Europa Games and Military History

Month: January 2014

Jun II 40 Allied Turn

Initial Phase

Both sides’ forces are in supply this turn. The disrupted Ger 1-6 Inf III C that amphibiously landed at Norwegian mainland coast hex 10B:2816 last turn is in “special supply,” per Rule 12C2-Special Supply Sources, by virtue of one of the three supply points air dropped into the hex in the exploitation phase. Since the disrupted Ger inf III has temporarily lost its “in-hex” ZOC, Norwegian mainland coast narrow straits hex 2816 is still Allied-owned, per Rule 24A-Disruption. Thus the functioning Bergen major port is still able to trace a sea element of supply through the all-sea narrow straits hexside at 2816/2917 (the Ask and Holsn double islet hex) and hence back to Great Britain.

Per the SoS Nordic Adventure OB, which we are using for the Campaign for Norway Extended Scenario additional Jun I and Jun II game turns, this turn the Allied player must withdraw:

  • 1 Br air unit (any FAA)
  • the Br CV TF Ark Royal.

In the EA reported provisional Extended Scenario, we do the following:

  • we withdraw the Br CV TF Ark Royal, beginning theturn carrying the S. Glad FAA air unit
  • we withdraw the Sword 1 FAA air unit, beginning theturn aboard the BR CV TF Furious
  • in the initial phase we place the Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA unit aboard the CV TF Furious.

It might be interesting to some to note that the SoS NTO Scenario Allied OB lists the Sword 1 FAA air unit as the specified Allied air unit to be withdrawn.

Per the SoS Norway 1939-1945 Europa OB this turn the Norwegians receive four 1-2-4 Static X Reinforcement Garrison “Adds” to their Northern, Central, and Southern Norway Garrisons. It appears per Rule 37F-Garrisons that these General Mobilization +5 Reinforcements are received “immediately” this initial phase. Accordingly, the Nor 1-2-4 Static X 5L is placed at Harstad (5C:0712). The Nor 1-2-4 Static X 3L is placed at Bodo (5C:1217). The Nor 1-2-4 Static x 3L is placed at Bergen (10B:3016); and the Nor 1-2-4 Static X is placed at the point city/standard port of Kristiansund (10B:2206).

Next, the Allied player determines that he gets .25 special Nor inf RP for the 1-6* Mtn Cadre 5 overrun last turn and .25 special inf RP for the 1-6 Inf III 2/6Vl eliminated last turn in the Isle of Sorta battle. The first .25 special Nor inf RP is designated as stored in the Bodo point city hex at 5C:1217. The other .25 special Nor inf RP is designated as stored in the Bergen dot city hex at 10B:3016, where there is already .25 special Nor inf RP stored, adding to .5 special Nor inf RP. With this quantity the Allied player rebuilds from the Norwegian replacement pool the Nor 0-1-6 Inf II 2/HMKG and places it at the Bergen hex.

In addition, he spends the still available Nor ARP to rebuild the Nor C.V A type air unit and places it at the at-start 1-cap permanent airstrip located at the remote northern Norwegian point city of Bardufoss, at 5C:0708.

Both sides’ air units all become operative.

Neither side flies any CAP missions in the initial phase.

Then, much to the Axis player’s chagrin, he feels he must send the He 111H1 NB type air unit based at Oslo and one of the two He 111H4 (S code) B type air units based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 10B:3720 on the harassment air mission to mountain coast hex 10B:3116, occupied by the Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 4. A Me 109E F type air unit from the Stavanger airbase flies the escort mission to the target hex. The harassment mission is done to compensate for a perceived blunder done during his previous player turn. When he then moved the Ger 7-6 Inf XX 69 from the Tysnes and Strod double islet hex at 3217 to the adjacent Huftar isle hex at 3118, he left a “back door” route for the Nor mtn X to sneak across the narrow straits hexside onto the Tysnes and Strod hex, thereby cutting off the supply line to both the Ger inf XX at Huftar island and also the pz II at the isle of Sorta. Although it is questionable whether the Allied player would in fact decide this turn to do this move, the Axis player feels he must pay the price for his mistake in the dangerous Bergen zone. In the mission resolution step a “level-2 harrassment hit marker” is placed in hex 3116; afterwards the two Ger Heinkel bomber air units and the escorting Me 109E fighter air unit return to their respective airbases inoperative.

The Allied player opts to neither intercept nor patrol attack with the Glad (*) F type air unit based at Bergen. He senses even more urgent air battles looming ahead.

Next comes the assignment of air units to the naval patrol mission. This is difficult for the Axis player to decide. With the remaining LW assets in the Bergen zone (3 air units) he must divide between likely needed naval patrol, naval strike, and DAS air missions. Here’s what the Axisplayer does: He assigns only the He 115B (SF code) based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:3720 to the naval patrol air mission. The second He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit at the Norwegian NW coast 3-cap airfield (10B:3720) and the Ju 87R D type air unit at Stavanger remain completely operative (eg., for DAS and naval strike air missions). In so doing he is making it more likely for the Royal Navy to approach the SW Norwegian coastline and conduct naval warfare.

The Axis player also keeps completely operative the third He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit based far to the north at the Narvik reference city airbase at 5C:1010.

Movement Phase

1st Naval Movement Step

Proceeding with the more benign naval operations first, a Nor NTP spends 30 MPs embarking the Br 2-6 Inf X 15 at the Namsos point city/minor port at hex 5C:2129.

Two hexes away, at Norwegian rough terrain coast hex 5C:2030, a second Nor NTP spends 30 MPs beginning to amphibiously embark the Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol at the beach hex.

At the minor port of Harstad (5C:0712), on the northern coast of the isle of Hinn, the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 and the Br CL TF Cruiser-4 (1 hit) each spend 30 MPs embarking the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA and the Fr Mtn Art II 2CA and Br 0-5 Lt AA II 56 (AA=1), respectively. On the 30th MP the Axis sends the He 11H4 (S code) B type air unit based at the Narvik reference city airbase (5C:1010) on the naval strike air mission to the Harstad port hex. I’m guessing that the Br lt AA II can still add its flack fire, since it is not completely embarked. The Allied player nevertheless rolls a miss on the Antiaircraft Fire Table and afterwards the Axis player rolls two misses on the “2” column of the Bombing Table. The He 111H4 returns to base inoperative at the Narvik airbase.

Next the Br BB TF Valiant, the Br BC TF Renown, and the LC-1 naval unit leave the Bodo point city/minor port hex at 5C:1217 and, voyaging as a combat naval group, spend 30 MPs moving to all-sea hex 10B:1712, in the Norwegian Sea.

The two Allied TFs mentioned above that entered sea hexes rolled no contact on the Danger Zones Chart (DZC).

The third Nor NTP spends 30 MPs completely embarking the Nor 1-2-6 Static X 4L reinf at the piont city/standard port of Kristiansund, at hex 10B:2206.

The Royal Navy TFs at the Orkney Islands holding box does nothing this naval movement step.

2nd Naval Movement Step

The Nor NTP carrying the embarked Br 2-6 Inf X 15 leaves the port of Namsos and spends 30 MPs sailing to sea hex 10B:1824.

The second Nor NTP at Norwegian rough terrain coast hex 5C:2030 spends another 30 MPs to finish amphibiously embarking the Nor inf III there.

The two Western Allied CL TFs at the port of Harstad, each carrying their evacuating ground unit cargoes, spend 30 MPs voyaging WSW to sea hex 10B:1204.

The third Nor NTP carrying the Nor 1-2-4 Static X 4L leaves the port of Kristiansund (10B:2206) and spends 26 MPs voyaging NNE to the port of Moll Rana at 5C:1521. There the NTP spends its last 4 MPs beginning to disembark its ground unit cargo.

Then a large combat naval group leaves the Orkney Islands holding box. It is comprised of the following British naval units:

  • BB TF Rodney
  • BC TF Repulse
  • CA TF Cruiser-1
  • CV TF Glorious carrying the operative Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit
  • CV TF Furious carrying the operative Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit
  • CL TF Cruiser-3.

Upon entering the North Sea at 10B:2433 it rolls an 8 on the DZC. From there it sails east to all-sea hex 10B:2518, having spent 17 MPs doing so. At this hex it is joined by the Br BB TF Valiant and the Br BC TF Renown, who started the naval step 10 hexes away at Norwegian Sea hex 10B:1712. The LC-1 that began the naval step with them at 1712, splits off there and by itself continues heading westwards, eventually entering the Orkney Islands holding box on its 26th MP. At the holding box it spends 4 MPs beginning to replenish its fuel.

Next the reinforced Br combat naval group leaves all-sea hex 2518 and spends 7 MPs maneuvering through Allied controlled narrow straits to eventually arrive at the Norwegian coastal isle of Oster, at 10B:2916, adjacent to the Bergen hex. So far this large combined naval group has spent a total of 24 MPs in the current naval movement step. Then the BC TF Renown and the CL TF Cruiser-3 break off from the main force and spend 2 more MPs to enter the major port of Bergen at adjacent hex 3016. There the CL TF Cruiser-3 spends its remaining 4 MPs beginning to embark the Br 3-6 Inf X 24G. Meanwhile the remainder of the Br combat naval group spends 2 more MPs to move in the opposite direction to adjacent Norwegian mainland coast hex 10B:2815, where is the Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo II IC. Here this combat naval group loiters until the end of the current naval movement step. In the face of all this the Axis player does nothing.

3rd Naval Movement Step

Much farther north up the coast of Norway, back at Norwegian mainland coast hex 5C:2030, the Nor NTP embarked with the Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol sails NE and eventually enters the minor port of Moll Rana, at 5C:1521. There it spends the remaining 12 MPs of the naval movement step beginning to disembark its ground unit cargo. At this same port, the other Nor NTP carrying the Nor 1-2-4 Static X 4L spends 26 MPs to completely disembark the unit here.

Then, at the start of the naval movement step, another Nor NTP at Norwegian Sea hex 10B:1824 carrying the Br 2-6 Inf X 15 rolls a 12 on the DZC. The subsequent die roll on the “1” column of the Naval Combat Table comes up with a 2: a miss. Afterwards the cargo carrying NTP spends 13 MPs to eventually enter the Orkney Islands holding box, where it spends its remaining 17 MPs beginning to disembark its cargo.

The combat naval group comprised of the two Western Allied CL TFs at sea hex 10B:1204, carrying their large Br and Fr ground unit cargoes from Harstad, spends its 30 MP naval movement step allowance moving WSW to sea hex 10B:1722. It rolls a no contact on the DZC.

At the Orkney Islands hold box the LC-1 naval unit finishes its refueling.

At the Bergen hex the Br CL TF Cruiser-3 spends 26 MPs completing the embarkation of the Br 3-6 Inf 24G. Finally, the small Br combat naval group at the port of Bergen, comprised of the BC TF Renown and the CL TF Cruiser-3 carrying the Br 3-6 Inf X 24G, spends its last 4 MPs moving 2 sea coast hexes NE to join the larger combat naval group at mainland coast hex 2815. It rolls a 6 on the DZC. The Allied player is perhaps worried about the Axis player attempting a naval strike air mission with the operative Ju 87R D type air unit, and seeks safety in numbers.

At the crowded mainland coast hex 2815, the Allied player announces that the BC TF Repulse and the CA TF Cruiser-1, two components of the large Allied combat naval group off-shore at sea there, are spending their 30 MP naval movement step allowance preparing to provide NGS for the next combat phase. The rest of the combat naval group acts as an escort. The Allied player is evidently intending to attack the disrupted Ger 1-6 Inf III C at the adjacent mainland coast hex 2816.

Becoming a slave to the circumstances, the Axis player elects to do nothing at this time as the ominous events unfold in the Bergen zone.

4th Naval Movement Step

At the Norwegian point city/minor port of Moll Rana, at 5C:1521, the Nor NTP at the port finishes the disembarkation of the Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol. Per the SoS Naval Transport Costs Summary, this Nor inf III will have 2 MPs left in the upcoming Movement Phase.

The Western Allied combat naval group at Norwegian Sea hex 10B:1722, carrying the evacuated multinational ground unit force from Harstad, spends 16 MPs to eventually enter the Orkney Islands holding box. There it spends the remaining 14 MPs of the naval movement step simultaneously disembarking it cargo and refueling. The naval units are the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 and the Br CL TF Cruiser-4 (1 hit). The disembarking ground units are the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA, the Fr Mtn Art II 2CA, and the Br Lt AA II 56.

Back at the bustling Norwegian mainland coast hex at 10B:2815, the Br BC TF Repulse and the Br CA TF Cruiser-1 spend their 30 MP naval movement step allowance continuing to prepare to provide NGS for the next combat phase. At the end of the naval movement step their subtotal tally is 60 MPs, so far. The following is a list of the Allied naval units (all British) in the mainland coast hex 2815:

  • BB TF Rodney
  • BB TF Valiant
  • BC TF Renown
  • BC TF Repulse, preparing to provide NGS
  • CA TF Cruiser-1, preparing to provide NGS
  • CV TF Glorious carrying the operative Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit
  • CV TF Furious carrying the operative Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit
  • CL TF Cruiser-3 carrying the Br 3-6 Inf X 24 G.

All affected Allied naval groups at sea during the current naval movement step successfully roll no contacts on the DZC.

5th Naval Movement Step

At the Orkney Islands holding box the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 and the Br CL TF Cruiser-4 finish the disembarkation of their respective ground unit cargoes and refueling. Then they remain at the holding box for the rest of the naval movement step.

At the Norwegian mainland coast hex at 2815, the Br BC TF Repulse and the Br CA TF Cruiser-1 spend their 30 MP naval movement step allowance to compete their preparations to provide NGS the following combat phase. Per the SoS Naval MP Cost Summary this takes 90 MPs. At the beginning of the current naval movement step the large Br combat naval group at coast hex 2815 rolls a 10 on the DZC.

Ground Movement Sub-Phase

At the Bergen hex the Nor 1-6 Eng III spends 3 MPs repairing the hit on the airbase, then spends 2 more MPs building a 1-cap temporary airfield in the dot city hex.

The Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 3 at forest rail hex 3015 (east of Bergen) spends 6 MPs (2 for moving out of an enemy ZOC, 2 more for crossing a narrow straits hexside) moving to the Ask and Holsn double islet hex at 10B:2917. The Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak, which began the turn at the Ask and Holsn double islet hex, moves to the clear terrain coast hex 3117, SW of Bergen. The Nor 1-6 Inf III 4/9Hl, which began the turn at the clear terrain coast hex 3117, moves to the isle of Oster hex at 2916. It is joined there with the Nor 0-1-6 Inf II 2/HMKG, which began the turn at the adjacent Bergen hex. Both of these aforementioned units are joined in turn by the Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo II IC, beginning the turn at mainland rough terrain coast hex 2815. In moving to the isle of Oster hex the marine cmdo II moves over the disrupted Ger inf III at adjacent mainland hex 2816. What is happening here is that the Nor 1-6 inf III is being set up as cannon fodder in the projected Allied combat attack against the disrupted Ger 1-6 inf III; if an EX or HX is rolled, the Nor 1-6 inf III will be exchanged.

Then the Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 4 at mountain coast hex 3116 spends 5 MPs (+2 MPs for moving out from underneath the level-2 harassment hit marker in hex 3116 and 3 MPs for entering into a forest hex) and ends its move at adjacent forest rail hex 3015, just east of Bergen.

The small remaining British contingent at the point city/minor port of Namsos, at woods rail terminus coast hex 5C:2129, comprised of the 1-8 Mtn Art II 51 and the 0-1-5 Lt AA II 51 (AA=2), admin moves northwards 10 transportation line hexes to forest rail hex 5C:1723. Here this short stack is reinforced by the recently disembarked Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol, which admin moved south 3 transportation line hexes from the minor port of Moll Rana (1521). Thus a kind of modest Allied blocking force is assembled here to hold up for a short time the Nazi German drive northwards up Norway. Because it will likely be destroyed if its tarries too long where it presently stands, this small blocking force will certainly very soon retreat northwards to Bodo, which is the literal dead end of the the long northward bearing transportation line beginning in the core area of southern Norway. The Europa turn this blocking force at forest rail hex 1723 decides to retreat northwards towards Bodo might be the same turn the Norwegian government marker evacuates to Great Britain. This might be on the hypothetical Jul I or Jul II 40 Allied turn of a future SoS Campaign for Norway/FoF/TFH 1940 GE campaign scenario.

After this, the slow moving Nor 1-4 Const X 2L, beginning the turn at forest rail hex 5C:2327, admin moves 8 transportation line hexes to the point city of Mosjoen (1622).

At the point city/minor port of Halstad, at rough terrain coast road hex 5C:0712, on the Norwegian coastal isle of Hinn, the Nor 1-4 Const X 1L spends 4 MPs building a 1-cap temporary airfield above the A weather line.

Combat Phase

The Axis player flies the He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at SW Norwegian coast hex 10B:3720 on the DAS mission to clear terrain coast hex 2816, where is the disrupted 1-6 Inf III C. The Heinkel bomber is escorted by the Me 110C1 HF type air unit based at the Stavanger airbase (3619). Upon arriving at the target hex at 2816 this combined LW air op is intercepted by the Br Glad (*) F type air unit based at the Bergen airbase and the Br Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit aboard the Br CV TF Furious off-shore at sea at adjacent coast hex 2815. The Glad (*) F type air unit takes on the Me 110C1 HF type air unit and the Sea Glad F type air unit goes after the He 111H4 B type air unit on the DAS mission. In the ensuing air battles the Glad (*) F type air unit rolls the luckiest dice roll so far in the wargame: a 2, good for a Kill of the Me 110C1 HF type air unit. The Me110C1 rolls 6, which modifies to a 7: a return. Then the Sea Glad F type air unit rolls a high 10: no effect, and the He 111H4 B type rolls a 6, which modifies to a 7: a return.

And so the He 111H4 B type air unit gets to add its 2 tac factor to the disrupted Ger 1-6 Inf III C’s defense factor of ¼, for a factored defense total of 2 ¼.

The Allies attack with the Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 3 at the Ask and Holsn double islet hex 2917 and the three Allied ground units at the Oster island hex at 2916. Those three units at Oster island are the Nor 1-6 Inf III 4/9Hl, the Nor 0-1-6 Inf II 2/HMKG, and the Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo II IC. All these Allied ground units are attacking across narrow straits hexsides, quartering their already meager attack factors. But added to their duly factored ground unit attack factor total of .625 is the hefty combined NGS attack factor of 10, from the 5-pt BC TF Repulse and the 5-pt CA TF Cruiser-1. This makes for an Allied attack factor total of 10.625 versus the Axis defense total of 2 ¼.; thus the Allied player attacks at a straight up 4 to 1 odds. He rolls a 4: a DR. And so, perhaps ironically, the disrupted Ger 1-6 Inf III C retreats to adjacent rough terrain coast hex 2815, the same hex that the large Br combat naval group is at off-shore at sea. After combat the Nor 1-6 Inf III 4/9Hl and the Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo IIIC advance across the narrow straits hexside onto mainland coast hex 2816.

All three surviving air units return to their respective airbases. The Me 110C1 HF air unit is placed in the German Game Chart Eliminated Air Units box.

Exploitation Phase

1st Naval Movement Step

First thing, the Axis player announces that the Ju 87R D type air unit at the Stavanger airbase at 3619 is flying a naval strike air mission to the “known” British combat naval group at Norwegian mainland coastal hex 10B:2815. Although I suspect in SoS Scenarios that naval strike air missions are probably most often sent to enemy port target hexes, this naval group off-shore at sea in coastal hex 2815 is “known,” and therefore liable to the naval strike air mission because, per Rule 27B2 “the naval group has not moved from the hex from which it provided naval gunfire support in the immediately preceding combat phase.” I’m guessing that, although not every naval unit in the Br combat naval group in the 2815 target hex did in fact provide the NGS, the fact that two naval units did so puts the entire naval group in the hex in harm’s way, and not just those two that did the NGS. In response to the Axis naval strike air mission, the Allied player says that the Skua (C code) DF type air unit based operative on the CV TF Glorious (in the target hex) is flying the intercept air mission. In the subsequent air combat the Skua misses the Ju 87R, and the Ju 87R returns the Skua. Next, for our situation, it is the Br BC TF Repulse (AA=3) that provides the flack shot. The Allied player rolls on the “3” column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table (no modifiers) and comes up with a 9: a miss. Finally, the Axis player rolls four dice on the “1” column of of the Naval Combat Table (w/ a +1 modifier for a type D) and comes up with two 6’s for two hits. Two random drawings are done for each hit, using the entire lot of naval units in the combat naval group in the target hex. The results are 1 hit on the BC TF Repulse and 1 hit on the BB TF Rodney. At the end of the air mission both the Skua and the Ju 87R return to their respective airbases.

Right afterwards, the Axis player announces that the He 115B (SF code) B type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 3720 is flying the naval patrol air mission against the same coastal hex at 2815, nine hexes away. Using the Success Table for the contact attempt die roll (w/ a +2 modifier), the Axis player rolls a 5: success. Next the Allied player designates the CV TF Glorious (AA=4) as providing the flack shot. The Allied player rolls on the “3” column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table (no modifiers) and comes up with a 7: a miss. The Axis player then rolls 1 die on the “1” column of the Naval Combat Table (1/ a +1 modifier for being an S type) and comes up with a 5: yet another hit! A random pick of the entire Allied combat naval group picks this time the 5-pt CL TF Cruiser-3, carrying the Br 3-6 Inf X 24G, as taking 1 hit of damage. Afterwards the He 115B air unit returns to its airfield.

Then, after enduring the telling Luftwaffe air missions, the large Allied combat naval group leaves the Norwegian coastline hex 10B:2815 and spends 21 MPs returning to the Orkney Islands holding box. There the CL TF Cruiser-3 (1 hit) spends the 9 MPs remaining in its naval movement step beginning to disembark the Br 3-6 Inf X 24G at the holding box.

2nd Naval Movement Step

At the Orkney Islands holding box the CL TF Cruiser-3 (1 hit) spends 21 MPs completing the disembarkation of the evacuated Br 3-6 Inf 24G.

3rd through 5th Naval Movement Steps

No activity.

 

Ground Movement Sub-Step

The Allied player air transfers the Nor C.V A type air unit at the 1-cap permanent airstrip at Bardufoss (5C:0708) to the 1-cap temporary airfield at Harstad, at 5C:0712.

At the end of the Jun II 40 Allied Turn, which is also the end of the Campaign for Norway Extended Scenario, the Allied forces in play are at the following locations:

Northern Norway Zone:

Mountain coast road junction hex 5C:0910 (next to Narvik): Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 6

Harstad, at point city/minor port wooded rough road hex 5C:0712, on the isle of Hinn:

  • Nor 1-2-4 Static X 6L
  • Nor 1-4 Const X 1L
  • Nor C.V A type air unit
  • 1-cap temporary airfield

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

  • Norwegian government marker
  • Nor 2-3-6* Ski X 7
  • Nor 1-2-4 Static X 3L
  • 1 Br mine point sown off-shore at sea
  • .25 Nor special inf RP

Moll Rana, at point city/minor port forest road hex 5C:1521: Nor 1-2-4 Static X 4L

Mosjoen, at point city/ minor port forest road hex 5C:1622:

  • Nor 1-4 Const X 2L
  • Forest road hex 1723:
  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/ 5 Ol
  • Br 0-1-6 Lt AA II 51 (AA=2)
  • Br Mtn Art II 51.
    Note: Nor intrinsic CDs remain at the Norwegian controlled adjacent coastal hexes 5C:2333 and 10B:2302, w/ a narrow straits hexside, along the fjord leading to Trondheim.

Bergen Zone:

Clear terrain coast hex 10B:2816:

  • Nor 1-6 Inf III 4/9Hl
  • Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo II IC

Isle of Oster rough terrain hex 10B:2916: Nor 0-1-6 Inf II 2/HMKG

Ask and Holsn double islet hex 10B:2917: Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 3

Forest rail hex 10B:3015 (east of Bergen): Nor 2-3-6 Mtn X 4

Clear terrain coast hex 10B:3117 (SW of Bergen): Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak

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

  • Nor 2nd Inf XX HQ unit
  • Nor 1-6 Eng III 1
  • Nor 1-2-4 Static X 5L
  • Br 0-1-5 Lt AA II 82 (AA=2)
  • Fr pos flk unit (AA=1)
  • Br Glad (*) F type air unit
  • 1-cap temporary airfield.

Orkney Islands Holding Box:

  • Br 3-6 Inf X 24G
  • three Br 2-6 Inf Xs 15, 146, and 148
  • two Br 0-6 Lt AA IIs 55 and 56
  • two Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA and 27CA
  • Fr 2-1-6 Inf III 13LE
  • Pol 3-2-6 Inf X CN
  • Fr 0-6 AT II 14
  • Fr 1-8 Mtn Art II 2CA
  • Br 0-1-4 Fortress X RMFU
  • Br BB TF Rodney (1 hit)
  • Br BB TF Valiant
  • Br BC TF Repulse (1 hit)
  • Br BC TF Renown
  • Br CA TF Cruiser-1
  • Br CV TF Glorious carrying the Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit
  • Br CV TF Furious carrying the Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-3 (1 hit)
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-4 (1 hit)
  • Fr CL TF Cruiser-1
  • Br LC-1 naval unit.

Allied Game Chart Replacement Pool:

  • Br CA TF Cruiser-2 (5 hits).

In addition to the Norwegian cities listed above with Allied forces in their hexes, the following Norwegian cities are Allied controlled at the end of the Scenario:

  • Alesund, at point city/standard port hex 10B:2310
  • Molde, at point city/minor port hex 10B:2308
  • Andelsnes, at point city/minor port hex 10B:2407
  • Kristiansund, at point city/standard port hex 10B:2206
  • Namsos, at point city/minor port hex 5C2129
  • Grong, at point city 5C:2226
  • Bronnoysund, at point city/minor port 5C:1726
  • Lofoten Islands: three other Norwegian island point city/minor ports, in addition to Harstad, on the isle of Hinn.
  • Bardufoss (w/ an at-start 1-cap permanent airstrip) at point city hex 5C:0708
  • Skipbotn, at point city hex 5C:0705
  • Tromso, at point city/minor port hex 5C:0307.

This ends the EA reported SoS Campaign for Norway Extended Scenario.

 

Jun II 40 Axis Turn

Initial Phase

Both sides’ forces and airfields in Norway are in supply this turn. In particular, the Allied forces in the Bergen zone are in supply via a naval supply element still able to be traced from the major port of Bergen (10C:3016) to “any great or major port in Britain,” per Rule 12C1a-Allied [Regular Supply Sources]. To be sure, from the Bergen port hex the naval element of supply can be “traced” to the adjacent coastal Ask and Holsn double islets hex 2917, and thence to “open sea” hex 2817. An alternate naval element of supply can be traced from the Bergen hex to adjacent coastal isle of Oster hex 2916, then to mainland coast hex 2816, and thence again to “open sea” hex 2817. In both cases the critical solely remaining Allied controlled narrow straits to the “open sea” is at all-sea hexside 2816/2917, not counting for now those linked to the interior coastal isle of Oster.

Per the German North Theater 1940-1945 Europa OB, found in the SoS OB booklet, which is being used for the extended Scenario’s final Jun II40 Axis turn, the two Ger c/m units, the 3-10 Mot Inf X 11 and the LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG “transfer to Greater Germany.” This is duly done without quibbling about it in this essentially ad hoc and provisional extended Scenario effort.

However, the aforementioned German/Axis OB calls for a “transfer to Greater Germany of 3 of the 6 available at-start Ger NTPs and also what appears to be essentially all the Kriegsmarine TFs available in the SoS Scenario. I say “appears” because, in the German North Theater 1940-1945 Eruopa OB found in the SoS OB booklet, the singular naval units listed there are not the same “TFs” used in the SoS scenarios, but are evidently instead something new. They are perhaps akin to old-style Europa naval counters (eg., like those found in FoF and TFH) representing individual naval units or “flotillas” and “half-flotillas” of light naval craft, and must be intended for future use in some future Grand Europa naval wargame system.

Pending further historical study and wargame analysis, for the provisional Jun II 40 Axis turn offered here in the EA reported extendedCampaign for Norway Scenario, we tentatively offer the following German naval unit OB activities in an effort to comply somewhat with the SoS Axis OB Jun II 40 withdrawals:

Transfer to Greater Germany:

  • 3 pts Ger naval transports (NTPs)
  • B TF Schlesien
  • one other light TF; in our case the DD TF Flotilla-1
  • one other TF of any type; in our case the DD TF Flotilla-2.

It is assumed that the above German naval resources “transfered to Greater Germany” probably covers any immediate Axis “historical” needs outside the “small box” of the Sos Campaign for Norway Scenario in the Jun II and Jul I 40 Europa time frame. In geographical terms I have in mind the Baltic Sea (eg., Eastern Europe/USSR and Swedish strategic considerations) and the recently Nazi German occupied Dutch, Belgian, and French Channel zone coastlines. In any event it appears that the reason so many Kriegsmarine naval units were historically transferred from Norway to Greater Germany in the second half of June 1940 was not for pressing service closer to Germany proper, but rather that by then (the second half of June) the campaign for Norway had ended. In the EA reported SoS extended Scenario the Norwegian campaign isn’t over yet.

Accordingly, in this extended Scenario game the Axis player keeps on the maps the Ger CA TF A. Hipper and the Ger CL TF Cruiser-1, found now anchored at the Axis occupied Norwegian reference city/standard port of Stavanger (10B:3619). The rest of the Kriegsmarine TFs return to the Northern Germany holding box as a kind of OB stipulated “Greater Germany garrison.”

Finally, the “Historical Notes” in the SoS Jun I and Jun II 40 Axis OB listings used in this extended Scenario specifying the Allied inflicted hits on the BC Scharnhorst (2 hits) and the BC Gneisenau (2 hits) are ignored for this provisional wargame effort. I believe in real life they were done in Allied attacks considered a part of the historical Norwegian campaign, and not inflicted on the Axis side outside the “box” parameters of the current wargame Scenario.

The Axis player spends an ARP to rebuild the He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit aborted last turn and places it at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:4415, along the southern Norwegian coastline next to Kristiansand. This leaves the Axis with 16.5 ARPs

Both sides’ air units all become operative.

Neither side flies any CAP air missions. The Allied player doesn’t have the air units to fly harassment air missions; but he does assign the Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit aboard the CV TF Glorious in the Orkney Islands holding box on the naval patrol air mission.

Movement Phase

1st Naval Movement Step

The first thing the Axis player does is send the Ju 87R D type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at Norwegian coast hex 10B:3720 on a bombing mission to the Bergen target hex (3016). Sent with it on the escort air mission is a Me 109E F type air unit based at the adjacent Stavanger hex airbase. When the combined air missions reach the Bergen hex, the Allied player declines to intercept with the Glad (*) F type air unit based at the Bergen airbase. He will take his chances for now, feeling that the Glad air unit will likely soon be needed for more pressing F type air missions. Next the Allied player rolls the dice on the “3” column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table against the Ju 87 R D type air unit and rolls a 9: a miss. After that the Axis player announces a tac bombing air mission against the Bergen airbase. He rolls the die on the “2” column of the Bombing Table (w/ a +1 modifier for a type D) and comes up with a 4, which modifies to a 5: a hit. In this case, per Rule 20G2a-Airbases, there is not only a hit on the airbase, but the bombing player also gets his choice of aborting any particular enemy air unit based there. The Axisplayer perhaps tips his hand regarding future tactical intentions in the Bergen zone during his move by insisting that the Nor C.V A type air unit be aborted. The Nor air unit is duly placed in the Norway Game Chart aborted box and the two LW air units return to base inoperative to the Stavanger 2-cap airbase at 3619 on the SW Norwegian coastline.

Wanting to waste no time, the Axis player hurriedly sends the Me 110C1 F type air units on a CAP mission to, of all places, the Norwegian mainland coast hex at 10B:2816. More and more he is revealing his plan. But for now the Allied player declines to intercept the Me 110C1 heavy fighter air unit with the operative Glad (*) F type air unit based two hexes away at the Bergen hex.

Two Ger NTPs each spend 30 MPs embarking the two LW pos flk (each w/ AA=1) units at the Danish reference city/major port of Aalborg (10B:5115). Each NTP carries a LW pos flk unit.

Then the Ger CL TF Cruiser-1 in the Stavanger port spends 30 MPs embarking the Ger 1-6 Inf III C, also in the hex.

2nd Naval Movement Step

First the two Ger NTPs carrying the two embarked LW pos flk units leave the port of Aalborg as a cargo naval group and spend 24 MPs voyaging to all-sea hex 10B:3620. Upon entering the North Sea at sea hex 4518 the cargo naval group rolls a no contact on the Danger Zones Chart (DZC). At sea hex 3620 one of the NTPs veers due east and spends 2 MPs entering the port of Stavanger (10B:3619), where it spends its remaining 4 MPs beginning to disembark its ground unit cargo. The other Ger NTP spends its remaining 5 MPs voyaging to Haugesund (10B:3319), where its spends its last MP beginning to disembark its LW pos flk unit at the port.

Then an Axis combat naval group leaves the port of Stavanger comprised of the CA TF A. Hipper and the CL TF Cruiser-1 carrying the embarked Ger 1-6 Inf III C. Upon leaving the port of Stavanger on its 1st MP the Ger naval group rolls a 3 on the DZC: no contact. The Kriegsmarine combat naval group then spends 10 MPs to finally enter Norwegian mainland coast hex 10B:2816, two hexes due north of Bergen. At this point the Axis player announces an amphibious assault at this Allied owned and occupied beach hex. It has been planned 1 Axis turn in advance. Forthwith the CL TF Cruiser-1 spends 20 MPs beginning to amphibiously disembark its ground unit cargo onto the enemy-owned beach hex which also contains the Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak. It will take 90 MPs to complete the amphibious landing. For the time being the CA TF A. Hipper loiters in the enemy beach hex, doing nothing.

The reason that the Axis player has chosen to do his amphibious landing at this mainland beach hex rather than at the isle of Sorta hex (3017) or the double islet hex of Ask and Holsn (2917) is because these two intervening coastal/island hexes will conveniently block the devastating Nor intrinsic CD fire coming from the Bergen hex, being located two hexes away from beach hex 2816. Any Axis naval units at sea in the island hex of Sorta, or the Ask and Holsn hex, are liable each naval movement step to be fired on by the telling Nor 3 strength intrinsic CD at the adjacent Bergen hex.

3rd Naval Movement Step

At Stavanger the Ger NTP finishes the disembarkation of its LW pos flk unit cargo. In the ground movement sub-phase this LW pos flk unit will have 2 MPs remaining. At Haugesund the other Ger NTP finishes the disembarkation of its LW pos flk unit cargo.

At Norwegian mainland clear terrain coast hex 2816, the Ger CL TF Cruiser-1 spends its 30 MP naval movement step allowance continuing to amphibiously disembark its ground unit cargo. This makes for a subtotal of 40 MPs done, so far.

In the same hex the Ger CA TF A. Hipper now spends its 30 MP naval movement step allowance beginning to prepare to provide NGS for the next combat phase. It takes 90 MPs to complete these preparations, which must be done before the Combat Phase begins.

4th Naval Movement Step

At Norwegian mainland clear terrain coast hex 2816, the Ger CL TF Cruiser-1 spends its 30 MP naval movement step allowance still continuing to amphibiously disembark the 1-6 Inf III C on the enemy owned and occupied beach hex. By the end of the naval movement step the amphibious disembarkation subtotal is up to 70MPs. At the same time the Ger CA TF A. Hipper, also in the beach hex, spends its 30 MP naval movement step allowance continuing to prepare to provide NGS for the next combat phase. This makes for a subtotal of 60 MPs for the NGS preparation, so far.

5th Naval Movement Step

First the Axis player does the MP countdown for the amphibious disembarkation of the 1-6 Inf III C at the 2816 beach hex. At the 19th MP count in the current naval movement step (89 subtotal, so far) the Allied player tells the Axis player to stop his move. Then he sends to the target hex 10B:2816 the Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit aboard the CV TF Glorious in the Orkney Islands holding box on the naval patrol air mission. It is exactly 20 hexes away from its target hex. The Glad (*) F type air unit based at the Bergen hex flies the escort mission to the target hex, as the LW Me 110C1 HF type air unit is still flying the CAP mission over the target hex. For the contact attempt Success Table die roll, it appears that there is a +3 for the calm seas and a +1 if the target hex is a friendly-owned coastal hex; this is off-set by a -3 for every 5 hexes after the first 5 flown to the target hex. By my tally this comes to a cumulative +1 modifier. The Allied player rolls a 1: a miss. Both Allied air units return inoperative to their respective airbases. However, the Me 110C1 HF type air unit remains flying the CAP mission over hex 2816.

With the Allied naval patrol air mission done, the Axis player spends another MP, the 20th, to complete the amphibious disembarkation of the Ger 1-6 Inf III C at Norwegian mainland beach hex 10B:2816. After disembarkation, the Axis player rolls for disruption, using the Disruption Table. There is a -3 for the Ger inf III not being “amphibious capable” and a -1 for landing in an enemy-occupied hex, for a cumulative -4 modifier. The Axis rolls a 5: Disrupted. And so the disrupted Ger 1-6 inf III is placed atop the Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak, also in beach hex 2816.

Next the Ger CA TF A. Hipper in beach hex 2816 spends its 30 MP naval movement allowance completing its preparations to provide NGS for the upcoming Axis Combat Phase.

For the past three naval movement steps (3rd, 4th, and 5th), this combat naval group at beach hex 2816 has rolled no contacts on the DZC.

At this point, per Rule 32D-Enemy Reaction, “…at the end of the naval movement sub-phase (after all naval movement steps are done)” the Allied player does the die roll for his reaction move to the enemy amphibious landing. Using the Success Table, the Allied player rolls the die and gets a 2: failure.

Ground Movement Sub-Phase

The Nor 1-6* Mtn Cadre 5 at woods coast rail hex 10B:2401 is overrun by an Axis stack consisting of the Ger 7-8 Mtn XX 2, the Ger wint 2-6 Inf III F, and the Ger 1-8 Art X 109. Afterwards the 7-8 Mtn XX spends its remaining 4 MPs overrunning the Nor 1st Inf XX HQ unit at adjacent Trondheim hex 5C:2432. In doing this second overrun it crosses the demolished river bridge hexside. The wint 2-6 Inf III F and the 1-8 Art X 109 remain at 10B:2401.

Using regular movement, the Ger wint Inf XX 196 moves northwards up the Norwegian rail line running through Trondheim and ends its move at woods coast rail hex 5C:2430. For now this makes it what might be called the northwards spearhead point of the Nazi German drive towards their Norwegian campaign prize, the strategically important iron ore exporting major port of Narvik, at hex 5C:1010.

The 1-10 Mot MG II 13, beginning the turn stacked with the 7-8 Mtn XX 2 at 10B:2502, regular moves 10 transportation line hexes to mountain road hex 10B:2808, once again on its way to the remote Frode point city/minor port coast hex at 10B:2906. In the initial phase the LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG at the Frode hex was transferred to Greater Germany. Although the hex has been occupied several turns by an Axis c/m II, lasting AxisZOC control has not yet been established there, or along most of the long mountain road leading to it. Therefore in the exploitation phase the Axis player will certainly move the 1-10 Mot MG II 13 to the Frode hex. He wants no surprise Allied disembarkation done there at a vacant, and therefore still Allied owned, port in SW Norway on the final Jun II 40 Allied turn.

From Oslo (10B:4007), one of the two 2-6 Inf IIIs C garrisoning the partial city hex admin moves northwards 12 transportation line hexes to mountain rail hex 10B:2906. Then the Ger wint F Inf XX HQ unit at woods rail junction hex 10B:4006 backs up one hex and ends its move at Oslo, stacking with the other Ger 2-6 Inf III C already there. This is done to fulfill the Axis occupation requirement of a “hostile” Norwegian partial city hex, per Rule 37G-Occupation.

The Ger wint 1-6 Inf III F at 10B:3308 rails along the Norwegian rail lines, using regular movement to skip over the rail hit marker at 3405, and eventually spends its last regular MP entering Allied controlled mountain rail hex 10B:2707, leading towards the still Allied controlled point city/standard port of Alesund, at unnamed Norwegian coastal double islets hex 10B:2410.

The recently disembarked LW pos flk unit at Stavanger (10B:3619) moves one hex southwards to clear terrain coast rail hex 3720, where the at-start 3-cap permanent airfield is located, and stacks with the LW air units based there. Then the C Inf XX HQ unit at 3720 moves northwards one hex and ends its move at the Stavanger reference city/standard port hex. At Stavanger the Ger 0-1-5 Const III 6 spends 4 MPs upgrading the 1-cap temporary airfield there to a 3-cap.

Then the Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/611 at Stavanger admin moves 20 transportation line hexes to mountain road junction hex 10B:3714. It has to use this roundabout route because the more convenient section of transportation line hexes from 4215 to 3715 inclusive is still Allied controlled.

After this movement, the other Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/32 at the point city/standard port of Haugesund (10B:3319) admin moves eastwards nine hexes to rough terrain rail/road junction hex 3312. Here it boards a captured Norwegian train and rails to 2605, from where it admin moves two more transportation line hexes to forest rail hex 10B:3305.

The Ger 7-6 Inf XX 69 at the Tysnes and Strod double islet hex at 10B:3217 moves one hex across a narrow straits hexside and stacks with the Ger 2-1-10 Pz II 40, on the Huftar island hex at 10B:3118.

Combat Phase

The Axis player flies the He 111H1 NB type air unit based at Oslo on the GS air mission to the Isle of Sorta target hex at Norwegian off-shore island hex 10B:3017, adjacent to Huftar. At the Isle of Sorta is the Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/6Vl. It is attacked from across the narrow straits hexside by the Ger 2-1-10 PZ II 40 and the 7-6 Inf XX 69, along with the 2 tac factors of the He 111H1 NB type air unit flying the GS air mission to Sorta. With the Ger ground unit stack duly quartered for attacking across the narrow straits hexside, the raw ratio appears to be 4 ¼ to ½, or an 8 to 1 (+1 for the pz II’s 1/7th AECA). This is good enough for an automatic DE, and the Nor 1-6 inf III is placed in the Norway Game Chart replacement pool. After combat the 2-1-10 Pz II 40 crosses the narrow straits hexside and enters the Isle of Sorta hex at 10B:3017 and the He 111H1 NB type air unit returns to base inoperative at the Oslo airbase.

Then at Norwegian mainland clear terrain/narrow straits coast hex 10B:2816 the unsupported and disrupted Ger 1-6 Inf III C attacks the Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 2 Op defending in the hex. Before the attack the He 115B (SF code) B type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 3720 flies the GS air mission to the hex, contributing its 1 tac bombing factor to the combat. We are playing using Advanced rule 44B1-Air Support Limits. In addition to the GS, the CA TF A. Hipper, also in coastal hex 2816, contributes both its support and its 3 strength NGS to the attack factor. By my tally this adds up to a raw ratio of 4 1/8 to ½, or a straight up 8 to 1, again good enough for an automatic DE. The Nor cav IIis eliminated and the disrupted Ger 1-6 Inf III C moves in and occupies the nevertheless still Allied controlled beach hex at 10B:2816. The He 115B (SF code) B type air unit returns to base at the Stavanger 4-cap airbase (3619).

Exploitation Phase

1st Naval Movement Step

The Axis combat naval group off-shore at sea at Norwegian coast hex 10B:2816 first rolls a 4 on the DZC, then the Ger CL TF Cruiser-1 spends 8 MPs moving to the port of Haugesund (3319). There, at the standard port, the light TF spends 22 MPs beginning to replenish its fuel, which it has not yet done this Axis player turn. Next the Ger CA TF A. Hipper leaves the Norwegian beach hex at 2816 and voyages south, leaving the Scenario maps at North Sea hex 10B:5122 on its 24th MP, and spends the remaining 6 MPs of the naval movement step moving off-map towards the Northern Germany holding box, per the Germany Game Chart 15 hexes away from the south edge of map 10B.

2nd Naval Movement Step

At the point city/standard port of Haugesund, the Ger CL TF Cruiser-1 spends 8 MPs completing its fuel replenishment, then stays at the port for the rest of the naval movement step.

The Ger CA TF A. Hipper spends 9 MPs moving off-map to enter the Northern Germany holding box. There its spends 21 MPs beginning to replenish its fuel, which it has not yet done this Axis player turn.

3rd Naval Movement Step

The Ger CA TF A. Hipper spends 9 MPs finishing its fuel replenishment during the current Axis player turn. Afterwards it sails out of the Northern Germany holding box and moves off-map at sea 14 MPs, one hex shy of moving on-map onto the south edge of Scenario map 10B. It does this so that on its voyage back to Haugesund it will only have to do 1 dice roll on the DZC. Another way it could have done this maneuver is to use the Kiaser Wilhem Canal to exit the Northern Germany holding box and then sail around the Danish peninsula from the east in the Baltic Sea and hence through the Nordic Straits. From there, during the next naval movement step, it could have done the dash to Haugesund.

4th and 5th Naval Movement Steps

The Ger CA TF A. Hipper moves one hex onto the southern edge of map 10B at all-sea hex 5122, in the North Sea. There it rolls a 10 on the DZC. Afterwards continues its voyage to the port of Haugesund, along the SW Norwegian coastline.

Ground Movement Sub-Phase

The LW 1-10 Mot HV AA II I/611 at 10B:3714 moves to the Haugesund point city/standard port hex 3319.

The 1-10 Mot MG II 13 at 2608 moves to the Frode point city/minor port hex 2613.

The LW 1-10 Mot HV AA II I/32 at 3305 moves northwards to forest rail hex 10B:2602.

Then the Mxd (F code) T type air unit at Aalborg reference city/major port at 10B:5115 in northern Denmark stages to the 4-cap Stavanger airbase, where it picks up 4 supply points as cargo. From Stavanger it flies an air transport mission to the Nor mainland clear terrain coast hex 10B:2816, where the disrupted Ger 1-6 Inf III C is at. At the target hex the LW T type floatplane air unit air drops the supply points on the clear terrain beach hex. Doing a “straight up” die roll on the Disruption Table, 3 of the 4 supply points land undisrupted, and the Axis player happily places a “3” status marker on the hex atop the Ger inf III. The Mxd (F code) T type air unit returns to base at the 3-cap permanent airfield 10B:4415, on the south coast of Norway.

Then the two He 111H4 (S code) b type air units based at Oslo do a tac bombing air misison at the Bergen dot city hex (3016), with the airbase there as the target. Both LW B type air units make it through the Allied player’s 3 factor flack. However, the Axis player rolls two dice on the Bombing Table and comes up with two misses. The two He 11H4 (S code) B type air unitss return to base at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:3720, in SW Norway.

Finally, the 3rd available He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit, the recently replaced one based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 10B:4415, on the southern Norwegian coastline, first does a long-striding staging to the Narvik reference city airbase at 5C:1010. Then it flies the naval strike air mission to the Harstad point city/minor port hex 5C:0712, where two Allied CL TFs are anchored. Also in the hex is a Br 0-5 Lt AA II (AA=1). The Allied player first rolls on the “3” column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table and comes up with a 6: a miss. Then the Axis player rolls two dice on the “1” column of the Bombing Table (w/ a +1 modifier for being S code) and comes up with a 5: good for 1 hit. A random pick of the two available Allied CL TFs picks the Br CL TF Cruiser-4 as the naval unit taking the 1 hit.

At the end of the exploitation phase the Me 110C1 HF type air unit flying the CAP mission over the Norwegian mainland clear terrain coast hex at 10B:2816 returns to base at the Stavanger airbase.

At the end of the Jun II 40 Axis final turn the Axis forces in play are as follows:

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

  • 5-8* Mtn XX 3
  • LW 0-8 Lt IAA II II/33
  • He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit
  • 2 Ger mine points sown off-shore “at sea”

Woods Coast Rail hex 5C:2430: wint 6-6 Inf XX 196

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

  • 7-8 Mtn XX 2
  • airbase hit
  • rail hit
    Note: The rail bridge at river hexside 5C:2432/2433 is demolished.

Woods coast rail hex 4C:2433:

  • wint 2-6 Inf III F
  • 1-8 Art X 109

Forest rail hex 10B;2602 LW 1-10 Mot HV AA II I/32

Mountain road hex 10B:2607: wint 2-6 Inf III F

Frode, at point city/minor port mountain road terminus coast hex 10B:2613: 1-10 Mot MG II 13

Mountain rail hex 10B:2906: 2-6 Inf III C

Norwegian mainland clear terrain coast hex 10B:2816:

  • disrupted 1-6 Inf III C
  • 3 supply points

Mountain rail hex 10B:3014 (2 hexes east of Bergen): wint 6-6 Inf XX 163

Isle of Sorta hex 10B:3017 (west of Bergen): 2-1-10 Pz II 40

Isle of Hufter hex 10B:3118: 7-6 Inf XX 69
Note: The double islets hex of Tysnes and Strod at 3217 and the isle of Bolmo at 3218 are Axis controlled. The Isle of Oster at 2916 and the double islets of Ask and Holsn are Allied controlled.

Haugesund, at point city/standard port clear terrain road terminus coast hex 10B:3319:

  • LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/611
  • LW pos flk unit (AA=1)
  • CA TF A. Hipper
  • CL TF Cruiser-1
  • 1 Ger mine point sown off-shore “at sea”

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

  • C Inf XX HQ unit
  • 0-1-5 Const III 6
  • 3-cap temporary airfield
  • two Me 109E F type air units
  • Me 110C1 HF type air unit
  • Ju 87R D type air unit

Clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:3720, w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield:

  • LW pos flk unit (AA=1)
  • two He 111H4 (S code) B type air units
  • He 115B (SF code) B 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”

Oslo, at partial city coast rail hex 10B:4007:

  • wint F Inf XX HQ unit
  • 2-6 Inf III C
  • He 111H1 NF air unit
  • 1 resource point
  • airbase hit marker

Woods coast hex 10B:4415, w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield (next to Kristiansand): Mxd (F code) T type air unit
Clear terrain Danish coast hex 10B:5015, w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield: 6-6 Inf XX 170, transfered to Greater Germany.

Northern Germany holding box:

  • B TF Schlesien, transferred to Greater Germany
  • DD TF Flotilla-1, transferred to Greater Germany
  • DD TF Flotilla-2, transferred to Greater Germany

Germany replacement pool:

  • wint 2-6 Inf III F
  • BC TF Schrnhrst (4 hits)
  • BC TF Gneisenau (4 hits)
  • BP TF Lutzow (3 hits)
  • CA TF Blucher (3 hits).

Jun I 40 Allied Turn

Initial Phase

Both sides’ forces and airfields in Norway are in supply this turn.

We are using the Nordic Adventure Scenario’s Allied OB for the British and French reinforcements on the added-on Jun I and Jun II Allied turns. Per the Nordic Adventure Scenario’s OB for Jun I 40 Allied turn both the British and French receive 2 inf RPs each as Production. The Allied player “designates” these inf RPs as in the Scotland holding box. He intends to store them here for their VP gains at the end of the extended Campaign for Norway Scenario. The Allied player also receives 1 resource point at the Scotland holding box. This too, he intends to save for the VPs at the end of the extended Scenario.

Using the last remaining Br ARP from the May I 40 Allied turn reinforcements, the Allied player rebuilds the aborted Br Glad (*) F type air unit in the Allied Game Chart aborts box and places it aboard the CV TF Ark Royal naval unit, currently anchored in the Orkney Islands holding box, along with the Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit already on the carrier. By the end of the initial phase both air units based on the carrier will be operative.

Per Rule 35C2-Allied Taskforce Maintenance, in his initial phase of each I turn, the Allied player can remove one hit of damage from any affected TFs. Accordingly, four hits are duly removed from the following four British TFs (1 hit per TF): BC TF Repulse (now w/ no hits), the CA TF Cruiser-1 (now w/ no hits), the BB TF Valiant (now w/ 1 hit), and the CA TF Cruiser-2 (now w/ 4 hits). Then, per Rule 35A-[Naval TF] Regrouping, the remaining hit on the BB TF Valiant (now w/ no hits) is “transferred” to the CA TF Cruiser-2 (now w/ 5 hits, again); the later of which is again placed back into the Allied Game Chart replacement pool. Accounting is duly made of the 4 “deducted” hits done this initial phase for proper VP accounting at the end of the extended scenario.

Finally this turn’s Norwegian special inf RPs are accounted and designated as stored in a particular map hex. For the Nor 1-6 inf III eliminated the previous player turn at the Isle of Huftar (10B:3118), the Allied player gets .25 special inf RP; it is designated as being at the Bergen dot city hex. This alone is not enough to build anything now. For the loss of the three attack factors of the Nor 4-6 Mtn XX 5 cadred by the combat results of the previous Jun I 40 Axis turn at hex 10B:2502, the Allied player gets .75 special inf RP; it is designated as being at the Trondheim reference city hex. There is already .25 Nor special inf RP stored at the Trondheim city hex, so this makes for a new total of 1 Nor special inf RP available there. The Allied player spends this 1 Nor special inf RP and rebuilds the Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol from the Norwegian Game Chart replacement pool, and places it at the Trondheim hex along with the rest of the Allied forces beginning the turn there.

Then the Allied player relocates the Norwegian government marker from the Trondheim reference city hex to the Bodo point city hex, farther north in Norway.

Both sides’ air units become operative; neither sides’ airfields are stacked in excess of its capacity.

Neither side flies any CAP air missions in the initial phase. The Axis player flies no harassment air missions. However, the Axis player assigns to the naval patrol air mission the Ju 87R D type and the He 13B (SF code) B type air units based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:3720, adjacent to Stavanger. None of the three He 111H4 (S code) B type air units based at the Oslo hex are assigned to the sea patrol mission because of their long distance from either the North or Norwegian Seas.

Movement Phase

1st Naval Movement Step

The first thing the Allied player does is fly the Nor C.V A type air unit based at Trondheim on the air transfer mission to the Bergen hex. Immediately after this the Axis player wises up and sends one of the two Me 109E F type air units based at the Stavenger reference city hex (now w/ a 1-cap temporary airfield built by the Ger const III in the hex) on the CAP mission over the Bergen hex.

Then the Allied player refuels all his TFs currently available for play; all of these are based at the Orkney Islands holding box.

At the point city/minor port of Harstad (5C:0712), on the isle of Hinn, a Nor NTP spends 30 MPs completely embarking the Fr 2-8 Mtn IIIs 5CA.

2nd Naval Movement Step

A large Allied combat naval group leaves the Orkney Islands. For the first time in the EA game report is spends 2 MPs entering map 10B at the unnamed Orkney Islands western map edge islet hex at 2233. It rolls a 7 on the Danger Zones Chart (DZC). It spends another 2 MPs sailing NE to adjacent Westlay Island hex at western map edge hex 2123. The Allied naval group is doing this awkward maneuver in order to avoid the 20 hex perimeter of the LW He 115B (SF code) B type air unit based at 10B:3720 on the naval patrol air mission, thereby hoping to discourage an Axis detection die roll attempt on the Success Table. Having evidently done just that, the large Allied combat naval group continues sailing NE to all-sea hex 1630, where it veers due east and ends its naval movement step at sea hex 10B:1609, in the midst of the Norwegian Sea. This Allied combat naval group is composed of the following naval units:

  • Br BB TF Rodney
  • Br BB TF Valiant
  • Br BC TF Renown
  • Br BC TF Repulse
  • Br CV TF Ark Royal carrying the operative Glad (*) and the FAA Sea Glad (C code) F type air units.
  • Br CV TF Glorious carrying the operative Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit
  • Br CV TF Furious carrying the operative Sword 1 (VC code) A type FAA air unit
  • Br CA TF Cruiser-1
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-3
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-4
  • Fr CL TF Cruiser-1.

Meanwhile, back at the minor port of Halstad, on the remote northern Norwegian isle of Hinn, the Nor NTP carrying the embarked Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27CA leaves the harbor and spends its 30 MP naval movement allowance voyaging to all-sea hex 10B:1403. It rolls a 5 on the DZC.

3rd Naval Movement Step

At the very beginning of the current naval movement step the large Allied combat naval group at all-sea hex 10B:1609 splits into three separate combat naval groups. First, what might be called the main body moves in daylight to, of all places, the remote and desolate Norwegian rough terrain coast hex at 10B:2203, and then stops. This Allied naval group is comprised of the following naval units:

  • Br BB TF Rodney
  • BB TF Valiant
  • CV TF Ark Royal carrying the operative Glad (*) and the FAA Sea Glad (C code) F type air units
  • CV TF Glorious carrying the operative Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit
  • CV TF Furious carrying the operative Sword 1 (VC code) A type FAA air unit
  • CA TF Cruiser-1.

Then a second combat naval group begins the naval movement step spending 7 MPs, all at night movement, moving eventually into the point city/minor port of Kristiansund at hex 10B:2206. This naval group is comprised of the following naval units:

  • Br BC TF Repulse
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-3
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-4.

The third combat naval group diverges and spends 5 MPs moving due east in daylight to sea hex 1604. Then it veers SE, entering adjacent sea hex 1704 in daylight. Next it moves at night movement to adjacent sea hex 1803, and then spends 9 more MPs, at night movement, eventually entering the reference city/major port of Trondheim on the 16th MP of the naval movement step. This Allied combat naval group consists of the following naval units:

  • Br BC TF Renown
  • Fr CL TF Cruiser-1.

The Axis player tells the Allied player to go ahead with his move, and so then the Allied player, now suddenly turning his movement activities back to the Kristiansund minor port hex, spends 3 MPs at night beginning to embark the two Br 2-6 Inf Xs 146 and 148 aboard the two Br CL TFs Cruiser-3 and Cruiser-4, respectively. On the 11th MP of the current naval movement step the two Br CL TFs continue to embark the two Br inf Xs, but at this MP beginning in daylight. The Axis player says “continue on,” and so the Allied player has the two Br CL TFs at the port of Kristiansund continue their embarkation countdown of the two Br inf Xs, ending the naval movement step on the 23rd MP of their embarkation labor.

Next, back at the major port of Trondheim, the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 begins embarking in daylight the Fr 2-1-6 Inf III 13LE. Simultaneously, along with this same combat naval group now in the port of Trondheim, the two remaining Nor NTPs suddenly appear and begin embarking the Pol 3-2-6 Inf X CN and the Br 0-5 Lt AA II 55 and the Fr 0-6 AT II 14. No doubt about it, this turn the Allied player is commencing a major evacuation of the Allied expeditionary force in Norway. Evidently the end-times of the Norwegian campaign are at hand. But for now the Axis player still hesitates to send his Heinkel bombers based at Oslo on the naval strike air mission, and so tells the Allied player to go ahead with his move. At the end of the current naval movement step the three involved Allied naval units in Trondheim each have spent 14 MPs in the embarkation process.

Finally, the Nor NTP embarked with the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27CA in the middle of the Norwegian Sea at hex 10B:1403 continues a WSW bearing, spending its 30 MP naval movement step allowance voyaging to all-sea hex 10B:1831, nearly to the Orkney Islands holding box entry hexes at the west edge of Scenario map 10B. At the start of the naval movement step the Nor NTP rolled a no contact on the DZC.

4th Naval Movement Step

First thing, the Allied player rolls the dice on the DZC for the Nor NTP at sea hex 10B:1831, and comes up with a 9: no contact. The Nor NTP then moves into the Orkney Islands holding box and spends its remaining 23 MPs beginning to disembark there the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27CA.

Then the Allied player proceeds to continue with the embarkation of the two Br 2-6 Inf Xs at the minor port of Kristiansund, at Norwegiancoastal islet hex 10B:2206. But at the 1st MP of that Br combat naval group’s naval movement step the Axis player tells him to stop his move. The Axis player then initiates a naval strike air mission against the Kristiansund port hex, flying to this target hex all three He 111H4 (S code) B type air units based at the Oslo airbase.

At the Kristiansund target hex the Allied player intercepts with the Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA and the Skua (C type) DF type air units aboard two of the three Br aircraft carriers loitering three hexes away at Norwegian coast hex10B:2203. In the ensuing air combat the Br Sea Glad returns one of the He 111H4 B type air units and the Br Skua DF type rolls a 5 on the Air Combat Results Table (w/ a -1 modifier for F type versus type B, I believe) and aborts a He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit. Both the intercepting Br F type air units survive their air combats and eventually return to their respective aircraft carriers at Norwegian coast hex 10B:2203.

The remaining He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit then faces the 3 factor flack fire coming from the Br BC TF Repulse, also in the Kristiansund port along with the two Br CL TFs Cruiser-3 and -4. The Allied player rolls a 6 on the Antiaircraft Fire Table: a miss. But when the Axis player rolls two dice on the “1” column of the Bombing table (w/ a +1 modifier for the S code), he comes up with two 3’s: two misses. After all this the two surviving He 111H4 air units return to base at Oslo.

On the 7th MP of the naval movement step the two Br CL TFs Cruiser-3 and -4 finish the embarkations of the Br 2-6 Inf Xs 146 and 148.

But before the Allied player moves the combat naval group at Kristiansund from the port, back at the major port of Trondheim, the Fr CL TF Cruiser-1 and the two Nor NTPs spend 16 MPs to complete their embarkations of the Fr 2-1-6 Inf III 13LE, the Pol 3-2-6 Inf X CN, and Br 0-5 Lt AA II 55 and the Fr 0-6 AT II 14, respectively. Next, this mixed naval group leaves the port of Trondheim and spends the first 10 MPs using night movement to arrive at sea hex 10B:1604. Then it moves due west 4 MPs in daylight to sea hex 1608, ending the naval movement step there.

Only after doing the above does the Br combat naval group at the Kristiansund port hex, comprised of the Br BC TF Repulse and the two Br CL TFs Cruiser-3 and -4, the later two laden with the two Br 2-6 inf Xs, leave the Norwegian port in daylight and spend 23 MPs moving to sea hex 10B:1626, ending the naval movement step there.

Finally, the third and main protecting Br naval group, centered around the three Br aircraft carriers, departs from the Norwegian coast hex at 2203, spending the first 10 MPs at night movement to reach all-sea hex 10B:1609, farther north. From here this combat naval group continues due west, spending its final 20 MPs to reach sea hex 10B:1630, ending there the current naval movement step. However, on the 30th MP, when it enters hex 1630, the operative Br Glad (*) F type air unit aboard the Br CV TF Ark Royal flies an air transfer air mission to the Allied held Bergen dot city hex. It flies the air mission at night to avoid interception from the Ger LW Me 109E F type air unit flying the CAP mission over the Bergen hex. The Allied player is quite lucky and rolls a 5 on the Success Table for his day air unit attempting to land at night at the Bergen airbase: a success!

5th Naval Movement Step

At the Orkney Islands holding box the Nor NTP finishes disembarking there the Fr 2-8 Mtn III 27CA.

Next the Br combat naval group comprising the three CV TFs, the two BB TFs, and the CA TF Cruiser-1 enter the Orkney Islands holding box.

After that the Br combat naval group from Kristiansund, with the two LC TFs carrying two Br 2-6 Inf Xs 146 and 148 arrive at the Orkney Islands holding box and spends 16 MPs beginning to disembark their ground unit cargo at the holding box.

Finally the Allied mixed naval group from Trondheim, laden with their multinational ground unit cargo evacuated from Norway, reaches the Orkney Islands holding box and spends exactly 30 MPs to enter the Orkney Islands holding box, the last 10 MPs being done at night movement.

All three Allied naval groups starting at on-map at sea roll no contact dice rolls on the DZC.

Ground Movement Sub-Phase

The first units the Allied player moves are the Br 2-6 Inf X 15 and the Br 1-8 Mtn Art II 51, beginning the turn stacked together at woods rail coast hex 5C:2433, in between the Allied controlled Trondheim hex (5C:2432) and the menacing German stack at woods rail hex 10B:2502, containing the 7-8 Mtn XX 2 and the 1-10 Mot MG II 13. The British stack at 5C:2433 first spends 4 MPs moving one hex to Trondheim, exiting an Axis ZOC and crossing a demolished river bridge hexside. At Trondheim the Br 2-6 Inf X 15, the Br 1-8 Mtn Art II 51, and the Br 0-1-5 Lt AA II 51 all board a Norwegian train and rail to the point city/minor port of Namsos, at hex 5C:2129.

Next the Nor 1st Inf XX HQ unit at Trondheim spends 3 MPs placing a hit marker on the reference city airbase and another 3 MPs placing a hit marker on the rail line in the hex.

By the end of the movement phase the dispositions of the Allied forces in Norway are as follows:

Central and Northern Norway Regions:

Mountain coast road hex 5C:0909 (next to Narvik): Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 6, never moved

Harstad, at point city/minor port wooded rough terrain coast road hex 5C:0712, on the isle of Hinn:

  • Nor 1-4 Const X 1L, never moved
  • Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA, never moved
  • Br 0-5 Lt AA II 56 (AA=1), never moved
  • Fr 1-8 Mtn Art II 2CA, never moved

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

  • Norwegian government marker, moved to here from Trondheim in the initial phase
  • Nor 2-3-6* Ski X 7, never moved
  • Br LC-1 naval unit (AA=1), never moved
  • 1 Br mine point sown off-shore “at sea”

Forest rail hex 5C:2227: Nor 1-4 Const X 2L, admin moved from Trondheim

Namsos, at point city/minor port woods coast rail terminus hex 5C:2129:

  • Br 2-6 Inf X 15, started at 5C:2433, first moved one hex to Trondheim, then railed in to here
  • Br 1-8 Mtn Art II 51, started at 5C:2433, first moved one hex to Trondheim, then railed in to here
  • Br 0-1-5 lt AA II 51, admin moved (or railed) from Trondheim

Rough terrain coast/narrow straits hex 5C:2030: Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/5 Ol, replacement build, admin moved here from Trondhein

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

  • Nor 1st Inf XX HQ unit, never moved
  • 1 rail hit marker
  • 1 airbase hit marker

Woods coast/narrow straits rail hex 5C:2433 (next to Trondheim): Nor 1-6* Mtn Cadre 5, from adjacent hex 10B:2402
Note: the two adjacent fjord coast/narrow straits hexes at 5C:2233 and 10B:2302 containing the Nor intrinsic CDs are still Allied controlled

The Bergen Zone:

Forest rail hex 10B:3015 (east of Bergen): Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 3, never moved

Mountain coast/narrow straits hex 10B:3116: Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 4, never moved

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

  • Nor 2nd Inf XX HQ unit, never moved
  • Nor 1-6 Eng III 1, never moved
  • Br 3-6 Inf X 24G, never moved
  • Br 0-1-5 Lt AA II 83 (AA=2), never moved
  • Fr pos flk unit (AA-1) never moved
  • Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength of 3
  • inoperative Nor C.V A type air unit, air transferred from Trondheim
  • inoperative Br Glad (*) F type air unit, air transferred at night from the CV TF Ark Royal
  • Ger LW Me 109E F type air unit flying over the hex on the CAP air mission

Rough terrain coast hex 10B:2815: Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo II IC, never moved

Clear terrain coast/narrow straits hex 10B:2816: Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak, never moved

Clear terrain coast hex 10B:3117 (small peninsula SW of Bergen w/ narrow straits towards mainland): Nor 1-6 Inf III 4/09Hl, never moved

Isle of Sorta hex 10B:3017 (west of Bergen, connected w/ narrow straits hexside): Nor 1-6 Inf III 6Vl, never movedDouble islets hex of Ask and Holsn at 10B:2916 w multiple narrow straits hexsides): Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak

Exploitation Phase

1st Naval Movement Step

The two Br LC TFs Cruiser-3 and -4 spend 14 MPs finishing the disembarkation of the two Br 2-6 Inf Xs 146 and 148 at the Orkney Islands holding box.

The Allied mixed naval group from Trondheim spends 30 MPs completely disembarking their ground unit cargo at the Orkney Islands holding box. That would be the Fr 2-1-6 Inf III 13LE, the Pol 3-2-6 Inf X CN, the Br 0-5 Lt AA II 55, and the Fr 0-6 AT II 14.

2nd through 5th Naval Movement Steps

In these naval movement steps in Allied exploitation phase, the Allied player despatches several Allied naval units to ports in northern Norwaynorth of Trondheim. This is done in part to expedite the Allied evacuation of Norway, particularly at Hartstad, and to place a naval blocking force north of Namsos in order to threaten any Axis attempts to reinforce Narvik by sea. The locations of these Allied naval units in northern Norway will be given below.

Ground Movement Sub-Step (c/m units only):

At the end of the Allied turn the Axis player returns the LW Me 109E F type air unit on the CAP mission over the Bergen hex to the Stavanger airbase hex.

At the end of his turn the Allied player has the following naval units in the following Norwegian port hexes:

Harstad, point city/minor port at 5C:0712, on the Norwegian isle of Hinn:

  • Fr CL TF Cruiser-1
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-4

Bodo, point city/minor port at 5C:0712:

  • Br BB TF Valiant
  • BC TF Renown
  • Br LC-1 naval unit

At the end of his turn the Allied player has the following forces in the Orkney Islands holding box:

  • Pol 3-2-8 Inf X CN
  • Br 2-6 Inf X146
  • Br 2-6 Inf X 148
  • Fr 2-1-6 Inf III 13LE
  • Br 0-5 Lt AA II 55
  • Fr 0-6 AT II 14
  • Br 0-1-4 Fortress X RMFU
  • Br BB TF Rodney
  • Br BC TF Repulse
  • Br CA TF Cruiser-3
  • Br CL TF Cruiser-3
  • Br CV TF Ark Royal carrying the inoperative Sea Glad (C code) F type FAA air unit
  • Br CV TF Furious carrying the inoperative Sword 1 (VC code) A type FAA air unit
  • Br CV TF Glorious carrying the inoperative Skua (C code) DF type FAA air unit.

It is hard to tell what the Allied player ought to do in his two added player turns in this extended SoS Scenario. For official guidance regarding Europa Scenario wargaming strategy and tactics, the Allied player has only the SoS VP charts schedule done at the end of the game. Following this, and exclusive of any unofficial personal “historical” sentiments, the Allied player in the Scenario should apparently strive to inflict as much damage as possible on the Axis forces and preserve the Norwegian government marker from capture. Although the retention of Norwegian cities does not specifically gain the Allied side any VP points, their possession for the Allies at the end of the game does prevent the Axis side from adding VPs for those said Norwegian cities, and thereby specifically diminishes the Axis VP tally. Also, the preservation of Allied forces, say through an evacuation of Norway during these added player turns in the extended Scenario, also further limits the potential Axis VP tally.

 

Jun I 40 Axis Turn

Initial Phase

This turn the Axis player rolls a 2 on the Europa weather table. This means clear weather in weather zones A, B, and C on the SoS Campaign for Norway Scenario maps.

Both sides’ forces and airbases are in supply this turn.

The Axis player begins his turn with a total of 3 Ger inf RPs, 14 LW ARPs, and .5 resource points. These production items are located in the Northern Germany holding box. In the initial phase, per the German North Theater 1940-1945 Europa OB beginning on p. 45 of the SoS OB booklet, the Axis player receives as Production 1 Ger inf RP, .5 resource points, and 4.5 LW ARPs. In this initial phase all this Production will be “designated” as stored in the Northern Germany holding box. This adds to a new total of 4 Ger inf RPs, 1 resource point, and 18.5 LW ARPs, all at the Northern Germany holding box. The Axis player uses the 4 Ger Inf RPs to rebuild the two Ger unsupported 2-6 Inf IIIs C found in the SoS Germany Game Chart’s replacement pool and places them in the Northern Germany holding box. The Axis player also spends 1 ARP to replace the aborted He 111H4 (S code) B type air unit and places it at the Oslo airbase.

Per the German North Theater 1940-1945 Europa OB, on the Jun I 40 turn the Axis player “transfers to Greater Germany” the Ger 6-6 Inf XX 170, presently found at the Axis owned and occupied Norwegian point city/standard port of Haugesund, (10B:3319) located on the SW Norwegian coastline, and transfers to “the West” the Ger wint 6-6 Inf XX 198, located at Aalborg, at reference city/major port rail causeway hex 10B:5115, in NE Denmark. Per Rule 3E1-[Geographical] Terms, “Greater Germany” at this time in the wargame includes “the part of Germany shown on the [scenario] maps, …the Sylt and Northern Germany holding boxes, …. [and] Metropolitan Denmark….” Accordingly, the wint 6-6 Inf XX 198 is removed from the Scenario maps and game play. Following Rule 40A1-[Reinforcement] Concepts, the 6-6 Inf XX 170 is “simply” removed from the Haugesund hex and at the Axis player’s discretion placed at clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:5014 along the NE Danish coastline, where is also found two Ger LW pos flk units (each w/ AA=1) and the Ger Mxd (F code) T type air unit.

No CAP, harassment, or naval patrol air missions are flown in the initial phase.

Special Note:

Rule 41B-Campaign for Norway Scenario says the SoS Scenario “…ends either upon the completion of the May II 40 game turn or upon the elimination of all Allied units from both Denmark and Norway.” To be sure, this player’s continuation of the Scenario is not “playing by the official rules,” but I do believe it in fact expresses the wargamer’s love and respect for the published game product. For the Allied Jun I and Jun II 40 turn reinforcements the player is using those listed for the Nordic Adventure Scenario found in the SoS OB booklet. For the Axis Jun I and Jun II 40 turn reinforcements he is using those listed in the German North Theater 1940-1945 Europa OB found in the SoS OB booklet. There may be some “tweaking” done to the Jun II 40 Axis turn Kriegsmarine “Transfer to Germany” stipulations.

Movement Phase

In the naval movement sub-phase the two Ger TF naval units at Haugesund (10B:3319) and the Ger TF naval unit at Stavanger (10B:3619) voyage back to the Northern Germany holding box and replenish their fuel there. Also the two Ger DD TF Flotillas-1 and -2 starting the turn at the Northern Germany holding box replenish their fuel. These voyaging Ger TFs roll no contacts on the Danger Zones Chart (DZC) dice rolls.

The Axis player uses a Ger NTP to sea transport the 0-1-5 Const III 6 at Oslo to the reference city/standard port of Stavanger (10B:3619), on the SW coast of Norway. This unit finishes its disembarkation there in the 3rd naval movement step . In the ground movement sub-phase it spends its remaining 2 MPs building a 1-cap temporary airfield in the hex, per Advanced Rule 43A8-Incremental Construction of Airfields. A temporary 1-cap airfield marker from WW is used.

The Ger wint E Inf XX HQ unit at Aalborg (10B:5115) is sea transported by a Ger NTP to the partial city/major port hex of Oslo (10B:4007). In the ground movement sub-phase it will have 4 MPs left.

The two Ger 2-6 Inf IIIs are sea transported by two NTPs to the Oslo hex. Both remain in the hex for the rest of the Axis player turn.

In the movement phase the resource point in the Greater Germany holding box rails to the reference city of Aalborg (10B:5115), where the Mxd (F code) T type air unit there air transports it to the Oslo airbase. The LW T type floatplane returns to base at Aalborg.

At the end of the movement phase the Axis forces on the Scenario maps are as follows:

The Bergen Zone:

Mountain rail hex 10B:3014 (two rail hexes east of Bergen):

  • Ger wint 2-6 Inf III E, regular moves west 6 transportation line hexes from 3311 to gain hex control
  • Ger wint 2-6 Inf III E, regular moves from 3212
  • Ger wint 1-5 Inf III E; railed in from Oslo, began the turn there
  • Ger wint E Inf XX HQ unit; sea transported to Oslo, then railed in
    Note: At the end of the movement phase these four divisional breakdown units assemble into the Ger wint Ger 6-6 Inf XX 163.

Rough terrain double islet hex of Tysnes and Strod at 10B:3217:

Ger 6-6 Inf XX 214, moves across the narrow straits hexside from Norwegian mainland hex 10B:3318

  • Ger 3-10 Mot Inf X 11, never moved
  • Ger 2-1-10 Pz II 11, never moved

Haugesund, point city/standard port at clear terrain coast road terminus hex 10B:3319:

  • Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/32 (AA=2), never moved
  • 1 Ger mine point sown off-shore “at sea”

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

  • Ger 1-6 Inf III C, never moved
  • Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II 1/611 (AA=2), never moved
  • Ger 0-1-5 Const III 6, sea transported from Oslo
  • 1-cap temporary airfield, built this turn by the const III
  • operative 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, never moved
  • two operative He 111H4 (S code) B type air units
  • operative 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”

Woods coast hex 10B:4415, adjacent to Kristiansand, w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield:

  • operative Ger Me 109E F type air unit
  • operative Ger He 115B (SF code) B type air unit

The Southern Norway and Northern Denmark Regions:

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

  • two 2-6 Inf IIIs C, sea transported from Northern Germany holding box, both are replacement builds
  • 1 resource point, air transported to the airbase
  • one airbase hit marker
  • operative Ger Me 110C1 F type air unit
  • operative Ger He 111H1 NB type air unit
  • operative Ger He 111H4 (S code) air unit, replacement air unit placed here in the initial phase

Woods rail junction hex 10B:4006 (east of Oslo): Ger wint F Inf XX HQ unit, admin moved from 10B:3212

Forest rail hex 10B:3308: Ger wint 2-6 Inf III F Note: this unit started at 3109, then regular moved to Hauge (3010); then it reversed direction and ended its move at 3308 in order to gain hex control of the point city and transportation line leading to it.

Forest rail hex 10B:3106: Ger LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG, admin moved from 10B:3211

Aalborg, at reference city, major port clear terrain coast rail causeway hex 20B:5115, in NE Denmark:

  • two LW pos flk units (each w/ AA=1), moved from 10B:5015
  • Ger Mxd (F code) T type air unit

Clear terrain coast hex 10B:5015 w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield, in NE Denmark:

  • Ger 6-6 Inf XX 170, transferred per OB to “Greater Germany” in initial phase, started at Haugesund
  • operative Ger Ju 52 T type air unit

The Trondheim Region:

Forest rail hex 10B:2601:

  • Ger wint 2-6 Inf III F, regular moved from 10B:3002
  • Ger A Mtn XX HQ unit, from 10B:3103
  • Ger 3-8 Mtn III A, from 3103

Forest rail hex 10B:2602:

  • Ger 3-8 Mtn III A, from 10B:2906
  • Ger wint 6-6 Inf XX 196, from 2906

Mountain rail hex 10B:2603:

  • Ger wint 2-6 Inf III F, from 10B:3006
  • Ger 1-10 Mot MG II 13, admin moved from Frode (2613)
  • rail hit marker

Mountain rail/road junction hex 10B:2704:

  • Ger 1-8 Art X 109, admin moved from 10B:3603
  • rail hit marker.

The Narvik Zone:

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

  • Ger 5-8* Mtn XX 3, never moved
  • Ger LW 0-8 Lt AA II II/33, never moved
  • 2 Ger mine points sown off-shore “at sea.”

Combat Phase

In the combat phase the Nor C.V A type air unit based at the Trondheim reference city airbase at 5C:2432 flies the DAS mission over the Nor 4-6 Mtn XX 5 at woods rail junction hex 10B:2502.

Afterwards, the two Axis ground unit stacks at forest rail hexes 10B:2601 and 2602 attack the Nor 4-6 Mtn XX at woods rail hex 2502, with the Nor C.V A type air unit flying DAS overhead. But first the Axis flies the three He 111H4 (S code) B type air units to 10B:2502 on the GS air mission. The two He 111H4 air units based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:3720 first stage to Oslo, there joining the third He 111H4 air unit based at the Oslo hex, from where the three LW B type air units fly to the target hex.

The Axis player attacks at 4 to 1 -1 (for the woods hex) and rolls a 3, which modifies to a 2: HX. The Nor 4-6 Mtn XX 5 is flipped to its 1-6 Mtn Cadre and retreats to woods coast hex 10B:2402. The Allies need to retreat here in order to prevent the Ger 1-10 Mot MG II 13 ground unit from moving into rough terrain narrow straits coast hex 10B:2302 in the exploitation phase, thereby pinching off the “open sea” access for Allied naval units to and from the Trondheim major port. For the HX the Axis player eliminates the attacking wint 2-6 Inf III F, at forest woods hex 2603. After combat the Axis player moves the two 3-6 Mtn IIIs A and the A Mtn XX HQ unit into woods rail junction hex 2402. The Nor C.V A type air unit returns to base at Trondheim and the three LW He 111H4 B type air units return to base at Oslo.

Next, the Axis attacks the Nor 1-6 Inf III1/3Tm at the Huftar island hex 10B:3118 with the Ger 3-10 Mot Inf X 11 and the Ger 2-1-10 Pz II 40 at the adjacent double islet hex of Tysnes and Stord, at 10B: 3217. These two Ger c/m units are stacked with the 6-6 Inf XX 214, but the inf XX doesn’t participate in the attack. I’m not sure in this case if the inf XX gives support to the attacking unsupported mot units; I believe it does without affecting the AECA. If it does affect th AECA then the Axis player doesn’t want its support and will rely solely on the GS to jack up the attack odds. In any event, the LW Ju 87R based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 10B:3720 flies the GS air mission to the isle of Huftar target hex, upping the attack odds to at least a 9 to 1 +3 (for the AECA modifier). The Nor inf III is eliminated, and after combat the Ger mot inf X and the pz II advance across the narrow straits hexside onto the isle of Huftar. The Ju 87R returns to base at the 3-cap permanent airfield on the SW Norwegian coastline, adjacent to Stavanger.

Exploitation Phase

In the naval movement sub-phase the CA TF A. Hipper and the CL TF Cruiser-1, now having replenished their fuel during the current player turn, voyage to the reference city/standard port of Stavanger on the SW Norwegian coastline. They roll no contacts on the DZC.

The LW 1-10 Mot Inf GG moves from 10B:3106 westwards down the transportation line to Frode, at point city/minor port mountain coast road terminus hex 10B:2613.

The 1-10 Mot MG II 13 at mountain road hex 2603 moves two transportation line hexes to woods rail junction hex 10B:2502, stacking there with the three A Mtn XX breakdowns. At the end of the exploitation phase these three mountain XX breakdowns assemble into the 7-8 Mtn XX 2.

The He 111H1 NB type air unit based at the Oslo airbase flies a night strat bombing rail marshaling yard air mission against the Trondheim reference city/major port clear terrain coast rail hex. The Allied player rolls a 7 on the “3” column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table, with a +2 modifier: a miss. But the Axis player rolls a 4 on the “5” column of the Bombing Table, with a -1 modifier: also a miss. The frustrated He 111H1 night bomber air unit returns to base at Oslo.

Near the end of the Exploitation Phase the Axis player sends the second Me 109E F type air unit on the air transfer mission to the Stavanger reference city airbase, now with a base cap of 2 with the added 1-cap temporary airfield marker. There it stacks together with the other currently available Me 109E air unit. Then he air transfers the Me 110C1 HF type and the He 115E (F code) B type air units to the 3-cap permanent airfield at coast hex 10B:3720, just south of Stavanger, stacking them with the inoperative Ju 87R D type air unit.

For those who may wish to know, here is a virtually complete listing of both sides’ forces in play in the Scenario at the end of the Jun I 40 Axis turn:

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

  • Ger 5-8* Mtn XX 3
  • Ger LW 0-8 Lt AA II II/33 (AA=1)

Mountain road hex 5C:0910 (next to Narvik): Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 6

Harstad, at point city/minor port wooded rough narrow straits coast road hex 5C:0712:

  • Nor 1-4 Const X 1L
  • Two Fr 2-8 Mtn III 5CA and 27CA
  • Fr Mtn Art II 2CA
  • Br 0-5 Lt AA II 56 (AA=1)

Bodo, point city/minor port rough terrain rail terminus hex 5C:1217:

  • Nor 2-3-6* Ski X 7
  • Br LC-1 naval unit (AA=1)
  • 1 Br mine point sown off-shore “at sea”

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

  • Norwegian government marker
  • Nor 1st Inf XX HQ unit
  • Nor 1-4 Const X 2L
  • Pol 3-2-6 Inf X CN
  • Fr 2-1-6 Inf III 13LE
  • Fr 0-6 AT II 14
  • Br 0-1-5 Lt AA II 51 (AA=2)
  • Br 0-5 Lt AA II 55 (AA=1)
  • Nor C.V A type air unit

Woods coast narrow straits rail hex 5C:2433:

  • Br 2-6 Inf X 15
  • Br 1-8 Mtn Art II 51
    Note: the bridge has been demolished crossing the 2432/2433 hexside

Rough terrain narrow straits coast hex 10B:2302: Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength of 2

Rough terrain narrow straits hex 5C:2233: Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength of 1

Woods coast hex 10B:2402: Nor 1-6* Mtn Cadre 5

Kristansund, at point city/standard port double Norwegian islet hex 10B:2206: two Br 2-6 Inf Xs 146 and 148

Woods rail junction hex 10B:2502:

  • Ger 7-8 Mtn XX 2
  • Ger 1-10 Mot MG II 13

Forest rail hex 10B:2602: Ger wint 6-6 Inf XX 196

Mountain rail hex 10B:2603:

  • Ger wint 2-6 III F
  • rail hit marker

Mountain rail/road junction hex 10B:2704:

  • Ger 1-8 Art X 109
  • rail hit marker

Frode, at point city/minor port mountain coast road terminus hex at 10B:2613: Ger LW 1-10 Mot Inf II GG

Forest rail hex 10B3308: Ger wint 1-6 Inf III F

Mountain rail hex 10B:3014 (2 hexes east of Bergen): Ger wint 6-6 Inf XX 163

Isle of Huftar at hex 10B:3118:

  • Ger 3-10 Mot Inf X 11
  • Ger 2-1-10 Pz II 40

Tysnes and Strod double islet hex at 10B:3218: Ger 6-6 Inf XX 214
Note: The Norwegian coastal island hexes of Bolmo (10B;3318) and Karm (10B:3419) are Axis controlled.

Haugesund, at point city/standard port clear terrain coast road terminus hex 10B:3319:

  • Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/32 (AA=2)
  • 1 Ger mine point sown off-shore “at sea”

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

  • Ger 0-1-5 Const III 6
  • Ger 1-6 Inf III C
  • Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/611 (AA=2)
  • two Ger Me 109E F type air units
  • Ger CA TF A. Hipper
  • Ger CL TF Cruiser-1
  • 1-cap temporary airfield marker

Clear terrain coast rail hex 10B:3720 w/ a 3-cap permanent airfield (adjacent to Stavanger):

  • Ger C Inf XX HQ unit
  • Ger Me 110C1 HF type air unit
  • Ger Ju 87R D type air unit
  • Ger He 115B (SF code) B 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”

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

  • Nor 2nd Inf XX HQ unit
  • Nor 1-6 Eng III 1
  • Br 3-6 Inf X 24G
  • Br 0-1-5 Lt AA II 82 (AA=2)
  • Fr pos flk unit (AA=1)
  • Nor intrinsic CD w/ a strength of 3

Forest rail hex 10B:3015 (one hex east of Bergen): Nor 2-3-6* Mtn X 3

Mountain coast hex 10B:3116: Nor 2-3-6* Mtn x 4

Clear terrain coast hex 10B:3117: nNor 1-6 Inf III 4/9Hl

Isle of Sorta hex 10B:3017: Nor 1-6 Inf III 2/6Vl

Ask and Holsn double islets hex 10B:2917: Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 1Ak

Clear terrain narrow straits coast hex 10B:2816: Nor 0-1-8 Cav II 2 Op

Clear Terrain coast hex 10B:2815: Br 0-6 Marine Cmdo II IC

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

  • two Ger 2-6 Inf IIIs C
  • 1 resource point
  • Ger He 111H1 NB type air unit
  • three Ger He 111H4 (S code) B type air units
  • one airbase hit marker

Woods rail junction hex 10B:4006 (east of Oslo): Ger wint F Inf XX HQ unit.

Northern Germany holding box:

  • two Ger DD TF Flotillas-1 and -2
  • Ger B TF Schlesien.

German replacement pool:

  • Ger wint 2-6 Inf III F
  • two Ger BC TFs Gneiseneau and Schrnhrst
  • Ger CA TF Blucher
  • BP TF Lutzow.

Additional hit/demolition markers on the Scenario maps in Norway:

  • Forest rail hex 10B:2901: rail hit marker
  • Forest rail hex 10B:3405: rail hit marker
  • Woods rail junction hex 10B:3603: rail hit marker
  • River rail bridge hexside at 10B:4005/4006: demolished bridge marker
  • River rail bridge hexside at 10B:4008/4009: demolished bridge marker
  • River rail bridge hexside at 10B:3809/3910: demolished bridge marker.