Well before H plus 3 hours the beach area had been cleared and landings were virtually routine, harassed only by sporatic enemy fire. -- Cross Channel Attack

The landings at UTAH Beach are the easiest of D-Day. By a navigational error, most units land at the wrong site, Instead of causing a problem, however, this is beneficial turn. The location is virtually undefended and the assault units easily gain a beachhead. German units in the local area, however, do react quickly and there is much fighting against units of the German 709th, 91st, and 243rd divisions as the American infantry attempt to link up with the airborne troops.

[We place UTAH Beach in hex 17A:0711. The actual landings were almost exactly along the hexside between 0711 and 0811. Giving the benefit of the doubt to hex 0711 gives the Allies a far wider and more secure initial lodgment area, as a hex 0811 UTAH would also suggest that all the airborne landings also occur in 0811. Holding 17A:0711 also positions VII Corps for a Jun II assault on Cherbourg. That city actually fell on 30 June and a 17A:0811 amphibious landing makes it difficult to take Cherbourg before July.

The US Navy assault engineer battalion might be better positioned at OMAHA to reflect historical landings, but Europa stacking rules make UTAH a more logical choice to match up with the solitary amphibious tank II.]

Amphibious Tanks: The 70th tank battalion rolls a '2' and lands successfully. "UTAH" Combat Summary Allies (hex 17A:071 1) Axis (hex 17A:0711)

Exploitation Phase.

Numerous units land in the hex; two tank battalions and a TD battalion move off to reinforce the 82 82nd Airborne in 0712. The 4th Division assembles. By the end of the exploitation phase, the UTAH hex contains:

1x 10-8 Inf XX 4
1x 7-8 Inf XX 90
1x 3-10 mot hv AA X II
2x 3-8 Eng III 1121, 1171
1x 2-3-8 Eng III 1104
1x 4-8 Art X VII
1x 3-8 Art X 190
1x 1-2-10 mot AT II 702
1x 1-8 Mortar II 87

OMAHA Beach (17A:0810)

Altogether, the Germans provided the best imitation of hell for an invading force that American troops had encountered anywhere. Even the Japanese defenses of Iwo Jima, Tarawa, and Peliliu are not to be compared to these. Moreover, the protective works for Omaha had hardly been touched before D-Day, because Allied Air power had concentrated on isolating, not pounding, the beachhead.--Samual Elliot Morrison, -- The Invasion of France and Germany

Well designed defenses, a longer run in for the landing craft, the cliffs, and the presence of a real infantry division, the 352nd instead of just static defense units, all combine to make OMAHA the toughest of the five beaches. The issue is in doubt throughout the morning of D-Day, but no German reserves appear and the weight of the Allied landing is inexorable. By evening, V Corps has developed a lodgment two miles deep. Units linked up with the British at Port-en-Bessin on 8 June and with the 101st Airborne at Carentan on 12 June.

Amphibious Tanks: The two amphibious tanks roll a '1' and a '2' and both units are eliminated.

Battle for Normandy Europa as History

The Players
The Plans
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Set Up
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Douve and Carentan
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Merderet Valley
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Utah Beach
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Omaha Beach
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Gold and Juno Beach
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Sword Beach
The Game (Axis June II 1944 Turn)
The Game (Allied and Axis Jul I 1944 Turn)
The Game Poised for a Breakout