The Dark Summer: Normandy 1944

The Dark Summer : Normandy 1944 is the latest entry in Ted S. Raicer's series on World War II. The game uses a chit-pull activation system that determines both the order and the type of each side's actions. This occurs over the ten action-packed rounds of the game, which cover the period June 6 through August 21, 1944. The availability of the action round chits is determined by the draw of the weather chits. These, one per round, reflect the importance of the weather on the effectiveness of Allied air superiority and Allied naval navigation in the Channel. Weather also determines the number of German reaction markers, which allow limited reaction to Allied actions.

More details:

The single map extends from south of Cherbourg southwest to Avranches and southeast to Alencon. This allows players to recreate the entire campaign. From D-Day to the closing of the Falaise gap in late August. Units are for the most part regiments/ brigades but the German motorized forces are presented as operational kampfgruppen.

Victory is determined by the capture of Cherbourg by the Allies, the exit of units and the prevention of the exit of German units. But the Allies win a sudden-death victory if they capture all the towns on the map before round 10. On the other hand, the Germans win a sudden-death victory if they close three Allied beaches. The unknown activation sequence means that the Allies cannot take the security of their landing beaches for granted in June!

The Dark Summer : Normandy 1944 is a game of moderate complexity. However, it covers all the most important elements of the campaign. There are rules for the D-Day landings, the untested German strongpoints and the Ost battalions. Also the Allied tac-air and carpet bombing, Allied artillery superiority, German nebelwerfers and anti-aircraft guns. Finally, Allied naval support, the capture of Cherbourg, exit and re-entry to the map, as well as variable entry for both sides. A game in an epic campaign that can be played in a single game day.

The Dark Summer: Normandy 1944 is a must-have for fans of operational games of the Β’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου.