Narvik is GDWs simulation of the German invasion of Norway in 1940. The following rules variants show what could have happened had the British Navy been differently employed.

1. The two naval interdiction counters can be used as artillery units. They deliver 8 points of support to any unit which is in the same hex as they are, or they can fire 4 points of support into any adjacent hex. An interdiction counter still has its normal AA value, even when firing as artillery. British AA cruisers and carriers may not be used in the same manner.

The British Navy could and did give gunfire support to the Allies in Norway. In Narvik, a battery of four 105mm howitzers is worth one bombardment point. Thus a destroyer with four 4" guns would be worth the same. Light cruisers for the British are worth four to six points, while the battleship Warspite would be worth 12 points at least. Thus the interdiction counters represent a small force of destroyers and perhaps a light cruiser or two.

Note that there is a trade-off here. Aggressive use of the Navy by the British will also increase the ability of the Luftwaffe to find and damage the ships. Remember that each hit is a point for the German player.

2. Each interdiction counter can carry a marine battalion and once during the game can make an opposed landing with it. During the turn that the Marine unit lands, the interdiction unit fires at half normal effect. Note that the Marine battalion that is landed must be one of those that appears in the game.

The British Navy had organized landing parties that could have and were landed during the campaign, though never in an opposed landing. However, at Narvik an opposed landing was almost executed, and the effects would have been interesting. The loss of support by the unit carrying the Marines is due to the fact that such an operation would drain off not only the landing party, but the crews for the small boats, etc.

3. Any German artillery unit (not an AA unit) may act as a coastal defence unit. A coastal defense unit may fire at any naval unit in its hex or in an adjacent hex. The unit must be in attack supply. The combat factors of the unit are applied to the ship or naval unit as if they were tactical bombing factors. The effect of coastal batteries firing at units in adjacent hexes is halved. If the route taken by a naval counter would cause it to come within range of one or more coastal batteries, these coastal batteries are allowed to fire. A unit that fires as a coastal battery may not fire in support of any other actions.

The Germans would have to increase their coastal defences with any aggressive use of the British navy. This rule also makes it expensive to attack defended ports.

4. The German naval headquarters unit has 2 flak factors.

When the German destroyers were sunk at Narvik, a number of 20mm and 37mm AA guns were salvaged from ships. These proved effective at disrupting naval attacks by Swordfish in the Narvik area.

More Narvik

Strategy and Tactics
German First Turn Deployment
Rules Variants