There were so many scenarios that I haven’t tried from this game, that I had a hard time deciding which one to play next.

Lord of Steel looked interesting, a smaller size scenario with a nice mix of counter types, only 20 turns and a chance for the French to go on the offense, followed with the Germans going on the Offense once their reinforcements arrived. So cool, both sides get to play Offense & Defense in this scenario.

I won’t go in it detail in this brief AAR but the game was a (draw) if the 1 step of Bufla counts as one victory point, but if it counts as two, then the Germans would have won?

German Step Losses:

1-Bulfa, 1-37mm AT, 1-PzII, 4-ENG, 1-INF GD,1-SK232/8, 2-HMG GD, 1-Wagon, 1-LT.

13 Points lost

French Step Losses:

1-HMG, 4-INF, 6-FCM36, 2-LT

17 Points lost

Town hexes controlled: 3-German, 4-French, 2-contested.

If the Bufla counts as one step and isn’t doubled, then it is a draw, Germans 23 VP to French 21 VP. One side had to win by three for a minor victory.

Kind of a fun battle to play! I don’t know why one would even try to put units on the west side of the board to flank the enemy, as with only 20 turns, there really isn’t time to mess around with that, even with 6 German ENG units.

14 mayo 1940

En este escenario, el Kampfgruppe Beck-Broichsitter, del regimiento de infantería Grossdeutschland debe mantener la cabeza de puente sobre el Mosa cerca de Sedan. Una vez empezada la batalla, los alemanes deben recibir refuerzos procedentes del 43º batallón de ingenieros de asalto y del 2º regimiento de panzers. Los alemanes cuentan, además de un pelotón de infantería, uno de HMG (ametralladoras pesadas) y cinco de ingenieros, con dos vehículos ligeros blindados SK232/8, dos baterías antitanque de 37 mm, cuatro PZ II, cuatro PzIIIF y dos cañones autopropulsados "Bufla". Las fuerzas atacantes francesas son en este caso varias unidades del 7º batallón de Chars Légers y del 213º regimiento de infantería. Despliegan ocho pelotones de infantería, dos de HMG, una batería antitanque de 25 mm y cuatro pelotones de tanques FMC36, poderosamente blindados pero con escasa potencia de fuego. Los alemanes tienen una moral y preparación más elevadas. El objetivo para ambos contendientes es ocupar el mayor número de hexes de ciudad y causar el mayor número de bajas posible al enemigo. Los franceses se despliegan en torno a la ciudad E con todos sus efectivos. Los alemanes despliegan sus escasas fuerzas iniciales (un pelotón de infantería y HMG, dos baterías antitanque y dos vehículos blindados SK232/8) dentro de un triángulo formado por las ciudades A, B y C. El combate tiene lugar de día y debe durar cinco horas como máximo.

Veamos ahora sucintamente el desarrollo del enfrentamiento.

TURNOS 1-3 Los alemanes forman una frágil línea defensiva entre las ciudades C y B. Además han desplegado en retaguardia, en la ciudad A, los dos vehículos SK232/8. Los franceses avanzan resueltamente para arrollar las defensas germanas.

TURNO 4 Los franceses tienen prácticamente rodeada la ciudad C, a la que están sometiendo a un diluvio de fuego, a resultas del cual la dotación de la batería antitanque alemana desplegada en esta ciudad es desmoralizada.

TURNO 5 La guarnición alemana de la ciudad C sigue sometida a un endiablado fuego de todas las unidades enemigas que casi la rodean. El teniente alemán que dirige la defensa es desmoralizado. Por su parte, los vehículos alemanes SK232/8 situados en la ciudad A disparan sobre los tractores de artillería franceses CK, destruyendo cuatro de ellos. Las consecuencias son graves, ya que la batería de 25 mm carece ahora de movilidad y los cañones deben ser arrastrados penosa y lentamente al brazo por sus dotaciones y por la infantería.

TURNO 6 Un pelotón de infantería francesa y cuatro tanques FMC36 de la misma nacionalidad, desplegados junto a la ciudad C, empiezan a disparar a quemarropa sobre una batería alemana de 37 mm que se hallaba en un bosque próximo. El fuego francés es devastador y la dotación de la batería alemana es puesta fuera de combate y los cañones perdidos. A su vez, la batería francesa antitanque de 25 mm dispara sobre los SK232/8 alemanes de la ciudad A, que habían revelado su posición al disparar sobre los tractores de artillería franceses. Los dos vehículos alemanes son destruidos. La situación de los alemanes empieza a tornarse crítica.

TURNO 7 Se intensifica el fuego directo francés sobre la ciudad C y la dotación de la batería antitanque alemana de 37 mm en servicio en esta población es puesta fuera de combate y los cañones inutilizados. Los alemanes han perdido todas sus baterías antitanque. Acto seguido, un pelotón de infantería francés se desliza hacia el norte y ocupa la ciudad A, donde aún arden los restos de los vehículos alemanes SK232/8. Los franceses han conseguido un importante objetivo estratégico, ya que la ciudad A es una de las llaves de acceso al centro del campo de batalla desde el norte.

TURNO 8 Entran los refuerzos alemanes por el borde norte del campo de batalla. Los tanques PII y PzIIIF (ocho vehículos en total) se dirigen directamente a la ciudad A. Dos cañones autopropulsados (“Bufla”) y dos tanques PzIVA se dirigen por carretera hacia la ciudad B. La infantería francesa, consciente del peligro, arrastra trabajosamente una batería AT de 25 mm junto a la ciudad A para poner las piezas en posición.

TURNO 9 Los “Bufla” y los dos tanques PzIVA rodean la ciudad B y se aprestan a disparar sobre los blindados franceses que asedian la ciudad C.

TURNO 10 Los “Bufla” disparan con sus potentes piezas antitanque y destruyen dos tanques franceses, desmoralizando al resto del pelotón. Los restantes tanques franceses se ocultan en un bosque próximo a la ciudad C. La batería antitanque francesa de 25 mm es arrastrada lentamente por un pelotón de infantería para ponerla en posición junto a la ciudad A, pero es blanco de la artillería alemana y su dotación es desmoralizada junto con el pelotón de infantería que la arrastraba. La repentina aparición de los vehículos alemanes ha aflojado el cerco francés sobre la ciudad C.

TURNO 11 La batería antitanque francesa que había sido blanco de la artillería alemana en el turno anterior es abandonada por su dotación, que huye desmoralizada. Los dos vehículos “Bufla” alemanes avanzan por la carretera junto al río para tener en el punto de mira a los blindados franceses, pero repentinamente son blanco de dos pelotones de HMG franceses que disparan desde la ciudad D. Los vehículos alemanes carecen de blindaje y son acribillados y sus tripulaciones abatidas. Alentados por el revés alemán, los franceses estrechan el cerco sobre la ciudad C. A su vez los alemanes atacan la ciudad A con intenso fuego directo y el pelotón francés que la defiende es desmoralizado.

TURNO 12 Se intensifica el ataque alemán sobre la ciudad A. El intenso fuego aniquila medio pelotón francés y desmoraliza la otra mitad, pero ésta consigue rehacerse y resiste de momento. Por su parte, los franceses siguen asediando la ciudad C haciendo fuego directo a quemarropa sobre el solitario pelotón de infantería alemán que la defiende. La intensidad del fuego destruye medio pelotón alemán y desmoraliza al resto, que huye. Acto seguido cuatro tanques franceses entran en la desierta ciudad y la ocupan. Los franceses han ocupado otra ciudad vital. Los alemanes, desde la llegada de refuerzos, no han ocupado ninguna.

TURNO 13 Tanques alemanes asaltan la ciudad A, pero la guarnición francesa resiste in extremis.

TURNO 14 Nuevo y definitivo asalto alemán sobre la ciudad A. Esta vez los alemanes realizan un asalto combinado, con ingenieros y tanques, y la resistencia francesa es aniquilada. Los alemanes ocupan la ciudad.

TURNO 15 Para obtener un mejor ángulo de fuego, el pelotón alemán de HMG desplegado en la ciudad B avanza por la carretera y es blanco del fuego directo de la infantería francesa que ocupa la ciudad C. Los alemanes pierden medio pelotón y se desmoraliza el resto, que huye. Los tanques franceses, ante la proximidad de los tanques alemanes que han ocupado la colina de 40 metros d altura al norte del campo de batalla, se retiran prudentemente hacia el sur para formar una línea de resistencia. El mayor alcance y potencia de fuego de los tanques alemanes no permite otra opción. La situación está tomando mal cariz para los alemanes, que han sufrido sensibles bajas y apenas han ocupado terreno.

TURNO 16 Ingenieros alemanes se aproximan a la ciudad C con intención de asaltarla.

TURNO 17 Asalto de los ingenieros alemanes sobre la ciudad C. Los franceses resisten sorprendentemente bien, aunque sufren bajas. Por otra lado, dos tanques PzIVA avanzan por ribera del río para conseguir una buena posición desde la que disparar sobre el enemigo, pero el avance es cortado en seco por el fuego concentrado de los tanques franceses. Los dos vehículos alemanes son pasto de las llamas.

TURNO 18 Nuevo asalto alemán sobre la ciudad C. Los franceses siguen resistiendo. El avance alemán está bloqueado. Su falta de suficiente armamento antitanque y la esterilidad de sus asaltos convierten en utópica la posibilidad de victoria.

TURNO 19 Nuevo asalto alemán sobre la ciudad C. Esta vez es un asalto combinado, con ingenieros y tanques. Se produce un nuevo éxito defensivo francés, aunque a un coste terrible. Los alemanes pierden medio pelotón de infantería y el resto de sus fuerzas quedan desmoralizadas o desorganizadas. Los franceses quedan desmoralizados, pero consiguen aferrarse a la ciudad con sus últimas fuerzas. Falta un turno para acabar y los alemanes sólo controlan dos hexes de ciudad. Los franceses controlan siete. El comandante alemán se da por vencido y se retira.

Resultado: Puntos de victoria alemanes: 8. Puntos de victoria franceses: 23. Victoria total francesa.

This one was played ftf with Wayne Baumber in one sitting. It was a 'Random Draw' scenario from our lists and initial viewing of the scenario and PG-HQ stats and AAR's made us both think it might be a French 'gimme'. This was based on AAR comments plus a 7-1 French victory ratio (plus a draw). But for all that, it still looked interesting.

Initially facing these attackers was a mere platoon each of infantry and MG’s from the GrossDeutschland Regiment. These were grouped together in a small hamlet along the main north-south road about a kilometer from the start of the French advance. Their position allowed them to have a clear fire to their front and the position also cut off any realistic chance of French thoughts of outflanking along the side of the river as they were so close to it. They also had in the vicinity two batteries of 37mm’s and couple of armoured cars. German reinforcements were expected in the area anytime from 0800, but this was not known by the French. At 0615 hours, the French gaily headed up the road quite confident in their numbers. However, despite these numbers, the French spent quite an inordinate amount of time pressing the battle against the GD defenders and could have been accused of vacillating some as by 0715 hours (turn 5) they had inflicted no real losses on the defenders. But at 0730, when more concentrated French fire was thrown against the hamlet, especially from long-range supporting French MG’s, the enemy HMG platoon became demoralized. At 0745, this platoon tried to flee the hamlet and was soon cut down over a short period by the Frenchmen and tanks surrounding them.

The French then began to close in on the GD infantry left in the village. Rather than sit and take an inordinate amount of punishment, the German infantry platoon assaulted French tanks that had closed into the reaches of the village. Ultimately, this was their downfall as enemy numbers proved too superior. They did manage to knock out two enemy FCM36’s in the process.(1 step) but were wiped out themselves. Perhaps spurred on by this success, the French started to make their way to a second village along the road. Here were the two 37AT sections commanded by a sergeant. The attack here was ill planned and rebuffed by the gunners over time.

An hour late, at 0900, German reinforcements began to arrive. Two companies of engineers, and a mix of Panzer II, III & IV’s plus a Bufla. They also brought access to a battery of 105 OBA. Their entry seemed to perk up the Germans that remained from the initial French attacks as the gunners threw out the French from their village inflicting losses (1 step). This reinforcing force now set about recapturing ground and villages lost and then planned to press the French back to their starting point. Within 30 minutes, the battle had certainly increased in heat for the French. OBA was helping to demoralize their infantry, German engineers began pushing back the French line and capturing hamlets. At the same time, the French 25’s knocked out the PzIVa half-platoon and the German Bufla was demoralized by light French OBA.If its fire had not been effective, the Bufla did at least frighten the French tanks to retire. The German reinforcements also helped release their armoured car section to roam forward into gaps in the French line.

Here an amusing event occurred. The way had been cleared by the infantry by drawing enemy fire from tanks and most MG’s. As the French concentrated on this infantry attack, the armoured cars sped up the west flank near the river. After receiving some MG fie that they drove right through, they entered a small suburb of Connage. Driving through, they found a couple of infantrymen standing guard outside an inn. Pointing their guns and MG’s at these guards, they of course surrendered to the metal beasts. This racket and shouting must have disturbed the important man inside the inn. Opening the door and rasping in French “What kind of din is this”? stood a man holding a map and smoking a pipe. It was the Commandante in charge of the attack and he too had no choice but to surrender to the Germans. This now paralysed French movement for about 30 minutes as suddenly there were no orders coming through to the troops further to the front.

After that encounter, the armoured cars drove into Connage itself and found it undefended. This of course meant the whole French line and plan had to concentrate on getting back to Connage, securing it and kicking out the armoured cars. This in turn meant the hamlets captured earlier were taken easier by the Germans and also left stranded in another hamlet were two platoons of the FCM36’s. With about an hour to go, the Germans launched their assault against these tanks. Despite support from their own MG’s and infantry fire, the FCM’s found the enemy closing fairly confidently and quickly. Within 30 minutes, a furious combined arms German attack of engineers and PzIII’s fell on the FCM’s. Losses were taken instantly against such a powerful attack, leaving only half the tanks left in there. In the last turn (turn 20), these French tanks were destroyed, causing the village to be captured and turning a minor defeat into a pretty much major one. Points were gained as thus. German 25pts (4 town hexes = 8pts and 17 French step equivalents eliminated). French 16pts (5 town hexes held = 10pts and 6 German step equivalents eliminated). German major victory !

Well that was that. A perhaps surprising German win ? They had enough for a slim minor victory by the end of turn 19 (3pts ahead), but in the final turn with the capture of one more hamlet and the destruction of a French armoured step it was stretched to the sllimmest of major victories (7pts ahead). Something to keep in mind was that German reinforcements entered on the 4th time of asking (turn 11) and it seems to me that just one turn later MAY have thwarted German aims of victory in this one. So you want them on quick ! I rated this a '4' as it was close and went to and required the final two turns of 19 and 20.

Played against Herr Hughes, FtF in one sitting, this is a good scenario in the fact that both sides are on the attack. With a small German force on board at the start of the game the onus is on the French to advance and take town hexes and inflict casualties before the German reinforcements arrive, for when they do the boot is on the other foot as the Germans are combat engineers with good firepower, with armour and SPG support who will roll through the French fairly easily. The French attack went ok, the famed GD units were no match for accurate French fire and elan, I note that Herr Hughes in his AAR thinks the French attack was slow to get going for this the blame lies on Fraulein Hughes and her excellent bacon and egg baguette which may led to a certain sluggishness from yours truly. Actually I was trying not to lose any step losses needlessly, however I did make the first of many small errors in this game by trying to take the final village and its defending 37mm guns "on the bounce" the attack failed and in the end tied up 3 French Inf units who were all eventually destroyed. As the German counterattack began I fell back one hex at a time and for a while was quietly confident that I had the right tactics (which IMHO I did) and sufficient troops to hold the Germans. I made another error when that pesky armoured car nabbed my commanding officer, an excellent move by Vince who was prepared to sacrifice a unit to set the move up. Fortune does favour the brave sometimes. The armoured car then ran around my rear making a nuisance of itself this distracted my tanks who had to move back to recapture town hexes. The German pressure grew and the mixture of ENG,tanks, better morale and leaders meant that almost every assault meant step losses, my third error was in not giving up the final single hex village and retreating before being assaulted meant a swing of 8 VPs in the last two turns. This game is a lot closer than previous results indicate and I am curious has to how many of those games were played to the end.

The French morale for non-tanks is 6/5. The German morale is 8/7. That is a HUGE difference. Best not assault. Except this scenario is all about controlling towns!

The French begin stronger and advance to capture towns before the German reinforcements arrive. The lumbering French FCM 36 tanks fire uphill into a town to soften the occupying Germans without much effect. French HMGs and INF assault the town. Wow! All three are demoralized and the Germans are unharmed. The French infantry manage to out-flank the smaller German force to capture the north town and the FMC 36s advance up the river road and, after the German armored car makes a quick retreat, captures the west town. The German reinforcements arrive. So much for the French advance.

The panzers took the brunt of the FMC's fire but this let the Bufla safely advance to firing position. The Germans took the initiative and the Bufla reduced one of the FMCs. Each turn thereafter the disrupted FMC leader and his subordinate platoon limp out of sight of the Bufla. Then the Bufla advances to get a clear line of sight. The German engineers make quick work of the three French infantry controlling the north town. They continue south.

The French retreat to the south town. Finally, the Bufla dispatches the remaining FMCs. The Germans are within a hex of the town. Game ends.

Each side controlled the same number of town hexes, but, after eliminating nearly all the French tanks, the Germans earned a major victory.

Fun game. Each side got to be on offense.

In an unpleasantly lengthy scenario, I was finally able to win one for the near-hapless French side, this time at Connage, in another unbalanced scenario that favors the German side. This extended and bloody battle ended on Turn 20 with the French claiming a Major victory on a score of 38-22, mostly thanks to reckless, and poorly-coordinated German armor attacks, as well as a number of lucky morale checks, initiative throws and AT shots -- and most critically -- the tough armored hides on the FCM36 tanks.

In the end, all but 3 reduced-strength, French tank platoons were eliminated, but nearly all the German armor was demoralized and destroyed as well. The German-held town in Hex 0610 held out for most of the scenario in spite of repeated French infantry assaults, while back-and-forth occupations of the two 1-hex towns in 0912 and 0412 occurred over-and-over after the 10th game turn at 0830. Fighting was especially bitter in-and-round the latter hilltop town with 3 French infantry platoons dying for their country as German combat engineers assaulted it in 4 separate waves. The French were not able to eliminate the deadly German half-strength, Bufla SPAT unit for the entire match. The game was in doubt until around the 16th turn, but luck was with the French side, as both the above-mentioned towns were in French control after that turn, albeit by half-strength garrisons. By the end, there were only 2 French leaders remaining, both in disrupted condition.

For a more balanced scenario, I suggest the following additions to the French counter mix: 1) two more FCM36 tank units with at least one more Tank Leader; 2) another 8-strength increment of OBA, 3) at least 1 more of the weak French infantry platoons to try & hold key terrain, 4) at least one French Sergeant. Another option for a more interesting experience: replace the existing French dismounted cavalrymen with ESC units from the 1st Marocaine Division extension.

Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	tlangston28
Play Date	2022-05-26
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF013

This was an exciting and entertaining, 7-session play-through with the methodical, tlangston28, as the French Commander. We used the optional smoke, consolidation, excess initiative, and dispensed with the defense-biased, Fog of War rule in this play-through. I played the defending German Kampfgruppe Beck-Broichsitter from the Grossdeutschland Division: a reinforced, combat engineer-heavy, combined-arms battalion, supported by – of all things – a half-strength self-propelled Bufla (SPAA/AT) platoon.

This scenario included an epic 7-turn German defense of the town hex 0510, before the AT platoon was finally destroyed by the attacking French. A great deal of fierce, close assault fighting in the wooded hexes surrounding this small village characterized most of this play-through. The large-scale German counterattack began on turn 10 after their reinforcements entered on the previous game turn. By the end of game turn 19, French step losses totaled 22 including 2 platoons of FCM36 light tanks. Surprisingly, given the amount of urban close assault combat in this encounter, the Germans ended up losing no steps of infantry.

Ultimately the German side prevailed in what was a knife-edge, German-favoring, scenario. This scenario is very tough for the French Commander as in nearly every activation, he or she, is confronted by the need to make decisions by choosing the lesser of two potentially hazardous options.

The Final score was: 16 victory points for the French, compared to the German total of 26, for a major Axis victory.

I incorrectly enterd a different scenario AAR here. Can't see any way to delete it, so I re-wrote this. I'll gain a few undeserved points, I guess...

Author	Schoenwulf
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2021-10-17
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF013

Battle: As the sun rose on May 14, 1940, units from the French 7th Bataillon de Chars Légers and 213th IR were moving north along the road to Connage en route to Sedan. At 0645 hours, they ran into resistance from elements of the Kampfgruppe Beck-Broichsitter, IR Grossdeutschland, and a heated skirmish commenced. By 0745, a German 37mm group in the small hamlet near the north/south road inflicted damage on a FCM36 unit, but the hamlet was then assaulted by a French combined arms force that drove the German forces out by 0800. At that time, a small combined-arms force had advanced north of the woods and the German lines, but they were surprised shortly thereafter by a large German force. The German reinforcements had arrived with elements of both the 43rd Sturm Pioneer Battalion and 2nd Panzer Regiment. As the Germans advanced south, one of the French FCM36 units eliminated a Pz.Iva group, but the German engineers and other foot units pressed on under heavy fire. Two of their armor groups skirted the French right behind the cover of woods, and they eventually came rumbling into the fray. At 1000, the Grossdeuschland infantry began close assault combat in the north edge of the primary town. Shortly thereafter, the Bufla unleashed it’s 88mm and destroyed two FCM36 groups. By 1100, the Germans had secured enough territory to take a break for lunch.

Analysis: This scenario is a single map, 20-turn scenario with VP’s based on enemy unit elimination and town hex control. The scenario begins at dawn with limited visibility, but after a couple of turns, LOS is up to 12 hexes. There are many hill and woods hexes for cover and defensive advantage, both of which the Germans need as they must survive the first eight turns with a very small number of units. After that, they have a die roll chance for reinforcement. All French units must be set up surrounding a single hex, while the Germans must begin at least five hexes from the French with two units hidden. The Germans set up with units in the two towns along the east/west road with a hidden HMG and 37mm unit dug in along the road in between. The French have a significant advantage until the Germans get their reinforcements, which they start rolling for on Turn 8. They were fortunate to have only lost a single step by the time those units arrived on Turn 9. At that point, the low French morale values put them at a disadvantage. The Germans advanced but were unable to take a large number of town hexes, which were worth 2 VP’s each. At game end the Germans had eliminated 11 French steps and held 3 town hexes for a total of 17 VP’s, while the French had only eliminated three German steps while holding five town hexes for a total of 13 VP’s. The 4-VP differential resulted in a Minor German Victory.