Initial Phase
For the last game turn the Axis player rolls a 3 on the SoS provided GE Weather Table. This means clear weather in zones B and C and continued mud weather in zone A. Sea conditions remain calm.
Both sides’ forces and airbase hexes appear to be in supply. All ports are functioning.
Per the German North Theater 1940-1945 Europa OB, which begins on p. 45 of the SoS OB booklet, the two Ger 1-10 Mot MG IIs 4 and 14 are transferred to Greater Germany this turn. They are presently in the Northern Germany holding box. The Axis player wonders if he should have been more aggressive with these two motorized ground units and should have somehow managed to ship them over to southern Norway. If nothing else they could have perhaps aided in gaining control of some transportation line hexes. In any event they are withdrawn from the holding box in the initial phase.
The Axis player spends an ARP to bring back the aborted Ju 52 T type air unit and places it at the Kiel partial city hex airbase (13A:1421). Also in this hex is the B TF Schlesien naval unit, an unused Ger 1 factor mine point, and a resource point. The other available resource point is in the Northern Germany holding box.
Utilizing Rule 35A-[Naval] Regrouping, the Axis player removes one surviving strength point from both the BC TF Gneisnau (3 hits) and the BF TF Luzow (2 hits) and adds them to the CA TF A. Hipper (2 hits), thereby removing the A. Hipper’s two hits. The Lutzow and Gneisnau TFs are subsequently removed from play and placed in the German replacement pool. All three affected Kriegsmarine naval units start this initial phase in the Northern Germany holding box. Despite the fact that all the heavy TFs of the German navy are either severely damaged from sea battles or resting at the bottom of the Norwegian Sea, despite the fact that evidently per the SoS VP schedule the Axis side is well ahead in VPs, there are still serious and risky war tasks demanded of the Kriegsmarine in the Scenario.
At the end of the intial phase the Northern Germany holding box contains the CA TF A. Hipper (now w/ no hits), the CL TF Cruiser-1, the two DD TFs Flotillas-1 and -2, a LW pos flk unit (AA=1), and a resource point. Half a resource point is stored at the holding box. At the Sylt holding box is an at start LW pos flk unit (AA=1).
Since no airbases on either side are stacked in excess of the base’s capacity, all on-map air units are operative by the end of the initial phase.
Neither side flies CAP air missions in the initial phase; nor does the Allied player fly any harassment air missions. However, the Allied player assigns the operative Sword 1 (VC code) A type FAA air unit aboard the CV TF Glorious at all-sea hex 10B:1608 on the sea patrol air mission.
The Axis player has an elaborate amphibious assault operation planned for this turn. But its very elaborateness and untimeliness, coming at the last game turn, certainly also contribute to its undoing. And so only a small fragment of the larger envisioned operation will be attempted. The complete Axis plan will be outlined in this report so as to describe for any interested EA readers what might be done in Campaign for Norwayscenarios at this late stage in the game.
Each player turn, perhaps using a standard letter envelope with a piece of paper inside of it, both players might go through the motions of planning sp ops, whether actually having a particular sp op written down or not. This keeps the threat of sp ops a reality and seems to be one way of fulfilling the requirements of Rule 24C-Planning and Preparation, which is stipulated per the SoS rules for both airborne and amphibious sp ops.
For his amphibious sp ops planned for this turn, the Axis player has the following information written on his amphibious operation planning sheet:
Sp Ops Data for the May II 40 Axis turn:
- unsupported 2-6 Inf III breakdown lands at Kristiansand hex 10B:2206; breakdown of the 6-6 Inf XX 214
- unsupported 2-6 Inf III breakdown lands at Alesund hex 10B:2310; breakdown of the 6-6 Inf XX 214
- unsupported 1-6 Inf III breakdown lands at Hauge hex 10B:3010; breakdown of the 6-6 Inf XX 214.
- unsupported 2-6 Inf III breakdown lands at the double islets of Ask and Holsn hex 10B:2917; breakdown of 6-6 Inf XX 170
- unsupported 2-6 Inf III breakdown lands at isle of Sorta hex 10B:3017; breakdown of 6-6 Inf XX 170
- unsupported 1-6 Inf III breakdown lands a isle of Huftar hex 10B:3118; breakdown of 6-6 Inf XX 170.
Both the Ger 170th and the 214th Inf XXs are located at major ports on the Danish peninsula.
It is unclear to me right now if the specific unsupported unit breakdown designations need to be specified in the amphibious sp op advanced planning document. I definitely believe the identity of the division to be broken down needs to be listed, in order to be sure that the rest of the unit’s sp op Rule 24C requirements have been met. In any event, one or both of the two German infantry divisions may not need to be broken down into the appropriate unsupported divisional breakdown units until the start of the Axis movement phase of the special operation, whereas the formal planning of the amphibious sp op must be done in the initial phase of the prior Axis player turn.
The presence of the powerful British combat naval group in the Norwegian Sea at 10B:1608, replete with a potent aircraft carrier force, effectively scotches the amphibious sp ops of the broken down Ger 214th Inf XX’s unsupported regimental units in that Norwegian coastal zone. Moreover, the presence of the Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 3 at the point city/minor port Hauge hex at 10B:3010 puts a drop dead stop to any amphibious landing at this mountain coast hex.
The presence of the Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 2 OP at the Sorta island hex 10B:3017, along with the 3 strength point CD at the adjacent Bergen hex (3016) to the east makes the landing here a very risky venture. The Nor cav II can do an amphibious reaction movement across the narrow straits hexsides to the coastal islets on either side of it per Rule 32D-Enemy Reaction. Finally, the amphibious landing at the double islet hex of Ask and Holsn at 0B:2917 is within the 15 sea hex reaction range of the non-phasing British combat naval group to the north at 1608, therefore inviting its quite unwelcome arrival at the scene.
By the way, the Allied player has an amphibious sp op planned for his May II 40 player turn.
Movement Phase:
1st Naval Movement Step
At the start of the movement phase the 6-6 Inf XX 170 at Aalborg in the Danish Protectorate breaks down into its three unsupported Inf IIIs D and its Inf XX D HQ unit.
Three Ger NTPs spend 30 MPs embarking the 6-6 Inf XX 214 at the dot city/major port hex of Aahrus at 13A:0616, in the Danish Protectorate. The fourth Ger NTP spends 30 MPs embarking the D Inf XX HQ unit at the reference city/major port hex of Aalborg at 10B:5115, a little farther north up the Danish peninsula.
The B TF Schlesien spends 30 MPs embarking the 1 strength mine point stored at the partial major city/major port hex of Kiel at 13A:1421, in Greater Germany.
The remaining remnants of the Kriegsmarine form into a combat naval group and leave the Northern Germany holding box, using the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal to enter the Baltic Sea, and spend 23 MPs voyaging to and entering the major port of Aalborg. There at Aalborg the DD TF Flotilla-2 spends the remaining 7 MPs of its naval movement step allowance beginning to embark the unsupported 1-6 Inf III D. The DD TF Flotilla-1 and the CL TF Cruiser-1 both spend 7 MPs beginning to embark the two unsupported 2-6 Inf IIIs D, respectively. For the time being the CA TF A. Hipper rests idle at port, her sailors ashore perhaps wondering if this might be their last time on land alive, the next time ashore perhaps being to come rest in their graves.
2nd Naval Movement Step
The combat naval group at the major port of Aalborg spends 23 MPs completing the embarkation of their ground unit cargo. Then this naval group, along with the NTP also in the port loaded with the D Inf XX HQ unit, lifts anchors and spends its remaining 7 MPs sailing in a northerly direction, beginning to arc around Denmark, and ends the naval movement step at coast hex 10B:4913, at the northern pointy tip of the Danish peninsula. The B TF Schlesien, now carrying its cargo of 1 mine point, leaves the port of Kiel and sails northwards through the Danish archipelago and ends its naval movement step at this same Danish coast hex. Finally, this converging naval group is joined by the three Ger NTPs carrying their inf XX embarked at Aahrus, the whole contingent combining into a mixed naval group comprised of the following forces:
- CA TF A. Hipper
- B TF Schlesien carrying 1 mine point
- CL TF Cruiser-1 carrying the 2-6 Inf III D
- DD TF Flotilla-1 carrying the 2-6 Inf III D
- DD TF Flotilla-2 carrying the 1-6 Inf III D
- 3 Ger NTPs carrying the 6-6 Inf XX 214
- 1 Ger NTP carrying the D Inf XX HQ unit.
3rd Naval Movement Step
The large Axis mixed naval group at sea at northern Danish coast hex 10B:4913 voyages northwestwards in the Skagarrak and enters the Atlantic Sea Zone at all sea hex 10B:4518. There it rolls a 7 on the Danger Zones Chart. The naval group then proceeds into the North Sea, expending a total of 20 MPs moving to all-sea hex 10B:3320, one hex west of the point city/standard port of Haugesund at hex 3319, on the SW Norwegian coastline in between Bergen and Stavanger. Next the Axis player sends the Me 109E F type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at Norwegian coast hex 10B:3720 on the CAP air mission over Haugesund hex at 3319.
From all-sea hex 10B:3320 the DD TF Flotilla-2 carrying the 1-6 Inf III D and the CA TF A. Hipper break off from the main naval group and spend 5 more MPs to move into the Norwegian sea isle hex of Huftar, at 10B:3118. There the DD TF Flotilla-2 expends its remaining 5 MPs of the current naval movement step beginning to amphibiously disembark the unsupported Ger 1-6 Inf III D onto the enemy controlled island hex; the CA TF A. Hipper stands by in the Huftar island hex as an escort.
The rest of the main German naval group at all-sea hex 10B:3320 spends 2 MPs to enter the Haugesund standard port hex at 10B:3319. Here the B TF Schlesien spends 5 MPs sowing its 1 mine point off-shore “at sea” and then (presumably) needs to spend an additional MP to actually enter the standard port of Haugesund, there joining the rest of the Axis mixed naval group, which already is inside the port of Haugesund. While the Schlesien TF was busy sowing its mines off-shore, in the Haugesund port the rest of the cargo-carrying naval units of the naval group each spend 8 MPs beginning to disembark their ground unit cargo in the Haugesund hex. Overhead the Me 109E fighter air unit on the CAP mission watches for Br Skuas from the Ark Royal at Norwegian Sea hex 10B:1608, perhaps opting to fly the naval strike air misison to the Haugesund port hex. All the naval units, including the B TF Schlesien, that eventually enter the Hauesund port hex remain there until the end of the naval movement step.
4th Naval Movement Step
The Ger DD TF Flotilla-2 carrying the 1-6 Inf III D, still escorted by the CA TF A. Hipper, spends its entire 30 MP naval movement step allowance continuing to amphibiously disembark its ground unit cargo onto the enemy controlled island island beach hex at Huftar (3118). Per the SoS Naval MP Cost Summary it will take 90 MPs to complete the amphibious disembarkation; at the end of the current naval movement step the subtotal is up to 35 MPs. Per Rule 32A-[Amphibious] Disruption, the disruption die roll will be done “after disembarkation, but before enemy reaction….” Evidently per Rule 32D-Enemy Reaction, the Nor 0-1-6 Cav II 2 Op at the adjacent Norwegian coast isle hex of Sorta at hex 3017, which hex has a narrow straits hexside linking it to both the Huftra island hex and Bergen, can attempt a Success Table enemy reaction attempt die roll after the Axis Disruption die roll, and if the attempt is successful can then move 1 MP or move one overland hex (ie., across one of the narrow straits hexsides) somewhere.
The German naval units with ground unit cargo in the Haugesund standard port hex each spend 22 MPs to finish disembarking their ground unit cargo. Per the SoS Naval Transport Costs Summary these disembarked Ger infantry units have 1 regular MP remaining for the upcoming movement phase. After disembarking their cargo at Haugesund the four Ger NTPs are removed from play. The rest of the naval group in the Haugesund hex remains there until the end of the naval movement step.
5th Naval Movement Step
The Ger DD TF Flotilla-2 carrying the 1-6 Inf III D spends another 30 MPs continuing to amphibiously disembark its ground unit cargo at the enemy controlled Huftar island hex at 3118. By the end of the current naval movement step/naval movement sub-phase the amphibious disembarkation subtotal is up to 65 MPs. The CA TF A. Hipper remains on guard, perhaps useful for taking the hit in case of a bad Danger Zones Chart dice roll. In both this naval movement step and in the preceding one the small Ger combat naval group in the Huftar isle hex rolls a no contact on the Danger Zones Chart.
The reconstituted combat naval group in the Haugesund hex leaves the port and voyage southwards, leaving the south edge of game map E10B (SW) at all-sea hex 5123 on their 20th MP. At the end of the naval movement step this Axis combat naval group is off-map, four MPs away from entering the Northern Germany holding box.
Ground Movement Sub-Phase
The first thing the Axis player does in his movement phase is rail the resource point at Kiel (13A:1421) to the 3-cap permanent airfield at Danish coast hex 10B:5014. Next he rails the other resource point located in the Northern Germany holding box to the reference city airbase at the adjacent Aahrus hex at 5115. Then the Mxd (F code) T type air unit based at Aahrus air transports the resource point there to the Oslo airbase. It returns to base at Aahrus, landing inoperative there. Then the recently replaced Ju 52 T type air unit based at Kiel stages to the 3-cap permanent airfield at Danish coat hex 5014 and air transports the other resource point recently railed there also to the Oslo airbase. The Ju 52 transport air unit returns to base at the 3-cap airfield at 5014 on the NE Danish coastline.
This turn in the Nazi controlled portion of southern Norway the Axis player has a “captured” Scandinavian rail net rail cap of 2: ½ each for the captured standard port rail marshaling yards at Stavanger and Kristiansand and 1 for the captured major port rail marshaling yard at Oslo. All three Axis controlled rail marshaling yards are joined by a contiguous line of Axis controlled rail lines. On this last turn of the Campaign for Norway Scenario the Axis player can now, per Optional Rule 44B2-Temporary Rail Capacity Increase, double his “captured” Scandinavian rail cap by expending the two recently air transported resource points at the Oslo rail marshaling yard hex. He does so and then removes the two resource points just landed at the Oslo hex.
Next the Ger 0-1-5 Const III 6 at the Oslo hex spends 4 MPs to repair the hit on the rail line there. There is still a hit on the 6-cap Oslo airbase.
The recently disembarked 6-6 Inf XX 214 at the Haugesund point city hex 3319 spends it remaining 1 MP to regular move to adjacent clear terrain coast road hex 3318, where its divisional ZOCs extend across the narrow straits hexsides there to the Bolmo island hex 3218 and the double isle hex of Tysnes and Stord, both in 3217. In the same manner the two narrow straits hexsides to the other coastal isle of Karm, at 3419 to the SW, are now also in Axis control.
The 3-10 Mot Inf X 11 at mountain coast road hex 10B:3212 spends 6 MPs to cross the mountain hexside to adjacent mountain coast rail (to Bergen) hex 3112. From there it spends 3 regular MPs moving eastwards down three Allied controlled rail (to Bergen) hexes to rough terrain rail hex 3312, and then double backs down the coast road to mountain hex 3213, ending its move there.
In conjunction with the maneuver of the 3-10 mot inf X, the wint 2-6 Inf III E way down at the Skagerrak coast port of Fredrikstad, at 4309, spends exactly 1 regular MP railing 7 hexes to woods rail (to Bergen) hex 3709. From there it spends its remaining 5 regular MPs going down the Allied controlled rail hexes to mountain rail hex 3311, ending its move there. In this manner the Axis player gains hex control of the rail line from Oslo to rail hex 3112, five rail hexes east of Bergen (3016).
In a difficult decision the Axis player decides to regular move the 3-8 Mtn III A at woods rail hex 3705 eight rail hexes NW to mountain rail hex 2906, thereby evidently lunging as far forward as possible into Allied controlled Norway and gaining hex control of 7 rail hexes leading eventually towards Trondheim.
The 1-8 Art X 109 at woods rail hex 4005 first regular moves three rail hexes to woods rail hex 4104, at the Swedish-Norwegian border. Then it reverses direction and marches northwards to woods rail junction hex 3603, which has a rail hit marker on it.
After some initial pondering and figuring, the Axis player sends the Me 110C1 F type air unit based at the Oslo hex on the CAP air mission to forest rail hex 10B:3002, overhead the Nor 0-1-6 Cav II 3Tdl. Next the other 3-8 Mtn III A breakdown unit at woods rail hex 4004 rails four hexes to woods rail hex 3703, one hex south of the 1-8 Art X 109 at 3603, stacked atop the rail hit marker. The mtn III then regular moves 7 hexes North to forest rail hex 3103, just south of the Nor 0-1-6 Cav II 3 Tdl at forest rail hex 3002. After this the A Mtn XX HQ unit at the Oslo hex uses a combination of rail and regular movement to eventually arrive at forest rail hex 3103, there joining the recently arrived 3-8 Mtn III A. Finally, the wint 2-6 Inf III F at woods coast rail hex 4008, way down south on the Oslofjord, uses a similar combination of rail and regular movement to also arrive at forest rail hex 3103, stacking together with the mtn III and the mtn XX HQ unit. This accounts for all four of the Axis player’s rail cap this turn in southern Norway.
By the end of the Axis movement phase the Axis force dispositions in the Scenario are as follows:
Forest rail hex (to Trondheim) 10B:3002:
- Me 110C1 F type air unit flying the CAP air mission over the hex. Below it in the hex is the Nor 0-1-6 Cav II 3Tdl.
Forest rail (to Trondheim) hex 10B:3103:
- A Mtn XX HQ unit; railed from Oslo hex, moved across the rail hit, then railed again
- 3-8 Mtn III A; railed from woods rail hex 4004, then regular moved across the rail hit
- wint 2-6 Inf III F; railed from woods coast rail hex 4008, then moved across rail hit
Woods rail junction hex 10B:3603 (w/ rail hit marker): 1-8 Art X 109, regular moved in from 4005
Mountain rail (to Trondheim) hex 10B:2906:
- 3-8 Mtn III A, regular moved in from woods rail hex 3705
- 1-10 Mot MG II 13; admin moved all the way from rough terrain hex 3607, across the narrow straits lake hexside
- G wint Inf XX HQ unit, admin moved from Oslo along the rail line
- wint 2-6 Inf III G, admin moved from Oslo along the rail line
- wint 2-6 Inf III G, admin moved from wooded rough rail hex 3805
- wint 1-6 Inf III G; admin moved from woods rail hex 3606 across the narrow straits lake hexside
Note: at the end of the movement phase the components of the G wint Inf XX reassemble into the wint 6-6 Inf XX 196
Forest rail (to Trondheim) hex 10B:3006:
- wint 2-6 Inf III F, admin moved from clear terrain rail hex 3906
Mountain road (to Hauge) hex 10B:3109: wint 1-6 Inf III F: regular moved from 3606
Mountain coast road (to Haugesund) hex 10B:3212:
- wint F Inf XX HQ unit, admin moved all the way from Oslo
- wint 2-6 Inf III E, admin moved from woods rail hex 3709
Mountain rail (to Bergen) rail hex 10B:3311:
- wint 2-6 Inf III E; railed to woods rail hex 3709, then regular moved westwards along the rail line into the hex; began turn at Fredrikstad at 4309
Mountain coast road (to Haugesund) hex 10B:3213:
- 3-10 Mot Inf X 13; regular moved 10 hexes to here, began turn at 3212
Mountain road (to Haugesund) junction hex 10B:3415:
- 2-1-10 Pz II 40, admin moved from rough terrain hex 3607
- LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG, moved from Haugesund (3319)
Isle of Huftar at hex 10B:3118:
- CA TF A. Hipper
- DD TF Flotilla-2 amphibiously disembarking 1-6 Inf III D
Clear terrain coast road (to Haugesund) hex 10B:3318:
- 6-6 Inf XX 214; disembarked at Huagesund, then regular moved one hex east on the road
Haugesund, at clear terrain point city/standard port road terminus hex 10B:3319:
- two 2-6 Inf IIIs D, disembarked this turn
- D Inf XX HQ unit, disembarked this turn
- 1 Ger mine point sown off-shore at sea
- Me 109E F type air unit on the CAP air mission over the hex
Mountain road hex 10B:3615: LW 1-10 Mot HV AA II I/32; admin moved from 3720. Note: This unit had to use a roundabout route using the road from 4011 to 3615 for the admin movement because the stretch of transportation line hexes from 4215 to 3715 is still Allied controlled.
Stavanger, at clear terrain reference city/standard port rail terminus hex 10B:3619:
- 1-6 Inf III C, never moved
- LW 1-10 Hv AA II I/611; reassembled this turn from the LW pos flk unit at Stavanger and the LW 0-8 Lt AA III I/611 beginning the turn at 3720
- operative Ju 87R D type air unit
Clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:3720 (w/ an at start 3-cap permanent airfield):
- C Inf XX HQ unit, moved in from adjacent Stavanger
- two operative He 111H4 (S code) B type air units
Egersund, at rough terrain point city/minor port rail coast hex 10B:4019:
- 1 Ger mine point sown off-shore at sea
Wooded rough terrain coast rail hex at 10B:3908, next to Oslo (w/ 1-cap permanent airstrip):
- operative Me 109E F type air unit
Oslo, at partial city/major port rail hex 10B:4007:
- 0-1-5 Const III 6, never moved
- wint Inf III E, moved from woods rail hex 3810
- operative He 111H1 NB type air unit
- operative He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit
- one hit on the airbase
Clear terrain coast rail hex at 10B:5014 in NE Denmark (w/ 3-cap permanent airfield):
- two LW pos flk units (each w/ AA=1), railed in from Sylt and Northern Germany holding boxes
- operative He 115B (SF code) B type air unit
- inoperative Ju 52 T type air unit
Aalborg, at clear terrain reference city/major port coast rail hex 10B:5115, in NE Denmark:
- wint F Inf XX HQ unit, never moved
- wint 6-6 Inf XX 198, moved in from Aahrus (13A:0616)
- inoperative Mxd (F code) T type air unit
Off-map, 4 sea MPs away from entering the Northern Germany holding box:
- B TF Schlesien
- CL TF Cruiser-1
- DD TF Flotilla-1
German Replacement Pool:
- BC TF Schrnhrst
- BC TF Gneisnau
- BP TF Lutzow
- CA TF Blucher
Note: these tally to a total of 14 hits. - Two (isolated) 2-6 Inf IIIs C
Combat Phase
The Axis player does one attack this turn. The Axis stack at forest rail hex 10B:3103 comprised of the A Mtn XX HQ unit, the 3-8 Mtn III A, and the wint 2-6 Inf III F attacks the Nor 0-1-6 Cav II 3Tdl at adjacent forest rail hex 3002, to the north. Evidently the LW Me 110C1 F type air unit flying the CAP air mission over the Norwegian defenders’ hex keeps away an Allied DAS mission by the Nor C.V A type air unit based at Trondheim (5C:2432), certainly escorted by the Br Glad F type air unit based at the 1-cap permanent airstrip in the hex (2431) adjacent to Trondheim. In our situation the Axis player rolls for a 9 to 1 -2 (for the forest) attack and comes up with a 5: DE. The Nor cav II is placed in the Norwegian replacement pool and the wint 2-6 Inf III F moves into hex 10B:3002 after combat.
Exploitation Phase
1st Naval Movement Step
We will review for a moment the large Br combat naval group currently in the Norwegian Sea at 10B:1608, six hexes north of the Norwegiancoastal islet of Otr (2208). This non-phasing Allied naval group at sea has rolled four “no contact” dice rolls on the Danger Zones Chart (DZC) at the start of the previous 5 naval movement steps of the Movement Phase of the current Axis player turn. On one naval movement step the DZC dice roll is a 12. The subsequent random pick of the 6 TFs comprising the combat naval group comes up with the 2-pt CV TF Glorious, carrying the Sword 1 (VC code) A type FAA air unit, as the affected naval unit. The subsequent Axis player die roll on the “1” column of the Naval Combat Table is a 5, perhaps a “close shave” for the Royal Navy carrier. This current naval movement step the Br combat naval group rolls a 5 on the DZC: no contact.
The off-map Kriegsmarine combat naval group comprised of the B TF Schlesien, the CL TF Cruiser-1, and the DD TF Flotilla-1 spends 4 MPs to enter the Northern Germany holding box. There the three naval units spend the remaining 26 MPs of the current naval movement step beginning to replenish their fuel for the first time during the current Axis player turn. Since it is off-map for its movement I believe no DZC dice roll is required for it.
Meanwhile, back at the Allied controlled Norwegian coastal isle of Huftar at 10B:3118, the DD TF Flotilla-2 spends 25 MPs finishing the amphibious disembarkation of the 1-6 Inf III D at the island beach hex. The CA TF A. Hipper is also in the hex, witnessing the whole operation. At the start of the naval movement step this combat naval group rolls a 4 on the DZC.
After its disembarkation the Ger 1-6 Inf III D does its Disruption Table die roll, using a -3 modifier for not being “amphibious capable.” The roll is a 5, which modifies to a 2: No Effect. The relieved and perhaps wet-legged German infantrymen certainly happily wade ashore intact. But then comes the enemy reaction die roll on the Success Table for the Nor 0-1-6 Cav II 2 Op, located at the adjacent Sorta island hex at 3017, connected to the isle of Huftar by a narrow straits hexside. The Allied player rolls a 4: failure, and so the Nor cav II remains where it is for now. In any event the Nor cav II would, in our situation here, have remained where it was.
Finally the small Axis naval task force at in the Huftar island hex bids farewell to the disembarked Ger infantry III now in control of the island beach and spends its last 5 MPs of the naval movement step sailing south, ending its naval movement at all-sea hex 10B:3521, in the North Sea by the Norwegian coastline between Stavanger and Haugesund.
2nd Naval Movement Step
At the Northern Germany holding box the B TF Schlesien, the CL TF Cruiser-1, and the DD TF Flotilla-1 each spend 4 MPs finishing their fuel replenishments.
The small Ger combat naval group at all-sea hex 10B:3521, 2 hexes WNW of Stavanger (3619) first rolls a 9 on the DZC, then spends 16 MPs sailing southwards to all-sea hex 10B:5123. From here on its next naval MP it exits the south edge of the Scenario game maps and spends its remaining 14 MPs of the naval step marking off the MP requirement to enter the Northern Germany holding box. It ends the current naval movement step off-map with 1 MP to go before entering the holding box.
3rd Naval Movement Step
The CA TF A Hipper and the DD TF Flotilla-2 spend 1 MP to enter the Northern Germany holding box and there spend the remaining 29 MPs of their naval movement step allowance almost completely replenishing its fuel for the first time during the current Axis player turn.
4th Naval Movement Step
The CA TF A. Hipper and the DD TF Flotilla-2 each spend 1 MP finishing their fuel replenishment at the Northern Germany holding box. Then a combat naval group leaves the Northern Germany holding box and sails north, entering the North Sea at 10B:5123, on the south edge of the Scenario map group. Here it rolls a 4 on the DZC. This Kriegsmarine combat naval group is composed of the following German naval units:
- CA TF A. Hipper
- CL TF Cruiser-1
- B TF Schlesien.
The combat naval group continues its northerly bearing and ends the current naval movement step at 10B:3621, two hexes west of Stavanger (3319).
5th Naval Movement Step
The B TF Schlesien breaks away from the main combat naval group and enters the reference city/standard port of Stavanger. The CA TF A. Hipper and the B TF Schlesien continue sailing north several more sea hexes and enter the point city/standard port of Haugesund at hex 10B:3319. At the start of the naval movement step the Axis combat naval group at 3621 rolls a no contact on the DZC.
Back at the Northern Germany holding box only the two DD TF Flotillas-1 and -2 remain.
Meanwhile for the last four naval movement steps the large Br combat naval group at all-sea hex 10B:1608 in the Norwegian Sea has successfully evaded contact on the DZC.
Ground Movement Sub-Phase (c/m units only)
First thing, the Axis player moves the LW 1-10 Hv AA II 1/32 at mountain road hex 3515 moves westwards down the road and ends its exploitation move at the point city/standard port of Haugesund (3319).
Next the LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG at mountain road junction hex 10B:3415 moves northeastwards, ending its move at mountain rail hex 3211.
Afterwards the 3-10 Mot Inf X 11 at mountain coast road hex 10B:3213 spends its entire movement allowance moving onto the rough terrain coastal double islets of Tysnes and Stord, at 3217.
Finally the 2-1-10 PZ II 11, beginning the exploitation phase stacked with the LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG at 3415, spends its movement allowance moving west down the coast road to 10B:3318, where it crosses the narrow straits hexside there and ends its move stacked with the 3-10 Mot Inf X 11 at the coastal double isle hex at 3217. Note that the adjacent isle of Bolmo at 3218 is currently also Axis controlled via the ZOC of the Ger Inf XX 214 at adjacent mainland hex 3118, connected to Bolmo island by a narrow straits hexside.
The last c/m ground unit the Axis player moves is the 1-10 Mot MG II 13, beginning the turn stacked at mountain rail hex 2906. This unit double backs one Axis controlled rail hex to 3006 and then drives westwards down the road leading to the point city/minor port of Frode at mountain coast hex 10B:2613, where it ends its exploitation move.
Then the Axis player begins a series of LW air ops with its relatively large contingent of remaining operative air units. First the He 111H1 NB type air unit based at the Oslo airbase does a night strat bombing rail marshaling yard air mission to the Trondheim reference city/major port hex at 5C:2432. The Allied player’s dice roll is high on the “1” column of the SoS Antiaircraft Fire Table, and so the LW NB type air unit makes it through. But its die roll is low on the “5” column of the Bombing Table, with a -1 modifier for “bombing at night,” and so it is a miss. The He 111H1 NB type air unit returns to base at Oslo, inoperative.
Next, in an apparently risky air op, the Axis player flies the He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit based at the Oslo airbase on the same strat bombing rail marshaling yard air mission, this time in daylight. Perhaps the Axis player has the SoS Air Combat Results Table and his dice in hand, in anticipation of an interception by the operative Br Glad F type air unit based at the 1-cap permanent airstrip at adjacent hex 2431, when the Allied player says “go ahead and give me the dice for the AA roll.” The Allied player again rolls high and the He 111H4 air units gets through, but again its Bombing Table die roll is low, and so another miss for the Axis player. The He 111H4 air unit returns to base at Oslo.
Finally, realizing that the Allied player evidently has other uses in mind for the operative Glad F type air unit in the vicinity, the Axis player sends the two He 111H4 (S code) air units based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at the Norwegian coastal hex at 10B:3720 on an extended range strat bombing rail marshaling yard air mission to the Trondheim hex. Again, the Allied player declines to intercept against even the weakened defensive strength of one of the two Axis bombers flying at the extended range; as usual the 1 Br flack factor at the Trondheim hex misses the incoming bombing Heinkels. But this time the combined strat bombing strength of the two extended range He 111H4 B type air units, which enables the Axis player to roll on the “2” column of the Bombing Table, comes up with a 5 on the die roll: a hit. And so the Axis player achieves both a strat bombing hit on the Trondheim rail marshaling yard and a rail hit marker on the Trondheim hex, which is what he wanted all along to help protect his forward positions in south-central Norway during the upcoming Allied player’s final turn. The two He 111H4 (S code) B type air units return to base at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 3720, on the SW coast of Norway.
The Axis player then does some transfer air missions. The Ju 87R D type air unit based at the Stavanger reference city airbase (10B:3619) transfers to the adjacent 3-cap permanent airfield at clear terrain coast rail hex 3720.
The He 115B (SF code) B type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:5014 in NE Denmark air transfers across the Skagarrak to the 3-cap permanent airfield at woods coast hex 4415, on the southern coastline of Norway, next to Kristiansand (4416).
At this point a rules quibble comes up. The phasing Axis player is wanting to end his turn and asks the Allied player if he wants to perform any more air missions (likely air transfers) before the end of the Axis player turn. In any event the Axis player still has two F type air units flying the CAP air mission over hexes in Norway that need to rebase “at the end” of the player turn. The Allied player at first balks, saying “after you,” and goes to the trouble of pointing out that Rule 17D-Air Operations Sequence, in this case won’t help the phasing player. The Axis player suggests that the phasing player might ought to have the power to declare precisely when his own turn ends, and reminds the Allied player that he has an upcoming final player turn of his own right at hand. The Allied player reconsiders and says “OK.”
Then the Allied player flies the Glad F type air unit based at the 1-cap permanent airstrip at 5C:2431, adjacent to Trondheim, on the air transfer mission to the Bergen dot city hex at 10B:3016. Afterwards it is promptly joined by the Sword I (VC code) A type and the Skua (C code) DF type FAA air units aboard aircraft carriers at all-sea hex 10B:1608, in the Norwegian Sea. In the all-sea hex itself the Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit aboard the Furious CV TF air transfers from that carrier to the just vacated deck of the Ark Royal CV TF.
The Axis player transfers the Me 109E F type air unit based at the 1-cap permanent airstrip at the rough terrain coast rail hex 10B:3908, adjacent to Oslo, to the 3-cap permanent airfield at 4415, on the southern Norwegian coastline.
End of Turn Positions
For those who might wish to know, the following is a list of the dispositions of both sides’ forces in the main war region south of the B weather line on the Scenario maps:
Norwegian Sea
At all-sea hex 10B:1608:
- Br BB TF Rodney
- Br BC TF Renown
- Br BC TF Repulse (1 hit)
- Br CV TF Furious
- Br CV TF Glorious
- Br CV TF Ark Royal carrying the Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit.
Trondheim Region:
Trondheim, at reference city/major port coast rail hex 5C:2432:
- Norwegian government marker
- Br 2-6 Inf X 15
- Pol 2-3-6 Inf X CN
- Fr 2-1-6 Inf III 13LE
- Fr 0-6 AT II 14
- Br 0-5 Lt AA II 56 (AA=1)
- Fr 1-8 Mtn Art II 2CA
- Br 1-8 Mtn Art II 51
- Nor C.V A type air unit
- one rail hit marker
- one temporary rail marshaling yard hit marker
Forest rail hex 10B:2901: Nor 1-6 Mtn III 5/12ST
Mtn rail hex 10B:2603: Nor 5th Inf (Mtn) XX HQ unit
Mtn rail/road junction hex 10B:2704: Nor 1-6 Mtn III 5/13NT
Mtn rail hex 10B:2804:
- Nor 1st Inf XX HQ unit
- Br 2-6 Inf X 146
- Br 2-6 Inf X 148
Forest rail hex 10B:3002: Ger wint 2-6 Inf III F
Forest rail hex 10B:3103: Ger A Mtn XX HQ unit and Ger 3-8 Mtn III A
Woods rail junction hex 10B:3603: Ger 1-8 Art X 109
Mtn rail hex 10B:2906: Ger wint 6-6 Inf XX 196 and Ger 3-8 Mtn III A
Forest rail hex 10B:3006: Ger wint 2-6 Inf III F.
Bergen Region:
Hauge, at point city/minor port mountain coast road terminus hex 10B:3010: Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 3
Mtn coast rail hex 10B:3114: Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/6Vl
Mtn rail hex 10B:3014: Nor 1-6 Eng III 1
Forest coast rail hex 10B:3015: Nor 0-1-6 Cav II 1Ak and Nor 1-6 Inf III 1/3 Tm
Bergen, at dot city/major port rough terrain rail terminus coast hex 10B:3016:
- Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 4
- Nor 2nd Inf XX HQ unit
- Nor 1-6 Inf III 3/8Rl
- Br 3-6 Inf X 24G
- Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo II IC/A
- Fr pos flk unit (AA=1)
- Br Glad (*) F type air unit
- Br Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit
- Br Sword 1 (VC code) DF type FAA air unit
- Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength of 3
- 1 rail hit marker
Mtn road hex 10B:3109: Ger wint 1-6 Inf III F
Frode, at point city/minor port mtn road terminus coast hex 10B:2613: Ger Mot MG II 13
Mtn rail hex 10B:3311: Ger wint 2-6 Inf III E
Mtn rail hex 10B:3211: Ger LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG
Mtn coast road hex 10B:3212: Ger wint F Inf XX HQ unit and Ger wint 2-6 Inf III E
Isle of Huftar hex 10B:3118: Ger 1-6 Inf III D
Double rough terrain islets of Tysnes and Stord at 10B:3217:
- Ger 3-10 Mot Inf X 11
- Ger 2-1-10 Pz II 40
Clear terrain coast road hex 10B:3318: Ger 6-6 Inf XX 214
Haugesund, at point city/standard port clear terrain road terminus hex 10B:3319:
- Ger D Inf XX HQ unit
- two Ger 2-6 Inf IIIs D
- Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/32
- Ger CA TF A. Hipper (in port)
- Ger CL TF Cruiser-1 (in port)
- 1 Ger mine point sown off-shore at sea
Stavanger, at reference city/standard port clear terrain rail terminus coast hex 10B:3619:
- Ger 1-6 Inf III C
- Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/611
- Ger B TF Schlesien (in port)
- Ger Me 109E F type air unit
Clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:3720, w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield:
- Ger C Inf XX HQ unit
- two Ger He 111H4 (S code) B type air units
- Ger Ju 87R D type air unit
Egersund, at point city/minor port rough terrain coast rail hex 10B:4019: 1 Ger mine point sown off-shore at sea.
Southern Norway and Northern Denmark Region:
Oslo, at partial city/major port hex 10B:4007:
- Ger 0-1-5 Const III 6
- Ger wint 1-6 Inf III E
- Ger He 111H1 NB type air unit
- Ger He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit
- Ger Me 110C1 F code air unit
- one airbase hit marker
Woods coast hex 10B:4115 (next to Kristiansand), w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield:
- Ger Me 109E F type air unit
- Ger He 115B (SF code) B type air unit
Clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:5014, in NE Denmark:
- two Ger LW pos flk units (each w/ AA=1)
- Ger Ju 52 T type air unit
Aalborg, at reference city/major port rail causeway hex 10B:5115, in NE Denmark:
- Ger wint E Inf XX HQ unit
- Ger wint 6-6 Inf XX 198
- Ger Mxd (F type) T type air unit.
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