le port
The Fight for the Douve Bridges
The 506th PIR had one of the most scattered drops of all airborne troops in Operation Overlord. Cloud banks and FlaK fire brought the Dakotas in severe disorder and only the 3d Battalion landed near their intended drop zone.
Unfortunately the German defenders had long before identified that area as a possible target for an airborne assault and had prepared accordingly. They managed to trap the paratroopers and within short time the attackers were killed or captured. Spared were only those who did not land according to plan.
In effect, no more than two plane loads of troopers had to tackle the objective of a whole battalion - capturing two bridges over the Douve River.
Fighting in small groups without connection to their division they were reinforced only by other paratroopers which had landed scattered across the area. Making the best of the situation and exploiting the German confusion the paras finally succeeded and as the seaborne forces arrived at dawn, the high ground overlooking the beaches was seized.
This scenario sees a German force trying to get out of trouble as the paras close in on them. In the dim lit hours before dawn, the paratroopers are scattered over the place and can appear just about anywhere. The German player should work out a strategy how to best bring his units to safer ground while the US player must organize quickly and cut off the Germans before they reach a fortified position.
Le Port Scenario Setup
Deployment
The German player deploys all of his units anywhere within the deployment zone behind the hedge or on the hill (marked red on the map).
The US player sets up none of his units on the table. Instead all units enter the game using the Ambush Rule described below. The ambush zone is south of the blue line depicted on the map.
Forces
| Unit | German | US |
|---|---|---|
| Command Rifle | 2 | 3 |
| Command SMG | 1 | - |
| Rifle | 3 | 5 |
| Assault Rifle | 2 | - |
| LMG | 2 | 2 |
| All German troops are rated Trained. | ||
| The US paratroopers are rated Elite. | ||
Objectives
The Germans win if they manage to bring at least 4 units off the northern table edge. In all other cases the Americans win.
Duration
The Game lasts until a sufficient number of Germans have managed to leave the table or until the Germans cannot reach their objective any more.
Special rule: Ambush
The paratroopers are set up using the following rules. Instead of activating a commmand team you may bring into play any two units. These may include a command team but do not have to.
Place these units anywhere on the table within the ambush zone marked on the map. When setting up the troops, you must maintain a distance of 20cm to any other unit (friend or foe, broken or unbroken - any). If the troops you brought into play contain a command team, this may be activated immediately. Troops without a command team may activate in the Off Comand Phase.
Units brought into play using the ambush rule count as having moved and are thus forced to use ROF* if they fire.