This extension covers all airborne operations: by parachutes, by gliders, by helicopters, and air assault by plane. Relevant rules where first published in VV16 (for paratroopers only), then extended in VV64 (addition of gliders and AA fire) then upgraded in VV81 (air assault by plane and helicopter) and VV82 (errata for air assault by plane).

The extension to Normandy 1944, related to Second World War, was published in several steps by Vae Victis and Battles Magazine, then directly on the website EPT. All plane counters required for bombing, paratroopers and gliders, either Allied or German, are available on EPT website (Air forces 1940-1944). For example, it is possible to replace by Junkers 52 counters or Dakotas counters the generic counter DZ published in VV16 and VVHS10.


It is also noticeable that several Indochina scenarios include a French airborne assault. Finally, Africa module includes one assault per helicopters, and a scenario with air assault by aircraft is ready for publication.


Creta 1941

Creta is the latest of the large German airborne operations in World War Two. British forces were ready to receive German paratroopers, and the initial assault was a bloody one. Two scenarios propose you to revive such assault:

- Scenario Sauter pour mourir (VV HS 10).

- Scenario Diables verts dans le chaos (VV HS 10).

These scenarios are quite ambitious, with two to three German company (thus using counters from various modules (France 1940, Koursk 1943 and Normandy 1944), and one British company. Will the German "Teufels" survive the fire of The Queen soldiers?


Normandy 1944

On the D-Day, the 1st British airborne division is engaged to protect the East front of the landing forces. We propose you to revive two missions amongst it various ones:

- First one, the glider assault against Pegasus Bridge, and how to hold it against a German armored counter-attack: scenario Pegasus bridge (Battles Magazine 2).

-Then, the difficult night drop of Major Howards and its battalion, and their fight to destroy the Merville battery and its murderous guns, with (or without) the help of glider units landing directly on the battery: Les canons de Merville).

Some required additional British counters are available on EPT website (British bengalores 1944).


Provence 1944

Allied paratroopers are grouped in the Rugby Force. Their task is to size the inland in order to prevent any German counter-attack against the landing zone on Provence's coast. Their main target is Le Muy, and several scenarios propose you to revive the fight for this village:

- Scenario Le Muy I (VV64), initial US and British landing around the village.

- Scenario Little Alamo (VV67), US paratroopers have to land then to install an artillery battery to support heavy fight for Le Muy, while blocking a German counter-attack.

- Scénario Le Muy II (VV67), US reinforcements, coming through gliders, have to size Le Muy. Gliders' landing is not part of this scenario.

Since scenarios Le Muy I and Le Muy II happen at the same location and against the same German units, a campaign is proposed on EPT website with both of them. The campaign includes one additional scenario Planeurs sur Le Muy, with the landing of the gliders: campaign Assaut aéroporté sur le Muy.


Indochina 1946-1954

French paratroopers did many jumps in hostile territories, either to save a besieged position, or to start a new offensive action. Indochina module thus proposes you to revive some of these actions, through below scenarios:

- Scenario A la poursuite de l’Oncle Ho (VV17), the 1^st Choc battalion tries to capture Ho Chi Minh.

- Scenario La chèvre et le loup (to be issued with module re-edition), a few paratroopers try to save a small outpost.

- Scenario Un coup pour rien (VV16), the 3^rd BCCP jumps to retake Dong Khé occupied by the Viet-Minh.

- Scenario Au secours de Nghia Do (to be issued with module re-edition), two 3^e BCCP compagnies jump over Nghia Do, which garrison still hold the position despite many Viet-Minh heavy weapons.

- Scenario Le saut du Castor (to be issued with module re-edition), the 6^th BPC jumps over Dien Bien Phu, exactly one Viet-Minh company under training. Will he destroy the Viet-Minh battalion which defends the village?


African wars 1956-2008

Later than Indochina, there was still a few massive paratroopers' assault, in Algeria first years of the war, and mainly at Suez in 1956 and at Kolwezi in 1978. But with Algeria war, French paratroopers create a new way of fighting: helicopters' air assault. Air landing assault became also an efficient way of fighting for some particular cases. EPT proposes you to revive this various actions:

- Scenario Saut sur Port-Saïd (North Africa 1955-1961), classic paratroopers assault with massive air support.

- Many helicopters' based operations in Algéria : La baraka de Florès, Passage en force, Les bérets bleus de Jarnac Jaune, Héliportage mortel, Bouclage et ratissage, et Djebel Austerlitz. All these scenarios are part of the module North Africa 1955-1961, except for La baraka de Florès which is available on EPT website.

- Scenario Hélicos sur Beni Erda (VV80), helicopters' assault by the 6^th CPIMa on a Chadian rebel platoon.

- Scenario Coup de foudre sur Entebbe (EPT website), the famous Israeli air landing assault to free hostages at the Ugandan airport of Entebbe, in 1976.

- Scenario Evacuation sous le feu (EPT website), French elite forces protect Transalls and Hercules while they take off from N'Djamena airport, with civilians trying to escape the Chadian rebel assault in February 2008.

Additional Map Y and overlay Airstripe, required for these two scenarios, are available on EPT website.

Amaury 27/07/2011