Author	Schoenwulf
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2021-10-25
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF015

Battle: In late afternoon of May 14, 1940, elements from the German 6th Panzer Regiment advanced south near Walhain St-Paul where they ran into resistance from the 2nd Cuirassiers. The action began at 1415 with the loss of a Pz.II group that was eliminated by an S35 platoon that had been hidden in the northwest village, and it ended with the destruction of a Pz.IVD group at 1515. In the interim, four German armor platoons had passed through the French lines, a brief disruption in the blitzkrieg. The Germans pressed forward toward Gembloux.

Analysis: This scenario is a two map, 12-turn scenario with VP’s based on enemy unit elimination and German unit exit. The French set up individual tanks on either side of the north/south road and in the northwest village on Map 31. The Germans advanced with two units each on the extreme flanks, and two astride the main north/south road (Pz.IIIf & Pz.IVd on the road). Since the French have only four armor units and two tank leaders, it is difficult to block all of the potential pathways for German exit. Both flanks are primarily clear hexes, so the German tanks can move five hexes per turn. If both of the flank edges are blocked, that only leaves two S35 units to cover the entire central map, which has numerous blocking features with woods, hill and town hexes. The scenario doesn’t indicate the usual “tanks count double”, so the German player has twelve steps, thus only needing to exit four of his six tanks. The French in this scenario were fortunate to take out a Pz.II on the first shot (12), leaving the German to attempt to exit four of the remaining five tanks. Many of their other shots missed while the Panzers passed by, doing their best to avoid a crossfire situation. By Turn 6, the Germans had exited four tanks for a total of eight VP’s, while the French destroyed two German tanks for 4 VP’s. It seems that the French either have to be very lucky with their shots or the VP situation should be adjusted. While this is a good scenario if you want to teach armor rules quickly , it doesn’t provide much tension or intrigue.