Post by SgtFury on Jul 12, 2018 3:33:19 GMT
Hello to all,
As you may already know, I have been working on a series of AAM scenarios and maps for the last few months on the theme of the German invasion of Norway in 1940. At this time I have eight out of a planned 12 done. There are many more historic battles that I could do, but at some point I have to draw a line. So to help me make a decision on the final four battles I should work on, I’m sending out this poll to survey gamers opinions. First, let me list the battles I have already designed to give you an idea of what is already done.
1. Midtskogen / Spiller’s Raid – April 10, 1940 German paratroopers attack an ad hoc Norwegian force blocking the way towards where the King of Norway and the Norwegian Government are located. Historic outcome: Norwegian victory. The King & Government remain free and eventually turn down a demanded surrender by Nazi officials. Norway fights on!!
2. Gratangen Tourist Station – April 12, 1940 German Gebirgsjagers push inland after landing at Narvik and encounter a Norwegian force blocking the entrance to a mountain valley. Historic outcome: Stalemate, but Norwegian forces did stop the Germans from advancing any further inland.
3. Dombas Airborne Assault – April 14-19, 1940 German Paratroopers drop behind enemy lines with the mission of cutting a key rail line supplying Allied forces further south. Unbeknownst to the Germans, the King of Norway is nearby! Will the Germans achieve their main objective or possibly catch the King? Historic outcome: Norwegian victory. The chaotic landing does block the RR line for a few days, but the King is safely moved away.
4. Fortress Hegra – April 15 to May 5, 1940 – A small Norwegian force tries to hold a border fortress originally designed to defend against a Swedish invasion. The Germans want access to the rail line that runs from their foothold at Trondheim, past Hegra Fortress to the Swedish border. Without this access, resupply can only reach them by air or sea. A force of Gebirgsjagers tries to storm the fortress. Historic outcome: Two assaults failed to take the fortress and a nearly month long siege ensues. Eventually a German victory, but an important moral victory for the Norwegian side.
5. Tretten – April 23, 1940 – British Territorial troops are rushed forward to help exhausted Norwegian forces being slowly pushed northwards from Oslo. Allied forces decide to make a stand in a narrow valley just south of a key bridge being held open as a possible retreat route for a nearby Norwegian force fighting in Central Norway. (See Bagn) A German Kampfgruppe composed of infantry and light armored units is on the way to attack this mix of British and Norwegian units. Historic outcome: German victory. The British 148th Brigade is destroyed.
6. Lapphaugen – April 24, 1940 – Norwegian forces located in Northern Norway were mobilized even before the German invasion. Now they are ready to push back against the invaders. Elements of the Norwegian 2nd Battalion / 15th Infantry Regiment advance during a snow storm towards German forces blocking the way towards Gratangen. Historic outcome: German victory. The small German force manages to hold off the larger attacking Norwegian force, but afterwards retreats back to Gratangen.
7. Kvam – April 25-26, 1940 – The British King’s Own York and Lancaster Infantry along with an antitank company from the 15th Brigade make a stand at a bend in the river valley further north of Tretten. These Allied units are better organized and entrenched then the 148th was at Tretten. But the Germans are also better prepared as well. This time they have a platoon of tanks including a Neubaufahrzeug heavy tank. Historic outcome: German victory. After two days of fighting British forces retreat. Several German tanks are put out of action by the British AT guns before they in turn are destroyed.
8. Orneset Beach / Narvik – May 28, 1940 – British Naval forces support a joint French / Norwegian amphibious assault across a fjord just north of the town of Narvik. German forces have been isolated in Northern Norway for nearly 7 weeks, but are still hanging on. Losing Narvik would mean their only option left is to retreat into the mountains near the Swedish border. Historic outcome: Allied victory but a bitter one. The decision to pull out of Norway due to the disaster befalling Allied forces in France was made a few days before the planned attack. For morale / strategic reasons the attack is still made in order to push German forces away from the coast.
So four more battles need to be selected for development and design. Here are your choices:
1. Bagn – April 18-21, 1940 – After the German invasion, the Norwegian 4th Brigade located in South Central Norway has managed to mobilize (more or less) according to plan and is moving towards Allied forces fighting further to the east in the Gudbrandsdal / Tretten area. They encounter Kampfgruppe Adlhoch moving towards them at Bagn. After a series of battles, some quite heavy, the Norwegians retreat after giving German forces a bloody nose. Ultimately they are cut off from the main Norwegian army fighting with British forces and end up surrendering about two weeks later. Note: Probably the largest land battle to occur between German and Norwegian forces during the entire Campaign.
2. Labergdalen Pass / Snaufjeld Mountain – May 1 – 10, 1940 French Mountain Infantry land north of the Labergdalen pass and then attempt to advance down the valley held by German forces sited in the valley and on Snaufjeld mountain. Historic outcome: Stalemate. The initial attack is successful, but bogs down as German forces fall back to the next section of mountain and use aerial attacks to slow the French advance. After 9 days the Germans retreat allowing a link-up between French and Norwegian forces located in the Grantangseidet valley further south. After this experience the Commanding French General concludes that any further advance would be too slow and costly. For his next move he opts to conduct an amphibious assault further south at Bjerkvik. Note: This is the only scenario that would feature French alpine forces. Would also feature German aircraft.
3. Kobberfjell Mountain Assault – May 13, 1940 After consulting with French & Allied Commanders, the Norwegian Army Commander agreed to attack German forces defending the mountainous Kuberg Plateau area north of Narvik. This large area was divided up between different infantry formations. The Norwegian 2/16th Infantry was assigned the Kobberfjell Mountain area. Note: This battle would feature Norwegian infantry, MGs, mortars and artillery attacking German Gebirgsjagers holding a series of mountain peaks. Historic outcome: Stalemate for several days before German troops withdrew to shorten their defensive lines.
4. Bjerkvik Amphibious Assault – May 13, 1940 French General Bethouart realized that movement by water was going to be faster than movement by land for his forces in North Norway. So he devised an amphibious assault on the small port of Bjerkvik which was adjacent to the Norwegian Army mobilization center at Elevgardsmoen. This attack would flank around German forces defending in the mountains futher to the north. Note: This was the very first amphibious landing of World War Two. It featured Royal Navy Gun Support, ALCs & LCMs landing craft, French light tanks and French Foreign Legion troops. (The same troops that would later attack at Orneset beach) Historic outcome: Allied victory. French troops and tanks successfully landed after a heavy naval bombardment. German troops were pushed out of both Bjerkvik and Elevgardsmoen.
5. Kuberget Mountain Assault – May 15, 1940 Similar to the planned assault of the Kobberfjell, the Kuberget mountain area was further east towards the Swedish border and more isolated. Note: This battle would feature Norwegian infantry supported by MG platoons verses German Gebirgsjagers reinforced by Fallschirmjagers who were airdropped in to help hold the weakening Axis perimeter. Historic outcome: Stalemate for several days before German troops withdrew to shorten their defensive lines.
6. Ankenes Peninsula – May 27-28, 1940 – Polish Mountain infantry under the command of French forces attack German units defending on a peninsula south of Narvik. This operation occurs in conjunction with the attack on the north side of Narvik at Orneset Beach. Polish forces will attempt to cut off any Germans retreating from Narvik before they can escape towards the mountains to the east.: This is the only scenario which would feature Polish forces. Historic outcome: Allied victory. The Polish attack initially stalls under heavy German MG and artillery fire, but Royal Navy and French artillery help to turn things around. German defenders are pushed off the Ankenes Peninsula, but not before Axis forces in Narvik make good their escape.
Only four out of these six scenario ideas will be designed & produced for MaizeCon. The other two will be worked on at a later date. Probably after October of this year. So this is where your input comes into play. I would like you to pick four out of these six scenario ideas. Select the ones you would most like to play or see designed. There are no right or wrong reasons for this. It is simply a matter of what would you most like to play if you were presented with these AAM scenarios. Altogether, the original 8 scenarios and these 6 proposed ideas are just those historic battles that I found most interesting to consider. These also have the best historic information available for me to work with. There are many, many more Norway 1940 battles I could design, but time and resources limits me to 12.
Please let me know your vote by noon on Monday July 16th. My next playtest session is scheduled for August 18th. This will give me a month to produce the next four maps & scenarios.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Tom Sessler
As you may already know, I have been working on a series of AAM scenarios and maps for the last few months on the theme of the German invasion of Norway in 1940. At this time I have eight out of a planned 12 done. There are many more historic battles that I could do, but at some point I have to draw a line. So to help me make a decision on the final four battles I should work on, I’m sending out this poll to survey gamers opinions. First, let me list the battles I have already designed to give you an idea of what is already done.
1. Midtskogen / Spiller’s Raid – April 10, 1940 German paratroopers attack an ad hoc Norwegian force blocking the way towards where the King of Norway and the Norwegian Government are located. Historic outcome: Norwegian victory. The King & Government remain free and eventually turn down a demanded surrender by Nazi officials. Norway fights on!!
2. Gratangen Tourist Station – April 12, 1940 German Gebirgsjagers push inland after landing at Narvik and encounter a Norwegian force blocking the entrance to a mountain valley. Historic outcome: Stalemate, but Norwegian forces did stop the Germans from advancing any further inland.
3. Dombas Airborne Assault – April 14-19, 1940 German Paratroopers drop behind enemy lines with the mission of cutting a key rail line supplying Allied forces further south. Unbeknownst to the Germans, the King of Norway is nearby! Will the Germans achieve their main objective or possibly catch the King? Historic outcome: Norwegian victory. The chaotic landing does block the RR line for a few days, but the King is safely moved away.
4. Fortress Hegra – April 15 to May 5, 1940 – A small Norwegian force tries to hold a border fortress originally designed to defend against a Swedish invasion. The Germans want access to the rail line that runs from their foothold at Trondheim, past Hegra Fortress to the Swedish border. Without this access, resupply can only reach them by air or sea. A force of Gebirgsjagers tries to storm the fortress. Historic outcome: Two assaults failed to take the fortress and a nearly month long siege ensues. Eventually a German victory, but an important moral victory for the Norwegian side.
5. Tretten – April 23, 1940 – British Territorial troops are rushed forward to help exhausted Norwegian forces being slowly pushed northwards from Oslo. Allied forces decide to make a stand in a narrow valley just south of a key bridge being held open as a possible retreat route for a nearby Norwegian force fighting in Central Norway. (See Bagn) A German Kampfgruppe composed of infantry and light armored units is on the way to attack this mix of British and Norwegian units. Historic outcome: German victory. The British 148th Brigade is destroyed.
6. Lapphaugen – April 24, 1940 – Norwegian forces located in Northern Norway were mobilized even before the German invasion. Now they are ready to push back against the invaders. Elements of the Norwegian 2nd Battalion / 15th Infantry Regiment advance during a snow storm towards German forces blocking the way towards Gratangen. Historic outcome: German victory. The small German force manages to hold off the larger attacking Norwegian force, but afterwards retreats back to Gratangen.
7. Kvam – April 25-26, 1940 – The British King’s Own York and Lancaster Infantry along with an antitank company from the 15th Brigade make a stand at a bend in the river valley further north of Tretten. These Allied units are better organized and entrenched then the 148th was at Tretten. But the Germans are also better prepared as well. This time they have a platoon of tanks including a Neubaufahrzeug heavy tank. Historic outcome: German victory. After two days of fighting British forces retreat. Several German tanks are put out of action by the British AT guns before they in turn are destroyed.
8. Orneset Beach / Narvik – May 28, 1940 – British Naval forces support a joint French / Norwegian amphibious assault across a fjord just north of the town of Narvik. German forces have been isolated in Northern Norway for nearly 7 weeks, but are still hanging on. Losing Narvik would mean their only option left is to retreat into the mountains near the Swedish border. Historic outcome: Allied victory but a bitter one. The decision to pull out of Norway due to the disaster befalling Allied forces in France was made a few days before the planned attack. For morale / strategic reasons the attack is still made in order to push German forces away from the coast.
So four more battles need to be selected for development and design. Here are your choices:
1. Bagn – April 18-21, 1940 – After the German invasion, the Norwegian 4th Brigade located in South Central Norway has managed to mobilize (more or less) according to plan and is moving towards Allied forces fighting further to the east in the Gudbrandsdal / Tretten area. They encounter Kampfgruppe Adlhoch moving towards them at Bagn. After a series of battles, some quite heavy, the Norwegians retreat after giving German forces a bloody nose. Ultimately they are cut off from the main Norwegian army fighting with British forces and end up surrendering about two weeks later. Note: Probably the largest land battle to occur between German and Norwegian forces during the entire Campaign.
2. Labergdalen Pass / Snaufjeld Mountain – May 1 – 10, 1940 French Mountain Infantry land north of the Labergdalen pass and then attempt to advance down the valley held by German forces sited in the valley and on Snaufjeld mountain. Historic outcome: Stalemate. The initial attack is successful, but bogs down as German forces fall back to the next section of mountain and use aerial attacks to slow the French advance. After 9 days the Germans retreat allowing a link-up between French and Norwegian forces located in the Grantangseidet valley further south. After this experience the Commanding French General concludes that any further advance would be too slow and costly. For his next move he opts to conduct an amphibious assault further south at Bjerkvik. Note: This is the only scenario that would feature French alpine forces. Would also feature German aircraft.
3. Kobberfjell Mountain Assault – May 13, 1940 After consulting with French & Allied Commanders, the Norwegian Army Commander agreed to attack German forces defending the mountainous Kuberg Plateau area north of Narvik. This large area was divided up between different infantry formations. The Norwegian 2/16th Infantry was assigned the Kobberfjell Mountain area. Note: This battle would feature Norwegian infantry, MGs, mortars and artillery attacking German Gebirgsjagers holding a series of mountain peaks. Historic outcome: Stalemate for several days before German troops withdrew to shorten their defensive lines.
4. Bjerkvik Amphibious Assault – May 13, 1940 French General Bethouart realized that movement by water was going to be faster than movement by land for his forces in North Norway. So he devised an amphibious assault on the small port of Bjerkvik which was adjacent to the Norwegian Army mobilization center at Elevgardsmoen. This attack would flank around German forces defending in the mountains futher to the north. Note: This was the very first amphibious landing of World War Two. It featured Royal Navy Gun Support, ALCs & LCMs landing craft, French light tanks and French Foreign Legion troops. (The same troops that would later attack at Orneset beach) Historic outcome: Allied victory. French troops and tanks successfully landed after a heavy naval bombardment. German troops were pushed out of both Bjerkvik and Elevgardsmoen.
5. Kuberget Mountain Assault – May 15, 1940 Similar to the planned assault of the Kobberfjell, the Kuberget mountain area was further east towards the Swedish border and more isolated. Note: This battle would feature Norwegian infantry supported by MG platoons verses German Gebirgsjagers reinforced by Fallschirmjagers who were airdropped in to help hold the weakening Axis perimeter. Historic outcome: Stalemate for several days before German troops withdrew to shorten their defensive lines.
6. Ankenes Peninsula – May 27-28, 1940 – Polish Mountain infantry under the command of French forces attack German units defending on a peninsula south of Narvik. This operation occurs in conjunction with the attack on the north side of Narvik at Orneset Beach. Polish forces will attempt to cut off any Germans retreating from Narvik before they can escape towards the mountains to the east.: This is the only scenario which would feature Polish forces. Historic outcome: Allied victory. The Polish attack initially stalls under heavy German MG and artillery fire, but Royal Navy and French artillery help to turn things around. German defenders are pushed off the Ankenes Peninsula, but not before Axis forces in Narvik make good their escape.
Only four out of these six scenario ideas will be designed & produced for MaizeCon. The other two will be worked on at a later date. Probably after October of this year. So this is where your input comes into play. I would like you to pick four out of these six scenario ideas. Select the ones you would most like to play or see designed. There are no right or wrong reasons for this. It is simply a matter of what would you most like to play if you were presented with these AAM scenarios. Altogether, the original 8 scenarios and these 6 proposed ideas are just those historic battles that I found most interesting to consider. These also have the best historic information available for me to work with. There are many, many more Norway 1940 battles I could design, but time and resources limits me to 12.
Please let me know your vote by noon on Monday July 16th. My next playtest session is scheduled for August 18th. This will give me a month to produce the next four maps & scenarios.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Tom Sessler
