This is an interesting scenario as the Germans have to try to grab two bridges from a weak French force before the French can reinforce.

The Germans tried to race their motorcycle platoons to attack the bridges quickly bit the French were able to blunt that attempt. So the Germans had to bring up their infantry and conduct a deliberate attack. They took the northern bridge by Turn five while driving on to the southern one. But the French counterattacked into the German west flank with their H39 platoons and almost split the German force in two. This weakened the attack on the southern bridge which the Germans never got close to taking. But the price was high as both H39 succumbed to German infantry assault. These cost double in victory points, as usual and contributed to the French loss.

By Turn 9 the steam ran out of the German attack. The French infantry battalion arrived and attacked towards the northern bridge, securing it by Turn 14. But by Turn 17, French losses accumulated past the German Major Victory level and now it was a struggle for the French to catch up. The French infantry counterattacked out of both crossing points and at first looked like they might catch up in Victory points to cause a draw. But the Germans consolidated and massed firepower to blunt the French attacks. Although the French forces inflicted some more step losses and were moderately successful out of the southern bridgehead, they could never get close in points to threaten the German victory. In the end it was German causing 24 casualty points on the French and the French causing 15.

Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	waynebaumber (AAR)
Play Date	2022-08-15
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF024

This was a rather disappointing 3-session play-through ending in a conceded German Major victory on game turn 17. The defending French were led by the redoubtable, playful and cagey, Wayne Baumber. Thankfully, we skipped the Fog of War optional rule, but used the Consolidation, Excess Initiative and smoke optional rules.

The 1st session (game turns 1-5) featured the – initially rather weak – German 1st Panzer Division task force moving to contact from the north to the vicinity of two bridge sites on Map 30. This pair of bridges cross the Ardennes Canal were the primary objectives for the relentless fascist invaders. Fierce French resistance at the northern bridge held up the German infantry sent to take it. However, a company of dismounted German motorcycle troops had much better luck at the southernmost bridge and began a close assault after half the initial defenders fled. A scratch, combined arms force began reinforcing the east-bank defenders beginning on game turn 3. By the end of this session, the French has lost 4 steps, including a section of H-39 light tanks, and a HMG platoon in what rapidly became a fiercely contested, close assault on the southern bridge. Surprisingly, no German losses were registered in the first 4 game turns.

The 2nd session (game turns 6-12) was initially characterized by continued bitter fighting at both Map 30 bridge sites. In the south, close assaults in the bridge hex turned into a seesaw action in which the Germans briefly controlled the bridge and then quickly folded in the face of surprisingly brisk French direct fire. At the northern crossing, the Boche managed to take the bridge on game turn 7 and their troops rushed across to begin pushing the French back to the south. A well-executed tactical withdrawal by the French Commander kept the retreating French infantry from being decisively engaged on the east bank of the canal. To the growing frustration of the German Commander, no reinforcements or OBA arrived by the end of game turn 12. This session’s step losses totaled: 11 for the French, and 4 German. A combined total of six combat die rolls of 7, marred several direct fire and close assaults by both sides.

The 3rd session (game turns 13-17) included the long-delayed arrival of German reinforcements and OBA, ironically, on the same turn as the French received theirs. The re-invigorated French side immediately moved west and engaged the thinly-spread German formations in the northern portion of Map 30, but not before losing their last step of light tanks to long-range AT fire. Both sides had generally miserable luck in this session, managing to throw a combined TEN combat 7-die rolls! This rendered the numerical superiority of OBA for the Germans (48 to 14) to no real advantage. Multiple close assaults ensued as the French gradually pushed back the German’s perimeter, and forward-deployed their AT gun platoons. The French hold on the southern bridge solidified at the same time. The laggard Boche reinforcements never made it far enough onto the battle map to engage before the French Commander decided to concede the loss of this unbalanced scenario at the start of turn 17.

I give this scenario a 2, because it is virtually impossible for the French side to prevail against an avid opponent. The confusing set of terrain modifications, the long lag time before both side’s reinforcements arrive, unmatching map edges, and the overwhelming strength of the final German force, combine to make this a decent historic simulation, but an unbalanced one in favor of the Germans.

Author	waynebaumber (France)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	treadasaurusrex (AAR)
Play Date	2022-08-15
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF024

Fought over three sessions against old Treadhead himself, this scenario has a fairly small German force capturing a couple of bridges over the Ardennes canal defended by an even weaker force of French troops. Both sides do get reinforcements subject to dr of 5,6 at various times during the scenario. My doughty opponent's inability to roll this number for several turns kept a slight flicker of interest alive in my cynical French heart. Initially the Germans captured both bridges easily but a French counter attack managed to retake one of the bridges but with heavy losses. In fact losses were at GT8 were 10 French steps to 1 German step, this was forced on the French by the simple fact that even for a minor French win you have to control at least one bridge. Having recaptured the bridge the French player is then well advised to dig in around said bridge and try and hold out for a draw. The only problem with this plan is with 3 X 16 German OBA and German aircraft the chance not not losing 15 steps (required for a German major victory)over the course of 24 turns is highly unlikely. In fact losses became more equal towards the end of our game but were still 16 French step losses to 7 German step losses when I called the game. Another win for my distinguished opponent however I do not expect to see many French wins with the VC has written. Pretty average scenario avoid.

Quite a secnario this one was. Simple setup for the French-2 ESC on the Northern bridge, and 2 DRG on the Southern one. The Germans loaded on the trucks began to move out on Turn 1 and made their way to the first bridge. The 3 MTC's and an armored car moved more quickly and moved within one hex of the first bridge. With a SGT. 10-1-1, they easily withstood any OF that they recieved, and when they gained INT the next turn, they pounded the bridge on the 30 column, but only rolling a seven, and all morale checks were made. The rest of the troops move up and unload in three hexes around the first bridge. The French see the upcoming assault, and decides to move one of the DRG's into the Northern bridge. The next turn, the Germans role a 2 on the 45 and a 3 on the 30, killing 5 steps, the leader, and demoralizing the remaining half-step. The second bridge falls quickly afterword. The thing that did the trick for the Germans was the lowest reinforcement rolls that the game has ever seen. Both sides needed a 5 or 6 to receive reinforcements. The Germans had reinforcements on turn 7 and 13, the French on 2 and 13. Only the Germans received reinforcements on turn 16

The reinforcement rolls were these:

Main German reinforcements(Turn 7)-2-3-1-4-4-2-3-3-3-4-1-3-2-4-4-2-1-2-4

German PzII(Turn 13)-2-3-1-6

Main French reinforcements(Turn 2)-2-2-3-1-4-2-2-1-1-2-4-1-1-4-3-4-2-3-2-4-1-4-2

Second French Force(Turn 13)-2-1-3-2-1-4-4-3-2-3-4-1

I was astounded by these rolls, but now I know how I make morale checks so easily.