BAS'C
WEAPON 0 0
SYM BOLS machine-
gun
mortar armored
car
half-track rocket
launcher
mortar howitzer gun Flak nebel-
werfer
coast fixed
arty battery

MODES L ,t
foot, horse-drawn
6 ;,$
bicycle motorized
E;
half-track
.$A & full-tracked rail move stationary
SCENARIO #1: MORTAIN about 4-1 (unmodified) odds and a real attacker even fire in both phases of a single player turn.
This scenario introduces the basic sequence of advantage only at 6-1 or above. Attacks at less Artillery is further differentiated as divisional
play, which is simply separate player segments with than 1-2 are essentially not allowed but are un- units and independent corps units. Ranged units
movement, opposing player mechanized move- necessary since even ZOCs do not force combat. can only fire at enemy units which are adjacent to
ment, and combat. These are repeated for the other Casualties are meted out in the form of step losses non-disrupted friendly units. As a further sugges-
player to constitute a distinct game turn. One of the and retreats; advances are awarded to highly suc- tion for realism, it may be suggested that any
major features of TLD is the enemy mechanized cessful units. Each unit's counter can contain from friendly unit may be used to spot for a corps
movement phase in which the opposing player may one to three steps, based on type. Step two is back artillery unit, but only units within a particular
press uncommitted tracked units to the defense of a printed and the final step is a remnant counter with division be allowed to spot for their own divisional
particular hex. Lest this seem too powerful, this ad- no attack factor. Losses can encompass the loss of artillery. Support fire is used in conjunction with
dition to defense strength is made without exact a single step per hex, the loss of one or two steps an attack by regular combat units. It is added
knowledge of attack plans and, perforce, means per unit, or total elimination. Advance and retreat directly to the attacking factors, but is not affected
that some armor must have been kept in reserve in is from one to three hexes, with elimination on by intervening rivers.
the first place (a difficult thing to do if the defender retreat or halt on advance if the TEC will not allow Defensive fire is an outstanding bonus in the
has a paucity of counters anyway). All in all, this is a particular type of movement. A loss is not always game. Not only is it used during the enemy portion
worth the comments and considerations presented accompanied by a retreat nor vice versa. Each of a turn, but also may be directed against
later. player retreats his own units. All in all, this is an individual units rather than whole hexes. Thus, an
Movement is fairly standard game fare per the attritional system since it takes 8-1 odds to have an attacking unit with a high attack factor but a low
TEC. The real change from the norm is that only unmodified chance at elimination. What this defense number is a perfect target for defensive
units which have enough points may move, instead means for the players is that a large advantage in fire. Anytime a defender has unused artillery units,
of the usual ability to move one hex no matter the both numbers and units are required to conduct an an attacker cannot be truly confident of his plan-
situation. A ZOC (see below) also stops movement, extended offensive. A steady push is quite a bit ned combat. Still another advantage of ranged
but a unit can move from one ZOC to another. easier to achieve than a quick thrust through a artillery fire is that it does not suffer losses,
Mechanized movement (as mentioned above) is strong line. therefore a 1-2 defensive fire searching for the
conducted during your opponent's portion of the magic '6' on the die is a perfectly acceptable shot.
turn but can only be used by tracked units which are SCENARIO 2: THE FALAISE POCKET Ranged artillery units are inverted to display
not adjacent to a n enemy unit or disrupted (see This scenario adds replacement, reset, and the "FIRED" side of the counter after fire and are
Scenario 2). Road and bridge movement are handled defensive fire phases to the turn sequence, involving reset on the appropriate reset phase. It is the ex-
normally (per the TEC). Strategic road movement, ever more difficulties and opportunities for each perience of this author that if defensive fire is con-
however, doubles the effective movement points to player. Replacements are added at the start of the ducted in some orderly fashion (east-west; north-
units which make their entire move on a road and phasing player's turn. Defensive fire is conducted south, etc.) that it is an advantage to do re-
do not come adjacent to an enemy unit. Note that a by the non-phasing player. Defensive fire is con- inversion during the defensive fire phase so that
combination of strategic and mechanized road ducted by the non-phasing player after his defensive factors may be easily seen.
moves could conceivably allow a unit to go 128 mechanized movement phase. The reset phase Also note that some of the nastiest units in the
hexes during one day. In practice, this equivalent of finishes a player turn and re-inverts the non- game are the tracked artillery, which may move to
a Sunday drive from Cherbourg to Caen is not phasing player's artillery units and removes the a new location, then fire at a possible attacker
probable, but it does serve to illustrate the speed phasing player's disrupted counters. before the attacker's combat is resolved. These
with which units can be transported when One of the major additions to combat effec- units should be held in reserve at all costs.
necessary; an illustration which is brought to focus tiveness in this scenario is the artillery capability. Each military organization works (?) by chain
when one must expend all of MPs just to move a Artillery units come ranged and non-ranged, and of command. Since TLD is really a divisional
motorized unit across a river into bocage country. may be used offensively or defensively within a game, the important HQ units are divisional. Per
This will be presented even more succinctly during pair of player turns; non-ranged weapons may the supply rules below, divisional units will wish to
the play of the game when planning unit positions
and moves for three to four turns in advance is Figure 3.
necessary. The importance of the road net can be
seen when you realize that a foot unit can move
faster through river and bocage country than a
motorized unit can.
Stacking is based o n one point per
company/battery up to a maximum of six points
per hex. The effect thus produced is, for infantry,
typically a three hex front per division with two
battalions per hex and one reserve battalion behind
each hex. In a typical all-out attack, the attacker
will marshal one infantry battalion, one tank
batallion (usually only two points), and an artillery
battery to maximize attack factors and C.A.M.
advantage (see below, Scenario 3) in a given hex.
Valuable units which have no stacking costs in-
clude fortifications, aircraft, train, and replace-
ment counters.
Zone of Control is ubiquitous to modern era
strategic games but THE LONGEST DAY is
almost an exception. Only units on hills and in
certain types of fortifications (and then only for
certain facings) possess ZOC. What this produces
is a very fluid game in which high ground takes on
its true dimension and the maintenance of a con-
tinuous front line is imperative. In particular, an
open road is a dagger in your heart-if on defense.
As will be seen later, penetration is difficult to
achieve; but, it is also difficult to stop once
started.
The purpose of war is combat and most garners
are not really content until they get the dice in their
hands. Basic combat in TLD is optional between
adjacent units with the attack factors totalled
against all the defense factors in a single hex,
modified by the TEC and C.A.M. and resolved by
a single die roll on the CRT. The CRT is a basic
odds ratio CRT which gives neutral results at
stick near to their HQ; independent arty units will
be grouped in sixes about an established corps HQ.
Other types of independent units can attach
themselves to divisions up to a maximum of three.
The German player also possesses certain regi-
mental, brigade, and corps HQ which can act, in
game terms, as divisional HQ. In simulation
terms, the players are forced to maneuver and
fight as divisional commands and to use corps for
artillery support for attack and defense. After
that, they are free to form their own chains of
command based on whether the game is multi-
player or not. For those with enough players, a
corps command game with divisions assigned to
given corps and extending the spotting as above
would make a very good multi-player contest.
No army fights without supply. No TLD unit
attacks at all, defends or moves very well without
supply; defense and movement are halved. In
keeping with the divisional nature of the game, the
supply counter is round-just like a HQ. It must
be located with the H Q to provide supply for the
units. Supply is used by half values and the
counters are back printed to reflect this. A sug-
gested addition to the rules for more realism would
require a HQ to be in supply for the free fire by
one artillery unit or free attack by one combat unit
to be claimed. T o prevent multi-use of supply
units, no more than one H Q can occupy one hex
(except while on the move).
German Flak units are very valuable since they
require no supply. As another variant, require
them to use a supply for offensive operations. This
is not really suggested, but can be used to balance a
game if the Allies need help.
Since supply is checked at the start of each
phase (unless supply is destroyed or isolated during
a combat phase-in which case its effect is negated
for the rest of the phase), a unit which was not in
movement supply could be in supply for combat.
Supply units are always in supply. One real advan-
tage to the supply rules allows the free attacks
mentioned above. This means that during an
offensive, a US infantry division could attack with
its nine battalions, three independent units, its
artillery group plus two battalions and artillery
batteries from adjacent divisions on either side of
its front using only a half supply and even have
one artillery battery saved for free defensive fire.
Corps do not have this "free" privilege.
The eight-hex supply route serves to limit both
the scope and range of units; but one trick to
employ with corps units is to use one H Q for
movement and another for combat. The supply
rules also serve to take the sting out of defensive
fire as there are few times when a side can afford
this massive supply use for an extended period of
time. As one more change to the rules, drop rule
II.D.13 since it is easy to keep up with where rem-
nant counters came from by using the appropriate
portions of the game charts. This also allows more
use of a partially-depleted division by keeping the
number of independent units available at three.
While most players will find that during the
scenarios the supply rules will not cause any great
difficulty, these will come into their own in the
Campaign Game as one of the most important
factors of the game.
Most disruption that affects play is a conse-
quence of air or naval fire (defensive fire does
cause disruption but the units are immediately
undisrupted at the end of the turn). As such it will
occur in the Normandy scenario and the first part
of the Campaign Game against fortifications. The
German player must always remember the possi-
bility of disruption anywhere near the coast. As
variations of the disruption rules, remove only one
disruption counter from a unit during a reset phase
and/or remove none if the unit is not in supply.
SCENARIO 3: OPERATION COBRA
The addition to the turn sequence is the Allied
air/naval phase following the replacement phase.
The significant point of this phase is that Germany
does not have one.
Combined Arms Modifier rules favor the
player who plans ahead. The allocation of ar-
mored independent units to infantry divisions will
give a plus C.A.M. and the reserve armor units
which can rush to the aid of crucial points in the
line can negate that advantage for the defender.
Note that for the attacker, INF on the C.A.M.
chart is also INF + ARTY. For added realism, con-
sider the attacker armor vs. defender INF +ARTY
C.A.M. to be -2 only if the defender's artillery is
either AT type or over lOOmm HE.
Airpower is just that-at least for the Allies.
Anything that you have and your opponent
doesn't is nice. The air rules for the scenarios will
call for few choices. Each air unit has its own role
to fill. The tactical air support units should be
spread out over a few hexes, unless the Germans
have no armor reserve or defensive fire. Interdic-
tion is best used by groups of three aircraft at road
junctions near bridges and by single aircraft on
bridges. Remember that you have only eight inter-
diction counters and the use of all of them spread
out to cover a length of important road is better
than one clump. Carpet bombing is a mixed bless-
ing since the terrain torn up is almost as much of
an obstacle as the defending units. Use carpet
bombing to destroy units in conjunction with other
attacks for maximum effect. The seven possible
bombing patterns are shown below (Figure 3). If
possible, pick on HQ and arty counters with your
bombing. At times, an attack behind the lines is'
not a bad tactic either.
SCENARIO 4: THE FALL OF CHERBOURG
Naval bombardment is another Allied
blockbuster. Range and spotting are its only
drawbacks. Note that by the bombardment table,
a smaller number of factors applied over a given
area give better chances of hits, but factors tend to
 DEFENSIVE FACTORS
come in lumps and there are generally only a few
specific hexes in which a certain hit is needed. In
general, therefore, this author recommends
loading up on the critical points of attack. Both
naval and air bombardments are good tactics
against those pesky flak 88s and fortifications. The
true use of naval gunfire does not appear until the
next scenario, however.
As for the fortifications themselves, the
Germans finally get a break. The fortified areas
and minor forts are valuable for the defense
multipliers and full ZOC but have only limited
capacity. Large armor units fit well here. They lose
nothing by becoming armored units anyway. The
coastal strongpoints are only used in the invasion
scenarios, add defense factors but hold no units.
For C.A.M. purposes, units (INF) both atop a fort
and inside d o not make an INF+ARMOR
modifier, merely INF or ARMOR. Landfronte
forts have a few advantages in that they hold three
units, have two points of intrinsic defensive
factors, as well as the usual bombardment
modifier. The 30 and 932 Flak units hide well here.
The field forts actually only have a ZOC as an
advantage, but they can be most valuable units if
the German builds them with enough foresight to
arrange the ZOCs for an in-depth defense which
will require only half as many units to achieve the
same reserve defense (which, of course, may later
turn into the front line defense.) At the same time,
the German must remember that a disrupted fort
has no ZOC. Remember also that a + 2 C.A.M.
modifier can tend to effectively raise the odds
against a fort by two ratios, so defend them well.
Also note, coastal strongpoints and landfronte
forts cannot retreat if the die rolls go against them,
and must die in place.
SCENARIO 5: NORMANDY BEACH
There are massive changes to the turn sequence
here, but all of them are concerned with the initial
airborne and landing activities only; they need not
to be memorized, only followed each time they are
used. The same proves true of the rest of the rules
presented for this scenario.
Airborne landing rules will be very familiar to
those who already own AIR ASSAULT ON
CRETE. This phase is pretty much fixed tactically,
so the execution is mere mathematical mechanics.
With respect to invading units, the Amphibious
Assault is also inflexible, except for the choice of
attack at Pointe-du-Hoc. The author personally
likes to assault Pointe-du-Hoc with the Rangers,
giving a bit more spread to the attack against
Omaha Beach and increasing the threat of a quick
link-up. One impressive Allied advantage is the
Allied follow-up movement allowance which can
be used to capture Carentan on the first turn. The
US player who does not do this is just plain in-
competent.
The other portion of the beach assault is the
bombardment preparation. Tables of suggested
naval and air attacks, coastal artillery replies, and
expected results are given (Figures 4 and5). Note
that the -1 modifier for forts does not apply to
rockets. Figure 6 shows the coastal artillery posi-
tions which have fire on a beach or port. From the
figure, it is readily apparent that 9/1716, 2/1260,
10/1716, and MKB LONG batteries must be sup-
pressed as soon as possible. The use of 31 factors
of naval bombardment to supress 8/1716 and
1/1260 pays huge dividends by lowering the
factors of coastal fire against several beaches to
another odds column. Paratroopers may be able to
take care of 1/1261, 2/1716, and 2/1255, but these
are not really as essential as the first two. The
suggestion that has been made in THE GENERAL
(Vol. 17, No. 6) to hold HQ units off the board
until coastal artillery can be supressed by first turn
combat has some merit. Just make sure an oppor-
tunity to make a long advance is not lost by being
unsupplied during the second turn movement
phase. As a variant here, consider units which are
more than eight hexes from their HQs to be out of
supply for the first turn also. Essentially, even
though there is supply for all units available on the
first turn, they still cannot act effectively unless
they are in contact with their HQ. Allied units
whose HQs are off the board are considered to be
in supply if they are within eight hexes of a
beachhead counter. This option should only be
used if the Allied player is the weaker since it gives
the Allies a distinct advantage. It would cause
quite a change in German defense and movement.
BEACH UTAH OMAHA GOLD JUNO SWORD
Total 2 5 5 4 2
Expected 2 3 4 4 2 [Mr. Burnett's article will conclude with a
Necessary 1 3 3 3 1 strategic study of the scenarios and the campaign
FigureSb Expected and necessary numbers of beachheads the
Allies will be able to place.
German coastal artillery is a major factor in
German planning for the first few turns of this
scenario. Since the operation to be performed is
strictly mathematical, the only thing required of
the German player is not to overlook any units.
Figure 6 should help with this. A copy of the chart
with which to mark off the batteries as they are
lost is very handy. Also remember that coastal
artillery only fires at port or landing boxes, but its
defensive factors are always active and no supply is
needed.
Likewise, the Allies should not forget any of
their special assault units. The combination of
British naval power and the special armored units
should allow any fortification to be easily over-
whelmed.
All in all, these rules for this scenario should be
viewed as an exercise. Simply remember to follow
each sequential step and the Campaign Game for
which you are practicing will go smoothly.
THE SCENARIOS
The clarifications and Addenda in Vol. 17, No.
6 should be added to all scenario setups. These cor-
rections should provide answers to all confusion
involving setup.
EXAMPLES OF PLAY
One correction to this section is in order.
Under the Example #1 Attack A: only half a
supply is expended since the 352 division pays only
once for all of its units, both infantry and artillery,
during an attack phase.
SCENARIO ADDENDA
This section is a must. If you are to have any
real fun at all with the scenarios, all possible rules
and units must be added to them. Dig back in the
Campaign Game rules section and add the por-
tions on weather, inter-allied co-operation, and air
bombardment. These are essential to gain the full
flavor of the game. Weather rules will blunt air
power just as supply does defensive fire; inter-
allied co-operation will give the Germans a little
extra chance at Falaise.
game in the next issue of the GENERAL.]
 THE LONGEST DAY
AN OVERVIEW
Part I1
By Jim Burnett
PLAY OF THE SCENARIOS
The following are a few observations, hints,
and comments on the play of each scenario. They
are made with the use of the Addenda and the
notes presented above in mind. As all of this has
been done by one playtest group, it may tend to be
biased; your own attempts may produce slightly
different results. We think, however, that the
constraints of rules and play will lead to certain
conclusions, regardless.
1. MORTAIN
Sit back and watch the Allies draw this one at
the worst. The German player must make a strong
push toward Vire just to prevent a loss. Because of
this and the congestion that will occur at Mortain,
send the ISS Panzer north to hold/attack at Vire.
This should prevent a loss. As for the rest, St. Pois
may fall with heavy German pressure. With a little
luck, the three hexes can be taken in four turns.
The 116 Pz and 84 Inf are certainly strong enough
to do this if used wisely. Where the Allies usually
hold is at St. Hilaire. The 2 Pz, 2SS Pz, 17SS Pz,
and 275 Inf, moving as far as they can on the first
turn, will still be six hexes away. With only one
road to go up, and the 3rd Armored to contest the
way, this is a nearly impossible task. The rein-
forcement of the 2nd Armored merely clinches it.
The best way to regard the scenario is as a training
exercise. If anything, the difficulty of an offensive
surge against even moderately tough opposition
should be readily apparent. Learn with this one
and put it aside. An interesting variation is to alter
the victory conditions to give one point for St.
Pois, St. Hilaire, and each hex of Vire. Not
historical at all, but a bit better balanced.
2. FALAISE POCKET
This is another futile exercise for the German.
He has 333 points (as defined by the scenario) on
the board, and must exit 182. We recommend that
the reinforcements be held off the board and 18
points taken. A very real problem here is that 60
points of infantry (277,276, 326, 363, 84, and 275)
can't even exit just by walking out unmolested.
This leaves the Allies with only 91 more points to
kill or stall. A heavy attack toward Portages can
easily do this, since the enemy must protect this
route to get IOSS, 9 Pz, 3Fs, IIFs, IIIFlak, and
LXXXIV out (123 points). Since the losses taken
at this time will add up to too many points,
Germany has mathematically lost. The Allies need
do nothing but attack whenever possible and use
all the defensive fire they can.
As a balancing suggestion, require the Allies to
hold the Germans to 150 points or less to win.
Germany still needs 200 to win. All other results
produce a draw. The lesson of Falaise is that while
defense is easy, offense against trapped units
whose options are limited is equally easy. Lines of
communications must be maintained at all times,
no matter who you are.
3. COBRA
In the Cobra scenario, we come to the real
challenge. While it is advisable to assign sides
based on player preferences so that a strong
offensive-minded player will face a defensive-
minded one, the scenario is balanced. The lessons
from the first two scenarios should be applied
here. The German must defend the roads to
Pontabault and Mortain. The problem is that there
are several roads and two Allied options. In any
event, Villedieu is a key. The capture of this city
gives the Allied player a choice of which way to
finish the scenario. Germany is also working under
a handicap of too few reinforcements, especially in
the west. An orderly and planned retreat is a
necessity for 2SS Pz, 275 Inf ,353 Inf ,and 3Fs. If
the other units are totally destroyed in the first two
turns, however, it doesn't matter. The reserves
must have time to cover the roads further south.
Maximize; have all of the units covering the main
roads. With a three-hex wide front at the point of
each road and the rest of the units at crossroads
along the advance route of the Allies, Germany
may win by forcing the Allies to take the long way
there. The key is flexibility. Remember that
Avranches and Vire can fall after a fight, but
that's the limit. If the entire operation is run as
close as possible, victory can be had.
The Allied problem, conversly, is to go as fast
as possible. Destroy as many units as you can,
especially during the first turn. After that, move as
far as possible. Use all defensive fire that is
available. The main offensive should begin as a
three-pronged attack at Essay, the 5Fs, and St. Lo.
The British units should put heavy pressure against
the 326 Inf in an attempt to break a flank. All
other units should destroy as many Germans as
they can. While the carpet bombing occurs against
the 130 Pz, actual attack pressure should be on
both sides of this division in order to thin out a
given area. Don't forget to direct one of the
bombers on the H Q unit. At any rate, the next
couple of turns should feature as much Allied
movement as can be mustered, whether on roads
or not, to engage as many Germans as feasible.
Fast movement and unit destruction are the order
of the day.
Tactically, the use of air bombardment for
disruption can be invaluable after the initial
attack. Mobile artillery for defensive fire makes
the armored divisions worth even more than usual.
Each of the three thrusts should feature two infan-
try divisions supplemented by an armored division
and an artillery corps (add two of each to the
center attack), while the British advance with their
infantry division and artillery corps on the eastern
flank.
Cobra will also test the pre-planning ability of
the Allied player with his supply units to the
utmost. Supply must be sent as far ahead as prac-
tical, destined for the place and units where it will
be most needed. Following the beginning of the
scenario, some infantry divisions may no longer be
able to keep up the pace. Discard these divisions at
the side of the road and send the supplies up to
those who can. If the German has played the game
correctly from his point of view, the Allies must be
outside of Avranches or through Vire by 29 July.
The decision of which way to go should have been
made on the previous turn. It now remains a
matter of closing from the north and a flank. The
flank move is a direct result and benefit of the
center thrust toward Brecey. Remember that the
British units will be available if the Mortain objec-
tive is chosen. Whatever the outcome, this scenario
should not only be well-balanced but exciting as
well.
4. CHERBOURG
The Cherbourg scenario is essentially a
miniature of Cobra. It could also become the most
popular, with a single mapboard and low unit
density. This is combined with a balanced game.
The Allied proposition is unit destruction, then
advance, then a solid fight into the city. The Ger-
man must conduct a fighting retreat using the ter-
rain and then hold at the second fort line.
As with Cobra, the Allies should use a three-
pronged attack using each division as a spearhead
reinforced by armor and artillery. The corps HQ
should stay near the center of the board to use the
long-ranged guns for whichever division needs
support and to be able to rapidly mobilize to
whichever front shows the most promise after the
opening moves. Supply unit shuttle to the west
flank must be carefully planned. The quicker the
road from St. Vaast to Les Pieux can be secured,
the easier this will prove. Use the first turn to
destroy units by both direct attack and defensive
fire. Prime candidates for this destruction are units
with only a single step. This should mean the loss
of over a dozen units for the Germans, well in
excess of a quarter of their initial front line, and
make the formation of a new solid line difficult at
best. The second turn should likewise be a slugging
match; strive to eliminate another dozen counters.
Turns three and four should be used for positional
play to put at least one of the attacks at the first
fort line over a few hex width. If the German has
moved his flak units forward, destroy them as
soon as possible; the forts will then fall easily.
Turn five should break the outside fort wall in
about six places, giving plenty of room for
advance. If the Allies strike the inner fort wall on
turn six and have been diligent at their job of unit
destruction, the city should fall on the seventh
turn. Unless the German makes some very bad
errors or you habitually throw sixes, this is about
as much as can be expected.
Any loss of tempo will result in the loss of the
game. Allied air power is critical here, especially
against hills and other tough defensive spots.
(Remember the loss of ZOC by a disrupted fort?)
Naval bombardment should be held at least until
turn five or six (or even seven-depending on
progress) to make penetration on critical fortifica-
tions. Your recon units can be used to spot for this
fire, notably against unoccupied forts. Note too
that with 63 points of fire you have only two shots
at a .833 chance or two at .667 and one at .5. Take
whichever combination gives you the best fit for
your circumstances. If the weather rules are used
here, the Allies have run their course if the weather
goes bad. The balance of this scenario is so fine
that the loss of air and naval capabilities to the
vagaries of weather means the loss of the game.
The German player must play the terrain. For
him, this scenario is an exercise in the use of space,
force, and time; none of which he ever seems to
have enough of. Heavy losses must be expected for
the first turn, but careful maneuver on the suc-
ceeding ones can minimize the effects. Whatever
the losses, the first five turns must be used to hold
the Allies in bad terrain. Hills and rivers are your
friends; bocage and cities, your allies. Obviously,
the crucial points are roads and their junctions.
Remember that the 243 Inf can hold more ground
with less troops because of the hills, but beware of
the thinning effects which may cause quick col-
lapse later. For the first few turns, the two ar-
mored units and the AOK 7 are the most important
ones you have on your roster. Leave the armor in
reserve to shore up potential trouble spots,
especially those caused by defensive fire. The AOK
7 should go to the Valognes area to prevent a
breakthrough in the middle and to retain road
movement capability for re-deployment. The MG
companies and OST units should fill the gaps in
the line; remember that you have ten independent
units and only three HQs, so one of them will be
unsupplied for the first turn (after the first turn
you will not have ten independent units). The 101
units attached to the 84 Korps can get in one good
defensive fire-don't waste it. Keep the HQs
supplied until the last turn, then use them as last-
ditch defensive units. Their three factor defense is
really not that bad-better than many of their
subordinates start with. As a contrast to some
others, I prefer to hold them in position on the
crucial landfronte positions, using the 84 Inf units
as a furthqbackup. Consider the 84 Korps H Q
unit to be divzonal H Q for these units. The one
and possibly two defensive fires that the flak
batteries have can provide just enough damage to
prevent the Allies from amassing the final factors
needed to finish off the city. Remember that flak
needs no supply. Turn seven should find you with
the (depleted) AOK 7, 709 HQ, 1/919, a couple of
flak units, and the artillery inside of Cherbourg. If
defensive fire and terrain advantages have been
used judiciously, this should be just sufficient to
save enough of the city to win.
As stated before, Cherbourg-like Cobra-is a
near run thing, where time is of the essence.
Players are urged to be very careful in planning
moves and positions (at least two turns ahead).
Failure to d o this leaves large gaps on defense and
stalled units on attack. Force is only force if it has
a point of application.
5. NORMANDY
The Normandy scenario is a vital preparatory
exercise for the Campaign Game. While players
are urged to practice it a couple of times, actual
play will probably not occur after that because of
the nature of the scenario and the setup time. The
small number of turns keep it at the exercise level.
As a bonus, however, the scenario is balanced. The
Allies should take Carentan, Ranville, and
probably Bayeaux. The Germans should hold
Caen, Montebourg, and probably Isigny. The
essential points then are the fate of the air drops
for the British to hold Ranville and the strength of
the Omaha landings for the Allies to threaten
Isigny. (Refer again to Figure 6 and 7 for the initial
deployment suggestions.) From then onward,it is
just a matter of following normal attack and
defense procedures to attain your objectives. The
Allies should note that either the 2/22 or the 1/12
of the Fourth division can get to Carentan on the
follow-up movement phase. If this is not done, the
Allies can dismiss any thought of a real shot at
victory. While this scenario is not recommended
for repeated play, it is an exercise that cannot be
skipped. The Campaign Game can be won or lost
on the beaches if a player does not know what is
going on.
6. OVERVIEW
The scenarios are of three types. Mortain and
Falaise are merely good practice for tactical situa-
tions which will reoccur later. Normandy is a
mathematical exercise for a situation that will
definitely happen. Finally, Cobra and Cherbourg
are excellent games in their own right, the only
inequity being that one player must act solely as
offense and one as defense. As it takes all kinds to
make up wargaming, hopefully you will find your
match. Since all but the first two are balanced, and
these can be fixed as noted above, the scenarios
will all give a competitive game. TLD is worth buy-
ing for the information and the scenarios alone,
but the Campaign Game is the piece-de-resistance.
THE CAMPAIGN GAME RULES
This is not actually the "Longest Day", 6 June
1944. It is the entire Normandy Campaign and to
get the full spectrum of all components and rules
and the full value for your money, the Campaign
Game must be played and played as many times
and as long as possible. Too many people will
start, get through the first few turns, and quit. If
you are going to do this, you may as well play the
Normandy scenario. It is when many divisions are
on a great expanse of mapboard that the full
effects of the rules covered below interact to create
a complete game, with a subtlety of play that takes
time and effort to realize. Your only real problem
will be to find a place to keep the game set up. Find
it, it's worth it.
The weather should be the factor that keeps the
German in the game. Its blunting effects on Allied
air and naval power are not only definite, but to a
certain extent, unpredictable. (Check Vol. 17, No.
6 for clarifications on these rules.) One thing the
German must be especially aware of is the rule that
after the sixth consecutive storm turn, the weather
is automatically fair. As the Allies will realize this,
they can call a carpet bombing attack for the next
turn with impunity. They can also plan for an all-
out assault with full naval bombardment and
tactical air support. Forewarned is forearmed!
This will be the most dangerous point in the game
for the Germans. Conversely, OV-2 and ST-1 (the
first time around) are the best times for counter-
~ttacks. Both sides should definitely keep a
weather eye out.
The rebuilding of units is definitely an Allied
advantage. While Germany theoretically has the
same benefit and must take every opportunity to
keep its units at top strength, the need for
anything, no matter how battered, to hold the line
will occur throughout much of the game. Here is
the quandry; whether to use spare units to
counterattack or to use them to shore up the line
while other divisions refit. In this author's
experience, refitting is usually better than counter-
attacking unless the need or opportunity to retake
a certain position (major city, bridgehead,
breakthrough, etc.) is just too great to pass up.
Remember that attrition alone works in favor of
the Allies. The Allies, on the other hand, will find
after the first three weeks that they have more divi-
sions on the board than they can effectively use
anyway-due mainly to supply and density-so
the recycling of fresh units to the front is a free
benefit. Oddly enough this forces the Allies to use
the standard German tactic of bleeding down a
division and then making wholesale replacements.
As a warning to both sides, a replacement is
just that. Nothing can rebuild a completely
destroyed unit, so losing that last step is a heavy
penalty. The same applies to artillery, except that
nothing replaces those valuable tubes, so beware.
The only other thing to keep in mind about
replacements is that they are self-regenerating so
use as many as possible without upsetting other
plans. The first trick here is to pull a division out
of the line, with the exception of one or two units
left in one hex to assist in attacks for divisions on
either side and to spot for free defensive fire. This
trick does keep a supply unit out of the system, but
can be valuable for the Allies who have plenty of
divisions and the Germans who should have plenty
of supply.
Unit entry is an important point in the game
for both sides. The Allies must make sure of two
things. First, the landings must be executed as effi-
ciently as possible to establish the maximum
number of beachheads. The section on Normandy
covers this, but does not explain its full impor-
tance, especially at Omaha Beach. Since three
stacking points are available per beachhead the
first ten turns, the beachheads captured initially
are only important for the total amount. If,
however, the Allies d o not capture at least three
beachheads on each beach where it is possible, they
are in serious trouble. At Omaha, for example,the
capture of only two will not allow any US infantry
battalions to come ashore after turn ten except at
the Mulberries. The loss of the Mulberry hex is
also a dreaded possibility. This combination would
almost surely spell a loss. The British problem is
not as acute since there are two beaches that are
easier to take. Figure 7 gives the Allied player some
idea of what to expect with average luck on the
beaches. In normal action, the US will lose two
beachheads and the British one. Remember that
while the units can move along the Unit Entry
Track regardless, the debarkation port will be the
holdup. US one and two stacking point units
(notably supply) can use Utah or the ports; like
British units can use Sword or ports. The
Mulberries may be the saviors but they are no
substitute for taking enough beachheads. As a
final word, never forget that you can take all of a
beach's capacity at a single landing box, thus
avoiding the threat of coastal artillery on a
separate part of the beach. Mulberries do no count
for this.
If the Allies face a bottle-neck at a point, the
Germans are even in worse shape, being hounded
over at least a three box line just to get to the map-
board and then subject to interdiction for the rest
of the trip to the front. The Allies, with the use of
their strategic bombers, can discomfit and scatter
the units of a German division over the course of a
week, insuring that it either reaches the front
piecemeal or delays to reform. For Germany there
is no long or short term solution other than to
hope for bad weather and to negate the effects
slightly by using as many different approach
routes as possible. The real difficulty to this is not
so much the loss of time, but the confusion. To my
mind, it is preferable to wait with the initially
arriving units eight hexes from the edge of the
board until the H Q and supply can arrive. Then
move units forward eight more hexes and wait for
as many stragglers as possible. If a particular unit
tries to enter the board unsupplied, it will take
forever to reach the actual front. A division 90%
complete is worth waiting for an extra couple of
days (in most instances) over a 50% fighting force.
At any rate, never commit individual units before
their supplied H Q can enter the board. This is
merely elaborate suicide.
As was covered above, Allied Strategic Inter-
diction is a great asset. So great in fact, that the use
of the heavy bombers should be limited almost
exclusively to interdiction, with carpet bombing
being saved for special occasions when there are
really not enough German units to make interdic-
tion worthwhile or the weather favors you. The
value of interdiction is that the bombers can follow
the German units on the Strategic Movement
Track, placing themselves at the points where there
is the most to be gained. In particular, the addition
of three bombers to the Rennes and Seine River
boxes requires that the German roll a '6' just to let
a unit pass. This is an almost solid roadblock.
Don't worry about the two bombers "wasted" in
South France. They will play their role when pos-
sible. Use the four you have for interdiction and
try to force carpet bombing to the back of your
mind.
Inter-Allied Co-operation is normally a plus
for the German but little else need be said other
than the fact that it gives some justification for dif-
ferent colored US and British counters. A lethal
variant is to require the Luftwaffe, SS, and
Wehrmacht to abide by the same rules. This is
historical and very interesting but not really
recommended. The only other point to note here is
that the US can use the British Mulberry. You're
usually in trouble if you have to, but it can keep
the Allies in the game if the landings have gone
poorly.
Ports and Mulberries are strictly an Allied
bonus. The Mulberries are necessary for Allied
buildup. Some care should be exercised to insure
the capture of the particular landing boxes since
the first objective at Omaha Beach should be to
clear the way for Mulberry placement. Any piece
of equipment that puts an Allied division ashore in
three turns is worth fighting for. Remember to
defend your locations; Mulberrries, once gone, are
irreplaceable.
In contrast, the minor ports really are minor.
At most they are valuable to land supplies close to
the action; but, since they take 14 turns to clear,
there is generally no action nearby. The German
player should not worry about the loss of these
locations unless they be strategic points like
Carentan and Isigny.
Cherbourg, however, is another matter. The
full value of the port is exceptional, but the Allies
will have quite a wait to use it. Since any com-
petent German should be able to hold the port hex
until 27 June, which will put the expected capacity
at -4, a typical Allied takeover on 1 July will make
the full factors unavailable until 29 August. This is
two days before the end of the game. The time
average value of the port of ten stacking points
over the last two months will be an aid to the US
starting 24 July when the 28th Infantry Division
arrives. Since storms can wipe out Mulberries,
Cherbourg may be necessary. As is, the Allies
should make a real effort toward Cherbourg to
gain this extra supply and reinforcement port.
In the Campaign Game's alternating benefits
design, the German player has use of railroads.
Because of the need to rush units from the edge of
the board to the front lines, Germany must have
the rails to move infantry divisions. (With the
extra movement factors, strategic road movement,
and mechanized move available to armored divi-
sions, they will go faster on the roads.) An extra
bonus in the rail system is that units d o not have to
be supplied to get full benefit of rail movement.
Thus, divisions split up by strategic interdiction
can be reassembled. Armored divisions can also
benefit from this as they lose the above bonuses if
out of supply. The German is urged to make max-
imum possible use of the rail net as long as it is
available.
However, Allied interdiction- with FB units
may well cut that availability to a bare minimum.
Even though the FBs will be used in road interdic-
tion for the 6 June turn, 32 factors should be
assigned to rail interdiction (17 from one country,
 I5 from the other) starting 7 June until the 60
points to collapse the rail system has been
achieved. This can take an average of one week of
Fair or OV-1 weather. Notice the big bonus of
OV-I. This use of Allied airpower is strongly
recommended. With full use of all necessary fac-
tors against the rails, there will still be four units
left for the small amount of road interdiction
which will actually be needed at this point in play.
Units are fairly engaged for the first week and
German strategic movement should be slight.
As if the loss of the net itself were not enough,
the FB interdiction also cuts the rail net on the
board. This, in and of itself, seems like damage
enough. The first cuts should be placed as near to
the edge of the board as practical. The next few
days' cuts can be used in specific locations as the
Allies spot where German reinforcements are com-
ing on the board. Remember to put your cuts at
rail junctions and to use the fact that a city on the
way to the front is just like a cut. A final nasty tac-
tic for cut placement is to put them as far from the
regular road net as possible. This makes it difficult
for the Germans to transfer units from rail to road
movement and usually gains at least another day's
delay.
The minor German rail units, E.Tr and
artillery, are of limited use. The E.Tr units are like
the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike.
They are trying to repair at the rate of three per
turn what the Allies are destroying at nine. The job
must be done, however. Don't forget them as they
can be of some help. And remember that you are
laboring to remove only the cut units; net damage
is forever.
The RR artillery is in somewhat the same
shape. For fire purposes it proves the same as
coastal arty, except that it can fire at any hex
within range. Being only two units of one strength
point each, these must have a die roll of '6' to be of
any help at all. Use them separately as there is no
difference between one and two on the bombard-
ment table. Suggested positions for the units are
northwest or east of Cherbourg and south of
Caen, at a distance of about ten hexes to allow fire
for a long time. Put them someplace where a
defense factor or two might help someday. They're
inevitably going to stay for a considerable time and
may as well be put to as much use as possible.
All in all, the rail system is a deceptively crucial
part of the game. Every turn it is in operation is of
benefit to the German. The Allies must destroy it
as rapidly as they can. Don't underestimate this
facet of the game.
Now for the three final extras for the Allies.
Air bombardment is a bigger bonus than it may
seem. The typical gamer is always looking for that
extra factor to increase the attack odds one ratio
and therefore will usually be thinking of TAC
bombing. The mere fact that tactical bombers have
to be assigned before mechanized movement and
defensive fire tends to lessen their effectiveness,
however, especially if the Allies face a cunning
German who has a good defense in depth. Naval
bombardment is fine, but of limited range and
must have spotters. Air bombardment, on the
other hand, requires no spotters and is not
restricted by range. While there are only 27 factors
available, these can be enough to prevent an
armored unit from making mechanized move, an
artillery battery from using defensive fire, or
generally disrupt a particular location in the
German line which can then be attacked by regular
forces with a favorable die roll modification. A
clever tactic is to fly six different 4 factor and three
different 1 factor attacks against a division, which
will give an average of over two disruption
counters. If you then attack with a + 2 C.A.M.,
almost any position can be broken. The only
drawback is that air bombardment is truely a fair
weather friend.
the estimated effect each rule would have on this timetable.
Air supply is another bonus to be exploited.
The four air supply counters are only a half factor
each, but are immediately renewable in contrast to
other supply. While they are subject to drift and
destruction upon disruption, they may be delivered
anywhere in F and OV-1 weather. There is only a
one third chance of survival, but even this usually
means more than one free supply unit per turn.
Remember that any type of HQ can use these
units. Air supply should be used the turn it is
received so that another delivery attempt may be
made on the next turn. At the very least, waste it
on defensive fire if a regular attack is not feasible.
Unit withdrawal by the Allies is probably not
worthwhile. The time it takes to withdraw a unit
and then send it back with its replacements is just
about the same as running replacements through
the unit entry track. There is one notable
difference. Replacements have zero stacking
points and thus may be sent free when available. A
unit withdrawn and then returned uses landing
capacity in both directions and there are not that
many instances in the game when the Allies have
this capacity to spend. About the only time
withdrawal could be of assistance is when using the
Second Allied Drop Variant (covered below). In
this case, a paratroop division which has been
severely battered and thus is worthless for other
duty can be sent back for refit, creating a threat
not to be ignored by the enemy. The two stacking
factor paratroops can use Utah, Sword, or a two
factor port without upsetting much of the entry
schedule. Don't base a whole game plan on
withdrawal, but don't forget it either.
A couple of other minor details which are not
directly addressed in the rules per se but have an
impact include the following: Allied and German
corps do not get a free supply unit on the entry
schedules such as divisions do. Care should be
taken to have one from the used pile available to
join them when they are due to enter. The Allied
non-divisional reinforcements should be chosen
with some care. US armored units can use Utah's
two landing point capacity after 17 June. A
balance must be struck between the entry of these
units and the artillery to insure that the corps HQs
are not overloaded. While players may wish to
bring on the 155mm's early for their large fire
power, remember the mechanized capabilities of
the MlOs are very valuable and that you get two of
these per turn. You also get two 155Gs with the
same advantages. The British should normally
receive the first reinforcements since they will have
the extra landing capacity and will have to battle
the Panzer divisions and forts north of Caen.
CAMPAIGN GAME SCENARIO
As stated above, the Campaign Game is the
real reason to buy TLD. While the rulebook is not
so massive that complete recall of each part would
be impossible, the planning and adaptability
necessary to make use of the full system will pro-
vide the real test for each player. The only unique
aspects presented here are the victory conditions,
and they are easy to understand. The early game
end conditions for the Germans are there merely to
halt a game which has no chance for reasonable
continuity, since the attainment of any of these
almost impossible requirements would spell long-
range doom for the Allies. Other than these condi-
tions being 'met, play the game out to conclusion.
You will n e v h l i z e all the subtle nuances and in-
teractions unless you do.
As an overview of what will normally go on
during a game, assuming typical weather and
average die rolls, a sample time table (Figure 8)
will give you some guidance. As a further look at
the Campaign Game, two views are necessary.
First from the action side, then from the systems
side.
With respect to action, the dates in the figure
are accomplished by the following. The practice
lessons from Normandy will put the Allies ashore
in force, but not to the extent that they had hoped,
especially at Omaha. From here, they attempt to
accomplish several things. (Remember that the
German is essentially on the defensive and his idea
should be to oppose and counter the Allied
strategy. In the main, his counterattack oppor-
tunities are localized and tactically motivated
against strategic Allied points.) The Utah beach
contingent will try to head north, west, and south
to strike at Cherbourg, the west coast, and to link
with the Omaha forces at Isigny. Omaha landing
units will go west and east to link with their flanks
at Isigny and Bayeaux. The British will drive west
to Bayeaux, south to Caen, and east to establish a
defensive front in the flooded area between
Cabourg and Oustreham. Note that there is a
temptation to try to win the game early by exiting
the mapboard immediately to the east, but this
should prove practically impossible because of the
flooded area's hindrance to Allied motorized
movement and the immediacy of available German
reinforcements and supplies. After this initial
phase, the Allies will attempt to establish a base
line running from the Ranville area, north of
Caen, through Bayeaux to Isigny, past Carentan,
into the flooded areas of Cotentin and north to
Valognes. Then the British should get involved in a
tough battle for Caen with an eye out for German
counterattacks. If this localized battle is hard
enough on the Germans, some progress should be
made south of Bayeaux/Isigny to provide a flank-
ing threat. The US player should be concentrating
on reaching the west coast to isolate the peninsula
and on the advance toward Cherbourg. After the
fall of Caen and Cherbourg, the Allies can reach
St. Lo and establish a new front line. This line will
be the one that produces the Cobra-style breakout,
whether done by the US, British, or both. A
collapse of the dimensions of Cobra will cause the
German line to be extended to a length which can-
not be adequately defended and the game will be
over.
In the above commentary, there is not much
sign of hope for a German win. If one is forth-
coming it will be because he did well in his efforts
on the beach, was able to stall the drives on the
west coast and Cherbourg until after 1 July, and
cost the British to such an extent that the final cap-
ture of Caen was pyrrhic. Through it all, Germany
must maintain a strong reserve system with a high
degree of mobility so as to be responsive to the
changing Allied thrust. A bit of bad weather won't
hurt, either.
 As far as the systems used, we will again con-
sider first and mainly the Allied side, since they
will be the most active. All of the tactics used in the
Normandy scenario will still be valid for the first
three turns-except that after turn one, landing
divisional units becomes much more difficult.
Remember to watch the landings of HQs on the
first turn since they will be subject to coastal
artillery fire. Fighter-bombers should concentrate
on road interdiction for the first turn, then switch
to rail interdiction until the rail net is destroyed.
Light and medium bomber units should be used to
achieve higher odds on the first turn and then to
suppress the remaining coastal artillery units on
the second and third. Even after, they should be
employed adaptively as the situation merits. The
heavy bombers should go to the Strategic Interdic-
tion boxes and stay there unless a carpet bombing
opportunity comes along that just cannot be
passed up. Recommended use for the first turn is
three in Amiens and one in Seine River with the in-
tent of breaking up the 346 Inf and 1 SS Pz. A
variant not permitted by the rules but historical is
to allow the Allies to conduct a carpet bombing on
6 June. Because this is actually a preliminary raid
conducted on 5 June, resolve combat before the
paradrops. Roll for drift on this if you desire. Due
to the dispersed nature of the German forces, the
effectiveness would be slight so try it if you feel the
urge, but this raid is not really recommended.
The positioning of the units tor the invasion is
also a slight reflection on their characterisitics. For
the Allies, only the paratroops are really effective
in the flooded areas due to movement restrictions
imposed on all motorized units therein. They
should hold these river lines while regular divisions
make their advance along the roads. The C.A.M.
advantage will be difficult to come by since
tracked units would be frozen in place if moved off
the roads.
Naval bombardment after the first turn should
be enough of a threat to the Germans to
discourage them from massing too many units in a
single hex near the coast-especially flak and non-
ranged artillery-for fear of a strong naval strike.
The British are better at this than the US, but the
US may need their few factors to squelch coastal
batteries and strongpoints that did not fall in the
first turn.
Artillery should be massed near cities and forts
to give the punch the attacker requires to take
these positions. Non-divisional armored units
should be parcelled out among the divisions for
maximum use of the C.A.M. Remember that one
armored unit on each attack will suffice to give the
+ 2 desired. Especially important are the
capabilities of the British special function armored
units. Reread this section in the rules to avoid
misuse of any of the units. They will prove
necessary to surround and take Caen.
After the opening, recreate the drive on
Cherbourg scenario, using the same tactics and
about the same force as the scenario. This will be a
time of position solidification and unit formation
for both sides. Get all your divisions ready for the
second part of the game.
From the Allied side, supply is the keyword in
attack after the opening shots. The initial glut of
supply will by now be used up. After being re-
introduced on the Entry Track, it will not be
available again until 22 June. This ration should be
used to take Caen and Cherbourg. Note that a
preferred supply usage system is to burn it out in
four or five turns of heavy attacks, then to rest and
reform for the next round ten days later. In our
opinion, this is better than constant pressure and
constant supply flow because it creates problems
of a larger nature at a particular time for the
Germans. Small attacks allow the Germans to pull
units out of the line for refit as they go. With
proper pressure, a large attack stretches the
German out over several days and breaks him. In
effect, units are destroyed and cannot be rebuilt.
In general, it is the workings of the replacement
rules that cause this.
After these battles and the resultant supply and
unit refit and reassignment, the Allies should be
ready to begin another round of heavy attacks near
10 July. This is the preliminary to Cobra.
Note that the German reinforcements stop from
1 July to 20 July. The first big assault during this
time should be designed to weaken the German line
beyond repair. There will probably be no real
advance past St. Lo, but this is sufficient strain on
the German. If Germany is forced to defend its line
without backup units, defensive fire for the ten
turns of waiting after the first push will weaken it
even further. If the second attack is begun 24 July,
it should succeed as well as Cobra did historically.
When a defensive front is finally re-established, a
third attack on around 4 August would hit right
before the final reinforcements enter and result in
victory. If not, a fourth may be necessary around 17
August. This one better work because there isn't
time for another.
Inspection of the German Entry Chart shows
that their units usually enter at Pas de Calais. This
makes any attacks automatically more successful if
they are to the western edge. The British should
pressure the German's eastern flank with spoiling
attacks and defensive fire while the US and
unemployed British units strike southward. While
all of these suggestions may seem too rigidly bound
by history, terrain and reinforcements tend to chan-
nel the game in this direction.
How do we arrange these massive assaults? The
Cobra scenario gives some hints, but does not
cover all factors. The Allies need full air support
for their efforts. Isolation of the battlefield by
interdiction is as important as the bombardment of
vital fortified positions. While an attack can suc-
ceed without air, the amount of destruction and
territory gain will be nowhere as great. With sup-
plies and divisions at the ready, an assault should
utilize six infantry divisions, three armored divi-
sions, and four corps of artillery in actual combat
in three different locations at the front about ten
hexes wide and separated by one to two divisions
covering five hexes. These attacks should be
directed down roads. The assault should be
preceeded by a massive defensive fire. If at all
possible, three armored divisions, six infantry divi-
sions, and two corps of artillery should be held in
reserve to exploit any real breakout. All infantry
divisions should have a full complement of
independent armored units. This force over a four
to five day period will use up almost 24 supply
units; a really heavy expenditure-so the advan-
tage gained had better be worth it. An even more
supply-intensive tactic, but at times a good one, is
to double the artillery assigned to a corps and fire
Bernieres
ISt. P~erre-Egljse 2706
St. Vaatrde-la-Hougue 33 11
1BOARD B
Douvre
LION
Thury-Harcourt
ISt. Mere-Eglise
Barneville
Lessav
3023
0924
1936
Ranville
KingRed(Box)
Arrornanches
Villedieu
St. Hillaire
St. Pois
Pontaubault
I~ipm
9. Hex grid locations for selected locations.
six of them offensively and six defensively. Doing
this and alternating the movement of the units will
dramatically increase firepower. This pattern
should guarantee success against all but the most
stubborn resistance but should be used only when
really necessary. Be ready to exploit with your
reserves. Take whichever of the three segments of
the line that breaks and drive down the road with
the reserve armor and attack each flank with the
infantry. You are trying to cause collapse of at
least two of the assaulted segments in order to trap
the enemy units between. While the first attempt
may not show tangible results in terrain gained, the
depletion of the German forces should make the
second and third highly successful. Continue the
attack until your supply position forces you to
stop, then refit for the next. Remember to keep up
the defensive fire along the rest of the front.
What can the Germans d o to counter all of
this? Frankly, not a lot. Assuming that the
invasion has average success, he has a tough fight
on his hands. He must hope for bad weather at
least half of the time. Even OV-1s help quite a bit;
and if the Allies get very little fair weather, their
options are decreased and the timetable slowed.
Next, the German must remember his basic math.
After the third turn, the front line will be nearly
200 hexes long. Even at 150 hexes, nearly 250 units
will be required to adequately hold the Allies back.
Since the total German force in the game is about
1000 counters, scattered over three months, a con-
certed effort to preserve units is needed. If at all
possible, make replacements. This is easier to d o
during bad weather turns. Use field fortifications
to back up the front. Construction of these should
begin after an Allied offensive in an area has lost
its punch. Don't let units get surrounded (except
for Cherbourg.) It is far better to give up two or
three hexes for a couple of turns than to hold fast
until you are finally overrun. The fastest way for
Germany to lose is to play Adolph Hitler and keep
major units holding untenable ground. This does
not preclude one or two infantry battalions being
left behind to hold a piece of ground with the
possibility of moving behind Allied lines. Since
units do not die from lack of supply, an occasional
thorn in the side which has to be eliminated is
worthwhile. Always have supply ready if a large
defensive fire or counterattack possibility presents
itself. The Allied army is not set up to lose a large
number of units over many divisions without im-
balancing supply usage. Beware of every pos-
sibility for air and naval action against you. Plan-
ning for the arrival of reserves should be a "worst
case" exercise so that any that arrive on time are
bonuses. Keep a couple of mobile reserve divisions
if possible (the Second Panzer is one good
candidate). Lastly, keep your head. Time is not in
your favor but time does run out. Force the Allies
to win. They may make enough mistakes to lose.
You are also encouraged to read the Tactical
Hints section of the rulebook. Dr. Archer and Mr.
van Zante have done an excellent job of
7832
7433
6953 1
I playtesting and presenting their findings. I would
also call attention to my own list of hints and sug-
gest that these be combined with the comments
8137
6330
6627 I above to help you conduct your campaign. The
salient point in any case is to plan ahead. Given the
natural historical play balance, the Allies can
afford a few more mistakes than the German
(unless they are on the first turn), but they also
have more chances for error. Since the rules are
easy to remember, keep also in mind the applica-
tions.
4067 CAMPAIGN GAME VARIATIONS
2674
These variants provide %little added interest to
the game. Since the Allies are favored in the
Campaign Game, all but the first variant work to
bring a bit of parity. Whether anyone will ever be
1 able to try every variant is problematical, but a few
could provide variety. The estimated game length
effect (EGLE) is based on an estimate of a normal
Allied win on 7 August.
A. AIRBORNE SECOND DROP-
EGLE -2 DAYS
The danger to the Germans of a second drop is
the present threat. The difficulty in withdrawing
and refitting a couple of airborne divisions, plan-
ning the drop, and getting the weather to respond
favorably is tremendous. The drop could not
happen before mid-July at any rate and only some-
one with a crystal ball could predict the front line
21 days in advance. If the troops are withdrawn,
however, the German must respect the potential,
especially to the east flank.
B. REVISED DROP ZONE-EGLE + 2 DAYS
This variant is intriguing in that it can be tried
in the Normandy scenario to judge effects. There
is nothing else to say except that it tends to favor
Germany slightly.
C. CHANNEL ISLANDS-EGLE + 3 DAYS
This variant will do little to the overall game,
but an extra division is an extra division. Just for
fun, land it at Cherbourg to delay the collapse of
the port by at least a week. The 91, 243, and 709
will be able to fight harder around the Utah Beach
pocket knowing that help is on the way. The 319
plus the flak units will certainly make the Allies
pause at the outer fortifications of Cherbourg. T o
judge the immediate effects, add the 319 to the
Cherbourg scenario, starting in the forts, and give
the US one more full infantry division and two
more days.
D. SPRING WITHDRAWALS-
EGLE + 7 DAYS
The introduction of the two extra panzer divi-
sions and one corps will make a counterattack
against the British a virtual certainty around 11
June. The increase in time value for these units will
put heavy pressure on the Allies for quite awhile.
There is a slim chance for an early German victory
if St. Lo can be held through 5 July. An interesting
variant in that both sides can now launch substan-
tial offensives.
E. ROMMEL'S STRATEGY-EGLE + 10 DAYS
This is another version of the above with a
minor exception. Now the 130 Pz has a chance to
arrive in time to collapse Omaha Beach. With the
17SS in position to hold the center of the US
positions and the 21 Pz ready to discomfit the
British, another early German win is possible by
throwing the Utah Beach forces out of Carentan.
As tough a variant on the Allies as above. Try this
one in a Normandy scenario also before starting a
Campaign Game with it; allow the Allies five days
to win.
F. ROMMEL C-in-C-EGLE + 15 DAYS
Here is the German chance for not only an
early win, but a n extended one as well if the game
drags on. A force this large near the landing zones
will create a drain on the Allies that they may never
be able to recover from (much like the situation at
Anzio). In any case, there will be blood on the
beaches. Again, try this one in Normandy before
beginning a full game. Allow the Allies six days to
win.
If you yearn to see a lot of counters on the
board early, combine all variants except B and E
into one big game. As the Germans will be favored
to win this one, change their victory conditions to
total elimination of the Allies from the continent.
Be forewarned, this one is for lovers of blood and
panzers. The variants are here for your enjoyment
and to keep your Campaign Games from becom-
ing stale. Use them as such.
OPTIONAL RULES
It is the author's opinion that all three optional
rules are more trouble than they are worth, but try
them if you like. They are more realistic.
Counter-battery fire is interesting if you are
tired of just shooting at front line units with your
defensive fire. Its use is also evenly balanced for
both sides.
Bridge demolition and repair is a bonus to the
German designed to give special units something
else to do and to litter the board with more
counters. The effect on the game will probably be
noticeable, assuming the German player is com-
petent. It should be remembered that demo can be
a two-edged sword and that the bridge just
destroyed may be desperately needed two turns
later for reinforcements. Add to the rules that the
Pioneere unit must be supplied to attempt demo or
repair (same for Allies). If you use this one, com-
bine it with hedgerow cutters to restore normal
balance.
Hedgerow cutters are the opposite side of the
bargain for the Allies. As a favor to international
relations, give the cutter to the British also. They
may actually have invented it first.
MULTIPLAYER
This section stands by itself as written. The
author would urge the play of the campaign by five
players, and believes that if each player does his
job thoroughly, an average Campaign Game will
take about 120 hours to play. This is a long time,
but if spread over several months will provide the
ultimate gaming experience for all.
PLAY BY MAIL
A game of this scope and density can probably
best be enjoyed over a span of time by mail, where
players have the opportunity to spread out the
effort and concentrate more on the planning.
While the turn sequence and game time would
force a Campaign Game to go on for 20 years, two
confident, competent players could finish any of
the scenarios in about a year. By normal PBM
standards, this is not bad.
The turn sequence for mailings is as follows:
1. The Allied player does his Replacement,
Air/Naval, and Movement Phases.
2. German Mech Move and Defensive Fire.
3. Allied Combat and Reset Phases.
4. German Replacement and Movement.
5. Allied Mech Move and Defensive Fire.
6. German Combat and Reset Phases.
For Normandy, the first turn sequence must be
added. All operations are done by the Allies, even
coastal artillery fire since this is just a mechanical
phase with no decisions required by the German.
Note that before the game starts, the German will
have to give the Allies a method to resolve airborne
drift, combat, air/naval operations, assault wave
combat, and coastal artillery fire, but this should
be the only procedural problem encountered. It
will be slightly more realistic in making movement
without the knowledge of the air/naval bombard-
ment outcomes. If using the weather option, the
German sends the weather roll at the start of the
game, and from then on with his combat phase
mailing. Each player should send a retreat path for
units which may be forced to retreat in combat.
Optional movement paths can be sent if movement
is dependent upon bombardment to disrupt a
ZOC. Other than this, the PBM of any scenario
should proceed smoothly.
There is just one thing missing: a hex grid. To
rectify this, the following grid is suggested.
Numbers for each hex are two-part, producing a
four-digit reference. The first two are the west to
east numbered coordinates; the second pair run
from north to south. (Figure 9 gives several cities
and their hex numbers.) Marking the map every
five hexes with a light marker is probably the best
way to keep up with the grid; using a different
color for the perpendicular lines will help also.
CONCLUSIONS
The commentary above has concentrated on
game play. If the reader wishes to understand the
underlying historical and design concepts, he is
referred to the Designer's Notes and Bibliography.
The challenge now is to begin the play and enjoy-
*
ment of THE LONGEST DAY. It will be well
worth your while.
\
ICONVENTION CALENDAR
THE GENERAL will list any gaming convention in this space
free of charge o n a space available basis provided that we are
notified a t least four months in advance of the convention date.
Each listing must include the name, date, site, and contact
address of the convention. Additional information of interest t o
Avalon Hill garners such as tournaments or events utilizing A H
games is solicited a n d will be printed if made available.
Avalon Hill does not necessarily attend or endorse these gather-
ings, nor d o we guarantee that events using A H games will be
I
held. Readers ar; urged l o contact the lts[edsourc~sfor further
lnformat~onbefore maklng plans t o attend.
SEPTEMBER 4-5-6
GATEWAY, Anaheim California
Contact: Gateway, P.O. Box 2577, Anaheim,
CA 92804.
NOTE: Many tournaments in strategy, fantasy,
sports, SF and family games including most AH
titles.
SEPTEMBER 18-19
MASSCON 1982, Amherst Massachusetts
Contact: Dennis Wang, 11 Dickinson Street,
Amherst, MA 01002 (413-253-9472).
NOTE: Many events including competitions in
SL, PL, DIP and WSIM.
SEPTEMBER 24-25-26
BABEL CONFERENCE '82, Wyoming
Michigan
Contact: Dave Marshall, 1160 36th Street SW,
Wyoming, MI 49509.
OCTOBER 8-9-10
WIN GAMES 11, Winnipeg Manitoba
Contact: University of Manitoba Wargames
Club, Box 80, University Center, University of
Manitoba, Winnipeg MAN, CANADA.
OCTOBER 9-10
CROSSFIRE, Tampa Florida
Contact: Steve Askew, Strategic Studies Group,
Center 2394, University of South Florida,
Tampa, FL 33620.
OCTOBER 29
STARCON '82, Vancouver British Columbia
Contact: Ignacy Lipiec, 229 East 22nd Avenue,
Vancouver BC, CANADA V5V ITS.
NOVEMBER 12-13-14
WESTERN RECON '82, Salt Lake City Utah
Contact: Karl Miller, 837 North University
Village, S a l t L a k e C i t y , U T 84108
(801-582-6076).
NOTE: Science Fiction and Fantasy orienta-
tion.
NOVEMBER 12-13-14
WINTER GAMEFEST 11, Detroit Michigan
Contact: Metro Detroit Gamers, W11 Info,
P.O. Box 787, Troy, MI 48099.
NOTE: Many AH events among the numerous
tournaments and seminars.
JULY 14-15-16-17
ORIGINS '83, Detroit Michigan
Contact: Metro Detroit Gamers, 083 Info, P.O.
Box 787, Troy, MI 48099.
 MICROCOMPUTER
GAMES UPDATE
The Microcomputer Game Div~sionof Avalon Hill has ex-
panded 11sline to p r o v ~ d ecassette programs for the ATARl 800as
well as d~skettesfor the TRS-80 11, APPLE I1 and ATARI 800
computers. All four cassette versions come in the same package,
unless spec~fiedotherwise below; that is, TRS-80 11, A P P L E 11,
PET and A T A R l 800 versions are spaced at intervals on the same
tape. Diskette versions come w ~ t honly one verslon in the package
so i t is essential that the computer model be specified when order-
Ing 111 addltion t o noting the memory requirements. A partial
I n t ~ n go f the Microcomputer Came Dlvision offerings followc:
PLANET MINERS is available in 16K cas-
settes for the TRS-80, APPLE, and P E T and a
24K version for the ATARI priced at $16.00. 32K
diskette is available for the TRS-80 and ATARI,
48K for the A P P L E at $21.00.
CONTROLLER has been released in a 40K
diskette version for the ATARl only; it is priced at
$30.00.
COMPUTER ACQUIRE is available in 16K
cassettes for all four computer models for $20.00.
A 32K diskette version for the TRS-80, a 48K
version for the APPLE and a 24K version for the
ATARI are available for $25.00.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL is available
in 16K cassette for the TRS-80 model only at
$25.00; it is available in 32K diskette for TRS-80
and 48K diskette for APPLE at $30.00
FOOTBALL STRATEGY, the latest release,
is available now in 32K diskette for the TRS-80,
priced at $21.00.
EMPIRE OF THE OVERMIND is available
in 48K cassettes for the TRS-80 and A P P L E and a
40K version for ATARI for $30.00.48K diskettes
for the TRS-80 and APPLE and a 40K version for
ATARl are available for $35.00 each.
TANKTICS is available in 16K cassettes for
the TRS-80, A P P L E and P E T and in a 24K
version for the ATARI priced at $24.00. A 32K
diskette for ATARI and a 48K diskette for the
A P P L E are priced at $29.00
G A L A X Y is a new release, available in 16K
cassette versions for all four models for $20.00.
32K diskettes for TRS-80 and ATARl and a 48K
diskette for A P P L E are available for $25.00.
GUNS OF FORT DEFIANCE is now
available in 16K cassettes for TRS-80 and P E T
and in 32K cassettes for ATARI and APPLE for
$20.00. A 32K diskette version for the TRS-80 or a
8K diskette version for the APPLE costs $25.00.
DNIEPER RIVER LINE is available in 32K
assettes for the TRS-80, P E T and APPLE and in
48K version for ATARl at $25.00. And, a 32K
iskette version for TRS-80 and 48K diskette
rsions for A P P L E and ATARI are available for
VOYAGER the only title available in 16K
TRS-80 COLOR model, costs
ettes for APPLE and PET, 16K
80, and 24K cassette for ATARI
e for $20.00. On diskette: 48K
LE and 32K version for ATARl
KARMA is available in 48K
TRS-80, 32K for APPLE and
for the ATARl for $20.00; it is
skette in 48K for the TRS-80 and
for ATARI for $25.00
& BONDS is available in 16K
RS-80 and PET, 32K cassette for
ATARI for $20.00. It is also
, and 40K for ATARI, pried at $25.00
IGN EXCHANGE is now avalable in
tte for the TRS-80 only; it retails fo
DESIGN IANALYSIS
I
Lt a
rn
THE LONGEST DAY
By Jim Burnett
The following is an attempt to provide in one
place a list of questions and anbwers for THE
LONGEST DA Y. [This, in and of itself, cannot be
totally true since some questions were deleted if it
was felt that they were answered by careful reading
of the rulebook. Also omitted has been the infor-
mation from Vol. 17, No. 6. For those of you who
are really interested in TLD, this list is essential. I
would urge you to obtain a back issue ifyou do not
already have a copy. Of special note, the issue con-
rains scenario addenda and German unit entry
errata which are important to play of the game.]
For the questions included here, 1 owe a debt to all
who wrote in asking them and apologize to those
who will find their answers changed by a couple of
them. These changes are based on a better under-
standing and them-ore thorough research which this
article necessitated. At any rate, continued ques-
tioning should be welcome to any gamer, as this is
the only way to improve both design and develop-
ment.
COUNTERS, MAPBOARD and
UNIT ENTRY CARDS
American:
82nd: The 319 and 320 artillery battery counters
which must be made have the following
characteristics: R ~ 6, ~(3)-1-8,
~ ~~ : ~
Stacking: I. They are members of the 82nd Divi-
sion, -l-hey are landed in zone-0- during build-
up. Add 2/507 to the unidentified 82nd battalion.
For both the 82 and the lOlst divisions, all of the
units on the second line of their box on the Allied
Assaust Landing Schedule enter on the build-up
phase (except for those listed as D + 1).
1st: Add the division number to 1/18 and the recon
unit.
29th: Add the division number to the back of
1/115.
3rd Arm.: Add the division number to 3/36.
Artillery 65th (3-2-6): This unit does not enter as an
assault unit (first line), but as a non-divisional re-
inforcement.
Armored Car (3-4-8): One of the units numbered
102 is actually the 38th, and both of these units
enter after 24 July.
Supply: You are short one counter.
British:
6th Para: The seven units on the bottom line of this
division's entry schedule are dropped during the
build-up phase.
Armored Battalions 6/2C and 10/2C: These units
are DD's.
German:
91st: 1/6FS is located one hex NW of St. Jores on
Board B.
352nd: 513, 517, and 518 are the unnumbered
bicycle units on the SE area of Board B.
\z
Special Note: 75mm AT artillery battery units
(these are in several infantry and armored divisions)
which have factors (2)-5-8 have errors in stacking
on almost every counter. The actual stacking value
is 2 on the front side and 1 on the back.
21st Pz: On Board D, the hex north of the "N" in
Caen contains the 305 Art. Five hexes south of that
is the 11/155.
130th Pz: 1II/130 needs a division number. The
reverse side of 8/2 should be 2-3-6.
16th LW: 11/16 needs division number.
1st Flk: III/3 goes four hexes south of Easy Green.
932nd Flk: (Cherbourg Chart) the unit between
ROUL and TLVS is 932/5.
I1 FS Corps: On the German Unit Entry Schedule,
8 June, I,II,III/6 FS (91) should be 1,2,3/II FS. On
1 August, Rennes, 1,2,3/1I FS should be I,II,III/2
FS.
Security Units: In the Cherbourn chart. the 583
Sec. is in the proper place for the Campaign Game
but does not appear in the scenario.
Ost: The 627th Ost enters 8 June at Redon.
Rail: Entry Schedule 6 June, Rennes, 1/2,3 should
be 1/6,1
MKB:~ MKB CHER ~ r
is located in ~the same ~hex as ~
the "R" in Cherbourg. MKB NIGH and PAIR
counter pictures are reversed on the board.
Fortified Areas: C A R P 1,2,3 are on Board D.
Minor Forts: CAPL fort is in the same hex as MKB
BROM, DUVR fort is on Board one hex NW of
Douvre,
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Counters. How can you use the German 752nd
HQ?
A. It is an independent H Q which may supply up to
three independent non-artillery units.
Map. Where is the British "Main" Landing Zone?
A. Zone M.
Map. What is the status of coastal artillery units in
the same hex as a fort? Do they count against stack-
ing?
A. They are always considered to be outside the
fort. For total stacking in the hex only.
TEC: Do roads cancel the advance limit through
towns and bocage?
A. No.
TEC: Is there a M P cost to enter or exit a fort?
A. No.
TEC: Do coastal hexes cost two M P (per TEC) or
just one if entered from another land hex?
A. This is the Paul Revere rule: One if by land, two
if by sea.
TEC: The TEC says AIR INT counters eliminate
the ability of units to cross RR bridges at reduced
penalty. Do the units have that ability?
A. Yes.
CRT: What size are HQ units for loss purposes?
A. Battalion.
CRT/TEC: What are the losses if an armored unit
and an infantry unit attack from a bocage hex?
A. If theresult isLS, both LS. If theresult is L1, in-
fantry L1, armor L2. If the result is L2, infantry L2,
armor ELIM.
CAM: Isn't an armor, infantry, and artillery
defense combination treated as INF + ARM?
A. Yes.
Rail Interdiction Table: Is the 6-1 1 column correct?
A. No, it should be 6-10.
Fort Chart: Is the first number on a fort counter
the number of units or stacking points which may
be placed in the fort?
A. Units.
Fort Chart: Is a unit under a fort on a hill doubled
or quadrupled?
A. Doubled.
Fort Chart: Exactly how d o you count coastal
strongpoints for combat?
A. 0/2/-1 strongpoints are company-sized; 0/6/-1
are battalion.
Bombardment Table: Is a die roll of one with a
minus one DRM an automatic miss?
A. No. One is the lowest a die roll may be modified
to.
Bombardment Table: What good are rockets (con-
sidering the minus one DRM)?
A. Rockets are not affected by the minus one
DRM.
German Entry Chart: The 12/I,I1 88mm Flak are
listed twice on the set-up of I1 FS Corps. Should the
I2/I,II 150mm Flak be substituted for the second
listing?
A. Yes.
German Entry Chart: Where does the I1 FS Train-
ing Regiment go?
A. It enters 1 August at Rennes and consists of the
I,II,III/2FS-not as listed on the chart.
I.B.ll. May you move a unit one hex no matter
what?
A. No. It must have the required MPs available to
make a move.
I.C.,E. Must a unit be supplied to strategic move?
Mech move?
A. Yes. Yes.
I.E. Can the German player strategic move
through interdicted hexes?
A. Yes.
1.1.13. May artillery advance after combat?
A. Only range one artillery
1I.B.JII.B. Can an infantry unit with a zero attack
factor allow an attack by artillery? Allow a + 2
CAM if stacked with armor?
A. No. Yes.
II.B.5.a. Can an artillery unit spot for itself? Does
this apply to support fire as well as defensive fire?
Can it spot for another artillery unit?
A. Yes. Yes. Yes.
II.B.5.c. Are adjacent firing artillery units immune
to combat results also?
A. Yes.
II.B.7. Do artillery units with inverted defense
strengths greater than two have remnants?
A. No.
1I.D. What happens if units of the 71 1th Division
are on the board but their HQ is not?
A. They are out of supply only if the units are more
than eight hexes from the board edge along roads A
and B.
1I.D. 1 seem to have an extra German supply unit.
A. Not really. It is for the variant 319th Division.
1I.D. I seem to have one Allied supply unit missing.
A. Yes. Make one out of the spare round counter.
1I.D.l.a. Can HQ units, in movement phases or
retreats, move through another HQ?
A. Yes. They may not end a phase stacked with
another HQ.
II.D.l.d.,e. For once and for all, can anv in-
dependent artillery units be supplied by ~ i ~ i s i o n
HQ?
A. No. Only by Corps.
II.D.5.a. Is this true for only divisional US artillery
groups? Is it true during the Combat Phase also?
A. Yes. Yes.
II.D.8. Can regimental Flak subordinate batteries
trace supply to Korps HQ? Can independent Flak
batteries trace supply to regimental Flak HQ? Must
Flak batteries trace supply routes even though they
do not consume supply units? Are the effects of
being out of supply the same as for other units?
A. Yes, up to six. No. Yes. Yes.
II.E.2. If a unit is disrupted and another friendly
unit enters that hex, is it disrupted also?
A. Yes. There is not much actual effect here
though because most disruption takes place during
defensive fire.
III.C.2.b. The rule says that a zone of interdiction
may be one hex and then later that the radius does
not include the AIR INT hex. Which is correct?
A. The former. One or two TAC factors give a one
hex AIR INT. Three or four give seven hexs and so
forth.
III.C.2.c. Is there a cumulative effect to AIR INT
counter zones of control?
A. No.
III.C.3.e. May I keep carpet bombers in the boxes
waiting for favorable weather?
A. No. Placing bombers in the boxes on the first
turn commits them for three turns, the second of
which (only) is the bombing turn. If you wish to
change a location or bomb again, you must start a
whole new three turn procedure.
III.C.3.e.l. Are any hexes prohibited to carpet
bombers? Are there any modifiers for other hexes?
A. Only swamp and flooded hexes. No.
1V.A. Is naval (and air) bombardment affected by
terrain?
A. Only where prohibited.
IV.B.4. In exactly which cases can forts and their
units ignore retreats?
A.Only when there are forts with units in them. An
unoccupied landfronte fort which receives a retreat
result is destroyed.
IV.B.5. An infantry unit is inside a fort (which is
treated as armor) and there is also an infantry unit
stacked outside. Do these count as INF + ARM on
the CAM?
A. No, as INF.
IV.B.7. Is an unoccupied minor fort or fortified
area destroyed if occupied by the Allies? What is the
cost in M P to enter such a hex? May the unit con-
tinue movement if MPs remain?
A. Yes. Only the normal cost of terrain. Yes.
IV.B.7. Does this rule apply to coastal strong-
points or unoccupied landfronte forts since they
have no units in them?
A. No. They must be destroyed by a successful
attack.
V.A. Can the 12SS enter the map on 6 Juneor must
it wait until the 7th?
A. It must wait until 7 June. (Change.)
V.C.5.a. Does this include HQ units?
A. No.
V.C.7.b. Can a beachhead marker be destroyed by
artillery fire?
A. No.
V.C., 1X.E. Exactly what are the landing and
stacking allowances during the invasion turn?
A. During 6 June only, stacking requirements must
be met (for the Allies) on land hexes at the end of the
Allied Follow-up Movement phase and from then
on (any number of units may occupy a landing
box). The landing requirements in IX.E.3. do not
go into effect until 7 June. The triple landing
factors are counted from then.
VIII.D., E. What is the weather at the start of these
scenarios?
A. Fair for both.
IX.F.5.a. This is confusing. Do the Germans get
one supply a turn in Benelux and in Brittany or one
per turn in Benelux or in Brittany?
A. The German receives supply from the pool only
and may at his option start one of those received in
Brittany.
IX.C.3. How is a storm handled, specifically the
third day? The rule says ST-1 or F. The chart says
ST-2 or F.
A. Go by the rule-ST-] or F. Day four is ST-2 if
four was ST-I; day five is ST-I or F; day six is ST-I
if five was ST-I; and seven is F.
IX.D.7.c. What is the status of an eliminated
Corps HQ?
A. The Corps HQ is always assumed to have sur-
viving subordinates and is always returned to play.
1X.E. Can follow-up units be held off and enter
during the build-up or subsequent phases?
A. Yes.
IX.E.3.a. Do the first ten turns include 6 June?
A. No. From 7 June to 16 June.
Secnario 5,IX.F.2.c. Does the 711th Division
activate at greater than (IX.F.2.c.) or greater than
or equal to (Scenario 5, Rule 3)?
A. According to whether you are playing the
Campaign Game or the Scenario.
IX.F.5.a. Do destroyed HQ restarting on the entry
tracks re-trigger their supplies?
A. No.
IX.F.5.a. Where does supply start for German
divisional HQ?
A. With the HQ.
1X.H. Can supply units that land on British
beaches be used by US HQ and vice versa?
A. Yes.
IX.1. Can the beachhead counter of a landing box
be used while the Mulberry is being built?
A. Yes.
IX.J.4. Must German units de-train when subject
to Air Bombardment?
A. Yes.
IX.J.7. When must a rail unit cease rail movement
during a turn?
A. Anywhere between the third and fourth city or
cut hex.
1X.L. Can an air supply unit be dropped to any HQ
unit or just to airborne?
A. Any HQ unit.
IX.L.3. How are air supply units lost?
A. The same as other supplies, by landing on a
German unit, or suffering a D or D/LS result on the
Drift Diagram.
1X.M. Does Allied Unit Withdrawal cost
anything?
A. Yes. It uses a beach, port, or mulberry capacity
point per stacking point just as debarkation does.
The total debarkation and withdrawal points must
never exceed capacity.
XI1.B. I don't understand the one hex range versus
the Allied unit in one of the bridge hexes. Also, d o
you add or subtract two?
A. The range is the distance from the Pioniere unit
to the Allied unit. When the range is one and the
Allied unit is also adjacent to the bridge hex, you
subtract two.
X1I.C. Why can't the British have the Hedgerow
Cutter also?
A. Give it t o them one week after the US gets it.
The British had less needhrgency for the invention
since the type of terrain they were involved in con-
tained less bocage.
RULES VARIATIONS
The following are suggested variations on existing
rules. These changes increase realism at a very slight
cost in game length. Their effect on the outcome of
most games should be minimal.
Retreat (1.1.12.)
If a unit is forced to retreat so that it ends the retreat
farther (in hexes) from its immediate H Q unit than
before the start of the combat phase, it must lose an
extra step. This variant will hurt the German player
more since he will have to do more retreating.
Artillery Spotting (1I.B.)
Divisional artillery must have their spotting done by
members of their own division or one of the three
independent units assigned to that division. Corps
artillery has spotting done by any sub-unit of the
corps if playing by Corps Organization rules below
or by any unit if not.
Surrender (1I.C.)
Any unit dependent upon a H Q for supply (this in-
cludes all divisional and independent-artillery and
non-artillery-units) plus all flak units are subject
to surrender. If any such unit is completely and con-
tinuously isolated from its H Q for three consecutive
turns, it surrenders at the friendly reset phase of the
third turn and is removed from the board. Sur-
unit which does not require a supply source or does
not have to surrender. The three turns are still
counted but surrender does not take place until the
unit moves to a hex in which surrender may happen.
Surrendered units are never replaced or re-inforced.
This rule is a bonus for the Allies but is designed to
clear up situations where units can actually benefit
themselves by just staying behind lines. It should be
used in conjunction with the Retreat rule above to
"tidy up" the fronts a bit. A unit determined to stand
and fight in a good defensive position is not penalized
but unsupplied tourists will be discouraged.
Supply Movement (1I.D.)
Any supply unit (except air supply) which starts a
movement phase with a H Q unit may stay with that
H Q throughout the movement phase no matter how
o r how far the H Q moves. The H Q and supply must
move together and the supply cannot continue to
move after the H Q stops. This does not apply to
units in the strategic movement boxes.
Corps Organization (1I.D.)
This section is the greatest change to existing pro-
cedures. It changes Corps H Q responsibilities and is
strongly suggested for multi-player games.
For the six non-divisional artillery units they are
already responsible for, Corps H Q must use spot-
ters which are part of the corps. These will include
all subordinate H Q and their units in addition to the
artillery itself. T o spot for this artillery, a division's
H Q unit must be within an eight hex radius of the
corps H Q unit and spotting units of the division
must be within eight hexes of their HQ. The artillery
must still be within eight hexes of the Corps HQ.
Assignments of the divisional HQ's which report to
a Corps H Q must be made during the replacement
phase of a player's turn and do not take effect until
the next turn. The assignments and limitations for
armored. One airborne division may be added for
free. Divisions may contain three independent units
and corps may have six independent artillery units
per the regular rules.
The German list is a bit more complicated. The I1
FS Corps may contain 2 , 3 , 5 and 6/FS. The 111 Flak
Corps may contain only Flak units but may contain
all of them. The three LW divisions are independent
of any corps. The other corps may contain up to
four divisions and may add either the 752nd or one
Nebelwerfer Brigade free. These assignments are
subject to the following chart:
Divisions
Corps Inf Pz SS
ISS, Pz, IISS Pz 1 1 3
XLVII Pz, LVIII Pz 2 3 1
LXXIV, LXXXIV, LXXXVI 4 1 -
The numbers in the boxes are the maximum divi-
sions of each type which can apply toward the total
corps allowance of four.
As an optional added headache, do not allow divi-
sions to make offensive attacks when their H Q are
more than eight hexes from their assigned corps
HQ. Defensive fire may still be used normally. The
balancing effect here is to make up for the mainly
Allied bias in the other rules presented here. Since
the Allies will d o most of the attacking, they will be
affected most. The overall rational is to encourage
players t o keep their commands together per nor-
mal military practice.
The above may seem a bit of trouble at times but it
does give a better feel for organizational dif-
ficulties. The corps rules apply to the scenarios as
well as the Campaign Game and the astute player
will notice that in many cases divisions will be left
without corps artillery support. This is intended
and gives a bit of help to the attacker in the first,
third, and fifth scenarios.

render does not happen if an opposing unit is not
adjacent to "accept" the surrender. A unit does not
have to surrender if it is in a city hex, in any fort hex
excent a field fort. or is in the same hex with another
*
Corps H Q are as follows. This does not apply t o units in the strategic move-
For the Allies, each Corps H Q may contain up t o ment boxes.
three divisions, no more than one of which may be

CONTEST ALLIED: 82/325 at ~ 2 2

101/501 at L19
101/502 at L16 (Engaged)
101/506 at N14
101/327 at P I 3
3/32 at N10
3/33 at N10
It is the German 20PM turn. On the 20AM 3/36 at S11
turn, exchanges at Bertrix and Libramont VIII/333 at H18
weakened the Allied right wing. The Allies hold
Werbemont and the Hohe Venn strongly. If the GERMAN: 116/16 at M16 (Engaged)
Germans d o not break out in the south and exit 116/60 at M 17 (Engaged)
units from the mapboard by the 22AM turn 116/156 at 4 2 9
(keeping out the British), the game will surely be 2/3 at M16 (Engaged)
lost. The object of the contest is t o plan a 20PM 2/2 at R24
move that will optimize the German chances of 2/304 at R24
exiting mechanized units by the 22AM turn. Lehr/901 at 4 2 9
Players should consider hex A21 as the key exit Lehr/902 at P15
hex, since it is the farthest from the Allied 20PM 26/39 at K20
and 21AM reinforcements. 26/77 at L19
The answer t o this contest must be entered on 26/78 at L19
the official entry form (or a facsimile) found in 5/13 at N31
the insert of this issue. Ten winning entries will 5/14 at N31
receive A H merchandise credits. T o be valid, an 352/914 at N31
entry must be received prior t o the mailing of the Neb. 7 at K20
next issue and include a numerical rating for this Neb. 15 at K20
issue as a whole, as well as listing the three best Neb. 18 at M17 (Engaged)
articles. The solution t o Contest #I08 will appear Neb. 8 at L19
in Vol. 19, No. 3 and the winners in Vol. 19, No. Art. 401 at S16
4 of The GENERAL. Art. 766 at M20
The units to be considered in the solution of Art. 406 at M20
Contest #I08 are positioned as follows: Art. 408 at S22
 GETTING ASHORE
AND STAYLNG ASHORE
First Turn Allied Strategy in THE LONGEST DAY
THE OPPOSING VIEW
Always in search of a uniqueformat forpresent-
ing strategy to our readers, I was more than eager to
formalize this effort of Messers. Piotrowski and
Thompson. In the first of a planned series of ar-
ticles on our sole "monster game'', the authors
begin at-where else-the beginning, the Allied in-
vasion. Each is an accomplished veteran of this
most complex simulation, and each has distinct
views on the approach that should be taken to it. Zn-
deed, it b the opposition of these views that pro-
vides the dynamisrn of the following article.
Readers should note that Mr. Piotrowski's com-
ments are printed in black, while Mr. Thompson's
opposing views are printed in red.
THE LONGEST DAY is a very special war-
game. It is a game that is historically accurate, easy
to learn, difficult to master, and most importantly,
fun to play! Due to the immense size of the map and
the volume of counters, it is a true test of any
wargamer's skill and endurance. The Campaign
Game is a long struggle for both players but as the
name suggests. June 6th is definitely the most im-
portant turn. The first turn determines the type of
game that will eventually evolve. Of course, the
most skillful player will emerge victorious most of
the time; however, the Allies can still lose the game
on the first turn. With this in mind, let's examine
what the Allied player can d o to land safely on June
6th.
By way of introduction, I have considerably
more to say than Steve. What follows in this article
is Steve's detailed strategy for the Allied portion of
the June 6 turn of THE LONGEST DAY, and my
opposing view. Steve's plan is a sound one, but
players usually have opposing views of games and
plans and tactics. Such is the case here. Steve has
worked out a plan of attack using odds and prob-
abilities to insure a successful Allied landing on
June 6. That is one way to view and play THE
LONGEST DAY. Let me explain my own.
As far as rules, game mechanics and even
general strategy are concerned, THE LONGEST
DAY is a very simple game. As Steve has said, it is
accurate in its tendency to follow the ebb and flow
of the historical campaign. However, the game is
also true to the emotions it creates within, and the
mental burdens it places upon, the opposing com-
manders. It is this aspect of THE LONGESTDAY
which is its real heart and which so fascinates me.
In THE LONGESTDAY, no matter what plan
is devised and tried, the sheer size of the simulation
means that, barring major tactical mistakes and
bad luck by either side, the game takes on the same
general lines every time. TLD is not a game where
the counters of one side can be maneuvered in ex-
pert and precise ways to defeat the opposing
counters. For one thing, there are simply too many
counters. Too, the opposing forces are fairly evenly
matched once you consider the defensive position
the German forces are given to work with.
What happens in the game, as far as the emo-
tional and mental factors I mentioned above, is that
By Steve Piotrowski
By Dan Thompson
because of the large number of counters and the
sheer punishment that forces can give and take and
still survive and because of the time it takes to com-
plete a Campaign Game, the forces a player com-
mands become an extention of the player's
thoughts and emotions. The game becomes a con-
test of minds, a contest of mental endurance. For
example, in game terms the loss of German
Nebelwerfer brigade to an Allied carpet-bombing
attack is an important, but far from critical loss. In
terms of the players however, such a loss can throw
the German player's concentration off balance and
result in decisive Allied gains elsewhere on the
mapboard.
The victorious player in THE LONGEST DAY
will not be the one who defeats his opponent's
counters. He will be the one who mentally
demolishes his opponent (as Randy Reed hints at in
his notes to the game). As the Allied player you
must not only continually pound at the German line
in unexpected fashion in unexpected places, but
also in expected fashion and expected places. Force
the German player into believing there is nothing he
can do to improve his position. As the German
commander you must at times defend and hold at
all costs those places your opponent wants most
eagerly. For the players the game becomes a battle
of endurance to see which can continue to hold out
the longest, which side can continue despite the
losses, which side can devise new means of attack
and defense to prolong the fight, which player can
endure the strain in the hope that the other will
break off first in frustration or be so concerned
about one sector that he will be slow to react
somewhere else.
The single greatest mistake a player can make
while involved in TLD is to cry, "There's nothing I
can d o to counter that!" For the Allies there is
always a strategy or tactic to try. As the Germans,
there is always something which can be done to
discourage the Allies. Make your opponent believe
you are capable of doing what you want to oppose
his plans even if you are not. If he comes to believe it
you will probably be the victor. Break your oppon-
ent mentally and you will easily defeat him on the
mapboard.
Having said all that by way of introduction, let
us move on to our discussion of the Allied forces on
June 6. As far as my own "current" plan is con-
cerned, simply remember to alter accordingly when
it is to your psychological advantage. Doing the
unexpected and foolhardy in the face of all odds
and probabilities, if successful, will be adirect taunt
and challenge to your opponent to match the deed.
If such a move is unsuccessful, it will probably not
affect the eventual outcome of the game. At the
very least, it forces your opponent to be alert for
such daring jabs in the coming days.
ALLIED AIR DROP
Since the paratroop drop involves only die rolls
and no decisions to be made, there is nothing the
Allies can do except roll and hope for the best. In
most games, the British 6th Airborne HQ will be
eliminated by defensive fire on June 6th, so I
recommend not landing the British build-up
paratroop units of June 6th.
While there are no decisions to make, there are
several points the Allied player should watch for.
Remember that if any of the units dropping at
Zone A drift and manage to eliminate 1/1261
coastal artillery, then the road is open for the
follow-up units to grab the hill near Quineville.
If any of the units at Drop Zone 0 drift on a six
result to La Ham, they will be able to spot for defen-
sive fire over the river to Fresville in an attempt to
open the road for June 7 movement.
Depending on where the British 6th Airborne
divisional H Q lands, it may be possible to save it. If
it rolls a six and lands on the highway one hex north-
east of Drop Zone M (for simplicity, north is directly
up the hex rows, so for example, the QUEEN
GREEN landing box is five hexes directly north of
Drop Zone Y), simply interdicting the roads in the
area will stop 10/125 from 21 Panzer from reaching
the adjacent woods. On any other roll except a four,
the HQ may be saved by hitting 10/125 with
bombers during the Air/Naval phase in an attempt
to disrupt it. No other German units will be able to
reach an adjacent hex providing there is adequate
air support. If the HQ drifts into the south hex of its
drop zone, in the Bois de Bavent, its fate is probably
sealed since it would require too much air power to
attempt disruption of 10/125 and 10/155. But it is
always an option.
AIR/NAVAL PHASE
For the Allies here, it's decision making time.
The FB units can be used for road or rail interdic-
tion and the MB and LB units can be used for air
bombardment or rail interdiction as well. There are
a myriad of naval bombardment targets to fire at,
and plenty of ammunition to fire with. So then,
how should all this fire support be allocated?
AIR INTERDICTION
The Allies should allocate most of their FBs on
June 6th towards interdiction. The reason for this is
that the German divisions are set up quite sporad-
ically near where they must move to in the ensu-
ing turns. Concentrated interdiction in these areas
will disrupt German defensive intentions and may
even leave a few key German units out of supply on
June 7th. There should be 15 American and 15
British FBs allocated. They should be arranged
such that there are eight "two" and six "one" inter-
diction counters. Suggested allocations are shown
in Table One with asterisks denoting particularly
nasty spots. Of course, the idea is for interdiction
placement to effect as many bridges as possible so
that the German units must pay an extra MP to
cross as well as increilsing the hexes being inter-
dicted to one MP per hex.
 player I welcome Allied interdiction in this sector fantry Division. This includes single hex interdicts
RAIL INTERDICTION since it does not affect my defense and it means that at Balleroy on the highway one hex northwest of la
The remaining Allied fighter-bomber units (six there will be a lack of interdiction elsewhere on the Commune; on the bridge near Formigny; etc. A
of them) should be allocated to rail interdiction. mapboard where it could be of more use to the two-hex interdiction goes one hex north of Cam-
The reasoning behind this is the hope of getting at Allies and more of a hindrance to the Germans. pigny. Complete strafing of the road from the posi-
least one cut (66% of the time). The placement of So where d o the remaining fighter-bombers tions of the 352 Fusilier battalion to Bayeux and
this cut is adjacent to the 722nd Railroad Coastal deploy? The answer is the area covered by the from Bayeux to the bridge near Formigny will cause
gun located in the northwest of the Cherbourg German 709 Division. Heavy. I repeat. heavy inter- problems in the set-up of the German defense of
peninsula. This inhibits that pesky little gun from diction of 709 division will prohibit the establish- Bayeux.
taking "pot-shots" at the American beaches. Any ment of a German defensive line running from the Basically, having interdicted necessary points to
remaining cuts can be used from entry hexes A coast at Villagedu-Nord or Fontenay and through achieve direct, tangible results, the remaining
through K to help slow the 12SS Panzer Division on MKB MARC along the river to Fresville. Short of fighter-bombers should be primarily used wherever
June 7th. anything but a disastrous landing on UTAH, units they will irritate the German player the most. If you
of the American 4th Infantry Division will pass the feel like hitting 21 Panzer, then do so. One area you
1 have three distinct allocations of Allied river line on June 7. The German's fate is sealed if may want to watch and consider is the British 6th
fighter-bombers on June 6. The first two are man- the weather on June 7 permits total interdiction of Airborne drop zones. Air support here may greatly
datory. The third should vary from game to game. this area again. Interdiction of the area around assist that division in surviving until the arrival
First, six British fighter-bombers are detailed to Valognes and further west, coupled with the British (often late) of help from SWORD.
railroad interdiction as per Steve's discussion. interdictions at Les Moitiers and atop 91 HQ, also
Secondly, there are several locations on the promise the potential of a rapid expansion of the 82
mapboard which must be interdicted. These are Airborne Division west towards St. Sauveur to be
done with the absolute minimum necessary in order followed by the 90th Infantry Division. Note that STRA TEGIC INTERDICTION
to free as many fighter-bombers as possible for the there is a single-hex American interdiction located The American Heavy Bomber units should be
third mission. one hex northwest of Baupte, near St. Jores, and a placed on the German Strategic track on June 6th
Of primary importance is the road junction one single-hex American interdiction three hexes north (and probably for the next ten days as well). I
hex south of Epron. A single-hex British interdict of La Haye-du-Puits. See the first illustration for recommend using two Heavy Bomber units in each
goes here, making certain that I/192 Panzer- the interdiction of the peninsula. of the following boxes: Amiens, Seine River, and
grenadier battalion cannot Mech Move into the A secondary area which could be interdicted in- Alencon. Some players may want to use three units
4/1716 Coastal Artillery battery on the Periers hill. stead of the 709 divisional area is that of the 352 In- in Amiens and only one in Seine River. My personal
Further interdiction at this point is not necessary.
Way down by Thury-Harcourt, interdiction of
the III/l55 artillery battalion will prohibit that unit
from assisting in an attack upon the British 8th
Paratroop battalion, landing at Drop Zone K, dur-
ing German combat of June 6. Single British inter-
dicts the hill at Barbery and the road two hexes
north of III/155 start location.
A single British interdiction goes one hex north-
east of Drop Zone V in order to prevent the II1/744
Infantry battalion from reaching the hill at
Robehornme should the Canadian paratroops drift
away from the road.
Near Isigny are located two British interdicts,
both of them single. One is at Osmanville; the
other, one hex northeast of Osmanville on the main
highway. This stops the mechanized units of 352 In-
fantry Division from reaching II/915 and 111/726
Infantry battalions. . . or even the highway behind
these units. Destruction of 111/726 and advance-
ment of American units adjacent to the 10/1716
Coastal Artillery battery is imperative during June
6 Allied combat.
There are also two-hex British interdicts at Les
Moitiers and atop the 91 Infantry Division HQ. In-
tentions here are to keep German units from
reaching the road running from St. Jores through
Orglandes and onto Valognes.
These are my mandatory interdicts. This leaves
the entire American force of fighter-bombers open
for use. But for what? Already I can hear objections
from Steve over the almost total lack of interdiction
in the area of the 21 Panzer Division. Quite simply
stated, it is not necessary to interdict the area below
Caen. The German Player does not need the units
of 21 Panzer to establish his defense of Caen
(although admittedly he will probably need some of
the mechanized units of the division, notably the
nebelwerfers and armor, to help beat off British at-
tacks during June 7) on June 6. As the German

ILLUSTRATION 1: Placement of Air Interdiction Counters.

The gran numbers indicate American counters; the red, British.
With the exception of the following, all consist of but a single FB
unit: US 3-thra F B ; US 6-five FBs; BR 7-three FBs; and BR 8
-thra F B . Reasons for some of the inderdictions are obvious. US
interdiction X I orevents the 111/919 lnfantrv battalion from reaching
Fraville; US k forces the 1/729th to tick cross-country to St.
Martinde-Audoville roas not to be slowed by interdicted bridges on
June 7. The US fourth and sixth interdictions. olus the Br~tishones
here shorn. m e to effectively isolate the landkg area of the 82nd
Airborne. The US W unit keeps the 1/6FS Infantry battalion from
reaching any place critical around Carentan.
preference is to slow down the 654th and lOlst
Heavy Tank Battalions.
I agree with Steve (for once) in having two in
Amiens and two in Seine River. It is important to
try to delay the arrival of the 1SS Panzer armor.

AIR BOMBARDMENT
The use of all American and British medium and
I
light bombers for air bombardment on June 6th is
absolutely critical. Air bombardment is the only
weapon that the Allies have against the inland L l ea
nexes N w or ~ u l n e v l ~(r.
German coastal guns on June 6th. Since German Valognes)
coastal artillery fires three times in the first turn, it
is in the Allied player's best interest to disrupt as
many guns as are necessary t o lower the German's
chances of hitting the beaches.
The single most devastating naval gun that the
Germans have on June 6th is the MKB LONG.
With its range of "1 1" and its positioning between
OMAHA and GOLD beaches, it is able to hit 12 out
of 19 beach landing boxes. Its effects are especially
felt in the built-up phase on GOLD and JUNO
beaches after all other guns have been destroyed in
the preceding combat phase. It can spoil an other-
wise unblemished landing in the build-up phase.
Therefore, 1recommend the use of 16 air bombard-
ment factors for a 66% chance of disrupting this
gun.
1 would also recommend using four factors of
air bombardment on each of 10/1716 and 2/1260.
Coastal gun 9/1716 is not attacked with four fac-
tors because it is out of range of FOX GREEN. The
purpose of attempting to hit 10/1716 and 2/1260 is
the hope of disrupting at least one of them (which
will happen 56% of the time). If one of these guns
can be disrupted by air bombardment, it will firstly
save precious naval bombardment points that TABLE FOUR:Coastal Fort
would otherwise have t o be used to disrupt 8/1716, n---1. r --.I
lowering the bombardment column for UTAH
beach. Secondly, if MKB LONG is also disrupted,
US units can land at FOX GREEN with only a 17%
chance of being hit by coastal guns and, possibly,
the whole beach will only be subjected to a "one-in-
six" chance of being hit. Table 2 summarizes the
cummulative probabilities of each event occuring.
If FOX GREEN is clear of guns in the build-up
phase, all build-up units plus HQ's can land with
totalimmunity. Of course, this will only occur 22%
of the time, although usually there will only be a
17% chance of being hit-which is not that un-
favorable. Another advantage of taking a
beachhead at FOX GREEN is that follow-up units
landing there can move adjacent to MKB LONG so
that it can be hit with naval bombardment on June
7th.
As for the other three air unit factors, I prefer to
use them in the following manner: two factors on
FOXGREEN for direct attack support and one fac-
tor on the 9/1716 coastal gun for air bombardment.
There are three reasons for the factors on FOX
GREEN. 1) If the DD tanks disrupt themselves
(66% of the time-see DD Calamity Table), the two
factors raise combat odds to three-to-one. 2) If the
beach is hit by coastal fire but the DD tanks survive
(541% of the time), the two factors raise the com-
bat odds to four-to-one. 3) If both battalions sur-
vive, the two factors remove the possibility of tak-
ing any combat losses in the beach assault phase
(six-to-one with a plus two modifier). The one fac-
tor of air bombardment on 9/1716 revises Table
Two as found in Table Three.
Although this placement has no bearing on
FOX GREEN, it gives the rest of the beach a better
UTAH OMAHA GOLD JON0 SWORD Totah $
chance of survival, something the American player
must constantly strive for. Anyone checking these
numerical probability analyses should note that I'm
assuming that 2/1260 will be destroyed in the com-
bat phase regardless of whether it was disrupted or
not.
IUU8TPATlON 2: British Positions on GOLD After Combat.
AU in all. a very clean landinn at GOLD Beach admittedly, but
not unusual. KING RED w u hit by coastal artillery fire. The 4/7/8
Tank battalionand5th EYR lnfantw took losxs while attackicinn the
CSR; Columbierrsur-Seulla took a step loss in combat with the
Gerrrrm IIn26th Infantry battalion. which retreated two hexa to its
prrsent location eve. as ihe otha CPnadian unit involved. RWR at
Creully. advanced into the vacant hex. The MIKE RED landing box
was also fired upon durina the run-in. About what one could expect
give. Dan's usual actions.
Some players may argue that some factors
should be placed on ITEM GREEN to increase
combat odds there. As far as I'm concerned,
American beachheads are much more important
than the British beachheads. Therefore, as much
support as possible should be given to the
Americans. Losing one or two beachheads on
GOLD is no great loss. Most of the time, the British
don't even use their entire beach landing capacity.
There is still a fairly good chance that the 47 RM
will get the beachhead anyway (50% undisrupted,
66% if disrupted).
I also don't like using air factors at DOG
GREEN so that the Rangers can land at POINTE-
DU-HOC. There is no beachhead to be gained and
the risks involved far outweigh m y benefits of
"spreadii out the attack".
Four British factors assist ITEM GREEN.
While it is true that the British often do not use their
full beach capacity, ITEM GREEN is a critical
point. Successful landing at ITEM GREEN and the
rest of GOLD beach on June 6th is the most impor-
tant British effort. 1shall elaborate later, suffice for
now that four air factors are needed in support as
well as disruption of the strongpoint by naval gun
fue.
The remaining four British factors can either at-
tempt disruptionof 10/125 Nebelwerfer as discussed
above, or join in on the bombardment of MKB
LONG. Silencingof this gun isimperative. I use the
four remaining British factors plus six American
factors. Sixteen factors is far too heavy a commit-
ment, even accepting the very critical nature of
MKB LONG.
In support of FOX GREEN: two American fac-
tors. Steve has fully discussed this.
In support of DOG GREEN: eight American
factors. These take the place of the Rangerswho are
landing at POINTE-DU-HOC (to be discussed
later). While three-toone is not the best odds.
further air support is just not possible. The
American commander can only hope for the best
(or at the very least, not the worst).
One factor against each of 10/1716. U1260and
9/1716. Basically this is simply to give you an o p
portunity to roll the die against each. I should ex-
plain that I have little faith in or use for probability
and statistics (unlike Steve) and f i d y believe in
depending upon luck (at times). Despite the odds
and probabilities, if you are successful simply
because of luck it has a very d e f ~ t psychological
e tillery battery, hit the strongpoint at JIG RED.
effect upon your opponent. Should 1happen to roll
three hits against the guns (as I have done upon one
@oriousd o n ) , my German opponent's mental
defense willmost d y &ODa mint or two. If I
hit none, thue is always the hope h a t the German
coastalartillery fue will be just as ineffective.
You may also consider the idea of bombarding
the coastal tongp point in Arromanches. Successful
disruption of this unit allows British tanks and com-
mandos to reach MKB LONG and thus attempt to
destroy it before it has the o ~ ~ ~ r t u ntoifm
t y on the
-
~ m ~ c and a nBritish beach& s h o the ~ air bom-
berdment have missed it. I would probably use the
follow in^ revised bombardment dc~lovment: 1)
ITEMGREEN, two B& facton; 2)
against MKB LONG, six British and four American
factors; 3) against MIX GWEN, nothing; 4)
against Am&, four American 5)
oneeachonthethrcecolstalartillaybetteries.
NAVAL BOMBARDMENT
Naval gunfire should be used as a sort of "safety
valve." Its uses are to disrupt coastal defence forts
and any coastal guns that happen to be on the coast.
The main purpose of disrupting the forts lies in
negating their zone of control; and it also adds + 1
to the combat die roll. Many beaches will be unable
to function as beachheads unless adjacent forts are
neutralized by naval gunfire. This is the prime
reason that OMAHA beach can become such a
"sticky wicket". Table 4 highlights forts that are in
such a position.
These forts in the second column must either be
disrupted or attacked and eliminated by assault
landing units before the units landing at beaches in
the first column can come ashore.
Trying not to rely too heavily on luck should
persuade the Allies to use most of their naval fire in
groups of 31 or 32 factors in order to get automatic
disruptions. Suggested fire groups are shown in
Table Five.
I recommend using all British and American
rockets first before using normal naval gunfire. The
rocket's purpose are to try to disrupt a couple of im-
perative targets by luck rather than by using an
automatic on it.
If all air bombardment fails, then one coastal
gun that can hit UTAH beach must be distrupted in
order to reduce the bombardment table by one col-
umn. If the American rockets are successful, some
secondary U.S. targets may be fired upon. Second-
ary targets in descending priority are: EASY
GREEN, FOX GREEN, I/101 Nebelwerfer, or
anything else on the coast that looks ripe for being
disrupted.
Mostly according to Steve's flowchart, but
don't count on using British naval factors in the
American sector. Instead of the g/1716 coastal ar-
Another important secondary target in the British
sector is the 11/74 Infantry battalion in Cabourg.
Taking into account the interdiction of III/744,
disruption of this unit will keep the hill at
Robehomme free of German units (depending upon
the extent of the British drift). You may also con-
sider striking the I/736 battalion sitting in
Oustreham to prevent its escaping from or interfer-
ing with the development of SWORD beach.
Whether the single American automatic hit
should be against EASY RED or DOG GREEN is
debatable, but I prefer to nail DOG GREEN. Since
the Ramen land at POINTE-DU-HOC. the
o;lc mdary target becomes the
point at that place. Other important secondary
targets are the 1/1261 Coastal artillery and the 795
Ost battalion. Disruptionof both helpto insurethe
rapid upansionof the beachhead by giving the at-
tackers of 1/1261 a + 1 modifia in addition to any
others, while disruption of the Ost battalion
prevents it from blocking the road north to MKB
MARC. If the Ost battalion is not disrupted by
naval guns, it should probably be hit in the combat
phase by tanks and infantry (providing they are
available) at the expense of attacking the lone ar-
tillery battalion from 709 division.
BEACH ASSAULT PHASE
BEACH ASSA ULT PLACEMENT
I have to discuss the American Rangers landing
at POINTE-DU-HOC. There are two reasons for
the landing. One, if successful, the Rangers will be
in position to move and attack the 9/1716 Coastal
artillery during the Allied combat of June 6. They
will no doubt draw heavy German defensive fire in
the process, but this should be welcomed in that it
means less fire against the more important attack
on the III/726 Infantry battalion. If forced to
retreat, the Rangers will end up blocking the main
highway. The early elimination of the coastal
strongpoint and the coastal artillery gun opens up
OMAHA for a push towards Isigny which the Ger-
mans will find hard to stop. Failure to remove the
strongpoint on June 6 bogs down the advance from
the beach by at lease one day. Secondly, I land the
Rangers at POINTE-DU-HOC because of the fact
that Steve and many others think it wiser to do
otherwise. A foolish but successful attack like this
(and it is not really all that foolish) is useful in the
mental war of THELONGESTDAY.If successful,
it gives the Americans the initiative on OMAHA,
whereas the survival of the strongpoint allows the
German player the luxury of a defensive line behind
the river for one day-one very important full day.
Luxury is something you cannot-allow the other
player to experience at your expense. Always keep
him racking his brains for a way to survive.
GERMAN COASTAL ARTILLERY
FIRE PHASE
Using my air bombardment-orientatedstrategy,
the Allied player relies much less on the German
player's luck for his units to land safely. All the
Allied player can do now is to wait for the German
player to roll the die. Expect the casualties shown in
Table Six.Anything less is a blessing.
I have seen from zero to ten beachheads
disrupted in the assault wave, so Table Six is only a
very average result and anything is possible!
As Steve says, anything less is a blessing.
FOLLOW-UP PHASE AND COMBAT
In the follow-up phase, all follow-up units ex-
cept HQs should be brought in on all beaches except
SWORD and possibly OMAHA. (Remember: HQ
units do not count towards rule V.C.5.a.) On
 SWORD beach, I recommend sending in all the
commandos, the DD armor, and all of the infantry
battalions from the 3rd Infantry. On OMAHA, if
there is no German shot on FOX GREEN, all
follow-up units should enter there. I f all
beachheads still can be fired upon, do not land the
good artillery units for they are too precious to lose
to coastal artillery on the beaches. All follow-up
units should be moved as far inland as possible to
leave space for the incoming units in the building-
up phase. This is especially difficult on GOLD
beach.
Most combat targets are quite obvious on June
6th. Be sure to eliminate as many coastal guns as
possible. Try to push towards 10/1716 on OMAHA
and MKB LONG. Destroy it if possible on June
6th.
On GOLD beach, don't advance onto the road
:, going south from Asnelles-sur-Mer after combat
' because tanks from the 7th Armoured should go
(1 there in the build-up phase.
On SWORD send in all independent units, half
tbe infantry battalions of the British 3rd Infantry.
two artillery battalions from the division and all
units of 6th Airborne. The reason for risking the
two artillery battalions is t o either support elements
of 6th Airborne in attacking UlZSS Coastal Ar-
tillery battery or to have a five-to-one defensive fue
shot (- 1 modifter) against that gun.
J ~ o no : set-Gttem, but keep the artillery
away from enemy units so it is not defensive fired by
989 Artillery battalion and its friends.
On GOLD beach, the 46RM lands at ITEM
GREEN. Meanwhile, the WD30 Crab battalion
moves to the beach connected to ITEM GREEN.
The 1L3OCrab battalion from JUNO beach moves
to the beach connected to JIG RED. Objectives
here are to hit Tracy-sur-Mer with a six-to-one at-
tack (+ 3 modifier at least), advance the Crab bat-
talion into the hex and advance the RM battalions
and the RMSR adjacent to the MKB LONG (leav-
ing one unit in between to form a continuous line).
The stronpoint in Arromanches must also be hit
and the 1L30 Crab allows other units to advance
through. An alternative target for the units in-
volved in this combat is the I/916 Infantry battalion
from 352 Division. It should prove easy to. at the
very least, remnantize this unit if not completely
diminate it. Also, if it is impossible to attack Tracy-
sur-Mer (due to the assault unit being hit by coastal
artillery fire), then a successful attack of I/916 at
six-to-one odds or better should result in an ad-
vance adjacent to MKB LONG. See Illustration 2
for positions on GOLD beach after Allied combat
of June 6.
On the American beaches, all units except HQs
-
land..regardless of the number of beachheads or ac-
tive coastal artillery batteries. If losses are heavy,
there are back-up divisions coming. If successful,
the German player has his hands full. The 4 Infantry
Division takes Carentan on June6, but moves north
on June 7. Its place will be taken by lOlst Airborne.
The 90 Infantry Division will drive west to line up
with 82 Airborne and push for St. Sauveur.
BUILD-UP PHASE AND
DEFENSIVE FIRE PHASE
On UTAH, bring in everything except HQs and
the artillery. Response on OMAHA depends on the
coastal gun situation. If it's clear, send it all in.
On GOLD and JUNO, hopefully the MKB
LONG is disrupted or eliminated so that the entire
7th Armoured and 51st Infantry should enter.
Make sure to leave room for HQs and artillery.
Avoid landing at NAN GREEN or NAN RED,
both of which may still be fired upon by 4/1716.
There are no build-up units to be landed at
SWORD.
AUBritirh6thAirbomcunitslandrcgadesof
thefatcofthcdividoorlHQ.~primarYtaJLis
to inhibit Gamur movement and draw enemy
forasintothatara,foraswhkhwuldbewd
more effectively west of Csm.The 711 Infantry
Division by its& is incapabk of rapid d e m w i o n
of the Airborne units even if they arc out of supply
due t o the loss of the HQ.
AU otba British buildup units land. If thc
MKB LONG is still &, you may ponder
about your HQs, but th& absence at thc beginning
of June 7 movement willbesorely felt. The threat of
deep a d rapid movement of &its of the British
DaatRatsisthem0stpailousthrcattbtGaman
eommandamustfaceon June7(andkmusttalte
it into account during hisJune 6 movement as d). Inc.; Beaver: Rowlands Cut Rate; Beaver Falls: WM Bonnage;
On OMAHA all build-up units go in. likewise
on UTAH. The decision whether or not to send in
tbe 90thdivisionalHQ is atough one to make; while
I tend to leave it off until June 7. I usually want to
send it in. The possibility of rapid movement by
that division on June 7 towards St. Sawcur is very
tempting.
Defensive fire on U1XS if it is still in existence Larrobe: Adam & Eve's Pel & Hobby Shop; Monroeville:
and it is possible to d o so. Any German units on the
road one hex southeast of Creully must be removed
from thae. Ignore. on OMAHA. the 10/1716
Coastal Artillery position since it can be silenced by Gadgets; Pittsburgh: A.B. Charles & Son Hobby Shop. Bill &
naval guns on June 7 (unless you have no other
targets). On UTAH,watch for opportunities which
will allow advances on June 7, such as against
Fresville, on the 11919 Infantry battalion whcmer
it might be, or, if enough artillery is present, hit
MKB MARC (these last two depend upon whether
or not 1/1261 was removed by paratroopers). If the
100th Armor battalion actually tries to attack.
obliterate it.
CONCLUSION
Generally, my appoach to the Allied landings is
a cautious one. I would rather play a cautious June
6th turn on route to eventual victory than risk the
entire game by trying to get a "jump" on the
Germans in the first turn. A carefully well-played
game by the Allies should result in a victory-just as
the outcome was historically.
In my opinion. THE LONGESTDAYisthe best
wargame that exists and 1 thoroughly recommend
all experienced wargamers give the Campaign
Game a try. 1 think you'll be hooked on this game
just as 1 am.
The vast number of die rolls during the June 6
turn of THE LONGEST DAY should ensure that
no game will be quite like any other. Because of the
length of the game and the number of counters.
minor variations and fluctuations in the Allied
landing should not affect the course of the game.
The only real advantage to be gained by either side
is the psychological one over your opponent. Out-
fox o;outmaneuver him at one place and you have
the umer hand (at least until he does something just
as cunning). ~ i i t h e side
r should welcome a disas-
trous Allied landing or an unscathed one. A middle
ground result will set a pace of equal struggle for
both sides. In actuality. June 6, while definitely the
most tense and excitingturn of thegame, is far from
the most im~ortant.That turn will come late in the
gamewhen the nervesand will to continue the struggle
of one side breaks. The challenge is to recognize
that point and exploit it (and to pass beyond that
point yourself without breaking). Enjoy.
Those wishing to take up any of the points
discussed above, or with comments on other aspects
of the game are most welcome to contact either of
us: Steve Piotrowski, 22 Merner Avenue, Kitchener
Ontario, Canada N2H 1x2; or Dan Thompson,
Limerick Road, Cambridge-P Ontario, Canada
*
N3H 4R6. We hope that our respective views will
have stirred some reflection on the opening moves
and look forward to hearing from the readers.
( RETAIL OUTLETS
Ohio-Akron: Little Shop of War. Toys By Riui; Athens: The
Specialty Shops; Beachwood: Toys By Riui; Cincinnati: Broad-
walk; Cleveland: National Hobby, Toys By Rizzi; Cleveland
Heights: Heights Furniture & Toy Co.; Columbus: Graceland
Hobbyland. Drowsy Dragon, Hobbyland Town & Country.
Hobbyland North, Strete Hobbies. Town & Country Hobby-
land; Dayton: Tin Soldier; Lakewood.. Wings Hobby Shop;
Ravenna: Jack & Jill Shoppe; Reynoldsburg: Reynoldsburg
Hobbyland; Springfield: Home Hobbies N' Crafts; St.
Clairsville: Toys By Riui. Valley Hobby Inc.. Toledo: Mind
Games; Warren: Trumbull Camera & Hobby; Youngstown:
Boardrnan Hobby.
Pennsylvania-Allison Park: Hobby Center; Altoona.
Ballenger's Pet & Hobby Rama; Ardmore: Ardome Hobbies
Broomall: Hobby City; Butler: Point Plaza Card & Gift; Can.
nonsburg: Toy & Gift Mart; Chambersburg: Uptown Sales Inc.;
Doylestown: Foster'l Toy & Cycle Shop. Herb's Hobby House;
Easton: Hobby Hangout & Craft Center; Exton: Electronics
Boutique:Harrisburg: Allied Hobbies. Kid's; Hermitage: Plaza
Hobbycraft; Indiana: Indiana Hobbyist; Jenkinfown: Jenkin.
town Hobby Center; Johnsfown: Buck's , Ballenger's Pet &
Hobby Rama; King of Prmia: Electronics Boutique, Games 'n
Gadgets; Lancaster: Flight Box; Langhorne: Allied Hobbies.
Electronics Boutique; Lansdale: Penn Valley Hobby Center;
Loreski Photo & Hobby; Muncie: Ballenger's Pet & Hobby
Rama; Nafrona Heights: American Family Hobbycraft;
Newton Square: Toy World; akmonf: Henry's; Paoli: The
Hardware Center; Philadelphia: Al's Hobby Shop, Games 'n
Walt's Hobby Shop. Burlands Hobby Shop, Games Unlimited,
John A. Sacco Jr.. Inc.. S.W. Randall Toys & Gifts; Plymouth
Meeting: Hobbyland of Plymouth Meeting; Reading: Boscov's
Department Stores; State College: Ballenger's Pet & Hobby
Rama, The Game Store; Wayne: Wayne Toytown: West Mi/-
Jlin: Hobby Horse; Whitehall: Electronics Boutique; York:
Race o Rama
itles Listed 115 Total Responses: 4
Rank Times
Last On Fre
Pub Time List Rat
AH 10 4 9.;
H 6 5
I IY. nulgc 'a1
2 0 Guns o f .
The appearance of another Victory Gan
release-this time, Ambush-on our listing of reader
preferences seems to establish a trend. Elsewhere, LIP
FRONT dominates the polling this issue in convincing
form, having one of the highest "Frequency Ratios" to
date. The unique nature of the game and its spreading
reputation surely contributed to this. Just as surely, the
recent issue of The GENERAL and the release of the
gamette BANZAIalso playeda role. Indeed, anumber of
newer games in Avalon Hill's stable have pulled their way
onto the list, and look to be there to stay. Beside5
AMBUSH, PANZERGRUPPE GUDERIAN comes to
our attention for the first time, while STORM OVER
ARNHEM and CRESCENDO OFDOOM return to the
elite. Not unexpectedly given the subject of each,
FREDERICK THE GREA T, BULL RUN, CIVIL WAR
and Empires in Arms all drop from the lofty heights ol
the "Top Twenty".
 PROBABLY THE LONGEST DAY
American First Turn Strategy on OMAHA Beach
I'm sure a question that crosses most wargamers'
minds at one time or another is "what makes one
general better than another?" Phrased differently,
but with essentially the same meaning, "what makes
one wargamer more successful than another?" In
life, a commander relies heavily on intelligence
reports to decide upon a strategy. In wargaming,
one can study the game mechanics in order to
formulate a strategy that can be successful most of
the time. This gives the game player that much
sought-after "edge" or "advantage" over his
opponent that could mean the difference between
winning and losing. In this article, I have tried to
analyze strategies for better play of THE LONGEST
DAY using probability and statistics.
As a follow-up to a first article (Vol. 21, No. 3)
dealing with Allied first turn strategy, I devised a
computer program that will allow each game player
to evaluate his own strategy on Omaha Beach on
the first turn of the campaign game. Illustration One
shows the situation as it exists on Omaha Beach on
June 6th. The importance of Omaha Beach cannot
be underestimated since it is the only real variable
beach in the game. If Omaha is healthy, a strong
Allied game follows; while if Omaha dies, most
Allied players will concede defeat and begin a new
game. It is for this reason that I decided to write
a definitive work on the Omaha Beach landing. The
computer program itself is in Basic and was origi-
nally written on a Radio Shack Model I TRS-80 but
later modified to run on the Honeywell CP-6 sys-
tem at the Royal Military College of Canada in
Kingston. The programming itself can easily be
modified to fit any other microcomputer that uses
Basic. Because of the statistical nature of the pro-
gram, the more repetitions of the first turn cycle
that are completed, the more accurate the final
results will be. For this reason, if any user has
machine-language capability, it should be used here.
How the program actually works is this:
Step 1: Input all air and naval designations relative
to the success of the Omaha Beach landings.
Step 2: Input whether or not the Rangers will land
at Pointe-due-Hoc or at DOG GREEN.
Step 3: Input how may repetitions of the first turn
cycle are to be completed (1000 is the recommended
number).
Step 4: The computer goes through the turn
sequence of June 6th from the Air-Naval Phase to
the ~~~h ~~~~~l~phase over over again using
your designated and stores the results after
each "game".
5: When the routine is comp1ete3 the
of the test are displayed. The number of times that
each beachhead (hereafter BH) was obtained can
then be shown in chart form. The average number
of BHs is also displayed along with the percentage
of games that three or more BHs were achieved.
Both of these numbers are important indicators of
how successful the strategy really was. Also shown
in chart form is the individual success of each beach
landing box.
Using this program, a player may choose many
different options and test to see if that option showed
any significant change in the average number of
beachheads achieved. The program takes into
IllustrPtion: Units that affect the success of the landing are shown
here. Note that MKB LONG is in a position to fire on Omaha and
most of the British beaches. Also note that the coastal guns west
of Omaha can fire on the Utah beach landing boxes as well as on
Omaha.
By Steve Piotrowski
account all factors affecting the landing such as:
disruption of German units due to Allied bombard-
ment (refer to the Bombardment table in the game),
German coastal gun fire (see same), the DD
Calamity Table (in the game), beach assault com-
bat attacks, ZOC from undisrupted German coastal
strongpoints and modifications to the combat die roll
for single and double disruption.
It was found that by repeating one test several
times, the results were always within 3 % of each
other. This means that to be able to say that one
strategy is "better" than the another, the results
must be at least 3 % higher. In statistical terms, you
can be 95% certain that two tests with the same
strategy will give the same result within 3 %.
Allied step losses are not taken into account here
since the most important part of this turn is actually
getting the beachheads themselves. Therefore, at
5-to-1 (or equivalent) odds, the German coastal
strongpoint is assumed to be destroyed. Although
triple and higher disruptions are possible, they are
so rare that their effects on the overall performance
would be neligable so therefore, the maximum dis-
ruption effect is double distruption.
The actual program itself is not presented here
because of space limitations and the fact that it is
356 lines long. However, the program printout is
available from myself for those who wish to examine
the program for accuracy or for those who wish to
test some of their own strategies with the program.
[Those interested in a printout of the program can
contact Mr. Piotrowski at 22 Mercer Avenue,
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2H IM.] From here
on, I shall discuss the results of my personal tests
using many various strategies.
Fourteen "tests" were preformed using this pro-
gram and the results are displayed in Table 1. For
each strategy explained below, the number of beach-
heads gained is shown (along with the average num-
ber and the percentage of times that three or more
can be expected). Shown too are the number of suc-
cesses among the 1000 tests of each strategy for each
landing site and the number of times MKB LONG
is disrupted. Yes, this is a lot of data to examine
all at once, so I will interpret the numbers and try
to explain exactly what they mean to the average
LONGEST DAY player.
ANALYSIS OF STRATEGIES
1) First strategy used was a test example or a con-
fro1 test. It uses no air or naval power at all and
it is immediately apparent that this strategy is not
recommended. Perhaps this strategy relates to the
reader what might have happened on D-Day had the
2nd Canadian Infantry Division not gone in at
Dieppe two years earlier. Obviously, the lessons
learned there were beneficial to the Allies in 1944.
Remember, while looking at the table, that 1000
repetitions of every strategy were used. Also, I
decided not to send the Rangers in at Pointedu-Hoc
since even someone foolish enough to use no naval
or air power would not be foolish enough to waste
the Rangers on cliffs that have no coastal guns wait-
ing to be destroyed at the top.
2) Strategy two was used to see the immediate
benefits of well-placed naval gun fire allocations on
June 6th. The placements used are the following:
naval bombardments- DOG GREEN: one rocket,
18 CAs, six DDs; DOG RED: one rocket; EASY
GREEN: two rockets, four DDs; EASY RED: five
BBs, 26 DDs.
FOX GREEN is not hit with naval guns since its
ZOC is independent of the success of any other
beach. These were my standard naval bombardment
allocations used in most of the tests unless other-
wise stated. In real games, you have the advantage
of seeing the results of your rocket fire before using
your regular bombardment factors. Therefore, you
should use two rockets on each of DOG GREEN
and EASY RED first to see if you can save your
"automatic" and the "24-shot" for other beaches.
Single disruption is what is desired most to negate
the strongpoints' ZOC. Therefore, the priority list
for disruption on Omaha is as follows: EASY RED,
DOG GREEN, EASY GREEN, DOG RED, and
FOX GREEN.
3) Strategy three was used to see if spreading out
the naval gunfire was superior to concentrating it
in large groups. The naval bombardment allocation
was a follows-DOG GREEN: one rocket, six CAs,
ten DDs; DOG RED: one rocket, six CAs, four
DDs; EASY GREEN: one rocket, six CAs, four
DDs; EASY RED: one rocket, five BBs, 20 DDs.
This strategy was not overly effective, probably be-
cause the - 1 modifier of the strongpoints played
a greater role on the overall effects of the bombard-
ment. EASY GREEN was the only individual beach-
head improvement. In fact, of all strategies tested,
this was the strategy that resulted in a BH on EASY
GREEN most often. The reason for this is because
a heavier naval strike on DOG RED negated the
ZOC more often than the standard allocation.
However, it seems that the standard allocation is
superior to spreading out the naval bombardment
across the beaches in the long run.
4) The fourth strategy was an attempt at seeing
the benefits of heavy air bombardment. It was used
without any naval bombardment so that it could be
compared directly with the first strategy above. It
 is fairly noticeable from the results that the air bom-
bardment alone does not have a tremendous effect
on the number of BHs gained. This allocation of
air units does have its advantages though, such as
assisting neighboring beaches in lowering the bom-
bardment columns. It also gives the Allied player
a little bit of control over his own destiny. If he can
knock off a couple of German guns before the
German player ever rolls, the anxiety of the phase
will certainly have diminished.
5) I have fully discussed the advantages of my
strategy in my first article (Vol2 1, No. 3). For those
readers who don't have the allocations, they are as
follows: air bombardment-MKB LONG: 16,
1011716: four, 211260: four, 911716: one; air units
for attack-FOX GREEN: two; naval bombard-
ment: standard allocation above.
6) This is Jim Burnett's strategy (as per Vol 19,
No. 1 of The GENERAL). I realize that this strategy
was formulated for use with the invasion scenario,
but most of it is applicable to the campaign game
and there are many allocations used that are unneces-
sary, or at the very least not very efficient. I felt
compelled to present some type of "proof' or "hard
data" after reading his article that this was not the
way the air and naval resources should be allocated.
His allocations are as follows: air units for attacks- western part of the beach; but as you move east-
DOG GREEN: 14, EASY RED: five; naval bom-
bardment-811716: five BBs, 26 DDs; DOG
GREEN: two rockets, 18 CAs, six DDs; EASY
RED: two rockets, six DDs. The decision to land
the Rangers at Pointe-du-Hoc is a controversial
question but in my opinion, has a fairly clear
answer. NO. It doesn't help the American player
much to clear out the strongpoint at the Pointe and
eliminate 811716 coastal gun to open the road to
Isigny on June 6th if the rest of the beach has been
wiped out. The main emphasis on June 6th should
be placed on getting those beachheads, not decid-
ing what you are going to do with "the chickens
before they are hatched". Landing the Rangers at
DOG GREEN frees eight air factors for duties in
other more critical areas. If it's a successful land-
ing on Omaha, the Germans are going to be in
trouble anyway, so why put the landing in jeopardy
for a possibility of some glory (very little) on
June 7th.
Getting back to the strategy itself again, the use
of 31 American naval factors on 811716 is very
clearly a waste. This is the major reason why the
average number of beachheads for this strategy is
so low. Okay, it is a well known fact that at least
one factor of German coastal fire must be neutralized
to lower the bombardment table on Utah Beach.
Naval bombardment on 811716 should be used only
as a last resort to lower the gunfire, and even then
should be fired at by British naval gunfire traced
from the Isigny port box (not historical-but it is
allowed in the rules). The first thing tried should
be air bombardment on 1011716, 211260 and
911716. If all three attempts are unsuccessful, then
there is always the chance of disrupting 111261 (if
it is not already eliminated by descending para-
troopers). If this fails too, (unlikely), then shoot at air units for attack DOG GREEN: six, EASY RED:
811716-but not before.
One last word about this strategy. Since the aver-
age number of beachheads for this test was 2.485,
and three or more BHs were achieved only 47.5%
of the time, don't "expect" three beachheads using
it.
7) This is Dan Thompson's strategy as per his
opposing view (Vol. 21, NO. 3 of T ~ ~ G E N ~ L )advantages
His allocations are as follows: air bombardment-
MKB LONG: ten, 1011716: one, 211260: one,
911716: one; air units for attack-DOG GREEN:
eight, FOX GREEN: two; naval bombardment-
standard allocation except that automatic is on DOG
GREEN and one rocket and 24 naval factors go on
EASY RED.
Dan's strategy is quite reasonable except for a
couple of points. First of all, the Rangers shouldn't
TABLE 1: Results of Tests
Strategy Beachheads
0 1 2 3 4 5 Avg
,,. --- 321 154 224 37 35 1.62
land at Pointedu-Hoc and secondly, the automatic
should be on EASY RED as opposed to DOG
GREEN. Sure, Dan's strategy i s very strong on the
ward, things get worse very quickly. Statistically,
it is more favourable to the landing as a whole to
go automatic on EASY RED. Dan's air bombard-
ment placement is questionable but at least he has
realized the importance of MKB LONG (probably
after playing TZD with me for quite a while). Also
notice how much improvement there is on FOX
GREEN over the sixth strategy above by just adding
two air factors for direct attack support. This will
be discussed later in detail.
8) For the test, air factors were placed on the
coastal strongpoints for air bombardment to see if
the extra disruption effects would be useful. Allo-
cations were: air bombardment-DOG GREEN:
ten, DOG RED: four, EASY GREEN: four, EASY
RED: four, FOX GREEN: four; naval
bombardment-standard allocation. Some interest-
ing results here but still nothing startling and nothing
to make me change my mind about the best way
to use air units.
9) After much deliberation, I decided to come up
with a strategy for landing the Rangers at Pointe-
du-Hoc. I don't recommend using it, but it is here
for those of you who are still not convinced of its
drawbacks. After all, if you're going to do it, you
might as well do it r i g h t . - ~ ibo&bar>ment-hk
r strategy (#5) was that only ten air factors were
LONG: four, 1011716: four, 211260: one. 911716:
one; air units for attacks DOG GREEN: eight,
EASY RED: five, FOX GREEN: four; naval bom-
bardment standard allocation. The decision to use
so many air units for attacks on the strongpoints will
be discussed in the next strategy.
10) As still another test option, I decided to try
stripping air units off of air bombardment duty to
use them for direct attack support. Allocations were:
air bombardment-MKB LONG: ten, 1011716: one;
five, FOX GREEN: five; naval bombardment-
standard allocations.
Well, it was very surprising for me to see the
dramatic success of this type of placement. The
average number of beachheads jumped above the
three level and the percentage of games with three
or more BHs rose to 70%! There seem to be many
. to this strategy. It is very strong on both
DOG GREEN and FOX GREEN, which should
speed up the process of German coastal gun
destruction (MKB LONG and 911716). Yet, there
is still a fairly respectable contingent of ten air
factors for air bombardment on MKB LONG, which
should keep the British player happy (unless you
roll a "3" on your air bombardment die roll, then
you'd better be prepared for some abuse). All in
all, this is the type of result that I had hoped for.
Successes MKB
3 o r PDH Dog Easy Fox Long
More G R G R G Dis.
29.6% 0 428 309 510 221 156 0
That is, discovering the best use of the air and naval
resources using this program without having to die
on the beaches and learn by trial and error in a real
game.
11) I felt it was worth trying to modify strategy
ten in order to increase the benefits of air units for
attacks even more. Allocations for this modifica-
tion were: air bombardment-MKB LONG: four,
1011716: four, 211260: one, 911716: one; air units
for attacks-DOG GREEN: six, EASY RED: five,
FOX GREEN: six; naval bombardment-standard
allocation.
The results were not as favourable as expected
but are still very comparable to strategy ten. This
strategy gives a good chance (5% of the time) of
disrupting at least one coastal gun that can hit Utah
Beach. Its disadvantage is that the chance of
disrupting MKB LONG is reduced. The extra one
factor on FOX GREEN does very little here but it
could not be helped because there are a limited
number of LB-1 counters. If you could break down
an MB-2 into two MB-1s. then the extra factor could
be utilized somewhere else such as on 311260. It
was a choice between either four or six factors on
FOX GREEN and it had to be six.
12) This strategy was used to see if spreading the
air bombardment allocations around had any
significant effects on how successful the landing
was. The only change from my air bombardment
placed on MKB LONG, but the extra six factors
went on 1011716. Statistically speaking, this should
give better overall disruption of the guns. The results
were somewhat indecisive proving that the change
had very little effect on the outcome.
13) This is basically strategy twelve again except
that the one factor of air bombardment usually
reserved for 911716joins in with the attack on FOX
GREEN to increase combat odds there when the DD
tanks flounder. There is a noticeable improvement
on FOX GREEN even with this single factor. This
is worth noting.
14) The last test was another modification of air
units for attack. The allocations were: air
bombardment-MKB LONG: four, 1011716: four;
air units for attack-DOG GREEN: six, EASY
RED: 11, FOX GREEN: two; naval bombardment
standard allocation.
I was expecting to see the EASY RED attack per-
form better than it did here. It did perform well
enough, but I don't think it is worth placing the extra
six bombers for direct attack support. Those factors
can be put to better use on FOX GREEN and for
air bombardment.
*
 THEY'RE COMING!
German Concerns for the First Turn
OPPOSING VIEW
This is the second am'cle offering the opposing
approaches of two master players of our monster
game. In their previous am'cle (''Gening&shore and
Staying Ashore" in Vol. 21, No. 3), Messers.
Piotrowski and Thompson considered the dificul-
ties the Allies faced during that crucial first turn,
and methods of overcoming these. Here they look
at the German response. Readers should note that
Mr. Thompson's comments are in black; Mr.
Piotrowski's opposing views in red.
Daring! Throughout history that one word has
been synonymous with both military success, and
disaster. THE LONGEST DAY, true to its nature,
allows for this. The player who can blend cunning
and daring and luck successfully will dramatically
increase his chances of victory. Indeed, it may be
that this is the only way the German player can win. and enemy wmbat phases. Unlike Dan, I believe
During the Allied portion of June 6 it is extremely
important that the Allied player hit the Normandy
beaches as hard as deep and as fast as possible, try-
ing to throw the enemy off-balance, for their June
6 turn at least. The Allied army is at its most criti-
cally weak state on this turn and the Germans must
not be allowed to exploit this weakness. The only
way to insure continued penetrations inland on June
7th and 8th is to firmly seize the initiative this day
and maintain it. Zht's what my earlier article was
all about. To my mind, a somewhat less-than-
cautious Allied landing and the inherent risk of
heavy casualties is necessary for the fulfillment of
this prime objective. At all costs the German player
must not be allowed to gain the initiative anywhere
on the battlefield during this opening portion of the
game.
Of course, what gives the German player any
reason for continuing the game after the Allied land-
ing is the fact that he is quite capable of doing so
ifcertain conditions are right and he has the daring
to attempt it. It takes intelligence and experience
to recognize the conditions which can be exploited.
That only wmes with many playings of the invasion
(even "abbreviated" ones). And the daring to
attempt to seize the initiative will come only from
a German commander who knows that anything less
will mean certain Allied victory.
Foolishness! Time after tim this word has been
associated with commanders who try to change cu-
cumstances to fit the plan, instead of formulating
a plan given an immutable set of of-. The
full implications of this statanent will be revealed
to the nader as he prognsres through Dan's duailcd
plans for the June 6 German player turn. Dan
reprmnta fully one opinion about how the Omnan
should deal with the Allied invasion-and it dasn't
happen to agree with mine. Dan believes in gain-
ing the initiative early and fighting to maintain it.
Although the Allied army is indeed weaker than it
ever will be again on June 6, the Gemam are
w& still. The numberaw priority for the Allies
b g e a i n p b e a c ~ a n d t h e d e r t r u c t i o n o f ~ Limitations are rather obvious. The Allies will
coastal gum in order to m r e thore beach land-
ings. A over-zealous attack is not going to gain the
&mum the initiative, since the A l l h already have
By Dan Thompson
an overwhelming superiority in infantry unitr,
S~pply,UdbIy aad m. ~ V C I any
I 0 f k d v e Sit-
uation in THE LONGEST DAY, the three thing8
needed to attack are armor, udllery and supply.
Quite simply, on June 6th the Allies have it; the
Oennans do not. Oraated that supply i8 ignored
here, the Gennan forces are still in no shape to
attack-and will be hard pmacd to defend. I a p
that the Oerman player must try to gain the initia-
tiveat&~inthegame,butUbnotone
of them.
I believe that the body of the Oerman army must
be allowed to mature like a tine wine. Playing the
Germans in TIIE LONGESTDAYi8 more than jwt
playing a game; it is a way of life. Each and every
time wllaten are moved, they must be positioned
in such a way as to anticipate any possible diw- portantly, should the British landing at SWORD be
ttous wnscquencu of the following defensive firs
the game to be one where divirionr of one side cm
b c l l l a n c u v d i n w r p s r t a n d ~ w a y r t o d c t e a t the Americans around OMAHA, the German player
the ensmy. Thc movement rad positioning of divi- should give his entire effort and energy over to a
sions defensively as a group is the key to victory.
Although this fact docan't help the German on June
6, it mpmcnta a philosophy of play that must begin
onthehtturnandwillleadtoeventualvicmy
(unless the Allies play a flawleu game). "Initia-
tive" msrnr nothing in the h t days-since it i8
only later on in the game that the A l l h can be
dsf~bya&illfulandrenrdourOermrnplayar. British army is extremely fragile during the early
GERMAN REACTION
Just how the German commander reacts to the in-
vasion depends upon the initial penetrations made
by the Allied armies. For this reason, the basis for
the German reaction consists of two distinct
approaches-one assuming a solid Allied landing
and the necessity of fonning a defensive line at all
costs (i.e., the Allies finnly have the initiative); and
the second assuming that the Allied landing offers
the opportunity for the German seizing the initia-
tive. Further, the German commander must divide
the battlefield into three distinct sectors and handle
each individually: a) the British sector running from
the Ranville area west to Bayeux; b) the OMAHA
Beach area from Bayeux to Isigny ;and c) the UTAH
Beach area from Carentan to Montebourg and the
coast.
It is vital for the German player to fully appreci-
ate the extent of the Allied landings in each sector
and be aware of his own capabilities in reaction.
The German is quite capable of a fluid response on
June 6, able to either form his defensive line back
away from Allied units (most particularly the
British) so as to escape the June 6 defensive fire
and June 7 naval fire or to form an aggressive line
right on top of the Allied positions. Given this, the
German must be familiar with his possibilities and
his limitations. He must be conscious that these will
change from turn to turn (and even from phase to
phase) during the early part of the game. He must
continually adapt of else be defeated.
have stormed ashore in strength, particularly at
OMAHA and SWORD, and the German player will
find himself critically short of units of any type to
hold a defensive line until reinforcements can anive.
If the British sector and the Americans on OMAHA
are both healthy. there is little chance of the German
stealing the initiative. Any attempt to counterattack
will most likely result in the loss of even more pre-
cious units and rapid advances by the Allies off the
beaches. Containment becomes the only real
answer. UTAH should prove easily checked, but
once again heavy counterattacks will probably not
bring much unless the two separated American
lodgements are delayed in linking up. An aggres-
sive defense line using the flak from Cherbourg will
be your best course.
The possibilities offered, however, may not be
so obvious. Should the American assault on
OMAHA go poorly (or disastrously) and, more im-
bloodied by coastal artillery fire, the German may
have a golden opportunity beckoning him. Should
it prove possible to contain (or at least slow down)
massive assault upon the left flank of the British
army. German June 6 movement becomes the open-
ing salvo of the counterattack with the objective of
anchoring the German line in the south hex of
Oustreham. The target of this massive assault is not
the destruction of the beachheads but the destruc-
tion of as much British armor as possible. The
part of June (and no more so than on June 6 when
there is no Mechanized Movement Phase with which
to move tanks to support lone infantry units),
especially since it has little artillery support as yet.
Losses cannot be replaced rapidly or abundantly.
The early loss of major armor assets could spell
heavy casualties for the infantry later, which would
take some time to replace. The overall objective of
the German counterattack then is to stall anv British
development. We shall look at how this can be done.
Refore we am how thia supposedly cm be done,
k ' 8 m i e w w b a t t b o ~ ~ o n J ~ 6
rhould be. I agma with Dan that there am two
~ ~ p o r r i b ~ b u t I h r v
fOruringthotwoplrarwithmray~aff&g
~thing8,llkotboe*dtho~las
player rad tbo unount of "luck" affecting ouh
pl8yerchuriu,wrlroimporUnrinfroat~
a,
dkdOll8. h&UlW, YOU hBV0 8 glS k l -
ingthattboowmyplayarir"dw"arunofpd
luck, h-C *UP W y . 1
I do agma with Dan's wctor urangmmt, and
I'll dSlouu erch sector i n d l v w y in tho 8ame
foms#. Fimt though, tho @ortmco of UTAH
EkrchrbouldmtbelJdm&mduI~oDm
hudone.Ho8tatestlutitrbouldmvotokoufl~
Ckm;nir&&*tilo-dcra
b o a t o f f ~ F ~ o n 1 u 8t nh.eThi, wWbo
~ i n ~ l 8 t o r .
I don't 8ppmvo of pndng 8 Mg puk towudr
SWORD I k l that b jurt h ' t vw Im-

E L L IIDDDj
hU13.c h qn
B25IYPII
-,-
3 ma
m t . bui1d-u~fOrC#).ndmost
large stacks of British units,will land in the follow-
up phase. The C3wmanplayer shouldn't attack here
on June 6 becrw there will be no undisruptedunits
to form a healthy line on June 7th if he d w . Always
thWr ahead. It will be viRUdy impossible to rd-
vance counterattacking units from June 6th. so the
important ones will eid up behind the front line!
Since the entire front will be disrupted daily, there
is the danger of potent British defensive fire and
counterc~unterathcks against disrupted units. This
situation is not only unplc~unt,but also an UM--
wy depletion of the 2lst P u w r Division. Any
semicompetent Allied player will have umor on
the front lines after combat on June 6th, which will
mult in a combined ums modifier of -2 to attacks
against them. Dan fully rerllzes all these facts; the
problem is that he will not modify an rppling plan
to fit the c i r c w m w . The modificetion to his plan
here is to call off the big attack until the time is right.
into when he prepares to defend Caen. All basic
rational feelings say to defend along the line run-
ning from the hill west of Fort Douvre through the
fort and city down to the Periers hills and woods
to the canal. The double defense offered, the con-
trolling ZOC and the realization of no air or naval
bombardment in the woods-all seem too good to
pass up. One problem is that the line is in range
of most of the guns of the Royal Navy and that a
defensive line here will suffer from massive naval
disruption on June 7, besides the possible losses to
British defensive fire on June 6. A second problem
results from the first when the disrupted units find
themselve unable to fall back in the direction of Caen
fast enough. Thirdly, such a line is simply too long
for the German to hold unless units of the 21st
Panzer are put into the front line; if so done, they
will suffer horribly on June 7 should the divisional
HQ not be able to supply them.
The point to remember when considering the
"passive" defense of Caen is that there is no Allied
Mechanized Movement Phase on 6 June. If you
don't think that this saves the German line from total
collapse on June 7th, try giving the Allies that
mechanized phase sometime. No Allied mechanized
movement means no defensive fire and no naval dis-
ruption. The German line should therefore be
formed north of Caen but not adjacent to British
units. It must, however, be formed as far north of
the city as possible to allow the 12 SS Division to
use strategic road movement on June 7 to reach
positions at Epron, St. Contest and adjacent points.
With an average landing at SWORD, the German
can expect to have the ~ 7 3 infantry
6 battalion in
IUusb.tion 1: Units of the 716th Division after first-turn Gennan
Oustreham trapped behind enemy lines. best, if
movement, positioned nonh of Caen.
not disrupted, the battalion may reach Amfreville
on the east side of the Orne. The remaining units
of the division should be available (infantry in Fort
Douvre and north of the Periers hills may be
Illushstlon 2: Defense of Bsyeaux in my "passive defense".
reduced).

GERMAN DEFENSIVE OPTION:

BRITISH SECTOR
First then, the "passive" German defense in the
British sector. With the 6th Airborne HQ out of the
way for ten turns, the only real obstacle to setting
up a German line of defenk in the Caen region wid
be Allied air interdiction. Heaw interdiction can
all but derail the proper placemeit of the 21 Panzer
HQ, thus effectively rendering the division suscep-
tible to damage on 7 June if on the front line north
of the city. For that reason, I here introduce my
"patented" defense of Caen, which excludes the
21st Panzer.
711 INFANTERIE DMSION. It will take at least
three days for the division to concentrate in the area
of the remnants of the British paratroopers. Its main
concern at first should be blocking the expansion
eastward by British units from SWORD. Destruc-
tion of the paratroopers is secondary until the divi-
sion can be supported by flak and independent
armor. Permanent disruption by British naval guns
is all but a fact of life.
7 16 INFANTERE DMSION. There is a definite
psychological trap the German commander can fall
 My first illustration shows the locations of the
units of 716th Division after German movement on
June 6. There are several points to note. First, 716
HQ is positioned on the front line at the east end
in order to be out of range of as much British
artillery as possible. It is still in range of the divi-
sion's only mechanized unit despite any possible
Allied interdiction. The Pzjg 716 is stacked with
the HQ to lend anti-tank support in case 1716 can-
not reach Carp2 and is disrupted by Allied air bom-
bardment. In an attempt to preserve infantry units,
infantry battalion II1736 is set so that it can be
attacked only from one hex. There should be a
secondary line of defense to prevent Allied penetra-
tions in the event of attacks, and this should be
formed by the anti-tank units of 21st Panzer and
necessary nebelwerfer units. The anti-tank units
should keep to the roads wherever practical in order
to maximize June 7th movement.
21 PANZER DIVISION. As far as 21 Panzer is
concerned, the HQ moves as far as possible with
its supply ending with it (a nice place to stop is
in the woods east of Bourguebus to avoid possible
air attack). The mechanized elements of the divi-
sion then move to be in supply range of the HQ so
to be able to mech move on June 7. During British
combat the next day, the units of the division should
be used sparingly to shore up the defenses of 716.
There are two reasons for this: destruction of 716
is acceptable so long as the 12th SS can reach the
region north of Caen to establish a defensive line
during the German 7 June turn, and as many units
of 21 Panzer as possible must be free to move west
on June 7th using strategic road movement to form Dm'# "pateIIted" &f8lU8 line b pfe#y, but l h d m t h A: Proa Hm diodoru la Juar 6 r good
a line from Carpiquet west to Tilly-sur-Suelles. it fight? Probably not, given thnt if the weather on Nlld Iradlq.
352 INFANTERIE DIVISION. In the British June 7th la fair heavy intordidon will prevent
sector we are concerned with those units of the m e c w uniu of the 21rt PIIW~rnreinforc-
352nd which are east of Bayeux. The defense of this hrthe71~--=uldr~tinato~~- 8lowgoingiorthe~inirntryudgivwthe
area is minimal so as to allow as much of the divi- oftholiaeinfrontofCmn. Gorrnsn a dry or two of brathing apace.
sion as possible to move against the Americans. Movingwat~tbo~atcliron,tboIr/726
Anti-tank support, a definite must to prevent all but infrntrybrttalionrhouldkucriticedrtthebridge
certain destruction, is supplied by 1 Flak. (See omhoxnmhofLaF r r r m C l m i t l y t o ~ t h c ~GERMAN OFFENSIVE OPTION:
Illustration 2.)
& f ~It m. y k porrible to retreat W726 wwt-
B*urnyftornr#rlbrg~MBrnlrof~- BRmSH SECTOR
My "dofemive option" for the Britirh L wud to ThCWilb; if the Bridrh p h y hn't ~ W In order to launch a major attack upon the British
much tho wno u Dm'r, oxcep thu-it L more ful, the road heading wuth h n e b - ~ l l t - M ~ left flank, certain realities must be understood by
~udutbftou#(hatbo"paed"dobw k b b k d in to at h n t p M y inhibit the German player. First he must not be intimidated
of CWll. My m w U 8 U W the f0ll0- type the h l l d h t 8 h d h g of the 7th Armowd.If the by the units of the British 6th Airborne Division.
of BritWl Irading-SWORD dive but not rtrong i8 W d in thb m,or if ft b obliW6td With the HQ dead, these units can be eliminated
(thrrb, omrtrekof~-upunitrgeuNt);JUNO in the Allied Combat Phue of the 6th June turn, with ease by elements of the 21st Panzer. Those
uda0LDwbothquitcherlthy;MKBUlNOL there b l d h g to worry rbout l#cru#the l d fhk which remain after German combat on June 6 can
dirnlpted or daraayed ro thu Britirh uniu will luld h k i n g held ~ ~ (for Ul b u t aydry) md the be isolated and contained by the 71 1th Infanterie
u-inthew-upPhuoonOOLDud Britirh curnaS do rnylhiap
- - - - to dlb Division until s u ~ m r t i n aflak arrives from Pas de
m o . ~ ~ ~ ~ t h u t h e 7 t h ~ r 1 1 ~ ~line. iudthe Calais. Second, ~ r i t i i hare not without fire s u p
5lrt [Hinhlud) divirSonr w uhom md will k 352 INFANTERIE DIVISION. Mwing west to port, but it is limited (especially if some is hit by
rctivd 6the 7ih. B a y c u x , a w o r w c u o ~ m w t k ~ coastal . artillery iire while landing). In order to have
711 INFANTERXE DIVISION. T h the hill at Thubthunofhkuniuwavdlnbletorupport large amounts of defensive fire, the British player
Robohomme if there h ' t at 1-t a double intor- inirnoy uniu of the 352nd e u t of wax. Thb will have to postpone any large-scale attacks which
dk4hcountmnofthofD.Z. "V". Iftherebhervy r b a r l d o o w r b o u t 5 6 % o f b t h o ~ a c o m - require artillery support. This is just one more way
inmdhbn there, collgratuwom (for the AUied potent OMAHA Beach Uuck rllocrtion. (See I l l w of keeping the British from attacking, by maintain-
phyercauldkrveputthowplhtomuchgreator a t i o n B for my ruggwted June 6th m p in thh ing the threat of possible German counterattacks and
u#ummvhereobo).hroonuthoHQ~, ~ . ) A ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ k ~ ~ t t forcing h o them l l toCreserve
k otheir f artillery fire. Third,
B u r t atlacking W o r d6fomive firing thow UMup fhktorupporttheinknoy.Thetwonlccw the June 6 attacks have definite physical objectives
plied purtroopsn. The objective of thh d i v l r h uniu of the 352nd rhould k moved in the (i.e., hexes) while the later attacks, from 7 June
L the Poguw bridge at Ruwiuo. M ~ u d M w ~ ~ t o a p o r i t i o n through o n 10 June, will concentrate on one hex per
716 INFANTERIE DIVISION .ad2 1 PANZBR the r o d jwt west of TiUy.rur-Soulh to r u m day in order to strike with maximum power; your
DIVISION. ~t L tempin0 to try tohold the hill at defoluive porittona on the hill ud at C ~ w -objective is the massing at least 84 combat factors
Buly, the DUVR iort ud Doumit&-but don't &uW. If the 785 Security Compury rurvivw the (including artillery) onto British units in that target
for you will regrot it later. The Bridrk naval gum 6 Jum Allied combat, it rhould move wuthwwt. hex. Combat odds of 6-1 are a minimum and the
are jwt too p a h h l to ignore whohor SWORD L The U916/352 hfmrry W o n goos to Nonrat, most defense the British will be able to put into a
" b l ~ " o r n o t . T h e p o r i t i o n i n g o f m y l i a s ~ w h i c h L r w u t o , b u t ~ h u t o g o t b r o u d hex is 14 factors.
jurtoutr~ofCA~butltlllaorlhofClon.Th0 thuLuiuuitcmmo.hmoption,ifthtr What happens north of Caen should be as follows.
bridgeuCllronbthekoytothodefbmlineud ~ n i t i r r # r o k e d ~ ~ , p u t i t o n t h e h i l l , t h Instead
e of falling back to a defensive line just above
rbarldkholdquiter(roagty.Onodvmugoofthir warily coznprny u Nonrnt ud the U915 west of Caen, units of the 716th Infanterie Division main-
l i n e L t h u i t b r e r l l y o n l y r f x ~ l o n g . ~ brivoriorddoddobw.hBruI'manmrnod, tain their forward positions. Some alterations are,
h e w can be muwd marly by uniu ofthe 716th, mythin~rutionedatNonWhurIfmitedliforprn of course, necessary. The W736 infantry battalion
with8 coupbofuniu h t h o 2lrt mixod in for bokk-itwillkarrou&duddeNroyedon~uno tranfers to Douvre since it will be doubled in defen-
rupporr. (See Illwtfuion A for my m p here.) The 7 bv trnlu h m the 7th hmurod MvLion. How- sive strength there and the Pzjg moves into the fort.
remdninguntuofdlb2lrtare1~odtoflrilm ov&. blockha thh road wueom the nuin ~ritirh The high ground around Periers is also held by units
~ O u t o f t t l o ~ u u l m d ~12th t h e &---a b corridot o f b & Q of 716 Division. While this may seem like a weak
SSr~moathri&thmughtheusronJuno7. ~m tribuury, &r fr line-which it is-the British should find it difficult
to make any sort of progress against it since they by British naval fire on June 7. True . . . except it. Elimination of the enemy is pr&rrcd, if p a -
will have to deal with the push of 2 1 Panzer towards that the German player will take extreme care with sible. The m t of the 2lst Panzer should form up
Oustreham. Defensive fire support should also be his June 6 combat, the target hexes, order of north of Caen with the 716th (as per nlustntion C).
able to help this line hold. With the left half of the execution and advance after combat so that as much Again, the bridge at Cairon is strongly held.
German line thus anchored, the 21st Panzer Divi- of the division as possible ends up behind the front By Bayeux, my strategy is much like that shown
sion concentrates in the narrow area between the line. Even so, given that most of the division suffers in Dan's illustration,but with the Mowing changes:
Periers hills and the Ranville bridge. Objectives are: from disruption, the effects should be primarily at Sully is MAR (it should survive) and the flak unit
capture of the bridge across the Orne and Caen against the motorized infantry battalions, and from the 352nd. cast hex of Bayeux is home fot the
Canal, destruction of British units at BenouviUe, and possibly against the 305 flak unit. The three 88mm fusilier battalion with the 785th Security at Nonmt.
establishment of a firm line running from the south companies, the armor and the panzergrenadiers Othcrwk. I can't fault Dan's Walls. Sully is not
hex of Oustreham to Benouville and west to the should all be undisrupted, and are the units which hddstm~ybecsusetherewobtbemdthen.
Periers hills. Depending upon the landings at will execute the attack on 7 June, supported by It is between the British and American sectors and
SWORD, the line may possibly form up one hex divisional artillery and possibly even by the artillery neither side will want to stretch their lims just to
north of the Periers hills and Benouville woods. from 12 SS Panzer which will be forming up in Caen attack there. Remember,this option assumes a poor
Most likely the panzers will be unable to cross and westwards (since the job of holding the Allied landing.
through the city of Caen and reach the fighting to Carpiquet to Tilly-sur-Suellesline now becomes the
the north. It should instead be used against the glider responsibility of the 12th SS). Since I am dealing
company holding the Ranville bridge and then primarily with the German June 6th response in this
advance after combat so as not adjacent to British article, I shall leave discussion of the later stages OMAHA BEACH SECTOR
units if possible. of this offensive option against the British until a Normally the Germans behind OMAHA Beach
The British glider company on the Ranville bridge more appropriate moment. have a very difficult time holding the American 1st
is no problem to remove. Armor and infantry assault and 29th divisions at bay. There is an acute short-
from the east bank and are supported from the other My " o ~ v option"
e is more a plan EDr defurse age of infantry; and what infantry is available will
by 88s of the division. Low combat odds are not when considwing a poor Allied landing than a plan be for a large part out of supply on June 7th for
acceptable; the unit musr be destroyed. There is the of attack. I do not commit the 21st Paawto an im- the simple reason that the 352nd HQ is trying to
possibility that the British player will elect to drop possible task. Dan uses the 2lst not only to counter- supply units from well west of Bayeux right across
his remaining units of the airborne division during attack the British at SWORD and "anchor" the to Isigny. If it wasn't for the presence of flak in this
the Allied Build-up Phase, but none will be able to OMnan line in the south hex of Oustreham, but also region, the entire German center would most
support the bridge except for a small portion of "to eliminate with ease" units from the 6th British assuredly collapse.
British defensive fire. The only threat the airborne Airborne Md "to be free on June 7th to form a line Defense of this sector is split into two parts, one
artillery really poses is against the 11200,21200and from Carpiquet west to Tilly-sur-Suelles". What on each end of the flooded terrain between Isigny
31200 units. That risk must be taken if the German follows is my reasonable approach to the German and Bayeux. In the eastern portion, the German has
player is ever to have a chance at destroying the "offensive option". enough infantry with good flak support and is well
British offensive capabilities. Elements of the 21st Panzer should be used to within supply range for the divisional HQ. This is
Comment has been made above about the airborne attack the British 8th (Midlands Counties) Psratroop
battalion which drops at Zone "K". This unit has Battalion that lands at DZ "K". If it is possible to Ihmtmtka B: Allartiom for June 6 nar 8.yeaux mumiag
to be the most irritating to the German player. It that attack, then by all mw-- ..-- -d Mid ludiag.
is obviously a waste of time and effort to attack the
paratroopers during the German Combat Phase of
June 6. The units which would be used for this attack
are much more profitably employed further north.
Yet the British unit cannot be ignored; if it were
allowed to move adjacent to (or, even worse, onto)
the main highway to Caen, the strategic movement
of 12 SS Panzer Division would be effectively
stopped. The easiest solution is to detail three
nebelwerfer units from 21 Panzer to move adjacent
to the unit in such a manner as to prevent the British
paratroopers from reaching any critical hex in their
7 June movement. The nebelwerfer units should,
of course, be the weaker ones of the division if
possible.
Another benefit accruing from this first-turn
counterattack, should it prove successful, is that
units of the 711th Infanterie Division will eventually
be shuttled over the Ranville bridge to strengthen
the defenses north of Caen. Not having to hold a
line from east of Ranville down to Caen, and then
west, effectively frees one Gennan division. This
is why it is so important to firmly anchor the German
line in Oustreham. Sure, whatever Gennan units
hold that city are going to be permanently disrupted;
but the British should find it difficult to attack the
hex without armor support. Indeed, the adjacent
flooded hex can be a death-trap for any British in-
fantry in it since they will not be receiving armor
support if needed.
Another change in the German defensive posture
concerns Bayeux. Units of the 352nd Infanterie no
longer fall back in face of the British flood. Instead
they form up and stop it cold. (See Illustration 3.)
Once again anti-tank support from 1 Flak is imper-
ative and, should it prove impossible to supply (for
example, if American follow-up units land at FOX
GREEN and succeed in cutting the main highway
from Isigny to Bayeux), then the German defense
should follow the pattern described above.
I can hear many now saying that it is folly to com-
mit the 2 1st Panzer to the hopeless task of beating
down the British at SWORD Beach, if for no other
reason than that the entire division will be disrupted
also the sector which will most quickly receive rein-
forcements as either the the 21st Panzer of 12th SS
panzer move into place around Tilly-sur-Suelles.
The only problem is the sheer mass of enemy units
that hit this area from three directions (from west
across the bridge near Formigny, from the north
across the bridge at Sully, and from the east through
the streets of Bayeux). At the other end, there is
generally less enemy opposition (unless forces from
UTAH break out in the direction of Isigny), but
there is very little ground which can be given up
once the line reaches the outskirts of Isigny.
So, in the east around Bayeux you give up ground
in order to preserve units while waiting for rein-
forcements. There is not much else possible. Com-
petent use of the many terrain defensive positions
is demanded-holding behind rivers, in trees, on
hills (which will hold three hexes by their ZOC),
and so forth. Units from one of the panzer divisions
will eventually hold the hill near Juaye-Mondaye.
First turn placement consists mainly of holding
behind the river with flak units (not adjacent to the
river but one hex behind) while infantry and flak
hold the east side of the bridge near Formigny. In
the direction of Isigny the roads are held by flak
in an effort to delay the Americans until useful in-
fantry arrives at the town (most likely AOK 7). If
the US forces have not succeeded in cutting the main
highway at Formigny, then the flak should draw a
defensive line from Grandcamp southeast along the
river to Formigny and the bridge. This move should
cramp the American forces for at least a day-maybe
even two.
be faced with the problem of dealing with American Illwtmtbn C: Front line alloutions on June 6 rmuming a poor
units in Carentan. There is no dealing with it. If Allied landing.
Essentially, I agree with what Dan has said here the German player attempts a June 6 counterattack
about unit positioning. I feel that a few points should against the city, he risks the destruction of his only tion in this area. If the strafing is heavier than usual
be added though. piece of armor in this sector (and any attack without here, IW6FS will probably be unsupplied on June
Between F d g n y and Bayeux, the 1st Flak holds armor is impossible). The German player can only 7th. but it is in a fairly good defensive position
on to the road so that, if an American infantry form up as a defensive line as close to the city as anyway.
battalion comes across the river, this enemy is possible, in as short a line as possible, and keep the If the Allied lnading at UTAH is hurting. (that
heavily fired upon and hopefully retreated to its des- armor unit well back in reserve. Until further rein- is, none or one hex of Carentan occupied), then
truction. The infantry available should hold behind forcements arrive there is little the German army utilize the following allocations: Wl058191 noes
bridges and other likely river crossing areas. can do to stop or slow down the Americans from two hexes south of-&. Comedu-Mont, I W 6 6 in
Between Formigny and Isigny. the same holds driving towards Isigny . the west hex of Carentan. 1316FS in the IW6FS
true. The flak sits one hex behind the river to try Around the area of the 82nd Airborne drop zones, setup hex and the 100th tank in the vicinity of
and force the Americans to be cautious. Thank good- there are few definite moves which can be made. Baupte. In either case (good or bad), the 435 OST
ness for those rivers! the 32nd Flak should take up The primary objective, of course, is to secure the moves to St. Hilaire and KG 895 goes one hex south
positions in the Grandcamp-la Cambe area. road running from Orglandes south to St. Jores but on the rail line. KG 955 probably goes with the
this may prove difficult if the roads in the irnmedi- 435th OST. If no American units make it into Caren-
ate vicinity are heavily strafed. tan at all, then the allocations are obvious.
In the region of the 709th Infanterie Division, it The W9141352 battalion heads south and then east
UTAH BEACH SECTOR is important to move units south of MKB MARC to join up with the rest of the division. It probably
Unless German coastal artillery fire against if possible in an attempt to shield the coastal gun shouldn't be used in the Carentan-Isigny area unless
UTAH Beach is -extremely lucky and hits both for as long as possible to permit shots on the UTAH the circumstances are very grave indeed. The pioneer
follow-up wave stacks, the Gennan commander will beachheads. This will depend upon Allied air in- unit from the 352nd should also move east as soon
terdiction in the area as well as the extent of the as possible.
lhstratbn 3: If MAR is available lo reach the east hex of Baycaux, advance of American units and availability of 795 In the 82nd Airborne area, the 88s from the 91st
then 785 Security holds the bridge at Nonant and Rjg 352 joins OST battalion. Basically the German is safe if he should be placed three hexes north of St. Jores with
the fusilier battalion at Sully. can eventually hold a line running along the river the IW191/91 artillery unit one hex to the south-
from Fresville up to MKB MARC and to the coast. west for suppon. The pioneers from the 91st should
The real strength of this line will appear on June 8 be moved to one hex southeast of the (12)-5-8 setup
with the arrival of the flak from Cherbourg. hex to block the road to St. Sauveur.
In the 709th zone, no matter how much interdic-
Around Carentan, the German is forced to defend tion there is, enough units will amve at the line from
with the following units on June 6th: IW6FSAl. Villagedu-Nord to Fresville to hold sufficiently.
100 tank, 1 3 / 6 ~ ~ 6Morser.
l. W9141352. KG 895; Arriving on June 6th should be Y9191709, Pzjg 709,
KG 955 and 435 OST. The 32nd Flak is used east PAK 709, IY919/709.1709 mechanized, and the
of Isigny unless OMAHA is dead or dying. There Y1058/91 and II/191/91 if the situation looks
are two possible setups here depending on the health serious. Don't forget the possibilities for Nl1709,
of UTAH Beach. 795 OST and IWlO58 if not disrupted or destroyed.
My definition of a healthy Allied landing at They can be used to move to the intended drop zone
UTAH is that both hexes of Carentan are occupied of an HQ or to block the causeways to prevent some
and neither stack gets hit in the follow-up phase. units of the 90th US Infantry from landing in the
In this case, the available units should be allocated build-up phase. Another sneaky possibility is for
in the following manner: IW6FS at St. Eny (south- IV/1709 to defensive !ire a disrupted unit adjacent
west of Carentan); 1316FS goes one hex southwest to the 795 OST, retreat the unit, and then advance
of IW6FS; Y6FS goes one hex northwest of Baupte; the 791 OST to the beaches gloriously in the fol-
the 100th tank hides in the swamu south of St. Jores: lowing movement phase. Also, don't forget to move
and the 91st HQ is at Lilhaire 4 t h the supply unit: the 722nd Railway Coastal Artillery unit if there
This HQ placement assumes fairly heavy interdic- isn't a cut beside it.
CONCLUSIONS
I t should be evident that my primary concern as
the German commander i n Normandy on 6 June is
to deal effectively, determinedly and crushingly,
with the British army-in particular their extreme
left flank. I t is the weakest sector of the entire Allied
invasion force. I t is the closest point to the invasion
beaches. I t is the sector most easily reinforced by
the German player and i t is the sector containing
the most powerful German units on June 6th.
Finally, i t is also the sector which threatens the
German line the most (a British expansion on the
Compleat Diplomat . . . Conr'd from Page 33
Many readers may find all these situations quite
routine, but they are all examples of ad hoc rulings,
contrary to the rules, which players make i n the
course of their games. You may chuckle at these
and say "how simple", but it's possible you may
be making a rules error equally simple. Virnally
every situation which can arise i n DIPLOMACY
(except some knotty and extremely rare convoy-
related circumstances) can be resolved by specific
statements found i n the rules. Check them out.
And ponder for a moment the thought that if
new scenarios (all dealing with American para-
trooper actions from WW2), and the "Training
Manual" installment for the ASL binder. So, if
you're tired of fighting the Soviets and Germans
through those same old streets, look for a copy
at ORIGINS. But, stocks may be limited.
Don Greenwood will be on the spot during his
planned ASL Question & Answer Seminar, where
you can get your more troubling puzzles solved.
Too, there will be a tournament and a demo for
STREETS OF FIRE, the first of the expected Deluxe
ASL modules that was well received when unveiled
at Pointcon (the West Point convention remrted

*
east side of the Orne River by June 7 or June 8 can such misapplications can occur i n a game like on in this issue's "Infiltrator's Report"). he staff
be disastrous). The German commander must insure DIPLOMACY, what must be the situation of the poor of On A l l Fronts will be hosting a series of tourna-
that no possibility of this exists. answer-man for ASL! ments dealing with all levels of Sf expertise, so
While i t might be more beneficialto the German fans of the system should not lack something to
cause to mount an early attack upon a sector of the do during those hots days in Los Angeles.
American line, i t should prove all but impossible
to marshal the necessary forces for the task. I f pres-
WARGAMER'S GUIDE Our booth will warrant a glance by any dedicated
gamer this year. A number of promotions will be
sure is taken off the British line (or if never exerted)
too early, then the British will begin to make rapid
TO THIRD REICH offered. Not least among these, as announced, be-
sides qualifyng for "The GENERAL Subscriber's
advances to the west of Caen around Tilly-sur- I t was inevitable that The Avalon Hill Game Sweepstakes", any new or renewing subscriber will
Suelles. The German player can afford to trade Company produce a "wargamer's guide" to the be given a copy of the latest GENERAL Index
ground for time i n the American sectors; he cannot most popular grand strategic game of all time- (detailing our coverage of twenty years of gaming
in the British. THIRD REICH. After two years of effort, two -1964-1984). And, of course, the drawing itself
A lot depends on the tempo of the Allied land- master players (Marcus Watney and Larry will be held at our booth on the last day of the
ing, granted. But Ibelieve much more depends upon Bucher) have produced the finest guide yet convention-the winner being awarded FREE
the nature of the German commander. If he is in- published. GAMES FOR LIFE from The Avalon Hill Game
timidated by the extent of the Allied landing (espe- More than simply a reprint of articles from Company.
cially that of the British), he will most assuredly the files of The GENERAL, this 48-page, full-
For those who prefer the cold logic of machines,
fall into a defensivestance immediately. That means color guide to the game contains many articles
the ORIGINS '86 convention should see the
defeat unless the Allies are stuck with bad weather on strategy for the individualcountries never be-
premiere of several games from the software
almost immediately. If he is willing to take a fore published. The best of earlier articles have
division of The Avalon Hill Game Company of in-
chance-as big a chance as the Allied command is been updated for the latest edition of THIRD
terest for readers of The GENERAL. Players of
taking i n landing on a hostile shore-then the REICH and reprinted. A four-page "Question
UNDER FIRE, the WWll tactical game on the Apple
Gennan may have a chance to pull out a victory. Box" clarifies and expands upon the rules, while
II, will be delighted to learn that the "Campaign"
Don't give the British player an opportunity to get Don Greenwood shares with the readers a bit
disk will be available. This supplementary game
an offensive launched. Hit them on 6 June, anchor of the history of the development of this classic
expands the scope of the original game, allowing
the German line i n Oustreham and then begin to killgame. Tucked among the text are sidebars to add
for the formation of companies and battalions of
their armor. If you are lucky enough to gain the spice, covering such esoteric considerations as
not only the US, German and Soviet armies, but-if
upper hand on June 6th, or even as late as June 7th,a Russian invasionof Turkey, calculating prob-
the first Extended Capability disk is used-of
then the British army will be i n trouble. abilities in combat, and a classic 3R contest.
Japanese, British and Italian forces as well. Units
Ican just hear Steve now shouting that there is Drafted by the best players of this grand game
can be captured, surrender or retreat as a result
no way the Allies can be thrown into the sea.Iagree.around, every page is filled with informative
However, i t seems quite possible to hold down the of combat. The Campaign Game also speeds up
hints and tactics. If you consider yourself a
the basic game by resolving movement faster by
American forces while you mangle the British. THIRD REICHexpert, you'll be impressed with
(if you're using a Ilc or the Apple Extended
Panzer divisions should have only one function i n the scope of this guide; if you'd like to be, you'd
80-column card) using the extra 64K of memory.
THE WNGEST DAY-offensive action. That may best get hold of a copy.
be out of step with the nature of the game design. Released to acclaim at ORIGINS '85, the Also available will be two conversions of popular
But i t is possible if the German player racks his WARGAMER'S GUIDE TO THIRD REICH is Avalon Hill boardgames. WOODEN SHIPS & IRON
brains to figure out how, and if he has that pre- now available for order by mail direct from The MEN (Commodore 64) features the Basic and
requisite amount of daring i n his own nature. Avalon Hill Game company (4517 Harfard Advanced rules, a true hex map, all the original
Road, Baltimore, M D 21214). Cost i s $5.00. scenarios and the ability to create new maps,
ships, fleets and games. Although the program
~ o n t t w " ~ w " i r j u I t w h r t ( b s Please
~ add usual 10% for shipping and
lacks a solitaire version, we believe that owners
player murt do on 6th June to rurvlw, Tho mmr handling-20% for Canadian orders and 30%
for overseas. Maryland residentsplease add 5 % of the original boardgame will be very pleased with
L ~ t h i r , t h e b o t t o r o f f ~ w l l lWrld
k, the ease of play and faithfulness to Craig Taylor's
o f ~ d u q w O u I i d w 0 f ~ o y m d c w n state ~ sales tax. design. Appearing on the Atari 130XE. Apple II and
rtt8ckI. Commodore 6 4 is GUDERIAN-based on the
Dun't k &led. SWORD will not k the wonkat
uw of tho Wed line. Tho Eridrh rhwld k rblr
AH Philosophy .. .
Conr'd from Page 2 challenging PANZERGRUPPEGUDERIAN. Borrow-
Lybian-American brouhaha, the game follows the ing the joystick-driven system that made GULF
t o h a l d ~ o w a y r i n r t t h o ~ ~ ~ ~popular ~ t h format
o of Craig's FIREPOWER. A simple STRIKE so easy to play, this game features a
clowna~rofthabwdedga. Fortho-, a introductory rulebook leads one into playing within solitaire system that allows the player to command
Britbh -011 owr the Orno L unpl-t-but minutes; later, ever greater complexity can be either side.
ddlnttdy MltdiuItrau. Infm, Imlconuit. added with the Advanced and Optional rules. And, To a large extent, gamer reaction to these con-
T o k ~ i w i a U l b i l n r i b w N n u L n o o o a - of course, game stats for every modern fighter air- versions will decide whether or not we continue
luy for the owman la ln%U)NaiFSTCMY, rim- craft are included, along with a comprehensive list- developing programs based on our popular board-
ply to pmewe uniu for tho oomhg woak~of ing of the composition of the air forces of each games. Right now, PANZER LEADER is being
midon, I t h ~ t ~ t o l o t t h o ~ p l r ynation # of the world. Craig will be running a FLIGHT designed on the Commodore for Christmas release,
fwlhtLbinconaalt8rrwhilelohtwhon LEADER Demo, as well as a tournament for and we have been in contact with experienced
he L cwntmttaakd Ircwr, L will doubt BI, own RUSSIAN FRONT: programmers about other conversions as well.
~ ~ r a d r M i Q . I i t h For e those
~ ~ASL~ fans, the latest module-PARA- So, ORIGINS '86 looks to be the place to be on
r loollrh oountmkk on Jum 6th that k 1 ~ 1 - TROOPER-will make its unheralded appearance. the Fourth. Stop by our booth and greet Craig or
~ r r w l ~ e d b y t h r B r i ~ ~ . t h r ~ The w i module,
ll intended to serve as an introduction Don. For those of you who will not be present,
to this extensive simulation system, will be a small perhaps one of the many other exciting get-
investment for those who've not yet decided to togethers of the summer gives you the chance for

* *
take the plunge Designed to serve as an appetizer, meeting one or more of the designers; look for
novd p e d t WI thoufit to taka I&. k e rhould the module has one new board, counters cover- them at ATLANTICON and DIPCON among others.
u w BI, "-" until tho dmo Is @t to urr it. ing only a fraction of the American and German
Dimodon k tho bettor put of valor. OBs, system counters enough to play the eight
 BEHIND THE HIGH-WATER MARK
More Realism for THE LONGEST DAY
Avalon Hill's f i s t monster game (I refer to
its size, since ASL is a "monster" of another
sort) is a real gem because of a characteristic
rare among its kind - playability. However, I do
feel that more realism can be added without
detracting from that cardinal virtue. Specifi-
cally, I refer to the matter of "beach assault", a
matter of crucial importance. The root of my
desire to revise the rules lies in Omaha.
On the average, the Americans will lose 1.67
beachheads on Omaha Beach to coastal artillery
alone (Table 1 illustrates the probability of los-
ing any given number of beach sectors there) in
TLD. The percentages don't seem to be too bad,
until you consider that there is about a one-fifth
chance of losing three or more sectors - and
more than 50% of losing two or more. Then the
situation takes on another perspective for the
prospective Allied player. Further, the table
does not show all the truth. since it assumes that
should a given group of invaders survive
coastal artillery it will automatically take its
beach sector (which is far from a sure bet).
Although there are a lot of variables to be taken
into account, I calculate that if there were no
adverse enemy coastal artillery fire results, still
only about 80% of the beachheads will be taken
(that is, four). If we combine both factors, the
average beachhead loss on Omaha will rise to
about 2.33! The reader might disagree with me,
but I consider the loss of more than two beach-
heads a complete disaster for the Allies, per-
haps spelling utter defeat. It should simply not
happen so; the Americans, who did in fact have
bad luck on Omaha Beach on June 6th took all
their assigned beachheads (reread the footnote
for the 352 Infanterie Division in the rulebook).
Of course. the possibility of losing one or
more beachheads should exist in the game sys-
tem. But this should only be a possibility -not a
certainty! The design problem is how to dupli-
cate the terrible losses suffered by the Ameri-
cans on Omaha, yet not unbalance the game in
favor of the defender. Note that I am not com-
plaining about the heavy casualties the "super-
killer" coastal guns might cause, but of the fact
that a simple hit with a single die roll will stop
the invasion of a sector dead in the water. The
German player usually has a straight 33% prob-
ability of hitting each sector. Rommel would
have loved any weapon capable of doing that.
It is true that a coastal gun can fire a lot of
rounds at a lot of targets in a day - but not
simultaneously. And if it was dispersing its f i e
along a 30-kilometer front, what would that do
to its effect? It was early dawn and the invasion
force was large, but the best of gunners could
not hit them all as they surged ashore. Ameri-
can losses at Omaha were heavy. but not such
as to stop the invasion.
Another crippling aspect of this quirk is the
exceedingly frequent loss of Allied headquar-
ters units. It is not unusual for the Americans to
lose one, sometimes even two. HQ units at
either Utah or Omaha. In this case, it is proba-
By Charles E. Duke
bly best for the Allied player to simply concede
the game; that way you can begin another with-
out too much difficulty and time wasted. Air-
borne HQ also get killed off with distressing
frequency; the British 6th Airborne HQ buys
the fann virtually every game. But historically.
no Allied HQ was lost on D-Day (at least, not to
the extent implied by an HQ-loss in TLD).
Again, this should imply that they couldn't be
destroyed, but it does leave me with the impres-
sion that such should not occur so often.
TABLE 1: Beachhead Loss on
Omaha
There are other historical aspects that can be
incorporated into the game readily enough to
satisfy the simulation freaks among us.
First is the fact that naval gunfire could. and
did upon occasion. destroy bunkered coastal
guns. It could also decimate enemy tank and
infantry units moving up to the coast. as many
references to various amphibious landings
demonstrate. Naval fire in THE LONGEST
DAY should be capable of inflicting step losses.
The unlimited use of carpet bombing by the
Allies is certainly not historical. In fact, it is a
quite objectionable "what-if' incorporated into
the game system, as footnote #21 admits. The
Allies used carpet bombing precisely four times
within the period covered by the game. The first
use was quite unimportant; it occurred on D-
Day and was intended to fall upon Omaha
Beach to destroy obstacles and suppress the
defenders. Because of the bad weather. the
planes dropped their loads further inland in
order not to hit their own troops by mistake. In
fact, the attack fell upon units of the German 1st
Flak Brigade, destroying a goodly portion of
their transport and weaponry. But in the game.
the use of the heavy bombers in this mission,
regardless of what they might destroy, means
no interdiction of enemy reinforcements (and
probable doom for Allied plans). No intelligent
player would ever use the carpet bombing even
if allowed.
The heavies were not used again in the bat-
tlefields of Normandy until 8 July. On that day
460 planes dropped 2300 tons on top of the 12th
SS Panzer in Cam. The Germans retreated and
the British finally took the city, but were
slowed by the rubble created by the bombing;
when they arrived at the Orne bridges, they
found all of them blown. Ten days later.
another carpet attack was launched as support
for Operation Goodwood; 2100 bombers
dropped 8000 tons south of Cam. Results were
nominal, but Montgomery advanced ten kilo-
meters towards Falaise.
The last carpet bombing of the campaign
took place a week later, during Operation
Cobra. Originally slated for the 24th, bad
weather forced the cancellation of mission.
However. 350 bomber crews did not get the
message and so dropped their bomb loads.
some of which fell on American lines. The next
day, the real attack took place with 2500 planes
and 4000 tons of explosives. This time the
Allies elected to use napalm and light explo-
sives to avoid rubble and craters. The bombing
was successful and destroyed the remnants of
Panzer Lehr, paving the way for the break-
through.
As can be seen, strategic bombers were
diverted from their usual chore of deep interdic-
tion only four times, and three of these
instances fell within an 18-day period. It is
obvious that such use should be limited.
Finally. imagine any general, his staff, a few
clerks and second-rate HQ troops making a
dashing penetration alone into Britanny. Any
Wehrmacht battalion could have dealt with
them quite easily. Would you consider this a
breakthrough? I would not. But the rules as they
stand require the exiting of only HQ units from
the map edge - no matter what the condition of
the division. Experienced players tend to leave
the HQ of some burnt-out Allied unit laying
around near the front lines to use it just for this
purpose. Let's curtail this "cheesy" strategy and
get back to what the Allied invasion intended to
accomplish.
The following variant rules pretend to make
the beach assault more realistic and exciting,
and seek to simulate to an extent the other mat-
ters mentioned above. While these variant rules
do tend to favor the Allies, the new Victory
Condition proposed should balance this. Play-
ers of THE LONGEST DAY are urged to try
some or all of the variant rules below to find the
mix that best suits their own version of bal-
ance.
1. All of the units of the beach-assault wave
must be placed in the corresponding Landing
Box and participate in the attack. They must
land or die in the attempt; such units may not
rcmain at sea nor return to the display cards in
this phase.
2. Assault-wave units may overstack in
beach hexes during the Beach Assault Phase,
but this situation must be corrected in the fol-
lowing Movement Phase. By the end of move-
ment, no overstacking is allowed.
3. Assault-wave units may ignore "Retreat"
results in the Beach Assault Phase.
4. Assault-wave units that, for any reason,
fail to take their beach must be placed in the sea
hex located between the Landing Box and the
beach itself; this represents them clinging to the
sand behind the high-water mark. Such units
are said to be "Pinned". Pinned units cannot
move; but if they are not disrupted, they may
attack the beach hex (only) alone or in conjunc-
tion with other Allied units from other hexes.
They may be evacuated back to the display
cards in the Follow-up Phase or later, but they
would receive coastal gun f i e in doing so. No
follow-up or build-up units may reinforce a
pinned unit.
5. Pinned units may be attacked from the
beach hex they confront. Artillery ranges are
counted to the Beach hex - not the sea hex the
counters physically occupy.
6. If, at the moment that the Allies finally
take the beach hex, at least one of the original
assault-wave units remains there (pinned). a
beachhead is created, otherwise, it is lost.
7. Coastal gun fire is modified. A given bat-
tery may only fire at boxes of a single beach
(i.e., Omaha, Utah, Gold, etc.). Within that
beach, it may fire at each and every box.
8. All coastal guns firing at a given hex must
join and their attack factors are added together;
however, each separate unit within the box
must be attacked separately using the attack
factor. Example: A box is attacked by five
coastal gun factors and it contains three units;
the German player will roll three times under
column "4-9". once for each unit. A hit is still
"Ll" and disrupts the target, but it affects only
the unit being fued upon at that moment.
9. Disrupted units cannot attack, but other
disrupted units in the stack may do so (possibly
taking the beach). Disrupted units "going
along" in an attack share any adverse results
rolled for the attackers. If all of the units in a
sector are hit and disrupted, no attack can
occur; instead all units suffer an additional
"Ll" and are pinned.
10. Headquarters units must be hit twice in
order to be destroyed by coastal artillery. The
fust hit entitles the German player to a second
roll. A miss on the second roll means that the
HQ is disrupted; a hit on this second roll elimi-
nates the HQ.
11.Allied HQ may not be attacked by coastal
artillery in the German Defensive Firc Phase of
6 June.
12. Craft chits numbered "4"."5". "6" and
"7". The Allied player must draw one secretly
at the start of the game, the number upon the
chit indicating the number of carpet bombing
missions he will be allowed in the game. The
player retains the chit to show to the German
player at game's end In addition. no more than
three carpet bombing missions are allowed in a
single month. The Allied player may, however.
"feint" carpet bombing missions by moving the
heavy bombers to the Holding Box even if he
has no attacks left.
13. On the Bombardment Table. a result of
"6" under the 23-30column is now "LS" in
addition to disruption; a result of "5" or "6"
under the 31+ column has the same effect. If a
coastal gun is in the attacked hex. it has priority
over all other units in the hex to suffer the step
loss (this to prevent a tactic once used in
PAmER LEADER - placing a unit on top of a
bunker to "defend" it from naval gunfire).
14. Allow tank destroyer and self-propelled
gun units (which are AFVs after all) to take
armored type replacements.
15. The German player may declare a Ger-
man division "disbanded" at any time. The HQ
is removed from play and all surviving units
under is command become independent there-
after. A division must, however, have lost two-
thirds of its total steps to be disbanded.
16. VICTORY CONDITIONS: The Allied
player must exit three divisions (one of which
must be "tank") through three different lettered
hexes off the mapboard. To be eligible, a divi-
sion must exit all of its surviving elements
(which must represent at least two-thirds of the
steps of the division at full strength) plus a sup-
plied HQ. Further. the units must exit within
five days from one another, that is, for example,
if the fust unit is exited on 15 July, the last must
exit by 20 July for the division to be counted
towards the Allied victory conditions.
German victory conditions for failure by the
Allies to take certain cities by certain times
remains unchanged, and is considered decisive.
Otherwise, the level of victory depends upon
the date the last unit of the three required divi-
sions exits, as shown below:
TABLE 2: Variant Victory
Conditions
16-31 Augus German Marginal
'Aftex 31Aug German Decisive " because they are the most numerous; or
In summary, these simple variant rules make
for a more realistic game. Those players inter-
ested in THE LONGEST DAY as a historical
study might find them especially interesting.
They do change the play balance slightly, but
this is easily countered by adding some of the
optional rules that favor the German player if
you think it necessary. I. personally. feel that
the original design favors the Germans anyway.
so the above variant rules merely bring the
game back into line.
* really need a dozen innovative interpreta-
AH Philosophy ...Cont'dfrom Page I0
definitive end. The Allies were "right" and
the Axis "wrong", in both their goals and in
their conduct of the war. (I'll leave the
debate as to whether the West then squan-
dered that sacrifice by falling back into the
old pattern of appeasement afterwards
until another column.) With 50 years now
distancing us from the pain and bloodshed,
we can all at least agree that "justice" was
served. Even the citizens of the defeated
nations have, I suspect, a grudging
approval for the outcome - if not the meth-
ods used to reach it in all cases. Germany
was a nation of brilliant people, led by mad-
men into the terror of total war. That's why
its defeat was made the priority, first at the
"Arcadianconference in late 1941 and later
reaffirmed at Casablanca. Although we can
certainly admire the professionalism and
heroism of the enemy, no one questioned
(or questions) why the war was fought.
This "purity of purpose" carries over to
the individual campaigns and battles in a
different sense. One nice thing about the
actions in WW2 were that the goals were
relatively well-defined. No Korea or Viet-
nam this. Even on a strategic scale, there
was a definite "victory" that was aimed for
(whether it was reasonable or not). Capture
or defense of a city, destruction of a fac-
tory, the sinking of a fleet, success or
defeat were identified and what remained
was merely implementation. This makes
designing, and playing, a wargame based
on the action much simpler. At the very
least, it makes the wording of Victory Con-
ditions easier, and every player will be
aware (and likely agree with the precepts)
of what is expected of him to "win the
game". In sum, it was a very "logical" war.
And wargamers thrive on logic.
So the personalities and hardware seem
larger-than-life (with all the romantic bag-
gage that phrase conjures), the research
material is readily available to anyone with
an interest, the action is varied and can
involve nigh anything, and there can be
clearly defined goals set forth in the rules.
All this lends itself to the designing and sell-
ing of our wargames.
Now, one can argue the "chicken-and-
egg" conundrum for each of the points
made above. Are WW2 wargames popular
the most numerous because they are pop-
ular? Are there so many on store shelves
because the designers (who are notori-
ously lazy researchers) have ready access
to the information necessary to design
them, or vice versa? Does the subject tru-
ely lend itself well to simulation in card-
board, or only seem that way because
other conflicts have not been explored as
thoroughly? Does the world of wargaming
tions of the Battle of the Bulge; or are there
a dozen because the topic is so vast that a
couple of sound designs can't cover it ade-
quately to the satisfaction of the fans?
There is, however, one reason for commer-
cial wargaming's devotion to World War II
that overrides all else I believe.
Ithink in our study of the war, through the
medium of our paper pasttime, we
acknowledge the debt we owe our fathers.
They fought in an honorable cause. They
lived "The Great Crusade". Whether they
took up arms for volk, the Emperor, the
Motherland or democracy, they sacrificed
everything they knew to back what they
believed. I doubt if many, or any, of us feel
that we will ever embark upon such a his-
toric endeavor. Or have the passion to
make that kind of commitment. Our lives
are more prosaic; the critical issues facing
our societies are more complicated and, for
the moment. less immediate. It's hard to
say what's "right" and what's "wrong".
But our fathers could. And through our
wargames we seek, in some small way, to
recapture that spirit.
*