Initial Phase

The Allied player studies the Europa Weather Table and knows that the next game turn there’s a 50-50 chance of clear weather in zone B. This includes Namsos, Trondheim, Bergen, Oslo, and all of southern Norway. This player turn it’s still Mud throughout Norway. But the risk of clear weather on the May I 40 game turn compels the Allied player to plan a strategy of strategic maneuver for the Allied ground forces in weather zone C.

After weather considerations, supply and isolation status of units, hexes, and airbases in the Norway theater is determined.

At clear terrain coast hex 10B:3117, adjacent to Allied owned and occupied Bergen (3016), the two unsupported 2-6 Inf IIIs C become technically red U-2, but are both in special supply by virtue of the two supply points air dropped there in the movement phase of the previous Axis turn.

The 1-6 Inf III C at Stavanger (3619) and the Me109E and the two Ju 88A1 (S type) air units at the 3-cap permanent airfield at adjacent coast hex 3720 are now in regular supply via a naval element supply line to the functioning standard port of Stavanger per Rule 12B4-Naval [Element of a Supply Line]. The same regular supply condition applies to all German ground units and LW air units in southern Norway that are able to trace a supply line in mud weather per Rule 12B-Tracing Supply to the functioning Axis controlled ports of either Kristiansand (4416), or Arendal (4413), or Larvik (4311) in southern Norway. Note however that the Axis side must keep the reference city of Stavanger occupied with at least 1 RE of units in order to be able to trace a supply line into the port hex per rule 37G-Occupation.

The three Axis owned/occupied hexes in the Oslo zone are unisolated but out of regular supply due to either the intrinsic Norwegian CDs along the Oslofjord or the distance to another Axis owned port in southern Norway. The 2-6 Inf III F at 3907 and the 2-6 Inf III E at 4108 technically become red U-2 this turn. The rest of the German ground units in the Oslo zone and the four LW air units in the Oslo hex (4007) technically now become red U-1, but all these Axis units here are in special supply coming from the 10 air transported supply points flown in last turn to the Oslo partial city hex airbase.

The German forces in the Axis controlled Narvik major port hex are also in regular supply via a naval element supply line.

This turn all Norwegian and British forces in Norway are supply. However, perhaps it should be noted that with the fall of the partial city hex of Oslo, the only Norwegian forces in exclusively Norwegian regular supply per Rule 12C1e-Norwegian [Regular Supply Sources] are those in south Norway able to trace their supply line to the Allied controlled rail line running from Bergen (3016) to the Norwegian factory counter at 3606. The rest of the Norwegian and British forces in Norway now trace their supply line to a functioning Allied port (ie., Trondheim, Bergen, or the minor port of Harstad at 5C:0712) per Rule 12C1a-Allied [Regular Supply Sources] and Advanced Rule 43A5-Limited Regular Supply.

For reinforcements the Norwegians get an Inf XX HQ unit at Trondheim, which can assemble with three mtn IIIs into a 4-6 Mtn XX and another Inf XX HQ unit at 3908, adjacent to Oslo, that can assemble to a 4-5-6 Inf XX. A 1-6 eng III comes in at nearby Honefoss (3808). A supported ski X conversion is available in the far north.

In the Orkney Islands holding box the Allied player gets the A. Royal and Glorious CV CG (aircraft carriers) and a FAA Glad F type (C code) air unit. In the Scotland holding box they receive a worthy but unsupported array of interesting ground units, seven in all.

In Denmark the Axis have no less than 8 inoperative Ju 52 T type air units based at the dot city of Aahrus (7) and the reference city of Esbjerg (1), but all these and a host of other forces will be withdrawn in the initial phase of the May I 40 Axis turn.

Neither side flies CAP air missions in the initial phase.

This turn the Axis player flies some of its LW air units on the sea patrol air mission. These are indicated on the following descriptive list of the disposition of the Axis forces in play at the end of the Allied initial phase:

Narvik, at reference city/major port mountain coast hex 5C:1010:

  • *2-8 Mtn III B
  • LW 0-8 Lt AA II II/33
  • 2 Ger mine points sown off-shore at sea

Clear terrain coast hex 10B:3117, adjacent to Bergen:

  • 2 x wint 2-6 Inf III C; technically red U-2, but in special supply
  • 2 supply points generated on the Apr I 40 Axis turn

Stavanger, at reference city/standard port clear terrain rail terminus coast hex 10B:3619:

  • 1-6 Inf III C

3-cap permanent airfield at clear terrain coast rail hex 3720, adjacent to Stavanger:

  • Me 109E F type air unit
  • 2 x Ju 88A1 (S code) B type air units

Kristiansand, at point city/standard port coast rail hex 10B:4416:

  • LW 0-8 Lt AA II I/611

3-cap airfield w/ one hit at woods coast hex 4415, adjacent to Kristiansand:

  • 0-1-5 Const III 6
  • 2 x He 111H4 (S code) B type air units; both are on sea patrol

Woods rail junction hex 10B:4314:

  • 2-1-10 Pz II 40
  • 1-10 Mot MG II 13
  • LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG

Arendal, at point city/minor port clear terrain coast rail terminus hex 10B:4413:

  • wint 2-6 Inf III E
    Note: the Axis side owns woods rail hexes 4315 and 4316.

Larvik, at point city/minor port clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:4311:

  • 3 x wint 1-6 Inf IIIs E, F, and G

Tonsberg, at point city/minor port clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:4310:

  • 1-8 Art X 109

Drammen: at point city/minor port clear terrain coast rail junction hex 10B:4009:

  • wint 2-6 Inf III F

Rough terrain rail hex 10B:4010, west of Drammen:

  • 3-10 Mot Inf X 11
    Note: the Axis side owns rail hexes 4111, 4210, 4110, and 4209 (Horten).

Oslo, at partial city hex/major port hex 10B:4007:

  • 2 x 3-8 Mtn III A; technically red U-1, but in special supply
  • Me 110C1 type HF air unit; technically red U-1, but in special supply
  • Ju 87R type D air unit; technically red U-1, but in special supply
  • He 111H1 NB type air unit; technically red U-1, but in special supply
  • He 111P1 B type air unit; technically red U-1, but in special supply; on sea partol
  • 10 supply points, generated on the Apr II 40 Axis turn

Woods rail hex 3907, NE of Oslo:

  • wint 2-6 Inf III F; technically red U-2, but in special supply
  • wint 2-6 Inf III G; technically red U-1, but in special supply

Clear terrain coast rail hex 4108, SW of Oslo:

  • wint 2-6 Inf III E; technically red U-2, but in special supply

3-cap permanent airfield at clear terrain coast rail line hex 10B:5014, in Denmark:

  • LW 2-10 Hv AA III 162
  • Me 110C1 HF type air unit
  • 2 x He 111H4 B type air units; both are on sea patrol

Frederikshavn, at point city/standard port clear terrain coast rail terminus hex 10B:5013, in Denmark:

  • C Inf XX HQ unit
  • LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/32

Aalborg, at reference city/major port clear terrain rail causeway hex 10B:5115, in Denmark:

  • A Mtn XX HQ unit
  • 3 x wint Inf XX HQ units E, F, and G
  • wint 2-6 Inf III G
  • Mxd T F type air unit

Aahrus, at dot city/major port coast rail hex 13A:0616, in Denmark:

  • 2 x 6-6 Inf XX 170 and 314
  • wint 6-6 Inf XX 198
  • 2 x He 111P4 B type air units, both are on sea patrol
  • Ju 52 T type air unit
  • 7 x inoperative Ju 52 T type air units

Odense, at reference city/standard port clear terrain coast rail hex 13A:0918, in Denmark:

  • Ju 52 T type air unit

Esbjerg, at reference city/standard port clear terrain rail terminus hex 13A:0621, in Denmark:

  • He 111P4 B type air unit, on sea patrol
  • inoperative Ju 52 T type air unit

Northern Germany holding box:

  • 2 x 1-10 Mot MG IIs 4 and 14
  • pos flk unit
  • Mxd T (LR) T type air unit
  • He 115B (SF type) air unit
  • 2 x BC TFs Gneisenau and Schrnhrst
  • BP TF Lutzow (w/ 2 hits)
  • 2 x CA TFs A. Hipper and Blucher
  • CL TF Cruiser-1
  • 2 x DD TFs Flotilla-1 and 2

Sylt holding box:

  • 2 x pos flk units
  • Aborted air units box (since at start):
  • He 111H4 B type air unit
  • He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit
  • Ju 88A1 (S code) B type air unit.

The following list is the disposition of the Allied forces in play at the end of the Allied initial phase:

In the Oslo zone, all on map 10B:

At woods rail hex 4006, E of Oslo: 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol

At wooded rough hex 3806: 1-6 Inf III 5/11Mo

At woods coast rail hex 4008, W of Oslo: 1-6 Inf III 1/3Tm

At wooded rough coast rail hex 3908, w/1-cap permanent airfield, NW of Oslo: 2nd Inf XX HQ unit reinf and *2-3-6 Mtn X 3

Honefoss, at point city clear terrain rail junction hex 3808: 1-6 Eng III 1 reinf and 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak

At woods rail hex 3809: 1-6 Inf III 2/6Vl

At woods rail hex 3606: Norwegian factory counter

Bergen, at dot city/major port rough terrain rail terminus hex 10B:3016

  • 1-6 Inf III 3/8Rl
  • 1-6 Inf III 4/9Hl
  • *2-3-6 Mtn X 4
  • Br 3-6 Inf X 24G
  • C.V A type air unit

In the Trondheim zone, all on map 5C:

  • 1-cap permanent airstrip at clear terrain coast rail hex 2431:
  • 1-6 Mtn III 5/13NT
  • Br Whit 5 NB type air unit

Trondheim, at reference city/major port woods rail hex 2432:

  • 1-6 Mtn III 5/12ST
  • 5th [Mtn]/Inf XX HQ unit
  • Norwegian Government capital marker
  • Br 2-6 Inf X 148
  • Br Well 1C NB type air unit

Woods coast rail hex 2433:

  • 0-1-8 Cav II 3Tdl

North of the B weather line in Norway, all on map 5C:

  • At mtn rail border hex 1518:
  • 1-6 Inf III 16Tr

At mtn coast road junction hex 0910, adjacent to Narvik:

  • *1-2-6 Inf III 6/15NH

At rough terrain coast road hex 0911:

  • 1-6 Mtn III 6/14SH

On non-SoS Campaign for Scenario map 6B, per SoS Norway, 1939-1945 OB:

At Alta (6B:0632):

  • 0-1-6 Ski II Alta

At Kirkenes (6B:1122):

  • 0-1-6 Ski II Var

Note: These two ski IIs and the 1-6 Inf III 16Tr are the components of this turn’s *2-3-6 Ski X 7 conversion reinforcement.

Orkney Islands holding box:

  • FAA Sword 1 (VC code) A type air unit
  • FAA S. Glad (C code) F type air unit
  • FAA Skua (C type) DF type air unit
  • 3 x CV CGs A. Royal, Glorious, and Furious
  • 3 x BB TFs Rodney, Valiant, and Warspite
  • 2 x BC TFs Renown, Repulse
  • 2 x CA TFs Cruiser-1 and 2
  • 2 x Cl TFs Cruiser-3 and 4
  • Fr CL TF Cruiser-1
  • one mine point (unused)
  • Scotland holding box:
  • 2 x Br 2-6 Inf Xs 15 and 146 reinfs
  • Br RM 0-1-4 Fort X RMFU, reinf
  • Br 0-6 Cmdo II 1C/A reinf
  • Br RM pos flk unit (AA=1) reinf
  • 2 x Fr 2-8 Mtn IIIs 5 CA and 27 CA reinfs

Norwegian Replacement Pool:

  • 0-1-6 Inf II 2/HMKG
  • 0-1-8 Cav II 2 OP
  • 1-6 Inf III 1/1 Of
  • 1st Inf XX HQ unit [reinf unable to arrive]
  • CD TF Norge.

Movement Phase

1st Naval Movement Step

It’s the SoS Campaign for Norway game report posted earlier this year in the EA files folder, I believe, that first brought to my attention the two Nor 0-1-6 Ski IIs Alta and Var that are also mentioned in the SoS Norway, 1939-1945 Europa OB. My first thought back then was that these two Norwegian ground units in a SoS Campaign for Norway scenario might ought to be a locked-in garrison far north up by the Norwegians’ Arctic border with the USSR, being that the Soviet’s Winter War with Finland was just recently ended when their Nazi-Soviet Pact friend, Nazi Germany executed its invasion of neutral Norway. However, the two Nor ski IIs come up again in the same SoS Norway Europa OB as a General Mobilization +1 conversion along with the 1-6 Inf III 16Tr placed at start at Tromso (5C:0307). And so now we say that a Nor NTP spends 30 MPs to embark the 0-1-6 Ski II Alta at the minor port of Alta (6B:0632) and another Nor NTP spends 30 MPs to embark the 0-1-6 Ski II Var at the minor port of Kirkenes (6B:1122), both located in the far northern extremity of Norway. Then we dig out Europa map 6A from the old FitE/SE Europa map collection (the SoS Norway, 1939-1945 OB says map 6B, to be sure) in order to use it to count out the sea hexes using the scenario’s Norwegian NTPs to get these two units in play on the official SoS Campaign for Norway Scenario maps.

In the British Isles the Br Cruiser-3 and Cruiser-4 CL TFs along with the Fr Cruiser-1 CL TF expend 17 MPs per the Allied Game Chart to voyage off-map from the Orkney Islands holding box to the Scotland holding box. This is done to avoid dice rolls on the Danger Zones Chart and possible sea patrol attacks from the LW air units based in southern Norway and in Denmark. At the Scotland holding box the three Western Allied CL TFs expend their remaining 13 MPs of the naval movement step embarking the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA onto the Fr CL TF, the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27 CA onto the Br Cruiser-3 CL TF, and the Br 2-6 Inf X 146 onto the Br Cruiser-4 CL TF.

Apart from the naval transport of the Nor ski IIs and also the newly arriving Western Allied reinforcements in the Orkney Islands and Scotland holding boxes to places in Noway closer to the German invasion forces, it appears now in this Allied naval movement sub-phase that there is an array of offensive schemes in Norway available to the Allied player. For the next several turns he has in his possession the powerful Allied (mainly British) naval arm to met out some telling blows against the Nazi invaders there. Careful consideration is given to a large multi-turnand multi-faceted operation around the Narvik zone. Another riskier but perhaps necessary and possibly rewarding scheme is an operation designed to secure the defense of Bergen next turn and hopefully beyond. Finally there is the more benign ambition to reinforce the Trondheim zone as an Allied base in Scandinavia and keep this major port of the Atlantic in Allied possession as long as possible.

2nd Naval Movement Step

The three Western Allied CL TFs expend 17 MPs to complete the embarkation of their ground unit cargo at the Scotland holding box and then expend the remaining 13 MPs of the naval movement step sailing off-map back to the Orkney Islands holding box.

Then, in the Orkney Islands holding box, the Br CA TF Cruiser-1 spends 30 MPs completely embarking the 1 mine point that has been stored at the harbor.

On the non-SoS Europa map 6A, the Nor NTP carrying the 0-1-6 Ski II Var sails out of the minor port of Kirkenes (6A/B:1122) and spends 23 MPs to eventually enter the map overlapped all-sea hex(es) 6A:0133/5C:0101, thereby now entering the SoS provided Europa game maps. It then expends 7 more MPs to end the naval movement step at all-sea hex 5C:0207, one hex NW of the Norwegian coast isle of Troms, still above the Arctic circle. The other Nor NTP carrying the 0-1-6 Ski II Alta leaves the minor port of Alta and spends 7 MPs to also finally enter the SoS maps at 5C:0101, and then expends another 23 MPs to end the naval movement step “at sea” at the Norwegian island hex at 5C:0819 (Moskenes). Both NTPs’ dice roll on the Danger Zones Chart was no contact.

3rd Naval Movement Step

The three Western Allied CL TFs carrying their ground unit cargo expend 4 MPs to enter the Orkney Islands holding box. There they combine with virtually the entire fleet in the box and sail as a large combat naval group to all-sea hex 10B:1814, expending their remaining 26 MPs doing so. Upon entering the SoS maps at sea the naval group successfully rolls a no contact on the Danger Zones Chart. A careful north-veering zig-zag route eastward is done to avoid the sea patrol ranges of the two He 111H4 (S code) B type air units based at the 3-cap airfield at 4415 along the southern Norway coastline and the He 111P1 B type air unit based at Oslo. This combat naval group is composed of the following naval units:

  • 3-pt CV CG A. Royal, carrying the FAA Skua (C code) DF type air unit
  • 2-pt CV CG Glorious, carrying the FAA Sword 1 (VC code) A type air unit
  • 2-pt CV CG Furious, carrying the FAA S. Glad F (C code) type air unit
  • 7-pt BB TF Rodney
  • 6-pt BB TF Warspite
  • 2 x 5-pt BC TFs Renown and Repulse
  • 5-pt CA TF Cruiser-1, carrying 1 mine point
  • 5-pt CL TF Cruiser-3, carrying the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27CA
  • French 5-pt CL TF Cruiser-1, carrying the Fr 2-6 Mtn III 5CA
  • 5-pt CL TF Cruiser-4, carrying the Br 2-6 Inf X 146

The way I’ve been playing the game is that when the CV CGs (the aircraft carriers) and the FAA carrier-capable air units begin the Allied turn in either the Orkney Islands or Scotland holding box, the Allied player may place the FAA carrier-capable air units on the carriers as he pleases or else leave them at the holding box airbase.

Only the BB TF Valiant and the CA TF Cruiser-2 remain moored at port in the Orkney Islands holding box.

Above the Arctic circle one of the two Nor NTPs carrying the two Nor ski IIs rolls a 12 on the Danger Zones Chart. A second die roll is then done on the “1” column of the Naval Combat Table and a 5 is rolled: a miss. After this close call the NTPs resume expending MPs and eventually enter the Norwegian controlled port of Bodo, at the point city/minor port rough terrain road terminus coast hex at 5C:1217, where they begin disembarking their two ground units. Both will end their disembarkations at Bodo in the 4th naval movement step, leaving each ski II with 1 MP, in mud weather, in the Allied ground movement sub-phase.

4th Naval Movement Step

After completing the disembarkation of the two ski IIs at the port of Bodo, the two Nor NTPs are removed from play for the rest of the Allied turn. The third available Nor NTP has yet to be used this turn.

The large combat naval group at all-sea hex 1814 first rolls a 7 on the Danger Zones Chart: a miss, and then expends 11 MPs to move due east to 10B:1803. Here the Br Cruiser-4 CL TF carrying the Br 2-6 Inf X 146 breaks off from the main Allied combat naval group and, using night movement to evade the sea patrol range of the He 111P1 B type air unit based at Oslo, expends 9 MP at night movement to sail SE and eventually enters the Norwegian major port of Trondheim within its vast fjord. There it expends its remaining 11 MPs to begin disembarking its ground unit cargo and also simultaneously begin the replenishment of its fuel supply. Both these labors take 30 MPs to complete and per Rule 34B3-Replenishment can be done simultaneously; but note that replenishment can be done only at a functioning Allied great or major port. However, right now I’m thinking that perhaps in SoS NTO, Nordic Adventure, and Campaign for Norway scenarios British (and French) naval ammo depletion replenishment (Rule 34B2-Ammo Depletion) might ought to be restricted to either the Orkney Islands or Scotland holding box naval bases; but in this EA game report will try to play the wargame as I understand the SoS rules as written.

The rest of the large Allied combat naval group continues a northeasterly bearing and ends the naval movement step at all-sea hex 5C:1021, just south of the A weather line crossing the Norwegian Sea.

5th Naval Movement Step

At Trondheim the Br Cruiser-4 CL TF spends 21 MPs to finish disembarking the Br 2-6 Inf X 146 at this reference city/major port and also replenishing. It then expends its remaining 9 MPs to sail westwards to 10B:1905, having rolled a no contact on the Danger Zones Chart upon leaving the safety of the strategic Trondheim port.

Meanwhile, back at all-sea hex 5C:1021, just south of the large funnel-shaped island and broken coastline bordered entrance into the Narvik zone, the Allied combat naval group there first rolls a 9 on the Danger Zones Chart. Then the large combat naval group, minus however the Br CA TF Cruiser-1 carrying 1 mine point, spends 15MPs sailing northwards and eventually enters the Norwegian point city/minor port of Harstad at wooded rough terrain coast road hex 5C:0712, on the northern shores of the rugged Norwegian offshore isle of Hinn. At the minor port of Harstad the Br Cruiser-3 CL TF and the Fr Cruiser-1 CL TF both spend their remaining 15MPs of the naval movement step beginning to disembark the two Fr 2-8 Mtn IIIs 27CA and 5CA. Note however, that this vast armada of Allied TFs crammed into this tiny and remote Norwegian coastal island port above the Arctic circle cannot replenish here, as it is a minor port and not an Allied naval base.

The Br CA TF Cruiser-1 (carrying 1 mine point), after participating in the Danger Zones Chart die roll at the start of the naval movement step with the rest of the large combat naval group, then moves from all-sea hex 5C:1021 and spends 6 MPs to eventually enter the Bodo hex, at point city/minor port rough terrain road terminus hex 5C:1217, where it expends 5 MPs sowing its mine load off shore at sea in the coast hex. After that it sails to the minor port of Harstad, there joining the rest of the Allied combat naval group it has been voyaging with through the Norwegian Sea.

Ground Movement Sub-Phase

With the Allied loss of the rail marshaling yards at the major ports of Narvik and Oslo and the standard ports at Stavanger and Kristiansand, all of which are rail linked to the Scandinavian Rail Net, the Norwegians currently have a raw railcap of 4. However, last turn the Luftwaffe managed to achieve a rail marshaling yard air raid hit at the Bergen hex, which reduces the current Norwegian rail cap to 3. In addition, with the capture of the vital Norwegian rail hub at Oslo, the Norwegian rail net has effectively been cut into two separate subnets, each drawing its particular rail capability from the remaning Allied rail marshaling yards at Bergen and at Trondheim, each major ports linked by rail to the Scandinavian Rail Net. Thus, the way I’m currently playing the game, the Bergen rail subnet has a cap of 1 (due to the Bergen rail marshaling yard airstrike) and the Trondheim rail subnet has a cap of 2; which only complicates the Allied maneuver capabilities in Norway at this critical turn.

In the far north the 1-6 Mtn III 6/14SH at rough terrain coast road hex 5C:0911 moves one hex to stack with the *1-2-6 Inf III 6/15NH at mtn coast road junction hex 0910, where it assembles into the *2-3-6 Mtn X 6. This beefed up Norwegian mtn X is adjacent to Axis held Narvik.

A little to the south of Narvik, at mtn rail border hex 5C:1518, the 1-6 Inf III 16Tr admin moves northwards in the mud weather up the Norwegian coast road and ends its move at Bodo (5C:1217), stacked with the two recently disembarked 0-1-6 Ski IIs Var and Alta. But these three units must wait there until the next Allied initial phase before they convert to the *2-3-6 Ski X 7.

With a 50-50 chance of clear weather next turn in the C weather zone, the Allied player feels this turn he must maneuver his forces in the critical Oslo region of the Norwegian theater as if next turn the weather there will in fact be clear. He believes that now conservation of Norwegian ground units is more important than attempting to retain the territory just north of the capital. Not even the Norwegian factory at woods rail hex 3606 is especially important. The wargame clearly shows the Norwegian armed forces rapidly transitioning from being a part of the Norwegian national economy to becoming a part of the larger war economies of the Western Allies. Also, the looming prospect of clear weather compels him to now think of the three hitherto fractured and isolated regions centered around Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim as one larger combined war zone region. Accordingly, it is decided that the Oslo zone is defensively untenable in clear weather and that all ground units in that zone must either fall back to the NNE and defend by blocking positions the two rail lines in eastern Norway leading ultimately NNW to Trondheim, or else begin falling back along the rail line running westwards to Bergen through the forested and mountainous terrain of the “keel of Scandinavia.”

One particular problem with this new Allied strategy, especially of “falling back to the NNE” of Oslo (10B:4007), is the presence of the two Ger wint 2-6 Inf IIIs F and G at woods rail hex 3907, NE of Oslo. This hex, along with the wooded rough hex just north of it at 3806, acts as a hindering barrier to Norwegian units in the Oslo zone, most all of which are to the west of this barrier, from retreating NNE in the mud weather to the vicinity of the two rail lines leading to Trondheim. No serious thought is given to attacking the German stack. More Norwegian ground units than what he desires will be forced to march into the Bergen cull de sac in order to survive. Moreover, if the weather is clear next turn, this transportation line is liable to be blocked at several points by swift moving Axis motorized units running up from southern Norway. At least two Nor inf IIIs at Bergen may have to come and guard these rail hexes at certain points in order that the retreating Norwegian units from the Oslo zone can perhaps safely make it to the Bergen hex. The Allied player even ponders sending Br naval units into the potentially dangerous and weakened Bergen hex in order to provide defensive NGS on the May I 40 Axis combat phase.

The following is a descriptive listing of the Allied wargame forces on the wargame maps and holding boxes at the end of the movement phase:

Mountain coast road junction hex 5C:0910 (next to Narvik):

  • Nor *2-3-6 Mtn X 6

Hartstad, at wooded rough terrain coast road hex 5C:0712, on the isle of Hinn:

  • CV CG A. Royal, carrying the Skua (C code) DF type air unit
  • CV CG Glorious, carrying the Sword 1 (VC code) A type air unit
  • CV CG Furious, carrying the S. Glad (C code) F type air unit
  • BB TF Rodney
  • BB TF Warspite
  • 2 x BC TFs Renown and Repulse
  • CA TF Cruiser-1
  • CL TF Cruiser-3, disembarking the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27CA
  • Fr CL TF Cruiser-1, disembarking the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA
    Note: all naval units are in the port of Harstad.

Bodo, at point city/minor port rough terrain coast road terminus hex 5C:1217:

  • 2 x Nor Ski IIs Var and Alta

Nor 16 Inf III 16Tr

  • 1 Allied mine point sown off shore “at sea”

Clear terrain coast rail hex 5C:2431, w/ a 1-cap permanent airstrip:

  • Br Whit 5 NB type air unit

Trondheim, at reference city/major port woods coast rail hex 5C:2432:

  • Nor 5th [Inf]Mtn XX HQ unit
  • Br 2-6 Inf X 146, recently disembarked
  • Br Well 1C NB type air unit
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-4, in the port

Rough terrain coast hex 5C:2333:

  • Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength level of 3

Rough terrain coast hex 10B:2302:

  • Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength of level 2
    Note: the two above intrinsic CDs guard the entrance into the Trondheim fjord.

All-sea hex 10B:1905:

  • Br Cruiser-4 CL TF, returning to the Orkney Islands holding box from Trondheim

Forest rail/road junction hex 10B:2901:

  • Nor 1-6 Mtn III 5/12ST, admin moved from Trondheim

Mtn rail hex 10B:2804:

  • Br 2-6 Inf X 148, admin moved from Trondheim

Forest rail hex 10B:3805:

  • Nor 1-6 Mtn III 5/14MT, railed in from Trondheim

Woods rail/road junction hex 10B:3603:

  • Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 3Tdl; railed in from 5C:2433, which is just south of Trondheim

Wooded rough rail hex 10B:3805:

  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 5/11Mo, regular moved two hexes from 3806

Woods rail hex 10B:4005:

  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol; moved in from 4006, spent 4 MPs to demolish bridge it crossed

Roods rail hex 10B:3606:

  • Norwegian factory marker

Forest rail hex 10B:3608 (to Bergen):

  • Nor *2-3-6 Mtn X 3
  • Nor 2nd Inf XX HQ unit, reinf; both these units regular moved from wooded rough coast rail hex 3808, w/ a 1-cap permanent airstrip. The airstrip was not demolished.

Forest rail hex 10B:3310 (to Bergen):

  • Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak, admin moved from Honefoss (3808)
  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/6Vl, admin moved from 3809
  • Mtn rail hex 10B:3311 (to Bergen):
  • 1-6 Eng 1, reinf; admin moved from Honefoss

Rough terrain rail hex 10B:3312 (to Bergen):

  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 1/3Tm; regular moved from 10B:4008 to 4007, then railed to here

Mtn rail hex 10B:3312 (to Bergen):

  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 4/9Hl; admin moved from Bergen

Mtn rail hex 10B:3313 (to Bergen)

  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 3/8Rl, admin moved from Bergen

Bergen, at dot city/major port rough terrain coast rail terminus hex 10B:3606:

  • Nor *2-3-6 Mtn X 4
  • Br 3-6 Inf x 24G
  • Nor C.V A type air unit
  • Nor intrinsic CD with a strength level of 3

Woods coast hex 4109:

  • Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength level of 5

Fredrikstad, at point city/minor port clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:4309:

  • Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength level of 3

Note: The two above intrinsic CDs guard the approaches to Oslo along the shores of the Oslofjord.

Scotland holding box:

  • Br 2-6 Inf X 15, reinforcement
  • Br 0-6 Commando II IC/A
  • Br RM 0-1-4 Fort X RMFU
  • Orkney Islands holding box:
  • BB TF Valiant
  • Br CA TF Cruiser-2

Combat Phase

The Allied player conducts no ground attacks in his combat phase.

Exploitation Phase:

1st Naval Movement Step

The first thing the Allied player does in his naval movement sub-phase is announce a daylight strat bombing mission on the Axis held major port of Narvik (5C:1010) by the Br Whit 5 NB type air unit based at the 1-cap permanent airstrip at 5C:2431, just east of Trondheim, and the Br Well 1C NB type air unit based at the reference city airbase at Trondheim. The flak die rolls are high done by the LW 0-8 Lt AA II II/33 (AA=1) stacked with the 2-8 Mtn III B guarding the hex; but then the two NB type air units roll low on the Bombing Table, with their rather high factor strat bombing strengths halved for the mud weather: two misses. The two Br night bombers then return to their respective bases in the Trondheim zone.

In the port of Hartstad (5C:0712) the Br Cruiser-3 CL TF and the Fr Cruiser-1 CL TFs each spend 16 MPs to finish disembarking there the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27CA and the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA respectively, and then with the rest of the Allied combat naval group in the port raise anchors and sail out of the Norwegian minor port, bearing southwards. The combat naval group rolls a six on the Danger Zones Chart: no contact. After moving one sea hex the task force pauses at the island hex of Tjelde (5C:0812) and the Sea Gladiator air unit aboard the CV CG Furious flies the CAP mission over the Axis held Narvik hex. Perhaps miffed by all the enemy activity abounding around his Norwegian prize at Narvik, the Axis player counts out the hexes from Oslo to Narvik, evidently thinking of sending the Me 110C1 F type air unit there on a transfer mission to the Narvik hex to tangle with the S. Gladiator, until he realizes that Narvik’s reference city airbase is out of range of the Me 110 at Oslo. The large Allied combat naval group at Tjelde then continues south without the Sea Gladiator and ends the naval step at all-sea hex 5C:1021, five hexes ESE of Bodo. It is admittedly temping to the Allied player to send at least his Skua DF type FAA air unit on maybe an airbase or port tac bombing air mission against the Axis held Narvik hex, but the British aircraft carriers are on a specific naval combat mission this voyage, and can take no chances with the valuable DF type Skua against even a flak factor of 1 taking carnival show pot shots now; and so they sail past the enemy here in silence.

On the other hand, the crews of the Br BB TF Valiant and the Br CA TF Cruiser-2, after perhaps some serious prayer saying at the Navy Chapel at the Orkney Islands holding box and likely some somber letter writing to loved ones back home, leave the holding box and, first thing as they enter the SoS map at 10B:2433, roll a 12 on the Danger Zones Chart. The Cruiser-2 CA TF is randomly picked per Rule 34D2-Danger Zones; then the die roll on the “1” column of the Naval Combat Table is done and comes up 6: a hit. One step out the front door and already this naval combat group has encountered bad luck. Nevertheless the naval group expends 17 MPs sailing towards Norway to all-sea hex 10B:2119, where the Axis player asks the Br combat naval group to pause. Then the Allied player moves one more hex to all-sea hex 2218, where the Axis player tells the Allied player to stop his naval move.

The Axis player then announces sea patrol air missions per Rule 20G2i-Naval Patrol to the target hex from two airbases in Norway. First the He 111P1 B type air unit based at Oslo rolls for a contact attempt using the Success Table. The target hex is exactly at its 20 hex range limit. A +3modifier for calm sea conditions is canceled out by a -3 “for every 5 hexes…after the first 5 flown to the target hex.” The Axis player rolls a 1: failure. The He 111P1 B type returns to the Oslo airbase inoperative.

Next a single die roll on the Success Table is done for the two He 111H4 (S code) B type air units from the 3-cap permanent airfield (w/ 1 hit) at 10B:4415. The +3 for calm seas is offset by a -4 for the 22 hex flight distance to the target hex, for a factored -1 modifier overall. The Axis rolls a hot 6: the only number equating to a success. Now the two He 111H4 (S code) air units fly into the AA fire of the BB TF Valiant (AA=2), per Rule 32B-[Antiaircraft] Resolution. Both flack rolls by the Allied player are high: 2 misses. Finally the Axis player rolls two dice for each He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit attacking the Br Combat naval group, using the “1” column of the Bombing Table (w/ a +1 modifier for being S code) and comes up with a 2 and a 6, for 1 hit. Having committed in an earlier EA game report to using Optional Rule 44D-Optional Naval Mechanics in sea patrol attacks, a random picking of the naval group’s naval units allots the bombing hit to the Cruiser-2 CA TF. The two He 111H4 (S code) B type air units return inoperative to the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:3720, one hex from the reference city/standard port of Stavanger on the SW coast of Norway.

The Br combat naval group comprising the 6-pt BB TF Valiant and the 5-pt CA TF Cruiser-2 (2 hits) proceed onwards towards the Bergen hex, using night movement the last 5 MPs to avoid possible contact from the two He 111H4 B type air units assigned to the sea patrol mission based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:5014 in NE Denmark. Upon arriving at the Bergen dot city/major port the two Br TFs have so far expended 28 MPs. There, still at night movement, the two TFs spend their last 2 MPs of the naval movement step both replenishing their expended fuel (only) at this Allied naval base and also preparing to provide defensive NGS the next Axis combat phase. I currently don’t believe that the naval TFs can replenish their ammo prior to actually using it (eg., firing the big naval guns).

Meanwhile, the Br Cruiser-4 CL TF at 10B:1905 first rolls a 10 on the Danger Zones Chart: no contact, and then expends its 30 MP naval movement step allowance moving westwards to 10B:2432, almost at the western edge of the SoS map E10B(NW) and nearly at the Orkney Islands holding box entry hexes.

2nd Naval Movement Step

The Br Cruiser-4 CL TF at 10B:2432 spends 2 MPs to enter the Orkney Islands holding box and then spends 17 MPs to move off-map from the Orkney Islands holding box to the Scotland holding box. There it spends 11 MPs beginning to replenish its depleted fuel.

The big Allied combat naval group at 5C:1021 first rolls a 9 on the Danger Zones Chart: no contact. Then the Furious CV CG (now not carrying any FAA air units) along with the Br Cruiser-3 CL TF and the Fr Cruiser-1 CL TF 1 breaks off from the main Allied naval group and moves 30 MPs heading a WSW bearing and ends the naval movement step at 10B:2013, three hexes north of the Norwegian coast isle of Bremanger, at the great east bending angle of the southern Scandinavian peninsula. The rest of the large Allied combat naval group spends 24 MPs heading southwards to the reference city/major port of Trondheim, and there spends its last 6 MPs of the naval movement step replenishing its fuel at this Allied naval base.

At the dot city/major port of Bergen the BB TF Valiant and the CA TF Cruiser-2 (2 hits) both spend 3 MPs at night to continue replenishing their fuel at the naval base and also to continue preparing to provide defensive NGS the next Axis combat phase, for a subtotal of 5 MPs so far for each of these two labors. On their 4th MP of the current naval movement step, at the crack of dawn over the rugged Norwegian mountains, the Axis player announces a naval strike air mission against the Bergen target hex by the two Ju 88A1 (S code) B type air units based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:3720, in SW Norway, adjacent to Stavanger (10B:3619). Once again, the flack shooters aboard the BB TF Valiant (AA=2) miss their mark against the two Ju 88s. After the flack shot one of the two Ju 88A1s scores a hit on the Bombing Table, aided by the +1 modifier for being an S code air unit. A random drawing picks the CA TF Cruiser-2 to take the hit, and so now this Br CA TF has a tally of 3 hits, so far. After putting out the ship fires caused by the Luftwaffe air attack on the British warships in the Bergen harbor, the two Br TFs expend the rest of their naval movement step allowance finishing their fuel replenishment. They also both arrive at a subtotal of 32 MPs in their preparations to provide defensive NGS the next Axis combat phase.

3rd Naval Movement Step

The large Allied combat naval group at Trondheim spends 24 MPs to finish replenishing and then remains anchored at the port for the remainder of the naval movement step.

At the Allied naval base at the port of Bergen the BB TF Valiant and the CA TF Cruiser-2 (3 hits) spend their 30 MP naval movement step allowances continuing to prepare to provide NGS, jacking the preparation subtotal to 62.

The Allied combat naval group comprising the Furious CV CG and the Br CL TF Cruiser-3 and the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 spend 23 MPs heading in a westward direction and enter the Orkney Islands holding box. There the Furious CV CG spends 7 MPs beginning to replenish its depleted fuel and the two Western Allied CL TFs spend 7 MPs moving off-map to the Scotland holding box. No contact was done by the Danger Zones Chart dice roll.

At the Scotland holding box the Br Cruiser-4 CL TF spends 19 MPs to complete its fuel replenishment and then remains anchored at the holding box’s port for the duration of the naval movement step.

4th Naval Movement Step

The Br CA TF Cruiser-1 naval units leaves the major port of Trondheim by itself and voyages northwards 30 MPs towards the Narvik zone, ending the naval movement step at all-sea hex 5C:0815, one hex SW of the craggy isle of Hinn. It rolls an 8 on the Danger Zones Chart. The rest of the large British combat naval group in the port of Trondheim stays put the entirety of the current naval movement step.

At the major port of Bergen the BB TF Valiant and the CA TF Cruiser-2 (3 hits) finish on the 28th MP their preparations for NGS the next Axis combat phase. They end the naval movement step idle at the port of Bergen.

At the Orkney Islands holding box the Furious CV CG (without any FAA air units on board) finishes replenishing its fuel and then lingers at the holding box. Here it is certainly awaiting to embark the carrier transportable Glad F type air unit reinf next Allied turn that appears at the holding box. Meanwhile, the Br CL TF Cruiser-3 and the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 spend 10 MPs continuing to voyage off-map to the Scotland holding box. Upon their arrival at the holding box naval base they each expend their remaining 20 MPs of the naval movement step beginning to replenish their depleted fuel.

5th Naval Movement Step

At the Scotland holding box the Br CL TF Cruiser-3 and the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 finish their fuel replenishment and remain at the holding box until the end of the naval movement sub-phase.

Far to the north, the Br CA TF Cruiser-1 at all-sea hex 5C:0815 rolls a 4: no contact, on the Danger Zones Chart and then expends 6 MPs sailing due east through Norwegian coast hexes to end its naval step movement at the Norwegian isle of Tjelde hex at 5C:0812. The purpose of this naval operation is to block the Axis naval-element supply line to the Axis held major port of Narvik (5C:1010), three hexes away, occupied by the Ger *2-8 Mtn III B and a LW 0-8 Lt AA II.

At Trondheim, the large British combat naval group leaves the safety of this Atlantic major port and voyages into the Norwegian Sea; it rolls a 9 on the Danger Zones Chart: no contact. Then it spends 17 MPs and ends its naval movement step move at all-sea hex 10B:1611, in the midst of the Norwegian Sea. This combat naval group is comprised of the following British naval units:

  • Rodney and Repulse BB TFs
  • Renown and Repulse BC TFs
  • Glorious CV CG carrying the Sword 1 (VC code) A type FAA air unit
  • Ark Royal CV CG carrying the Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit.

Ground Movement Sub-Phase

There are no Allied motorized units on the Campaign for Norway scenario maps, and so it is mainly, though not entirely, Axis air units that move in the Allied exploitation phase.

The LW Ju 87R D type air unit at the Oslo airbase does a nonphasing transfer air mission to the reference city airbase at Stavanger (10B:3619) on the SW coast of Norway.

A Ju 52 T type air unit at an airbase in the Danish Protectorate (at Odense) does a nonphasing transfer air mission to the 3-cap (w/ 1 hit) permanent airfield at 10B:4415, on the southern Norwegian coastline. It is joined by the He 115B (SF type) air unit from the Northern Germany holding box.

At the end of the exploitation phase the Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit flying the CAP air mission over the Narvik hex bases at the at start 1-cap permanent airstrip at Bardufoss (5C:0708) on the Norwegian mainland.