Toaw Scenario: Operation Hammer

Norway,
April 10, 1940,

Germany army of 35 units opposed to Allies army of 41 units
for a battle of complexity 0.7 at Battalion(II) level
on a 2.5 Km/Hex map
for 36 turns of Full Day each.

by Michael Tamelander submited on 23-11-2002

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Briefing
OPERATION HAMMER The Recapture of Trondheim, April 1940 Version 1.1 Date: April-May 1940 Location: Central Norway Map Scale: 2.5 km/hex Time Scale: One Day Turns Unit Scale: III, II, I Length: 36 Turns * * * Reinforcements: The German player will initially have to his disposal the 138th regiment of the 3rd Mountain division, as well as a smaller bomber unit of the Luftwaffe. He will then be reinforced piecemeal; first (if he manage to take Vaernes airfield) by two more Luftwaffe units and scattered elements of the 181st division; thereafter by the 163th and 196th divisions advancing from Oslo via the Gudbrandsdal. The Allied player will start with the Norwegian units historically in the area around Trondheim, and will then be reinforced by Mauriceforce. This is all the Allied player can be certain of. Historically Hammer was cancelled, and might be so even in this scenario. It will take to the middle of the game before he knows for sure. If, on the other hand, Hammer is launched, it will include two Canadian battalions to clear the German coastal guns at the entrance of the fiord, to be followed by the 15th Bde (regulars) and some strong naval units. Supply: Supply sources for the Allied player is: Stoeren; Namsos, Hell, HAMMERFORCE "island", MAURICEFORCE "island", Grong and hex 1,53 (close to Agdenes). The Allied Force Supply will increase with the landing of the first British units, and then again if operation Hammer is launched. It will decrease if Namsos is bombed (this is outside the German players control). Supply sources for the German player is: Vaernes (crucial) and hex 18,75 (south of Stoeren). Vaernes is the most important location in the scenario, bringing in supplies as well as reinforcements. With the capture of the SWEDISH BORDER hex, additional supplies may become available. When the German relief forces arrive, the Stoeren supply source becomes active, raising the overall supply status. Notes: When Operation Hammer is played against the computer, the PO will set the taste of the game, inevitably creating heavy fighting along the Namsos-Trondheim road. When played PBEM, the opponents are recommended to split their initial units in threes (the OOB was made with this in mind), as this will be the only way to cover the vast areas involved in the game. The German air units present is only a fraction of the planes eventually comitted. This is because a large portion of Luftwaffe was preoccupid in the Gudbrandsdal, over the Narvik area and elsewhere. Therefore, the units in this scenario doesn't necessarily represent actual formations, but is more a measure of the Luftwaffes capabilities. The OOB in this game has been deliberately altered in some cases to better portray the situation. The ski detachments, for instance, was in reality in platoon size, detached from their parent units. The "Holtermann" unit was in reality the 3rd Artillery Regiment, but it's guns was lost when the Germans took Trondheim. Holtermann retreated to the fortress of Ingstadkleven, and held out for the duration of this scenario. Some what-if "Guest Star" reinforcements: GERMAN PARAS: There might be one or two airborne units appearing in the German OOB (one of these companies was historically dropped near Dombaas in a later aborted operation). LUFTWAFFE BOMBERS: If Hammer is launched, there's this chance that the German High Command decides to divert more bombers to the area around Trondheim. HIPPER: This "what-if" assumes that Admiral Hipper was not damaged by HMS Glowworms attack on the 8th, and that the Germans, for fear of the Royal Navy, decide to let her stay in the Trondheim Fiord. 263 SQUADRON: This squadron was historically deployed on the frozen lake Lesjaskog, but suffered griviously in some German air attacks. This "what-if" may prove them luckier. SWEDES: A lesser amount of Swedes saw action in Norway, fighting side by side with their Norwegian brothers. Historically, these men (who were mostly veterans from the Soviet-Finnish winter war) were split up between a number of Norwegian units. In this scenario, they will (if luck permits) appear as a homogenous unit, operating as a ski company in the woods close to the Swedish border. 147th BRIGADE: If Hammer is launched, the 147th Brigade may show up as an Allied reinforcement. Special rules: No Allied or German unit may ever enter any portion of the map south of the ALLIED STOP LINE hexes (there's, of course, no telling what the computer might do). This is because the German Entry hex for the divisions moving up from the south is located there. If this hex is blocked, a single ski detatchment could in practise hold off several divisions. Additionally, if a German unit occupies the 18,75 supply hex, the German forces will recieve supply far in addition to what was historically accurate. Once the German relief forces arrive, it's legal for the German player to use this source. No Allied unit, except 15th brigade, the Canadians and 147th brigade, may ever use seaborne movement in the portion of the map containing the Trondheim fiord. Any Allied unit may use seaborne movement in the small portion of the map north of Namsos, though (for evacuation purposes). German units may use seaborne movement, but not in the sea portion west of the Agdenes Battery hex. No naval units larger than destroyers may ever enter the Breitstad Fiord (of course, as mentioned before, there's no telling what the computer may do, and, since it's a very stupid thing, it must forgiven if cheating). PBEM special rules: To better portray the fact that the Germans, with their almost total mastery of the skies, could see Allied movements, whereas the Allies were kept in the dark about the Germans, both players should turn their "possesion features" off, thereby emphasizing the recon settings and remove what Steve Knowlton refered to as "the finger of death". The losses on both sides in the Norwegian campaign were remarkably light. Therefore, both players should have "minimize losses" settings on all units at all times (the original setting). This is an option that the players must decide for before the beginning of play, but it is highly recommended. It will give a much better feel for the acctual campaign, than the mass-slaughtering process of an ordinary TOAW scenario. * * * This scenario was created, not so much with play balance in mind, as a demonstration of the confusion in a rapidly developing military situation. There will be almost no traditional battle lines in the scenario, but the operation (and it's eventual outcome) will depend primarily upon decisions and movement, not combat. If playing the game PBEM and choosing the German side, there will be two basic strategies to choose from. The first one is to capture Stoeren and Vaernes, and then stay put, waiting for the strong reinforcements moving up from the south. This is the cautious strategy, making it difficult for the Allied player to recapture Trondheim, but it will also lose the German player time, wich the Allied player can use for strenghtening and fortifying his positions on the northern part of the map. The second strategy, to advance up the Steinkjer-Trondheim road, is obviously more dangerous, but it might also give the German player some political gains. For each victory location taken, there's a slight chance that one of the following happens: 1. The Norwegian 5th Brigade surrenders 2. Operation Hammer is cancelled 3. The Allies withdraw from Central Norway (a German sudden death victory) Therfore, splitting his units and sneaking through the difficult terrain in an advance north, could sometimes win the game for the German player almost without a fight. Of course; if the Allied War Counsil decides to launch Hammer, landing troops in the German rear, the German player may find himself in dire straits indeed. The Allied player may have a range of options as well, where most of them depends upon wether Hammer is launched or not. Good Luck Michael Tamelander michael.tamelander@swipnet.se

Briefing

OPERATION HAMMER

The Recapture of Trondheim, April 1940

Version 1.1

Date: April-May 1940
Location: Central Norway
Map Scale: 2.5 km/hex
Time Scale: One Day Turns
Unit Scale: III, II, I
Length: 36 Turns

* * *

Reinforcements:

The German player will initially have to his disposal the 138th regiment of the 3rd Mountain division, as well as a smaller bomber unit of the Luftwaffe. He will then be reinforced piecemeal; first (if he manage to take Vaernes airfield) by two more Luftwaffe units and scattered elements of the 181st division; thereafter by the 163th and 196th divisions advancing from Oslo via the Gudbrandsdal.

The Allied player will start with the Norwegian units historically in the area around Trondheim, and will then be reinforced by Mauriceforce. This is all the Allied player can be certain of. Historically Hammer was cancelled, and might be so even in this scenario. It will take to the middle of the game before he knows for sure. If, on the other hand, Hammer is launched, it will include two Canadian battalions to clear the German coastal guns at the entrance of the fiord, to be followed by the 15th Bde (regulars) and some strong naval units.

Supply:

Supply sources for the Allied player is: Stoeren; Namsos, Hell, HAMMERFORCE "island", MAURICEFORCE "island", Grong and hex 1,53 (close to Agdenes). The Allied Force Supply will increase with the landing of the first British units, and then again if operation Hammer is launched. It will decrease if Namsos is bombed (this is outside the German players control).

Supply sources for the German player is: Vaernes (crucial) and hex 18,75 (south of Stoeren). Vaernes is the most important location in the scenario, bringing in supplies as well as reinforcements. With the capture of the SWEDISH BORDER hex, additional supplies may become available. When the German relief forces arrive, the Stoeren supply source becomes active, raising the overall supply status.

Notes:

When Operation Hammer is played against the computer, the PO will set the taste of the game, inevitably creating heavy fighting along the Namsos-Trondheim road. When played PBEM, the opponents are recommended to split their initial units in threes (the OOB was made with this in mind), as this will be the only way to cover the vast areas involved in the game.

The German air units present is only a fraction of the planes eventually comitted. This is because a large portion of Luftwaffe was preoccupid in the Gudbrandsdal, over the Narvik area and elsewhere. Therefore, the units in this scenario doesn't necessarily represent actual formations, but is more a measure of the Luftwaffes capabilities.

The OOB in this game has been deliberately altered in some cases to better portray the situation. The ski detachments, for instance, was in reality in platoon size, detached from their parent units.

The "Holtermann" unit was in reality the 3rd Artillery Regiment, but it's guns was lost when the Germans took Trondheim. Holtermann retreated to the fortress of Ingstadkleven, and held out for the duration of this scenario.

Some what-if "Guest Star" reinforcements:

GERMAN PARAS: There might be one or two airborne units appearing in the German OOB (one of these companies was historically dropped near Dombaas in a later aborted operation).

LUFTWAFFE BOMBERS: If Hammer is launched, there's this chance that the German High Command decides to divert more bombers to the area around Trondheim.

HIPPER: This "what-if" assumes that Admiral Hipper was not damaged by HMS Glowworms attack on the 8th, and that the Germans, for fear of the Royal Navy, decide to let her stay in the Trondheim Fiord.

263 SQUADRON: This squadron was historically deployed on the frozen lake Lesjaskog, but suffered griviously in some German air attacks. This "what-if" may prove them luckier.

SWEDES: A lesser amount of Swedes saw action in Norway, fighting side by side with their Norwegian brothers. Historically, these men (who were mostly veterans from the Soviet-Finnish winter war) were split up between a number of Norwegian units. In this scenario, they will (if luck permits) appear as a homogenous unit, operating as a ski company in the woods close to the Swedish border.

147th BRIGADE: If Hammer is launched, the 147th Brigade may show up as an Allied reinforcement.

Special rules:

No Allied or German unit may ever enter any portion of the map south of the ALLIED STOP LINE hexes (there's, of course, no telling what the computer might do). This is because the German Entry hex for the divisions moving up from the south is located there. If this hex is blocked, a single ski detatchment could in practise hold off several divisions. Additionally, if a German unit occupies the 18,75 supply hex, the German forces will recieve supply far in addition to what was historically accurate. Once the German relief forces arrive, it's legal for the German player to use this source.

No Allied unit, except 15th brigade, the Canadians and 147th brigade, may ever use seaborne movement in the portion of the map containing the Trondheim fiord. Any Allied unit may use seaborne movement in the small portion of the map north of Namsos, though (for evacuation purposes). German units may use seaborne movement, but not in the sea portion west of the Agdenes Battery hex.

No naval units larger than destroyers may ever enter the Breitstad Fiord (of course, as mentioned before, there's no telling what the computer may do, and, since it's a very stupid thing, it must forgiven if cheating).

PBEM special rules:

To better portray the fact that the Germans, with their almost total mastery of the skies, could see Allied movements, whereas the Allies were kept in the dark about the Germans, both players should turn their "possesion features" off, thereby emphasizing the recon settings and remove what Steve Knowlton refered to as "the finger of death".

The losses on both sides in the Norwegian campaign were remarkably light. Therefore, both players should have "minimize losses" settings on all units at all times (the original setting). This is an option that the players must decide for before the beginning of play, but it is highly recommended. It will give a much better feel for the acctual campaign, than the mass-slaughtering process of an ordinary TOAW scenario.

* * *

This scenario was created, not so much with play balance in mind, as a demonstration of the confusion in a rapidly developing military situation. There will be almost no traditional battle lines in the scenario, but the operation (and it's eventual outcome) will depend primarily upon decisions and movement, not combat.

If playing the game PBEM and choosing the German side, there will be two basic strategies to choose from. The first one is to capture Stoeren and Vaernes, and then stay put, waiting for the strong reinforcements moving up from the south. This is the cautious strategy, making it difficult for the Allied player to recapture Trondheim, but it will also lose the German player time, wich the Allied player can use for strenghtening and fortifying his positions on the northern part of the map. The second strategy, to advance up the Steinkjer-Trondheim road, is obviously more dangerous, but it might also give the German player some political gains. For each victory location taken, there's a slight chance that one of the following happens:

1. The Norwegian 5th Brigade surrenders
2. Operation Hammer is cancelled
3. The Allies withdraw from Central Norway (a German sudden death victory)

Therfore, splitting his units and sneaking through the difficult terrain in an advance north, could sometimes win the game for the German player almost without a fight. Of course; if the Allied War Counsil decides to launch Hammer, landing troops in the German rear, the German player may find himself in dire straits indeed.

The Allied player may have a range of options as well, where most of them depends upon wether Hammer is launched or not.

Good Luck

Michael Tamelander

michael.tamelander@swipnet.se