DLC '44 West #07: Caen

[VPaulus]

Please post here your comments about this scenario.

[Kamerer]

7) Caen – beta 1

Level: Field Marshal
Prestige: Begin: 6,525. End: 9,775. Net: +3,250
Result: DV 17/18 (map cleared then)
Replacement policy/prestige: none used.

Problems: None noted.

General impressions/comments:

• • Scenario seemed straightforward.
  • Supply depot captures worked smoothly.

[ThvN]

beta1

Colonel, Imported Core, DV 18/18 (although I could have conquered the last victory hex in turn 15, but I waited until the supply depots were gone)

Prestige before/after deployment: 9618/6791
Prestige on last turn/incl. victory bonus: 9973/12473

My first attempt was a disaster as I foolishly tried to rescue the aux units in Caen. My second attempt had me evacuating one aux 88mm PaK and the Hetzer succesfully, while establishing a line along the Orne for the AI to commit suicide against. I acted upon the advice in the briefing and sent out strong mobile forces to flank around Caen. I never lost control of the northern victory airfield, but crossing there to flank Caen took a long time. I had more luck in the south, where I advanced with few losses until I ran into a supply depot, which spawned a captured unit when destroyed.

Meanwhile I had broken through Bretteville-sur-Odon (16,17) with to SE Panzer IV and used these to take the three nearby airfields. The AI unit in Carpiquet (12,14) helpfully left the city to attack my tanks (?) so I could start cleaning up the AI artillery units around the city, which had been under attack by my air force all this time. An AI air wave around turn 7 nearly took out my 5-star strat bomber, but were otherwise easily dealt with (I have a very good anti-air core). Before searching for other supply dumps I raced the north flank towards the last airfield at (16,3), to capture it before another air wave would spawn. Both the airfield and the town were deserted, I would have expected some defenses there.

I started mopping up Caen, which I did very slowly to keep casualties low, I could have taken the last victory hex on turn 15 but I wanted to finish the other supply dumps and have some target practice against the hovering AI planes which had spawned on turn 13.

After destroying the supply depots I captured a Spitfire, Sherman and Churchill.

Notes: (16,3) and (16,4) have no defenses.

[RobertCL]

Apparently I missed the supply depots.

Playing at Lt level. Marginal victory.

I have not outflanked Allied units and I paid a heavy price, I lost a lot of units there since the British infantry seems infinite (like Soviet hordes).
Again an interesting street fighting scenario where presence of infantry and artillery is mandatory.

British tanks seem extremely powerful.

The campaign is difficult because the nr of german units (as CORE ones) is extremely low.
I admit I have a fighter cover of six Me109G and a Me 210 always with me, this makes a rather weak ground force...

[Kamerer]

7) Caen – beta 2

Level: Rommel, stock core
Prestige: Begin: 0. End: 1,200. Net: +1,200
Result: MV 17/17

Core changes:
Purchased 17cm artillery unit.


Problems:

• • None noted.

General impressions/comments:

• • Added infantry made getting across Orne much slower.
  • With stock core, not enough firepower to force rivers in a timely way. Likely OK with imported/power core.

[zappel]

Beta2 - Colonel-Level - Imported core - DV at turn 17
Yes, this a nice and enjoyable scenario. Had many problems with lots of allied units: infantery in the city of Caen, tanks outside the city. I was able to capture a Churchill IV at turn 16 but none of the other capturable units. Especially the fight in Caen was hard. I could defend only one flag hex on the left-side of Caen and I needed twelve turns to crush the attack of AI in Caen. The fight in the North-East and South-West also was ambitious so my conclusion is: a very amusing and challenging scenario. I like it.

[monkspider]

Caen
Beta 2
General level
Default Core
Marginal victory 17/17

This was very good scenario that seemed like it could have several different viable strategies. Like Kamerer, I found the default core didn't quite have the oomph to go on the offensive, but with a stronger core it seems like it could have been possible. Looking at the map afterword, a group that wheeled around the south seemed like it could have had good success.

[LostAgain]

I'm about to start and the briefing has me confused...I'm to maintain control of ALL victory hexes for the duration of the operation, but the Allies possess 3 before I even deploy my units??? This seems to imply that I've lost before I start. Perhaps the instruction should be to take and maintain control of all victory hexes or that I have control of all of them for X number of turns? Or am I just to maintain control of the hexes I DO already control? To reiterate, I cannot MAINTAIN control of three victory hexes that I have yet to acquire.

[Kamerer]

7) Caen – beta 3/rc

Level: Rommel, stock core
Prestige: Begin: 0. End: 1,250. Net: +1,250
Result: MV 19/19

Problems:

• • None noted.

General impressions/comments:

• • Enjoyable scenario.
  • I think two turns were added, which should be good for non-Rommel play. With an all-overstrength core it would have been ok probably. I added turns to see and had a DV at 21, and all map hexes at 22.
  • Also I probably could have re-worked the strategy and gotten a DV, made the “left hook” less wide and gone north sooner. All-in all, the turn limit seems good and the scenario challenging and rewarding.

[billmv44]

Beta 3, General Level. Ending Prestige 2496. DV on 19/19.

More urban combat. I was able to contain the Allied push in the center and north (after losing the inital VH's in Caen) and totally defeat them in the south. I kept the pressure on and was able to slowly regain the lost territory. I stumbled across the two supply depots and destroyed them both. I gained a Churchill and Sherman for my efforts there. The allied infantry units are very tough and must be dealt with carefully. The balance here seems about right to me. No issues with game play.