This scenario has the Germans facing an opposed river crossing. The French have the opportunity to destory the bridges and affect the the victory conditions. In my play the French were able to destory one bridge and hold the second. The Germans were forced into a river crossing at the ford. Heavy German casualites at the ford gave the French a chance to win, but the German infantry was able to force enough units across to deny the French victory condition. Final count Germans 12, French 9.

Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Draw
Participants	Blackcloud6 (AAR)
Play Date	2021-10-05
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF004

My experienced and gracious opponent, led the defending French side. WeI played this 18-turn scenario during 2 separate online sessions. The initial German Grossdeutschland (GD) Regiment’s uncontested movement-to-contact was east-to-west mostly via the main road across Map 31. French dismounted cavalry appeared as the leading edge, GD elements approached the eastern border of Map 29. The French initial setup was well-deployed to take advantage of the north-south ridge line on Map 29, and thereby contest and delay German units approaching in the vicinity of the of the primary high speed avenue of approach. Wisely, during the very first turn, French combat engineers successfully dynamited the crucial bridge across the Vierre River at the Village of Suxy in Hex 0604. This left only the ford immediately east of Suxy at Hex 0709 as a possible river crossing site. Dismounted French cavalry units slowly gave ground before the Teutonic onslaught and had only lost a single step of cavalry by the end of the 3rd turn (0700). A lengthy series of close assaults ensued in which one of the two, German Captains leading an infantry attack became panicked and deserted on Turn 6 (0745)! A methodical withdrawal by the mounted French from the southernmost village to the 1-hex hamlet in Hex 0507 was closely followed by the advancing German infantry, who were under near-continuous fire for multiple turns with repeated morale checks. The Germans placed company of, nearly useless, 75mm infantry guns atop the long ridge at Hex 0205 to support this attack, but as is usually the case with these towed, direct fire weapons, they proved themselves ineffective for the balance of the scenario.

By 0830, fierce assaults were occurring along the road adjacent to the central wooded ridge. Here, a valiant set of dismounted French cavalry and leaders in the woods were able to stymie and delay the majority of GD infantry for the balance of the game. Periodic French AT crossfire on the StuGIIIA assault gun platoon located in the hamlet in Hex 0510 finally ended when the Germans were able to get both AT gun units within sighting range for German OBA.

As others have mentioned in several AARs, the French side must decisively delay the German river crossing as long as possible and also eliminate more German steps than they lose. This is not an easy task as the GD units are quite strong and most of the serious fighting will be in Map 29's eastern town and wooded ridge hexes. My opponent's French troops proved themselves steadfast, and lost 11 steps holding the Germans on the east side of the river. Final German losses totaled 3 steps.

Fortunately, we did not use the infamous Fog of War rule, so German assault sequencing was not disrupted in what turned out to be a well-balanced scenario with little room for error by either side. The French were successful in keeping all German units on the east side of the river and they did not lose the town of Suxy. The final score was: Germans 11 victory points, to 10 VPs for the French: a hard-fought, but ultimately anticlimactic draw. All in all, a fine learning experience for a PG rookie like me!

Author	Blackcloud6 (France)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Draw
Participants	treadasaurusrex (AAR)
Play Date	2021-10-05
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF004

This is an interesting scenario with the French having a mobile but otherwise inferior force to hold the Germans off from crossing a river. I chose to defend the ford vigorously, blow the bridge quickly and use the mounted cavalry forward of the river to buy time and keep the Germans away from the ford crossing as long as possible. The risk here was in keeping a large amount of cavalry forward, i could take severe losses and lose the game. This is what almost happened.

My sappeurs were able to blow the bridge right on contact with the Germans. Thus I was able to move everyone to the town west of the river and defend the bridge. My mounted cavalry delayed the Germans significantly in the woods. It took the Germans most of the game to clear the cavalry thus they never threatened the crossing site. But the casualty count was high and the end game was trying to get some cavalry to survive while causing casualties on the Germans. The last ten turns of the game was mostly resolving the assaults in the woods and me rallying each time after combat. It came down to just one step needed by the Germans for a minor victory but the remnants of the French cavalry held out. The game ended in a draw.

Although playing to the end game was a dice fest, the scenario held my interest in that it accurately portrayed the ability of a cavalry screen to delay a much superior force and the importance of terrain. The last two turn were exciting.

Note: Score will be denoted by (x-y), where x=German casualties, y=French casualties.

THE BATTLE

0630

German forces enter from the east. German trucks rush down the roads toward the west, hoping to get to the bridge before the French can blow it up.

The French AT-Gun misses the rushing trucks and the French begin to retreat toward the ford.

0645

Germans win the initiative and the French AT Gun is demoralised by rifle fire before it can get in another shot.

French engineers blow up the southern bridge and the Cavalry race toward the ford.

0700-0715

On the road the French are overrun (0-3) but manage to stall the German advance sufficiently to allow the cavalry to make it across the ford and dismount.

They take up a defensive position in the buildings on the west side of the Semois River. The Germans advance and set up a firing line. The Assault at the ford has begun!

0730 - 0800

French reinforcements arrive and dismount.

Long range direct fire claims casualties on both sides. Germans also reduced by French artillery. (2-4)

French are hit by German artillery and the Germans rush the ford!

0815 – 0845

French get in first fire and their AT Gun (reinforcement) hits the Pz I platoon crossing the ford. (4-4)

Germans take further casualties at the ford and are routed. (5-4) Although the German major successfully advances into the village. The StuGIIIA joins the major.

Now stuck in assault, the Germans will need to move up or down the river if they can’t win control of part of the village.

0900 – 0930

French captain is eliminated in the assault along with some reduced infantry. The French send in reinforcements. (5-5)

Germans lose two more half platoons trying to get across the river. The ford is proving problematic! (7-5)

0945 – 1015

In the assault, both sides suffer further casualties (8-6).

Germans continue to try to cross but are hit by the French defenders and artillery (10-6). Eventually, the Germans manage to push along the river’s edge to the north.

1030 – 1045

Germans initiate more assaults into the village. This ties up the French, allowing more Germans to cross the ford and edge along the northern river edge. They advance off the river into the woods.

And just in time…

GAME OVER

GERMAN MAJOR VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

In total 4.5 infantry platoons and an HMG platoon and StuGIIIA made it across the river. This equates to 15 steps (AFVs count double)

This scenario felt well balanced, as it was only in the final turns the Germans succeeded in their objective. Had they waited an extra turn or two to begin their crossing the French would have won.

VPS.......French German

Casualties.10........6

Crossing.....0.......15

Total........10.......21

This was quite a fun scenario, I would have rated it above average except that the ford crossing got a bit bogged down. Yes, I’m a harsh rater.

Scenario Rating: Average, 3/5

En este escenario, un batallón del regimiento de infantería "Grossdeutschland" debe atacar los pasos del río Vierre, en las Ardenas belgas, y formar una cabeza de puente en la ribera oeste. Los alemanes son apoyados en esta acción por un pelotón de PzI y otro de cañones de asalto (StuGIIIA), así como morteros, artillería de apoyo directo a la infantería y artillería fuera del tablero. Los franceses disponen de aproximadamente cuatro escuadrones de caballería, la mitad de los cuales entran aleatoriamente a partir del turno cinco, dos baterías AT de 25mm, un pelotón de ingenieros y artillería fuera del tablero (que aparece con los refuerzos).

Los franceses despliegan sus escasas unidades iniciales en torno al vado del río Vierre y el pelotón de ingenieros en el único puente, con el objetivo de volarlo a la primera oportunidad. Dado que el río es "mayor" y los alemanes carecen de ingenieros, la voladura del único puente es esencial para los franceses, así como la defensa a toda costa del vado. Los franceses despliegan la única batería AT de la que disponen en inicialmente en la colina de 40 metros del mapa 29, lo que permite hacer fuego sobre los vehículos enemigos que circulen por la carretera este-oeste.

Los alemanes entran por el borde este. Dado que la batería AT enemiga intercepta el tráfico por la carretera, desvían sus unidades cargadas en camiones por el sur. La carretera principal sólo es utilizada por un pelotón de StuGIIIA, que avanza rápidamente hasta tener a tiro a las unidades enemigas que protegen el vado. El pelotón de PzI y una compañía de infantería montada en camiones avanza por la carretera y se detiene fuera del alcance de las piezas AT enemigas. La infantería desmonta de los vehículos y avanza hacia el río.

En el tercer turno los ingenieros franceses consiguen destruir el puente. Tras ello, las unidades de caballería galas (el escuadrón inicial y los dos escuadrones que entraron en el turno uno por el norte) desmontan y forman un sólido dispositivo defensivo en torno al vado. Los alemanes, tras el rodeo para evitar los cañones AT enemigos, llega a las inmediaciones de las posiciones enemigas y las ataca inmediatamente. Los franceses se defienden bien, pero comienzan lentamente a perder terreno, aunque en algunos puntos fuertes (como el hex de ciudad 0510) consiguen resistir hasta el final de la partida. En el turno siete llegan los refuerzos franceses, que se fortifican en la ciudad al oeste del Vierre (Suxy) para impedir el paso del enemigo.

La batalla aumenta en intensidad. La lucha por el vado es desesperada. Ambos bandos luchan sin cuartel. Al final la infantería del regimiento "Grossdeutschland" se impone, aunque paga un alto precio. Un maltrecho medio pelotón de HMG y los dos pelotones de tanques alemanes consiguen pasar en el último turno al oeste del río, en el primer hex de Suxy, donde se produce un asalto verdaderamente épico y que ningún bando logra controlar. No obstante, como las condiciones de victoria otorgaban puntos por pasar el río, no por controlar el hex, los alemanes consiguen la victoria.

Los alemanes obtiene una victoria mayor (24 VP frente a 6 VP), aunque el combate ha sido mucho más ajustado de lo que estas cifras dan a entender.

Magnífico escenario. Si jugase la partida otra vez, haría avanzar a toda velocidad a los vehículos alemanes por la carretera hasta el río, a pesar de las bajas que los AT franceses causarían, para intentar ocupar los puntos decisivos (puente y vado) antes de sus destrucción o de la llegada de refuerzos enemigos.

Me imagino que esto es lo que habrían hecho Rommel o Guderian.

Juego este escenario por segunda vez. En esta ocasión despliego a los franceses protegiendo el vado y el puente. El ingeniero lo sitúo sobre el puente, con idea de volarlo a la primera oportunidad. Por lo tanto, los alemanes no encuentran una posición de bloqueo en la carretera de acceso al río, lo que supone un grave error.

Los alemanes sitúan en vanguardia a sus tanques, que por carretera y sin ninguna obstrucción llegan hasta las inmediaciones del vado, donde una solitaria sección de cañones AT 25mm francesa los aguarda y de unos afortunados tiros consiguen destruir media sección de cañones de asalto StuGIIIA. La infantería alemana les sigue montada en sus camiones y al llegar al río se divide en tres grupos: uno se dirige al norte, para bloquear la llegada de eventuales refuerzos enemigos; otra hacia el vado; y el tercer grupo hacia la pequeña población adyacente al puente. Los alemanes reciben el correspondiente fuego de oportunidad de la infantería francesa, que desorganiza alguna unidad, pero la mayoría desciende en orden de los camiones y toma sus posiciones.

Casi inmediatamente llega por el norte, por la carretera paralela al río un escuadrón de caballería francesa, que se ve detenida por las avanzadillas germanas bastante antes de llegar al vado. Se producen intensos combates y una carga de caballería con bajas en ambos bandos pero sin resultado decisivo. Junto al vado también hay un vivo tiroteo, que no impide que los alemanes se agrupen con intención de asaltar las posiciones enemigas allí desplegadas. En el puente los alemanes, con gran superioridad numérica y con apoyo de una sección de PzI, atacan la posición de bloqueo francesa. Los ingenieros galos intentan repetidamente volar el puente, sin éxito. Al poco tiempo la artillería alemana logra centrar el fuego sobre la sección de ingenieros enemiga y la destruyen. Poco después los atacantes aniquilan a la pequeña fuerza que defendía el puente y consiguen cruzarlo. La batalla toma mal cariz para los defensores.

Por si fuera poco, los alemanes lanzan un ataque masivo en el vado, aniquilan la resistencia francesa y cruzan en gran número a la orilla oeste del río. Mientras tanto siguen los intentos combates al norte, sin que la fuerza de socorro francesa consiga avanzar ni un metro.

Casi toda las unidades alemanas consiguen pasar al oeste del río y aunque llega una nueva fuerza de socorro francesa, que valientemente ataca a los alemanes, no tiene el número ni la potencia de fuego suficiente para desalojar a los germanos, que se han instalado sólidamente en la población adyacente al río. Los combates siguen durante un tiempo, con bajas en ambos bandos, pero al final el comandante francés sabe que tiene la batalla perdida y se retira después de haber sufrido significativas bajas.

Bajas alemanas: 4 steps.

Bajas francesas: 11 steps.

Los alemanes, además, han conseguido pasar 23 steps a la ribera oeste del río. Victoria mayor alemana.

Placed the French mostly in the larger town, with the ENG on the bridge and an INF to delay in the town. The plan was to blow the bridge and then for the ENG to help them flee across the river. Unfortunately the ENG celebrated their pending victory the night before with too much wine and were unable to ever blow the bridge. The Germans moved quickly into the woods. The French sent four cavalry and a couple leaders to the east side of the river to tie up the Germans. This helped delay them, but resulted in a number of casualties that helped the German victory conditions. Those fanatical Germans with a leader and AFV are pretty strong during an assault. Once the Germans killed the ENG and took the town next to the bridge it was downhill for the French.

I think the best plan would be to make sure the bridge gets blown and then put everything into defending the ford. The 25's took out trucks carrying the 75 INF guns when they were moved forward to join the HMG to improve the direct fire. Napoleon would have been proud of their art with the gunnery, even though it failed to turn the tide of the battle.

As dawn broke on May 11, 1940, elements of the French 1st Brigade de Cavalerie moved east through the Ardennes to establish a defensive line along the Vierre River near Suxy. By 0630 hours, a forward observer spotted a convoy from the Grossdeutschland regiment moving west along the main E/W road. Cavalry support arrived and dismounted to engage the German troops, which were supported by the 640th Assault Gun Battalion and 10th Panzer Division. Fifteen minutes later, a French engineer group blew the main bridge across the Vierre, leaving only the ford adjacent to town available for river crossing. By 0815, fierce fighting was occurring along the road that pierced the central wooded area, and a brave group of dismounted French cavalry were holding the Germans up at the central pass through the woods, forcing the aggressors to take slower routes to the town & ford areas. The Germans eventually advanced to sites on the east side of the river with HMG fire coming from the southeast, while mortar & field gun units were setting up northeast of town. French cavalry reinforcements crossing at the ford were disrupted due to this German fire. The Germans assaulted French troops at the ford at 0900 overrunning two cavalry platoons and officers, but a dismounted line held the ground for the moment. By 0930, a German StuGIIIA group had entered the town along with infantry support. The battle in Suxy just west of the ford went back and forth, with the StuGIIIA units finally taking some damage from a French 25mm group; however, German OBA eliminated the remaining French “25” by 1015, so the remnant of the German armor group was in a strong position. The Germans kept throwing new troops into east Suxy once that they had undisputed control of the ford. Even though the battered French cavalry still held on at the central pass, they were now surrounded, so the French called for a structured retreat from the region.

This scenario is a fairly short 18-turn scenario in which the French must either delay the German river crossing or take more German steps than they lose. The latter is not an easy task since the Germans have numerical superiority in terms of both units and firepower along with greater OBA and a couple of armor units. Blowing the bridge early gives the French a little hope, but they are simply outgunned in this scenario. The bridge was blown on Turn 2 and reinforcements came in on Turn 6. Even with fog-of-war occurring on 10 of the 18 turns, the Germans still had sufficient time to gain control of the ford and pass units through the first town hex despite it being an assault hex. There was very little French backup at that point to stop the flow. The Germans ended up with eight steps west of the river and 14 French units eliminated versus only 4 steps lost for them, a 22-4 victory.