Wargame At A World War II Museum

Wargame At A World War II Museum

Wargame At A World War II Museum:
7 June 2014 Omaha Beach D3 Draw
with Walt Burgoyne

This diorama of the D3 Draw represents about 0.4 miles of Omaha Beach and the bluffs of 100+ feet at this location.

The village of Les Moulins is situated within the D3 Draw and basically divided the Dog Red and Easy Green landing zones. Dog Red is to the west of Les Moulins and faces the Widerstandsnest (Resistance nest) WN68 on the heights. Easy Green is to the east of Les Moulins and faces WN66 on the heights.

For this game the German defenses comprise:

1. In the demolished village of Les Moulin – two Sniper teams.

2. In trenches in the village - two Panzerfaust and two Panzerschreck teams.

3. In the area encompassed by the seawall and the heights/village are infantry bunkers, anti-tank ditches and trenches manned by:

a. An infantry company.
b. A MG42 bunker (at the seawall).
c. A seawall casement with a 50mm AT gun to enfilade the seawall in both directions.
d. Two Tobruk 37mm Renault tank turrets.
e. One Tobruk Panzer IV E tank turret with a short 75mm tank gun and coaxial MG.
f. Three pivoting 105mm leFH18 Howitzer open gun pits.


4. On the heights, in WN66, are:

a. Infantry bunkers.
b. Two MG42 machinegun bunkers.
c. Three 20mm Flak38 AA gun open gun pits.
d. Four pivoting 105mm leFH18 howitzer open gun pits.
e. One pivoting 75mm Pak40 AT gun open gun pit.
f. Trenches manned by two companies of infantry (Rifle/MG teams, light machine-gun and 80mm mortar teams and artillery/mortar FO teams).

5. On the heights, in WN68, are:

a. Three MG42 machinegun bunkers.
b. One 20mm Flak38 AA gun open gun pit.
c. One 75mm Pak40 AT gun casement.
d. Trenches manned by an infantry company (Rifle/MG teams, light machinegun and 80mm mortar teams and artillery/mortar FO teams).

6. The beach is lined with Hedgehogs to hinder vehicle movement. Further out toward the water are posts with teller mines to disembowel landing craft; ramps to overturn them, and Belgian Gates to block movement and possibly rip out their bottoms.

Wargame At A World War II Museum
The American landing forces are Infantry companies (almost unlimited) and, possibly, Sherman tank teams (self-propelled duplex-drive types and ones disembarked from landing craft). Each infantry company is composed of four LCVP boat sections, each of which contains:

a. A one Flame-thrower team.
b. Four Rifle teams.
c. One 60mm Mortar team.
d. Two Bazooka teams. Two of the boat sections will also contain one Command team and one Light Machinegun team. The landing forces are supported by a 155mm Destroyer Battery and limited air power.

The current was determined to flow westward causing landing craft, if they entered, to randomly drift 4” to 16” to the right as they came in.

Wargame At A World War II Museum
Turn One
The battle began with a naval artillery barrage which, unhistorically, was highly effective. Several infantry bunkers, many infantry teams, a few mortar teams, a 105mm howitzer gun pit and a 20mm AA gun pit, the Artillery staff team and the village sniper teams disappeared. MG bunkers were left intact as were the AT guns. Surprisingly, the majority of the initial German casualties were on the heights with very light casualties elsewhere. The Americans began the landing. Of eight LCVPs in the first wave, only one landed in the Dog red landing zone and disembarked troops.  The LCVP failed to back off of the beach. Once the German defenders recovered from the effects of the naval barrage they concentrated fire on these disembarked troops which were eliminated almost to the man.

Turn Two
The 155mm naval battery destroyed the WN 68 75mm AT gun casement.  The Americans called in air support which destroyed a WN68 MG bunker. More LCVPs landed at the Easy Green/Dog Red separation line. These also suffered from concentrated fire. With few troops landing and most German defenses intact the American forces suffered. Some boats backed off the beach, to retrieve more landing forces, but a few failed – and remained as targets/cover on the beach.

Turn Three
Again the 155mm naval battery took out a few German infantry teams and a MG bunker in WN66. No air support arrived. The next landing wave saw one of two Duplex-drive tanks land, but as soon as it switched from propellers to tracks, it bogged in the soft wet sand. More landing craft disembarked troops. German defenders still inflicted heavy casualties but the loss of firepower was noticeable. German artillery, mortar fire and MG fire pinned Americans on the beach. A heavy fire fight began between the Germans in the seawall trenches (in front of the village) and the pinned troops on the Dog Red beach zone. The few troops landing in Easy Green were also pinned. LCVPs backed off of the beach.

Wargame At A World War II Museum
Turn Four
Naval fire takes out a 105mm Howitzer in WN66. Air support forces the retreat of seawall trench defenders to a secondary line. Americans on the beach advance to the seawall but are pinned by mortar fire. More landings take place all along the beach.  Bazooka fire takes out the Heavy MG bunker at the seawall. The second Duplex-Drive Sherman lands and immediately bogs. The first Sherman fails to un-bot and is hit by AT fire causing the crew to bail. Boats back off of the beach.

Turn Five
Naval fire is ineffective. Air support destroys the open pit AT gun in WN66. A Sherman is disembarked from a landing craft and, as usual, bogs down. The first two tanks fail to un-bog and the first one is destroyed by direct fire from a 105 Howitzer. Fire fights develop all along the beach. Americans along the seawall remain there, pinned, but more are landing. Those that were on the open beach now reach the seawall. Defenders are less able to concentrate fire due to losses and the increased numbers of invaders. Boats withdraw for more invading troops.

Turn Six
Naval fire takes out additional defenders near the seawall and air support destroys an open pit 105mm howitzer below the heights of WN68. More infantry land. One tank un-bogs and moves forward. Defending fire falters. Most Americans are still pinned behind the seawall with others reaching the seawall from the open beach. One American Rifle team and one Bazooka team do advance over the seawall and barbed wire and into a German trench position…game ends about this time.

~ Walt.


Last Updated On Wednesday, August 6, 2014 by Blake at Battlefront