Get off the Beach
Fast Play Rules for the Normandy
Invasion
Introduction: These rules were written for 8th grade students
studying WWII. The American players land their squads on the beach
and attempt to make it to the Sea Wall. The German players attempt
to prevent this by firing from fortified Bunkers and with artillery
strikes. American players that lose their squad will have to start
over by landing a new squad in the following turn. To win the
Americans must clear the obstacles and destroy the German bunkers,
opening the exits to the beach. Because the American are allowed
to replace their losses they will eventually succeed, but at a
high cost. In playtesting the Americans are generally able to
breakthrough in at least one place after about 45 minutes of play,
and are able to win decisively in about an hour.
The Sides: Each player on the German side will control 2 bunkers
containing 4 German soldiers. Each player on the American side
will command a landing craft containing a squad of 12 men. There
should be 3 American players for every German player.
The Board: The board should consist of 6 or more inches of
water, two feet of beach, a 4 inch section of
obstacles,
and at least four inches of ground for the German bunkers. Paint
a line at the edge of the water. The water should be divided into
8" wide landing zone sections. Each American player will
be assigned to one of these landing zones. Paint a line at the
end of the 2 feet of beach directly in front of the Obstacles
area to represent the Sea Wall. The Obstacles area should be divided
into 6" wide segments. Roll a D6 to determine how many obstacles
are present in each section: 1 - no obstacles, 2-5 one obstacle,
6 - two obstacles. The obstacles can be represented by a piece
of picture wire wound in a spiral and glued to cardboard. This
will resemble barbed wire. The German bunker area should be divided
into 8" wide sections. Each German player will be in charge
of defending three of these sections. He may place one bunker
into whichever section he chooses (leaving one empty).
The Rules
Sequence of Play:
1. Beach Landings
2. Americans Act
3. Germans Act
4. Morale
Beach Landings: Roll D6 for each landing craft to determine how
far from the water line its squad is disembarked. Place all the
figures from the landing craft in a group at the correct distance
from the water line.
Americans Act:
American players may choose ONE action for each figure in their
command:
- Move:
Figures move 6" per when on the beach, but only 3"
when they are in the water. To move the squad move measure the
distance and move one figure, then place the rest of the figures
in a group around that figure. Figures must stop at the sea wall.
The may only move past the sea wall in later turns if any obstacles
in the way have been cleared.
- Clear Obstacles:
Any American figures at the sea wall may attempt to clear the
obstacles in their way. Roll 1 D6 for each figure attempting
this. Every 6 rolled will clear one obstacle. This represents
using wire cutters, and bangalore torpedoes to clear barbed wire,
and mine detectors to find a path through mine fields.
- Assault:
American figures that are in contact with a German bunker may
attempt to assault it. Roll a D6 for each figure attempting to
assault. A roll of 6 on any die will destroy the bunker and remove
all German figures in the position. This represents attacking
German positions with flamethrowers, demolitions, grenades, and
small arms.
Germans Act: Every surviving German bunker may fire at an American
squad. The German player will roll 4 D6 and an American figure
will be removed for every 5 or 6 rolled. The bunker may not fire
if it has been destroyed. Every German player may attempt to hit
one American squad with artillery. German players may NOT target
squads that have moved past the Sea Wall. The German player must
roll a D6 to see if the artillery strike is successful. If the
roll is a 5 or 6 the attack has been successful. The player then
rolls 4 D6 and removes one American figure for every 4, 5, or
6 rolled.
Morale: American squads that have taken casualties this
turn must check morale. Roll a D6 for every figure lost THIS turn.
If the total is 12 or more then the squad has been eliminated
as a fighting force. The American player should place all the
figures back in the landing craft and land them as a fresh squad
during the Beach Landings phase of the next turn. If the total
is less than 12 there is no effect on the squad.
Strategy Notes:
German:
German players will be most successful if they concentrate their
attacks each turn on a single squad. This will increase the chances
of the squad failing morale. Pick on the squads that are closest
to the Sea Wall.
American:
American players should get to the Sea Wall as quickly as possible,
clear the Obstacles and assault the Bunkers. Remember that the
artillery can't hit you if you clear the obstacles and move past
the sea wall. American players should work together and follow
up on each other's successes. Most important of all: don't get
discouraged. When you lose a squad and have to start over the
Germans will probably ignore you for a while, giving you a chance
to get back across the beach.
How To:
The Board:
We used large sections of cardboard. Blue spray paint was used
for the water and the rest was painted with American Accents "Stone
Creations" spray paint to create the look of a beach. The
Water Line, Sea Wall, and other markings were drawn using paint
markers. We created five sections of board totaling twelve feet.
This is enough room for 18 American players and 6 German players.
Bunkers: Bunkers were
created using cardboard topped with thin card stock. They were glued together
with Elmer's Glue and a firing slit was cut using a razor utility blade. The
insides were spray painted black. The outsides were sprayed using white spray
paint and American Accents "Stone Creations" spray paint to add texture. A good
alternative would be to spray paint the outside with grey. A door was painted on
the back using Folk Art acrylic paints. The door is purely decorative and has no
effect on game play. You can also use these
paper bunkers.
Obstacles:
We created obstacles by winding picture wire around a thick marker.
These rolls were glued
down to strips of card stock using Elmer's glue. The bases were painted yellow
using a mix of Folk Art acrylic paint and Elmer's glue. The bases were then
dipped in beach sand while wet to create a sandy look that blends in well with
the board. Here are some
paper barbed wire sections you can print and use.
Landing Craft: We took
some plastic hardware trays and spray painted them gray. Here are some
paper
Landing Craft you can print and use.
Figures:
The German and American figures mostly came from boxes of 20 mm
plastic Revell and Airfix figures. The figures were washed in
the dishwasher then sprayed with black Rustoleum primer. They
were then painted using Folk Art Acrylics, covered with a spray
on coat of clear gloss, followed by a spray of Testor's Matte Finish to remove
the gloss. The kids are hard on figures so you may want to just use the figures
unpainted. Here are some
paper
soldiers you can print and use.
Measuring Sticks:
We cut 1/4" wooden dowels into 6" lengths and marked
the sticks at 3". These are easier to use than rulers.
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Options:
1. When artillery lands successfully mark
the spot with a bottle cap spray painted black to represent an
impact crater.
2. When a squad fails morale or is completely
eliminated mark the spot with a penny that's been painted red.
After the game this will create a vivid visual indicator of how
many casualties were inflicted.
3. Don't lay out the obstacles ahead of
time. When a squad arrives at the sea wall let them roll to find
out what's in front of them.
4. Get some match sticks and cut them into
3" sections. Glue three of them together at right angles
to form a hedgehog. Spray paint them black, then swipe them with
some rust colored acrylic paint. Sprinkle them along the Water
Line to represent the many beach obstacles.
5. Set a limit on how many times an American
player can bring in a fresh squad (3-5 would be a good range).
When his last squad is eliminated he's out of the game, or he
can join the Germans and take over control of a bunker.
6. Have the students read excerpts from
Stephen Ambrose's D-Day book.
7. Show the students the beach landing scenes
from the film "The Longest Day", or, if they are old
enough, show them the beach landing scences from "Saving
Private Ryan".
8. Invite a small group to a practice game
and teach them how to play before running it with a large group.
Then your student experts can help the others with the rules.
9. Find some local WWII vets to come in
and tell the students about their experiences in the war.
10. Mark destroyed Bunkers with cotton puffs.