Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Polish Exiles #11

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Marne-Rhine Canal Polish Exiles #11
(Defender) Germany	vs	France (Attacker) Poland (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		268th Infantry Division
Poland		1st Grenadier Division

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 0 votes
5 4 3 2 1 0
Scenario Rank: --- of 914

Parent Game	Polish Exiles
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-06-17
Start Time	00:20
Turn Count	15
Visibility	Night
Counters	66
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	2
Maps	2: 27, 30
Layout Dimensions	56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in
Play Bounty	232
AAR Bounty	227
Total Plays	0
Total AARs	0

Battle Types
Bridge Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Minefields
Off-board Artillery

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Deluge	Counters
Fall of France 2	Maps + Counters
Polish Exiles	Base Game

Introduction
Lagarde, France In the morning, the Germans pushed through the remnants of Polish units around Dieuze, eliminating almost an entire Polish battalion, and reached the Marne-Rhine canal at around 1000. At midday, the first assault troops from the 488th Infantry Regiment entered the canal-side village of Lagarde, joined an hour later by motorized elements of the 499th Infantry Regiment. The German 268th Infantry Division's objective, to conquer a passage over the canal, had almost been achieved. But Polish sappers blew up the Lagarde bridge, although the structure's remains still allowed infantry to pass. German pioneers could reinforce the structure, but not while Lagarde remained under Polish artillery fire. The Polish grenadiers on the south bank of the canal awaited the opportunity to decimate any reckless German crossing. Lacking artillery support, the Germans pushed the 499th Regiment's I Battalion across the bridge, toward Vaucourt, in the direction of the Bois du Tilleul. The Poles retreated, but then rallied, gathering all available troops and counterattacking. The Germans suffered heavy losses under Polish artillery fire and themselves retreated toward the canal, despite an attempted reinforcement by the regiment's II Battalion. By late afternoon, the Germans only had a small bridgehead across the canal. At dusk, the Poles counter-attacked.

Introduction

Lagarde, France

In the morning, the Germans pushed through the remnants of Polish units around Dieuze, eliminating almost an entire Polish battalion, and reached the Marne-Rhine canal at around 1000. At midday, the first assault troops from the 488th Infantry Regiment entered the canal-side village of Lagarde, joined an hour later by motorized elements of the 499th Infantry Regiment.

The German 268th Infantry Division's objective, to conquer a passage over the canal, had almost been achieved. But Polish sappers blew up the Lagarde bridge, although the structure's remains still allowed infantry to pass. German pioneers could reinforce the structure, but not while Lagarde remained under Polish artillery fire. The Polish grenadiers on the south bank of the canal awaited the opportunity to decimate any reckless German crossing.

Lacking artillery support, the Germans pushed the 499th Regiment's I Battalion across the bridge, toward Vaucourt, in the direction of the Bois du Tilleul. The Poles retreated, but then rallied, gathering all available troops and counterattacking. The Germans suffered heavy losses under Polish artillery fire and themselves retreated toward the canal, despite an attempted reinforcement by the regiment's II Battalion. By late afternoon, the Germans only had a small bridgehead across the canal. At dusk, the Poles counter-attacked.

Conclusion
Col. Wladyslaw Zietkiewicz of the 2nd Grenadier Regiment led the Polish counter-attack to eliminate the German bridgehead, starting at 2045. Duch, the division commander, had assembled a reserve including the divisional reconnaissance unit, the remnants of the 1st Grenadier Regiment (about 200 men) and the Chodzko Corps Franc. The French 20th Tank Battalion offered 25 R35 light tanks to support the attack, but the commanders of the two armored companies were reluctant to take part. Galvanized by the strength of the Polish artillery and the presence of Zietkiewicz at their head, The Polish Grenadiers attacked the German bridgehead with a howl, forcing a rapid retreat. The shooting ceased around midnight, and the Poles claimed that the bridgehead had been completely recaptured, which the Germans disputed. According to the German division's chief of staff, "a small pocket remained in our hands south of the canal." The charismatic Zietkiewicz would be murdered by Germans on the 21st.

Conclusion

Col. Wladyslaw Zietkiewicz of the 2nd Grenadier Regiment led the Polish counter-attack to eliminate the German bridgehead, starting at 2045. Duch, the division commander, had assembled a reserve including the divisional reconnaissance unit, the remnants of the 1st Grenadier Regiment (about 200 men) and the Chodzko Corps Franc. The French 20th Tank Battalion offered 25 R35 light tanks to support the attack, but the commanders of the two armored companies were reluctant to take part. Galvanized by the strength of the Polish artillery and the presence of Zietkiewicz at their head, The Polish Grenadiers attacked the German bridgehead with a howl, forcing a rapid retreat. The shooting ceased around midnight, and the Poles claimed that the bridgehead had been completely recaptured, which the Germans disputed. According to the German division's chief of staff, "a small pocket remained in our hands south of the canal." The charismatic Zietkiewicz would be murdered by Germans on the 21st.

Additional Notes
Use French DRG, GrFr, and 25mm AT counters to represent equivalent Polish units.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.