Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fall of France 1 #20

Panzer Grenadier Battles on November 21st:
Desert Rats #16 - The Panzers Pull Back	Desert Rats #19 - The Panzers Return
Desert Rats #17 - The Tomb Of Sidi Rezegh	Jungle Fighting #7 - Line Of Departure
Desert Rats #18 - A Pibroch's Skirl	South Africa's War #5 - Irish Eyes

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > FaoF020

Errors? Omissions? Report them!

Panzer Grenadier Headquarters Library - select the previous scenario item

Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - select the next scenario item

Early Montcornet Fall of France 1 #20
(Attacker) Germany	vs	France (Attacker)

Formations Involved
France		2e Division Cuirassée de Réserve
France		61e Division d'Infanterie
Germany		6th Panzer Division

	Total
Side 1	9
Draw	0
Side 2	1

Overall Rating, 11 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3.27
Scenario Rank: 581 of 940

Parent Game	Fall of France 1
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-05-15
Start Time	17:00
Turn Count	12
Visibility	Day
Counters	48
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	1
Maps	1: 29
Layout Dimensions	43 x 28 cm 17 x 11 in
Play Bounty	92
AAR Bounty	165
Total Plays	10
Total AARs	2

Battle Types
Meeting Engagement

Conditions
Reinforcements
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 1	Base Game

Introduction
The small crossroads town of Montcornet was of special strategic importance since it lay at the nexus of the Reims, Laon and Vervins roads. the German "sickle-cut" plan had confused French forces as to the real objectives of the attack, throwing them into disarray as they moved hither and yon to cope with a ubiquitous enemy. some motorized elements of the 2nd Division Cuirassée de Réserve were shifting positions around Montcornet when they met a recon column from 6th Panzer Division closing on the town.

Introduction

The small crossroads town of Montcornet was of special strategic importance since it lay at the nexus of the Reims, Laon and Vervins roads. the German "sickle-cut" plan had confused French forces as to the real objectives of the attack, throwing them into disarray as they moved hither and yon to cope with a ubiquitous enemy. some motorized elements of the 2nd Division Cuirassée de Réserve were shifting positions around Montcornet when they met a recon column from 6th Panzer Division closing on the town.

Conclusion
Around 17:00, Lt-Col von Esebeck's column was approaching Montcornet from the east just as a detachment from17th Batailon de Chasseurs Portés was approaching the town from the north. Spotting the Germans, the French formed a defensive line around the railway station at the north edge of the town. The combined attack of the German motorcyclists fording the small river and the tanks of the 6th Panzer firing from the rear eventually wore down the French resistance. combat ended around 20:00 with heavy French losses: three officers, nine NCOs and 45 chasseurs wounded or killed and ten 25mm guns lost along with their trucks.

Conclusion

Around 17:00, Lt-Col von Esebeck's column was approaching Montcornet from the east just as a detachment from17th Batailon de Chasseurs Portés was approaching the town from the north. Spotting the Germans, the French formed a defensive line around the railway station at the north edge of the town. The combined attack of the German motorcyclists fording the small river and the tanks of the 6th Panzer firing from the rear eventually wore down the French resistance. combat ended around 20:00 with heavy French losses: three officers, nine NCOs and 45 chasseurs wounded or killed and ten 25mm guns lost along with their trucks.

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. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable 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.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
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
Foot Leader Motorized Towed

Armée de Terre

Foot

Leader

Motorized

Towed

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (2)

2 Errata Items
Scen 20	French Major should be a Commandant. (PG-Tank Dude on 2010 Apr 30)
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)

Display AARs (2)

There's fighting in the town and on the bridge

Author	Matt W
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2010-08-04
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF020

Frankly there is no fighting anywhere else as there is nothing else to fight for. It is critical for the French to get initiative on the first turn. In this case it gave them a chance to get into the town. They are fighting at a deficit given the reserve troops that they field and the town gives them the morale and cover to stand up to the Germans. If they are caught in the open they will die quickly.

The German win in this case was more the result of good dice on the last two turns than anything else

0 Comments

You must be a registered member and logged-in to post a comment.

Von Eseback Takes Moncornet

Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	ACav
Play Date	2023-05-07
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF020

This was a 4-session play-through with the dauntless ACav leading the outnumbered, scratch force of French defenders, and me playing the attacking hode of Boches. We threw dice for sides, and I ended up as the Axis player.

As others have reported, it is crucial for the French to get initiative as often as possible in this dog of a scenario. Both sides drew crummy leaders and we played with the defense-favoring FOW, as well as the consolidation and excess initiative optional rules. There was no OBA for either side, which was blessing for the French. There is not much to say about this scenario. The eager Germans closed in on the French quickly and an abundance of close range fighting ensued as the French force was gradually ground down to nothing by end of the 18th turn. All defending leaders were eliminated, as were all 4 of the fiendish French AT guns by the end of game turn 12, in this over-long scenario. The French benefited from the 6 FOW-shortened turns that ensued in what became a German major victory. While it was fun to play this game with a bold & challenging opponent, this one was too unbalanced against the French to rate more than a 3. I would recommend this one for SOLO play only, as it is a very hard pull for the outgunned French and virtually impossible for the Allied side to prevail.

1 Comment

ACav

2023-05-07 17:55

The best part was watching the advancing Germans crush the French AT guns. The Treadasaurus enjoys this so much that it should be outlawed.

You must be a registered member and logged-in to post a comment.

FaoF019

FaoF021

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > FaoF020

Errors? Omissions? Report them!