Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fall of France 1 #52

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 > FaoF052

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Night Visions Fall of France 1 #52
(Defender) Germany	vs	France (Attacker) Morocco (Attacker)

Formations Involved
France		1re Division Marocaine
Germany		7th Panzer Division

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	3

Overall Rating, 4 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3.25
Scenario Rank: --- of 940

Parent Game	Fall of France 1
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-05-28
Start Time	22:00
Turn Count	26
Visibility	Night
Counters	58
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	2
Maps	3: 27, 28, 33
Layout Dimensions	84 x 43 cm 33 x 17 in
Play Bounty	114
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	3
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Exit the Battle Area
Meeting Engagement

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 1	Base Game

Introduction
Following the retreat from Belgium, 1st Moroccan Division became divided, with most of its units at Dunkirk and three battalions (one from each regiment), the division staff and some supporting arms trapped in the Lille Pocket. On the night of May 28th, the Moroccans led a breakout attempt striking directly westward from the Lille suburb of Canteleu in an attempt to open a corridor to the Allied forces still holding out around Dunkirk.

Introduction

Following the retreat from Belgium, 1st Moroccan Division became divided, with most of its units at Dunkirk and three battalions (one from each regiment), the division staff and some supporting arms trapped in the Lille Pocket. On the night of May 28th, the Moroccans led a breakout attempt striking directly westward from the Lille suburb of Canteleu in an attempt to open a corridor to the Allied forces still holding out around Dunkirk.

Conclusion
Seventh Panzer Division’s fast-moving lead elements got themselves into position in front of the Moroccans, and managed to turn back the attempted breakout after some heavy fighting. Resistance continued in the Lille Pocket until the 1st of June, when the garrison finally surrendered after running out of ammunition. But the 40,000 troops in Lille had held the attention of over 100,000 Germans including three panzer divisions, enabling many British and French troops to escape to Dunkirk.

Conclusion

Seventh Panzer Division’s fast-moving lead elements got themselves into position in front of the Moroccans, and managed to turn back the attempted breakout after some heavy fighting. Resistance continued in the Lille Pocket until the 1st of June, when the garrison finally surrendered after running out of ammunition. But the 40,000 troops in Lille had held the attention of over 100,000 Germans including three panzer divisions, enabling many British and French troops to escape to Dunkirk.

Additional Notes
This scenario was in AVP Daily Content to support the Moroccan Division counterset but can be played with the standard Fall of France counterset. The scenario may be found at: http://www.avalanchepress.com/MarocScenario2.php (Special note: Marocain HMG units have a Movement factor of 2.)

Additional Notes

This scenario was in AVP Daily Content to support the Moroccan Division counterset but can be played with the standard Fall of France counterset. The scenario may be found at: http://www.avalanchepress.com/MarocScenario2.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). 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. 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.
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
Leader

Moroccan Ground Forces
Foot Towed

Moroccan Ground Forces

Foot

Towed

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (1)

1 Errata Item
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)

Display AARs (1)

Make a Hole to March Through

Author	treadasaurusrex (France, Morocco)
Method	Face to Face
Victor	France, Morocco
Participants	Tambu
Play Date	2021-09-28
Language	English
Scenario	FaoF052

It took 4 sessions of face-to-face play with my tenacious, rookie opponent to complete this 26-turn scenario. Thanks primarily to some excellent Moroccan leader draws, lucky assault die rolls, and some very bad German morale checks involving their motorcycle infantry, the French side was able to bludgeon their way through Axis lines and exit the bulk of their ESC and HMG troops off the west edge of Map 27.

The famed 7th Panzer Division’s infantry and HMGs proved themselves oddly-brittle when engaged by Moroccan assault troops in very heavy, nighttime fighting. The absence of Germans OBA in this scenario made itself felt as Morroccan 3-unit assault stacks were able to provide a steady stream of assault hex reinforcements, thereby also making it possible for the French side to repeatedly get behind German defenders. Supporting German mortars and infantry guns were quickly overcome in the later turns. As has been the case in a number of my recent PG battles, I was unable to prevent the German armored car unit from causing a considerable amount of "behind-the-lines" chaos and disruption as the Moroccans slowly advanced to the west.

The final score in this relatively-balanced scenario was 36-28 in favor of the French, resulting in a hard-fought and costly Minor Victory.

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FaoF051

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PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > FaoF052

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