While I hate having only four cards, especially when my opponent has six, I was willing to to play the Axis for the first side of this scenario. I was hoping the radar station would give me some kind of air advantage over my opponent that I could exploit, and the general strength of the defense position in the Memoir game would be worth the card disadvantage.

As it was I never brought a planes on the board, always having something better to do with my regular hand.

Turn 1 my friend begin with an Attack Center, which was fortunate, because without center cards he would be very disadvantaged in mounting his attack. He scored one hit on the center artillery which was worrisome, but at least it survived for my orders Direct from HQ. It struck back along with more units in the center and mu distant Left flank artillery, killing one of the allied infantry and hitting one fig off on another.

Turn 2 He repeated his Attack Center, concentrating fire on the artillery again, but the hard-to-hit artillery was unscathed. I was short on options, having an Infantry Assault and a Probe Left in my hand but not in a good position to use it (I'm not about to Assault out with my infantry from my bunkers and towns!)

So I play my Counterattack, and manage to roll three flags on one unit heading up the beach (stripping it of two figs as it hits the ocean), and another flag on another one. Retreats become a key factor in the play of this scenario. I appreciate retreats in Memoir '44 because they allow the forces to "try again" without leaving them vulnerable. And there are enough places where the retreats can still be turned into kills if necessary (like where the water's edge is close at hand!)

Turn 3 My opponent plays an Armor Assault, bringing one tank unit on the beach, and moving the other two close in, including close to the left shore (and my Radar Station). His tank scores the second hit on my center Artillery, killing it I knew it couldn't last. I respond with an ineffective Probe Left.

Turn 4 He orders his infantry to Move Out! getting them up on the beach along my Right Flank line but making no attacks. I respond with my Infantry Assault in the center, keeping in place but allowing my forces to take shots at his now closer units. I score two hits on infantry, but miss the tank.

Turn 5 General Advance! Uh oh. He lands the tank on the Beach Item (where the Radar Station lies), scores hits on the hill unit and the bunker unit, and forces my infantry in Le Hamel back (now I can better hold the VP though). All I can do is a measly Probe Left, but one where I hit the center tank (though missing the one threatening the Radar.)

Turn 6 We continue this exchange of blows with his Probe Right (minimal effect) and my second Probe Left. This is fairly useful as I hit and retreat the advancing tank, and I hit and even force the hedgehog protected unit out and back on the beach.

Turn 7 My opponent is unfortunately unable to keep his attention on my left flank, and Probes Center instead. He misses the Artillery again, but scores two hits on my forces in Le Hamel. I keep up the pressure on the Left with an Assault that hits one tank and kills the second damaged tank unit.

My friend will later identify this as a turning point for him, as he was unable to keep up his attack there.

Turn 8 A Recon In Force does no damage, and I use Medics and Mechanics to invigorate a left infantry unit that score 2 hits (and a flag that is ignored) on his beach infantry.

Turn 9 He brings orders Direct from HQ, but even that isn't helping when the troops in the field all miss their objectives. My Move Out in response kills the tank and my center infantry force him out of Le Hamel and I retake it.

Turn 10 The battle for Le Hamel is on! A Recon Center forces me back out, but with no damage. He discards a Firefight. Its always disconcerting to see a powerful card hit the discard. I Recon Center as well and score 2 hits on his men in Le Hamel.

Turn 11 With his recon he drew, and now plays, Barrage He calls in four dice against my artillery, and rolls three stars and a flag (ignored). I respond with my Attack Center and I retake Le Hamel for the second time (those timely retreat rolls!)

Turn 12 A Close Assault is not as effective as intended because of retreats, though my Probe Center kills another unit and two retreat give me Hamel again!

Turn 13 We both play Recon in Force. Mine scores 2 hits. His scores nothing. We see how this is going.

Turn 14 Behind Enemy Lines wiffs in attacking the Radar station, and my Assault Center wins by killing his sixth unit.

What a slog! These beach scenarios take a long time to effectively play.