AAR - Memoir '44 - Sainte-Mère-Église

Memoir '44

The second scenario in our D-Day operations campaign from the war room archives sees the Allies trying to setup a defensive base at Sainte-Mère-Église.

D-Day Operations June/July 1944
Scenario #2 – Sainte-Mère-Église, June 6th 1944

Historical Background:

Establishment of a defensive base at Ste. Mère-Église was one of the key objectives of the US 82nd Airborne Division. In contrast with other regiments, the 505th Parachute Infantry, landing north-west of Ste. Mère-Église, had one of the most accurate drops. Rapidly regrouping and tipped by a French native to the presence of German troops in town, the paratroopers planned to surround Ste. Mère-Église and move in with knives, bayonets and grenades.

In the meantime, to the north, Lt. Turner Turnbull deployed his force on high ground near Neuville-au-Plain, engaging and fighting the enemy to a draw. This bought some crucial time for the battalions around Ste. Mère-Église, giving them a chance to meet the German southern thrust and annihilate several enemy units. This led to an overestimation by German command of American strength in this sector, and as a result, the Germans withdrew.

Sainte-Mère-Église Map



Briefing:

Axis Player(s): Tom & Pete

Axis Instructions:
Take 4 command cards

Allied Player(s): GaryG & AndyB

Allied Instructions:
Take 5 command cards.
You move first.

Conditions of Victory:
5 Medals – no other fixed conditions. The 5 medals will represent the balance of power in the area and ultimately who is forced to withdraw.

Special Rules:
Before the Allied side takes its first turn, the Allied player has an additional air-drop.

Hold 4 Infantry figures in your hand about 12 inches - roughly the height of the box set on its side - above the battlefield.

Drop the figures. If a figure falls off the board or lands in a hex with another friendly or enemy unit, this figure is out of action and placed back into the box. No Victory Medal is awarded to the Axis player on this occasion.

If the figure is not out-of-action, place an additional 3 figures from the box into the Infantry figure's hex. The unit landed safely and is ready for action.

Outcome:
Narrow victory for the Allies by 5 medals to 3 medals. Primary objective, Ste. Mère-Église, was not successfully taken in the planned operation.

Following a highly accurate air-drop by the Allies just north of Ste. Mère-Église, the German forces were hit heavily by an air attack in the north-east corner of the map. Undeterred, the Germans pushed forward in the west gaining significant ground albeit at a cost of a couple of units. Both sides made reasonably good use of their additional elite units, but it was becoming clear the the extra Allied forces were beginning to shift the balance of power in their favour.

The Allies at last turned their attentions towards Ste. Mère-Église, at one point taking control of a section of the town. This however left some of their units in the open and exposed to the might of the German armour. It was becoming clear that if the Allies continued to push for control of Ste. Mère-Église, that they would be risking the whole battle. So, giving up on the town, they finished off some German infantry, north of Ste. Mère-Église ultimately forcing a controlled German retreat.

Ste. Mère-Église would eventually come under Allied control, but almost a week too late. Objective was therefore failed (-1) despite the 5 Medals to 3 Medals victory in the battle.

Allies win with 5 Medals vs. the Axis 3 Medals.