Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

Sgt D those are some glorious pictures man! Great, great stuff!

For me Omaha Beach, Caen, Arnhem, Foy, Bulge (Not too far off Normandy!), Nordwind - parachutists when you can!

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

Only about 450 kilometres. Half the distance from Normandy to Berlin... :rolleyes:

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

I'm reading a recent book about the battle of Normandy, based on GI's, german soldiers and french civilians testimonies.

You know the bocage war was tough, specially for attackers : each field of 100 acres was sorta natural fort, surrounded by tall inscrutable hedgerows (2-4 yards bank surmounted by inextricable vegetation), with an unique exit.

German defenders placed MGs in the corners, and shooters were invisible, plus mortars and arty some fields behind.

Attackers had to throw grenades over the bank, then charge with bayonets on. It took several hours and many losses to clean a filed, then was another to overcome.

But on the first days, there were german local counterattacks.

For example the village of Graignes, between St Lô and Carentan. Over 200 paras from the 507th regiment of the 82nd Airborne were gathered there, 20 kilometers from their DZ, with no way of communication and decided to wait the invading troops, helped by the civilians.

They repelled several patrol actions during four days, then the 352nd german Infanterie Division made a strong assault the sunday, june 11th, at 10:00 AM. The paras toughly resisted during many hours, over 1 000 Germans were KIA or WIA, but finally thanks to mortars, 88s and divisionnal arty, the German broke through.

Several US soldiers could retreat and join their main forces, but many were killed, and at least 13 prisonners were murdered by drunk german looters, both Americans and French, including the two priests.

So a Graignes map could be an occasion to have German attacking in Normandy, with a Fort Alamo script, for a bocage infantry only map type.

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

There was one case a few days after the landings where, because of the hedges, a full battalion of infy was butchered where they had made camp. The Germans were able to sneak around, surround them in the field, and then opened up on them. The entire battalion was killed or captured.

The major counter attack for the Germans would be the Avranches, where they got hammered. Other then that, and immediate post-d-day counter attacks, most counter attacks were local. I have to admit, I take reports of the 352 losing 1000 men KIA or WIA there with several grains of salt, especially considering the 352 was mostly wiped out at the beaches due to its exhaustive attempts to reoccupy the fortifications, and the allies having to push them out again.

BTW, its kinda bad to continuously cite 88s as being a major component of German artillery.... Sure, they were used on tanks, and aircraft of course, but I know few cases of them actually doing indirect barrages on enemy positions. Instead, it just became a classic think to call all German artillery in WW2 "88s" just like every tank was a "Tiger." German divisional artillery was mostly grouped into 105, 150, and 210 variants, along with mortars of the 50, 81, and 120mm size.

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

interesting stuff there sgt-d. u seem to really know ur Normandy history :nodding:

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

You're probably right about the 88, but the GI's testimonies massively reported the fear of the 88's muzzles seing in the hedgerows. Generic term for a mediatic gun.

But as it was a flak gun, the 88 fired explosive shells, deadly for infantry. Still, I agree, its flat trajectory is contradictory with the bocage landscape for an antipersonnel use.

I also read about the whole US battalions decimated by the 352, perfectly using the hedgerows for tactital approaches and surrounding. Very often it seems that many of these clashes occured by accident, when the 352 units mounting to the front suddenly discovered US groups.

About Graignes, I'm not particurlarly fond of "Fort Alamo" map types, but I think such maps perfectly fit the BF scale (Bastogne, Bir Hakeim, Henderson Field...), and basicly a Graignes map would require : a small village with a church, normand mansions, and barns around, and of course thick hedgerows and individual foxholes for the defenders.
Armament : mortars, MG42 and field artillery for Germans, only mortars and Browning M1919 MGs for the 82nd Airborne, plus small firearms (Garand, M1 Carbines, Thompson, Colt .45 and grenades).

Some features would be great also : a destroyable churchtower, as actually the german arty destroyed it (snipers and observers), and tall trees coded as ladders or watchtowers (I mean make us able to climb in some trees to spot or snipe). By snipers I'm not only talkings about scope rifles : Americans were frightened by mortars, MG42 (its sound compared to riping silk) and hidden K98 shooters favourised by the hedgerows.

No ammo restrictions, as during four days the Graignes inhabitants searched the country and gathered many dropped ammo boxes (still, during the battle, paratroops fired all the available mortar shells, explaining the heavy losses of the 352)


*€dit*@ Deathfromabove : well, I'm permanently reading history books, but when I was a teen, I was able to name and place on a map every unit involved on the D-Day (now I'm not sure to still be able without help). I've read Cornelius Ryan's book about twenty times, plus several others (S.Ambrose, Larry Collins, Paul Carrell...)
You know, the 50th anniversary was such a big event here in France, and in 1994 I've read almost everything published in french about Overlord. And The Longest Day movie is shown every 6 june on the main TV channels. The 2003 accusations about forgetting the sacrifice of these young american men were so unfair, as we will be forever grateful to them.

*re€dit* it's my 666th post, don't see any malevolent intent in my post, I was truly sincere :)

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

[quote=Meadow;4294786]Why are people suggesting Battle of the Bulge maps as part of the Normandy release?!

quote]

Yep sir you are right. I meant to say in time as a smart-ass reply to Meadow that didn't play right...

I'm glad you guys are piecing this thing together and not me.... :)

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

Sgt-D, your pics of Juno beach are almost a mirror of the one I snapped while there this past d-day, except we had an overcast and no sun. Highlight of the beach visit was playing a few songs on our pipes. We drew quite the crowd.

Back on topic, I wouldn't mind seeing some of the action in and around Caen, Verriere Ridge for example. That and the some maps based on the sieges of the channel ports, Calais, Dunkirk, Boulougne.

I'm not biased that I want Canadian maps am I? =p

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

Aye, yes, it would make a very fun map. Since its supposedly 352, and most armor hadn't made it to the front except on the british side by June 11th, I'd say the most armor the germans should have is a hanomag. If made, it should be a grueling infantry battle, that would be fun;D

Re: What Normandy map would you like to appear most in FH2 ?
 

I hope the devs are taking notice of this outpouring of support for Canadian maps :D