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All Hail Knucklebeard!
Australia
Wodonga
Victoria
Thanks International SS for A Few Acres of Snow!
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This is part of a new strategy guide series for Memoir ’44. I haven’t written strategy articles before (I don’t have much faith in my own ability) but I have played a lot of Memoir and feel qualified in this instance.
These guides are meant to be short and to the point. I invite any alternate opinions as I can always learn something new. The key focus will be on the opportunities and weaknesses of each side in the battle and where possible I will make reference to cards that ‘could be key’ if you are lucky enough to pull them. All that said I hope someone finds these useful at best or interesting at worst.
Saint Mere-Eglise
History – This scenario shows a fairly handy advantage to the Allies with a 62% win ratio (at time of posting this report - taken from DoW website). This is undoubtedly due to the added air drop units (their ability to out-position the Germans) and the Germans poor position from the start.
Axis – Again the Germans are in for a tough time. Poor unit positions on both flanks at best play into Allied hands (left flank) and at worst hamper your efforts to reach the action (right flank). The single infantry unit in the middle is a sitting duck and almost gifts the Allies a medal early.
Of course the Allied air drop can change each play of this scenario dramatically so the following suggestions are generic tactics. You may need to modify them once the air-drop has taken place.
There are really 2 initial priorities. The infantry unit in Sainte Mere-Eglise must either stand and fight or run. Fighting can work for you if you roll well to decimate the Allied Infantry, but a poor roll can almost give this unit up if the Allies advance in force. I prefer to run away normally as playing the Germans here is all about minimising damage and maximising casualties to the enemy in preparation for the return fight as the Allies. Retreating to the rear of the village and then on future turns to the forest allows this unit to regroup and be supported by the main force there. This makes the Allies work much harder.
The next major goal is to help those infantry on the German right flank, get into better position. As it stands many of the units will lose casualties automatically if attacked due to no retreats. If you have enough cards for this flank it can pay to charge the hill and overwhelm the infantry there. Otherwise it is more prudent to head across to the forest and then sneak up on the towns in future turns as this cover is invaluable.
Another option open to the Germans is to maneouver the forces on their left to allow the Armour unit a channel to move between the forests. Getting this unit out early can be most dangerous for the Allies, especially if they haven't moved their infantry into the hedgerows. This unit will usually go down if it advances to far forward but it can do some good damage with Armour Assaults before this happens.
Great cards for the Germans include Behind Enemy Lines and Barrage as they allow the Axis to stay in cover and weed out units in hedgerows or hills.
Allies – Whilst the Allies do get the air drop, it is not always as easy as it appears as these forces simply give the Germans more targets to kill to acquire 4 medals. So the air drop must be conducted with some care.
For me, the best place to drop those units is in the forest on the Allied left or in behind Sainte Mere-Eglise. The forest is excellent as it effectively pins the Germans in and with the Allies attacking first it can result in some pretty easy kills as retreat flags will cost lives! There are enough medals on this flank alone to win the battle. 
The alternative is to drop them behind the town and this is good for two reasons. First it allows a pretty easy slaughter of the German Infantry found there, but more importantly it allows you to better react to whichever flank the Germans are most active on (should they only have cards to favour 1 flank over the other).
However regardless of the above strategies, you will want to drop those units in a position that is favoured by the orders in your hand.
The other considerations for the Allies are to wipe out the German Infantry in the village as quickly as possible. The Infantry in the central and right flanks should aim to take the hedgerows as quickly as possible, especially if the Germans look to get their Armour into the fight. The Infantry near the centre-left should be moved towards the hill to support it in case the Germans charge on that flank.
Great cards for the Allies include Barrage and Air Power as they can target those starting units and do major damage due to a lack of retreating options.
Summary – Not as 1-sided as it appears on paper (although the stats don't support this). I enjoy the challenge facing the Germans.
A good scenario to follow up Pegasus Bridge as players can learn how to use Armour and it introduces the Hedgerow terrain.
Sainte Mere-Eglise with Airpack
Changes - There are absolutely no changes to this scenario with the Airpack.
Links to other Strategy Guides
Pegasus Bridge
Sword Beach
Pointe-Du-Hoc
Omaha Beach
Mont Mouche
Vassieux, Vercors
Operation Cobra
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Thanks International SS for A Few Acres of Snow!
