Author	treadasaurusrex (France)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany, Germany
Participants	Blackcloud6 (AAR)
Play Date	2021-09-07
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF003

Unless you are a hopeless masochist, and enjoy extended and unremitting misery, this is a scenario to avoid playing as the French side. This scenario is a critically unbalanced example in which the French are indeed doomed to fight without a helmet, and as others have observed, with both arms tied behind their back. However, it does provide a splendid opportunity to develop your own methodical and piercing attacks as the Germans. In my case, newbie that I am, I had the luck to play against a skilled and experienced PG player who put on a stunning display of near-flawless maneuver, excellent use of terrain, flexibility in approach and effective use of available force. With the Germans having considerable advantages in firepower, mobility, sheer numbers, OBA and better morale than the French – the addition of inspired leadership was truly lethal.

The French side does not have an adequate mix of units to mount a decent general defense. As noted by others in their AARs, the Germans are able to crush the French in detail with relatively little difficulty, and virtually no casualties, seemingly no matter how the dice are thrown. The French have a handful of units to try and hold 12 town hexes and 2 entrenchment hexes that are worth 2 VP’s each, while the Germans have massive firepower, including 32 OBA, and far superior mobility.

The German infantry battalion flowed on to the southeast side of map 33 board in a methodical, combined arms left flank attack. They bypassed what turned out to be, my poorly deployed roadblock and forward defense. Wisely, no German tank or AFV went anywhere near the only French towed AT gun. By turn 7 the Germans had captured all the town hexes and were close-assaulting the two French-held entrenchment hexes.

In just one example of how incredibly unbalanced and frustrating this scenario is: if one rolls well for the arrival of French reinforcements, there is a very slight chance of the French at least obtaining a draw. If you roll poorly, the Germans will occupy all the critical terrain, and the 12 crucial town hexes before the meager reinforcements called for in the scenario arrive on the south edge of map 31.

The first French reinforcements did not arrive on time and when they did arrive, they were mightily suppressed by German heavy artillery almost immediately. The hapless surviving cavalry men were initially forced to shelter in woods and ended up providing minimal assistance to their dismounted colleagues. As the Germans came into the open on the southern half of Map 31 they were valiantly assaulted by the French cavalry, who were able to briefly create a fair amount of havoc for a company of German combat engineers, before their inevitable destruction.

The Germans ended up with 16 VP’s from 8 French steps lost, and control of one entrenchment and all twelve town hexes, while the French had a measly 2 VP’s from holding one entrenchment for the entire scenario. Needless to say, the final result was a major German victory!

Among a number of possible fixes for this scenario, I offer these possibilites: 1) Allow at least 4-6 hidden French units at initial setup, 2) Add another, or at least two more French 25mm AT guns with associated wagon counters and an additional junior leader, or alternately, provide 2 pairs of 25mm AT Portees which would be a much better substitute for the towed AT guns, 3) Perhaps add a pair of 8-strength, or a single 14-strength OB artillery factor that are available on every even-numbered turn beginning on turn 2, 4) Add at least one additional French entrenchment on Map 31, and 5) All French reinforcements enter at the same time on Turn 5 on either the South or the East edge on Map 31.

I agree with others commentators, that as published, this scenario is best avoided in favor of more balanced examples that come with the game. The German player has overwhelming strength, mobility and numbers in his or her favor, which results in uninteresting game play and an inevitable French rout.

Historically accurate for May 1940, but no fun to play and with minimal opportunity for learning and improving one’s gameplay!