Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Swallows of Death #16

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Army Group South Ukraine #6 - Consternation	Road to Berlin #73 - She-Wolves of the SS

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > SwlD016

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Maisons Fortes Swallows of Death #16
(Attacker) Germany	vs	France (Defender)

Formations Involved
France		2e Régiment de Spahis Marocains
Germany		2nd "Vienna" Panzer Division

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 2
Scenario Rank: --- of 913

Parent Game	Swallows of Death
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-05-12
Start Time	19:00
Turn Count	8
Visibility	Day
Counters	17
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	2
Maps	1: 124
Layout Dimensions	43 x 28 cm 17 x 11 in
Play Bounty	157
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Exit the Battle Area
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Rural Assault

Conditions
Anti-infantry Wire
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 2	Counters
Road to Dunkirk	Maps
Swallows of Death	Base Game

Introduction
With the Germans having penetrated the French lines at Sedan and threatening to make a major breakthrough, the French High Command ordered 5th DLC on the Belgian border to pull back to the Maisons fortes line. These blockhouses located behind the Franco-Belgian border, camouflaged as civilian houses, mounted machine guns and anti-tank guns to cover the few roads leading to Sedan through the forest. However, the fortress troops manning these strongpoints had already been ordered to cut off the roads by blowing up demolition charges and then to withdraw. Since the 3rd Brigade of Spahis had retreated without orders, it was sent back to occupy the Maisons fortes.

Introduction

With the Germans having penetrated the French lines at Sedan and threatening to make a major breakthrough, the French High Command ordered 5th DLC on the Belgian border to pull back to the Maisons fortes line. These blockhouses located behind the Franco-Belgian border, camouflaged as civilian houses, mounted machine guns and anti-tank guns to cover the few roads leading to Sedan through the forest. However, the fortress troops manning these strongpoints had already been ordered to cut off the roads by blowing up demolition charges and then to withdraw. Since the 3rd Brigade of Spahis had retreated without orders, it was sent back to occupy the Maisons fortes.

Conclusion
When the Spahis arrived at Maison Forte Number 6, they found it abandoned and its 25mm anti-tank removed. They prepared to defend the site anyway, and in the evening a German recon force approached the bridge and a pair of armored cars open fire on the blockhouse. The Spahis waited until the Germans left their vehicles to examine the little fortress, and then mowed them down. The surviving Germans withdrew and the Spahis also left that night to resume their positions behind the Meuse River.

Conclusion

When the Spahis arrived at Maison Forte Number 6, they found it abandoned and its 25mm anti-tank removed. They prepared to defend the site anyway, and in the evening a German recon force approached the bridge and a pair of armored cars open fire on the blockhouse. The Spahis waited until the Germans left their vehicles to examine the little fortress, and then mowed them down. The surviving Germans withdrew and the Spahis also left that night to resume their positions behind the Meuse River.

Additional Notes
Swallows of Death may be played with the 1st edition pieces and maps from 1940: Fall of France.

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. 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.
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.

Display Order of Battle

France Order of Battle

Armée de Terre
Leader Misc

Armée de Terre

Leader

Misc

Moroccan Ground Forces
Foot

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Leader Motorized

Heer

Leader

Motorized

Display AARs (1)

Swallows of Death #16 - Maisons Fortes

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2023-10-01
Language	English
Scenario	SwlD016

Even shorter scenario at 8 turns, Germans have to act quickly if they are going to have any chance at winning, both casemates survived but the Germans still won a minor victory.

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