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
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Insha'Allah
Fall of France 1 #51
(Attacker) Germany vs France (Defender)
Morocco (Defender)
Formations Involved
France 1er Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains
Germany 4th Panzer Division
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for FaoF051
Total
Side 1 3
Draw 0
Side 2 1
Overall Rating, 5 votes
5
4
3
2
1
3.6
Scenario Rank: 347 of 940
Parent Game Fall of France 1
Historicity Historical
Date 1940-05-14
Start Time 07:00
Turn Count 24
Visibility Day
Counters 106
Net Morale 0
Net Initiative 1
Maps 1: 32
Layout Dimensions 43 x 28 cm
17 x 11 in
Play Bounty 115
AAR Bounty 165
Total Plays 4
Total AARs 2
Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 1 Base Game
Introduction

Along the Brussels-Namur railway, the two divisions of the French IV Corps dug in to await the attack of the German XVI Panzer Corps. The Germans formed up behind the woods of the Bois du Buis, and came forward across the open fields with heavy support from Stuka dive bombers and their own artillery. At the town of Gembloux itself, the 1st Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs had based their defense on the small industrial town’s buildings and railroad and anchored their flank on the town cemetery, where the 15th Motorized Infantry Division picked up the line. Well-prepared, supported by artillery and strong anti-tank batteries, the Moroccans’ fate lay in the hands of Allah the Merciful, the Just.

Conclusion

Despite strong artillery, air and armor support, the Germans could not break the Moroccan line or in the 2nd Regiment’s sector adjoining the 1st’s left flank. On the other side of the 1st Regiment, troops of the 1st Motorized Division held off 3rd Panzer Division. As long as the other French units held their ground, it did not appear that the Moroccans would give up their positions easily if at all.

Additional Notes

This scenario was issued to accompany the special Moroccan Division counterset but can be played with standard issue Fall of France counters. The scenario may be found at: http://www.avalanchepress.com/MarocScenario1.php

(Special note: Marocain HMG units have a Movement factor of 2.)


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).
  • 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

Display Order of Battle

France Order of Battle
Armée de Terre
Moroccan Ground Forces
Germany Order of Battle
Heer
  • Motorized
  • Towed

Display Errata (2)

2 Errata Items
Overall balance chart for 20

The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France.

(plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
Overall balance chart for 63

The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8".

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (2)

German Morale Roll Supremacy
Author treadasaurusrex (France, Morocco)
Method VASSAL
Victor Germany
Participants waynebaumber (AAR)
Play Date 2022-03-28
Language English
Scenario FaoF051

This was a 6-session, online play-though with the indomitable, Wayne Baumber, leading the eventually triumphant German side in an extremely hard-fought, and bloody clash. The final score was 90 for the Germans and 69 for the French side, resulting in a major German victory. The scenario was actually fun to play, even though we used the dreaded FOW rule which shortened 7 of our game turns. In fact, we found it to be a very well-balanced scenario, unlike most Fall of France actions.

My distinguished opponent benefited from a very long string of excellent morale checks rolls that more than compensated for the strong French OBA, especially in our the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th sessions. The German Commander's movement to contact was well-planned and implemented with a very strong infantry attack in the north and a weaker southern attack that stalled for most of the scenario at the Gembloux Cemetery hex. A series of minor German feints in the center of the map, managed to draw off a significant portion of the French OBA, thus saving multiple German units in the northern prong and making it easier for the German tanks to follow up a brutal series of close assaults in the north. The initial German Commander was killed by an artillery concentration in the 5th session. In spite of this leader decapitation, the Teutonic onslaught continued without pause and the tanks in northern prong proceeded to capture many town hexes in Gembloux with inconsequential armor losses (4 steps).

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Bloody hard work
Author waynebaumber (Germany)
Method VASSAL
Victor Germany
Participants treadasaurusrex (AAR)
Play Date 2022-03-28
Language English
Scenario FaoF051

The scenario has the 4th Panzer Division attacking Gembloux, Belgium and the railway junctions there, the town and railway lines are defended by French Moroccan troops of excellent quality supported by massive OBA. The Germans have armour though which should offset the French artillery to some extent. The German plan was to attack on both flanks breakthrough the front line and let the lightly armoured Panzers roam behind the French lines grabbing VP town hexes. The initial attacks were a very bloody affair, with German losses heavy as German INF and HMG units raced to attack the North/South railway embankment stoutly defended by the colonial units, by getting close to the enemy it was hoped that the threat of friendly fire would negate losses from the French OBA. A breakthrough was made in the North and tanks began to filter along the board edge and drive onto the town itself. The loss of the German commander caused a slight delay but the French officer casualties were in fact heavier and this led to several units being unable to react to the German tanks in their rear. Losses were now getting heavy for both side and by the game end there was not one good order full strength German INF on the board however their sacrifice had not been in vain and the result was a German major victory. **Very good scenario played over 6 3 hour sessions. Felipe had as the French commander constructed a pretty solid defence and it was only my complete disregard for casualties and my insistence on following the original plan which got me a major victory. Only rated a 4 as there is little room for any maneuverer but jolly good fun. **

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