Along the Merderet*
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Date: June 7, 1944*
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Battle Type: US Assault vs German Defend*
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Design: M Bellizzi*
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The US airborne drops in Normandy were confused and uncoordinated- troops were scattered from one end of the Cotentin Peninsula to the other.  This mass dispersion and uncoordination, however, caused the Germans just as much consternation as it did the US forces.*
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One goal of the US Airborne troops was the bridges along the Merderet.  In small groups of squads led by Colonels and Companies led by Corporals, the soldiers of the 507th and 508th Regiments moved out to secure their objectives.*
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The Germans suffered from a self imposed paralysis; not sure where the main body of paratroops were, most units stayed put or were already fighting for their lives where they assembled.*
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As the US player, your mission is to seize and hold the bridges at la Fiere and Chef du Pont to prevent German forces from moving to interdict the invasion beaches.*
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As the German player, your mission is to destroy the US parachute forces that are scattered across the Norman countryside; recapture any lost bridges or territory and hold until the panzers can pass through to blunt the beach invasions.*
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(Historical note:  The bridges at Cauquigny changed hands several times; ultimately, the 82d held the bridge here till reinforcements arrived;  the bridge at Chef du Pont was not taken for several days.)*
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(designer notes:  While the drops were wildly scattered, US troops were able to be somewhat cohesive due to training and common goals.  This is represented in that most units from the same platoon are within 20 hexes of each other.  By late scenario, the US player should be able to get some unit cohesion.  Late arriving units do not represent airdrops; they represent scattered troops finally getting linked up and organized.  Mortars in particular, took a long time to get a 'arty net' going, this is represented by their late arrival.)*
