Montélimar Anvil of Fate

Montélimar: Anvil of Fate, On August 15, 1944, the Allies invaded the South of France in Operation Dragoon. Major General Truscott's U.S. VI Corps landed along a 45 mile stretch of French Coast with the objective of isolating the major German forces defending the western part of France and linking up with the Normandy forces breaking out of their beachhead. The southern beachhead would be secured in only 2 days and the Americans were well established inland. With scattered and only occasionally strong resistance, the Americans and now landed French advanced north up the Rhone valley along highway N-7 — heading quickly toward the key rail and road junction at Aix-en-Provence. This was captured on August 19th. At this point, General Truscott activated a provisional force called Task Force Butler. This roughly regimentally sized unit raced ahead of the main force with the objective of capturing the main route of escape for the German Army. The Task Force set up a defensive position in the high ground to the north of Montélimar. They were to hold until relieved. The Germans would throw everything they could at Task Force Butler in a race to return to Germany before the larger Allied Formations coming up from the south and east would join Task Force Butler.

In the end, both sides could claim victory — the Allies mauled the enemy forces with the Germans suffering 2100 casualties with several thousand soldiers and large amounts of heavy equipment unable to escape. The Allies suffered only 1200 casualties but much of the German Army did get away and a great opportunity was lost.

As the Allies advanced out of the Operation Dragoon Bridgehead, they suffered from too much success.  All of Southern France lay before them and where next was debated in the Allied High Command.  With indecision also came several supply shortages that accompany rapid advance.  What the Allies wanted to do was also limited by what they could do. The Germans they were facing were getting desperate as the Allied advance, as stunted as it was, was moving behind the 19th Army and facing annihilation, knew the only way out was through the narrow Rhone Valley.

The Allies finally realized the importance of the Rhone Valley and, finally, on August 21, moved to secure the high ground north of Montélimar – blocking the entire 19th Army's escape route. At first, just a small task force blocked the way and while pressed hard, they barely held until Allied reinforcements entered the fray.  The Germans were also rapidly reinforcing the area until Montélimar became the focal point of the entire war in the south.  A furious battle would be fought over 8 days with both sides claiming victory.  The Allies mauled the Germans getting away – but the Germans did in fact get away.   Montélimar is the third game of the Company Scale System and the first volume of the "Liberation" series covering the battles of France and Germany in 1944 and 45.  Both sides attack and defend, and the fate of all of Southern France weighed in the balance.  

Details:
Complexity: 7 (out of 10)
Solitaire Suitability : 8 (out of 10)
Time Scale: 2 hours per game turn
Map Scale: 500 meters per hex
Unit Scale: Company/platoon
Players: 1-4
Playing time: 2-50 hours
Designer: Adam Starkweather
Artist: Antonio Pinar

Scenarios:
Scenario 1: The Feint (4 turns, 1 map)
Scenario 2: Strike to the East (6 turns, 1 map)
Scenario 3: 11th Panzer Attacks! (8 turns, 2 maps)
Scenario 4: Task Force Butler Stands Alone (34 turns, 3 maps)
Scenario 5: The Germans Try to Push Through Again! (8 turns, 2 maps)
Scenario 6: The Ordeal (40 turns, 5 maps)
Scenario 7: The Campaign Game (78 turns, 5 maps)
Scenario 8: Campaign Game with CC Sudre (78 turns, 5 maps)

Components:
5 22x34 maps
6 countersheets
1 rules booklet
1 scenario booklet
8 player aids
2 D10 dice
Box and lid