SWORD BEACH RELOADED

Last year one of my gaming buddies and I played Sword 80, and we agreed we’d play again this year. 20 turns played over two days, we started yesterday morning (6th June) and finished up this afternoon.

THE SCENARIO

This scenario is inspired by the Sword Beach scenario in the old Rapid Fire ‘blue book’ – but now heavily modified by me and then adapted for Rapid Fire Reloaded (RFR).

As taken from the briefing pack; Sword Beach Reloaded represents the amphibious assault and initial follow up by 3rd British Infantry Division Group and their objectives in the area known as SWORD beach on D-Day 6th June 1944.

We’ve played the scenario using RFR and RFR Extra, with some additional special rules specifically for this scenario.

MORNING OF 6th JUNE 2025

Game ready to start – let’s hit the beach! Can the Brits win this year?
2023 – German win (major)
2024 – German win (minor)
2025 – ???

OPENING TURNS
British forces have started to land, though they have taken 50% casualties among the DDs from enfilade fire and lost both Armoured Dozers.

In return the defenders don’t have use of the battery at Merville (failed dice role before game on) and lost Daimler’s gun to a pre game naval bombardment. With a bit of luck both 6” salvos hit, with 3 HE rounds landing in the open emplacement. A good start!

HALFWAY POSITION

By the end of Turn 10 we’d hit the half way mark yesterday evening.

The British had opened two beach exits around Cod and are opening one near Riva Bella, plus the sea wall has been breached opposite Casino de Ouistreham.

Now it’s a race against time for me to secure 6 objectives within 10 turns and for Ian to prevent this.

A few highlights in the pics below, and we were both looking forward to the second half on the following day – at this point it could have gone either way. Though, to be honest, I was quietly confident this year.

THE SECOND HALF

It had been quite a day of gaming as we played the final 10 turns!

I managed to open up 5 beach exits even with all the AVREs, Dozers and Sherman Crabs knocked out. However it was a bit of a car park opposite Cod and Riva Bella as British armour and vehicles kept hitting mines. In RFR you roll a D6 to test for a mine strike on uncleared beaches, you don’t want a 1. If you get a 1 you roll another D6 for effect – you certainly don’t want a 6 or your vehicle is destroyed. You guessed it, I kept rolling 1s and 6s!

Behind Colleville Ian’s first reinforcements came on during turns 11 and 12, meaning the Suffolks would have a scrap on their hands later on – if they get there. I’d planned for the Suffolks to land and then move through Cod (which should have been taken by the South Lancs), onto Colleville and then Hillman.

Commandos after a tough fight captured Riva Bella (having close assaulted the Fire Control Tower twice) with 4 Cdo taking up positions in Ouistreham and 3 Cdo pushing through towards Daimler. 10 Cdo close assaulted the Casino twice, during the approach and close assaults sustaining 50% casualties.

From Periers Ridge at the back, Ian’s second reinforcements entered, and while they were met with a round of ambush fire (from an ATk line I’d established just beyond the beach along the first lateral road) most of the armour pushed towards Colleville unimpeded.

Meanwhile the East Yorks, supported by 3inch mortars and Priests, took control of Daimler.

At the other end of the beach the South Lancs successfully close assaulted bunkers and the Twin Villas to take most of Cod. The German defenders fate was sealed when two companies of the Suffolks, with C Sqn 13/18 Hussars in support, removed a company of dug-in grenadiers at the rear of the Twin Villas. Cod then surrendered.

CLOSING TURNS

After much action we were soon at Turn 18, and it was looking clear that I couldn’t get to the remaining objectives (Morris and Hillman) to invest them. So I launched everything I had in terms of indirect HE to try and force a surrender through casualties and destroyed bunkers. With several salvos form offshore naval support, Priests, a 4.2inch mortar, and even a Typhoon strike – I just couldn’t crack them.

We played through to turn 20, but I think it was clear the game was going Ian’s way a few turns prior, and we called the game at the end of turn 20 in his favour.

Result: German Victory
Riva Bella – British
Daimler – British
Cod – British
Morris – German
Hillman – German

Another German win, that’s 3/3 over the last 3 years – I really thought I’d get there this time!

A few highlights:

• While firing every turn, Morris battery didn’t hit anything for the whole game.
• British sappers managed to clear 80% of beach obstacles including Czech Hedgehogs, mined log ramps, and Belgian Gates.
• 100% casualties among the two Assault Sqn RE (4 AVRE, 2 Sherman Crabs, 2 Armoured Dozers knocked out).
• Armoured vehicle losses were 40% due to strongpoint ATk guns, 40% lost to mines, 20% lost to all other causes.
• 100% DD Sherman losses sustained within essentially 4 turns. 2 tanks sunk on the swim in, 2 struck mines, 2 knocked out by strongpoint ATk guns
• 80% of assault infantry casualties were caused by strongpoint MGs and small arms – less than 10% due to indirect HE and mortars.
• One of the two Centaurs was still in action on turn 8 this year – that’s a record!
• 3 German air sorties were called in, 2 aircraft shot down and 1 got through but caused no damage.
• Quite heavy casualties amongst three of the British infantry formations; 10 Cdo sustained losses of 50%, South Lancs losses of 40%, East Yorks 30%.

Well done Ian a cracking couple days of wargaming and escaping the real world – bring on next year!

IMPROVEMENTS FOR NEXT YEAR?

We both agreed we’ll play the scenario again next year, as we’ve both really enjoyed the game and seeing it develop since the first one in 2023.

Some small tweaks I now plan to make to the boards, and there will probably be more;

• better defined strongpoint boundaries
• improve Riva Bella and Ouistreham
• more ‘cleared barbed wire’ markers
• build another Rhino Ferry or buy another LCT – it takes too long to fully disembark, retire, and bring back 2 LCTs for this size of game.

Though the scenario will remain the same, I might mix it up a bit and go heavier in the first wave with infantry and sappers, bringing the AVREs and flails on once I’ve cleared some beach obstacles and bunkers – plenty of time until next year to put my thinking cap on!

What’s next?

Well it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything up, with a few things going on personally, but I’ve still found some time to build and paint – so plenty of articles in draft at the moment to share over the next few weeks!