The name of our small but enthusiastic gaming group has always been a bit of a misnomer. Alternatives have always been bantered around like “War Some of the Time”, “War May Be Sometime”, or even “Once Upon A Time There Was A War”, because of our inability to get together on a regular basis, but the acronym WATT has always stuck.

WATT members adhere to CODEX FEZ: which put simply is Play for fun. Paint your damn army. Don’t be a prick.

The Fez came about because one of our group came back from Turkey with a bunch of Fez’s for us. We use to all wear them when we were running Arcanacon so that people could know who to go to for help. Didn’t mean they received any but at least we tried!

Just Great to Get The Band Back Together

I have never played any of the Overlord scenarios and so was not only looking forward to catching up with everyone, but also to getting a chance to play Memoir 44 on the grand scale.

As normal the Overlord scenarios have a map with a centre, a left, and a right sector. Each of these is divided up into a left and right sector and commanded by a General who is given cards by the Commander in Chief. This requires a minimum of four players per side and works extremely well.

The Historical Background:

After a month of heavy fighting, the Germans finally lost Hill 192 the previous night. For the first time since June they no longer dominate the road to Saint-Lo. Should US High Command be able to deploy the 5th Corps into a large scale armoured offensive, the city will be finally within reach. But the German elite Parachute units have taken advantage of the darkness to pull back onto Hill 10 in the vicinity of the Bayeux Highway near la Boulaye, as well as onto Hill 147 on Martinsville Ridge northeast of Saint-Lo. Reinforce by elements of the Panzer Lehr, they have set up a line of defence in the endless cover of fields, woods, and streams. Their air power grounded by poor weather, and their tanks mired in “bocage” country, the Allies must place the burden of the attack on the shoulders of their infantry yet again. What awaits the weary US troops is what forever will be known as “Hedgerow Hell”.

The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn and we were in command. Victory was never in doubt:

“Deutschland, Deutschland über alles”

Taken from my left flank position.

The overconfident Yanks sit opposite us!

"Kis ist alles was du hast".

Being attacked by tanks, two units of infantry and supporting artillery the surrounded German infantry in the bocage just stuck up their middle finger and yelled “Is that all you have got”!

This infantry enabled the German left flank to delay the US advance long enough for their artillery to reduce the enemy attacking units enough to finally hold their position. Eventually they were forced to retreat two hexes to La Luzerne where they held on for a few more turns.

The Allied advance on the right was being stalled, in fact, the only orders they were being given was to dig in – much to the chagrin of their general! Needles to say the German generals heckled the Allied CIC for playing favourites. As a result the German right was never in any real threat.

The Allies pushed forward in the centre, and while the Germans were suffering casualties they were inflicting as many in return. The battle would finally hinge on the three villages that were the victory conditions.

The allies made a major push in all three sectors, attacking the villages. The were repulsed on the right and in the centre.

On the left the the town of Bourg-d”Denfer was eventually taken by the Allies leaving them with just two victory points for victory to the Germans four. With weak units on both sides everywhere victory was going to be achieved one way or the other very quickly.

The next German turn was going to be crucial. Orders were issued right across the table to attack! The German right flank were able to destroy an Allied tank company, and their centre artillery were able to destroy a weakened Allied infantry unit hiding in their rear echelons. With all paratroop units still operational these two sectors now looked secure.

With each side now needing just two victory conditions, the German assault on Bourg-d”Denfer was critical. The assault needed to wipe out their opponents, and not just force them to retire, as two victory points were required. One for holding the objective and one for destroying the Allied infantry.

With an additional dice for the close assault given by their order, a full strength German Infantry company attacked…………………………….three dice rolled………………………..two infantry symbols and a grenade…………………………… VICTORY!

“Deutschland, Deutschland über alles”

A really close, fun game with great mates, plenty of amber liquid, and great food from Bar Doh Restaurant.