Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fall of France 2 #8

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 > FoF2008

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Through the Ardennes Fall of France 2 #8
(Attacker) Germany	vs	France (Defender)

Formations Involved
France		1re Division Légères de Cavalerie
Germany		32nd Infantry Division
Germany		7th Panzer Division

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

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

Parent Game	Fall of France 2
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-05-11
Start Time	12:00
Turn Count	20
Visibility	Day
Counters	110
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	2
Maps	4: 26, 27, 29, 30
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	201
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Bridge Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
River Crossing

Conditions
Off-board Artillery

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 2	Base Game

Introduction
At the outbreak of the war, the Divisions Légères de Cavalerie were ordered into the Ardennes to delay any German advance there until Ninth Army's infantry divisions could establish a strong defense along the Meuse river. But the cavalrymen badly misjudged German movements, expecting that it would take at least five days for the Germans to make their way through the forest. the rapid advance of the German motorized divisions caught the French forces off guard, and when they reached the Lomme River the French were not in a position to stop them.

Introduction

At the outbreak of the war, the Divisions Légères de Cavalerie were ordered into the Ardennes to delay any German advance there until Ninth Army's infantry divisions could establish a strong defense along the Meuse river. But the cavalrymen badly misjudged German movements, expecting that it would take at least five days for the Germans to make their way through the forest. the rapid advance of the German motorized divisions caught the French forces off guard, and when they reached the Lomme River the French were not in a position to stop them.

Conclusion
At noon the motorcycle platoons and armored cars of the 1st Régiment d'Automitrailleuses clashed with the advance elements of Group Fürst, 7th Panzer Division near the Chavannes crossroad. Several armored cars were damaged on both sides before the French fell back towards Lomme. German attacks all along the river line were putting French formations in distress, and when word came that the 4th Division Légères de Cavalerie had retreated the French send in some anti-tank gun platoons to defend the river bridges while the engineers worked to blow them up. The maneuver worked, and the bridges were blown successfully after all French units had retreated behind the river.

Conclusion

At noon the motorcycle platoons and armored cars of the 1st Régiment d'Automitrailleuses clashed with the advance elements of Group Fürst, 7th Panzer Division near the Chavannes crossroad. Several armored cars were damaged on both sides before the French fell back towards Lomme. German attacks all along the river line were putting French formations in distress, and when word came that the 4th Division Légères de Cavalerie had retreated the French send in some anti-tank gun platoons to defend the river bridges while the engineers worked to blow them up. The maneuver worked, and the bridges were blown successfully after all French units had retreated behind the river.

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. Portees: Trucks with mounted Anti-Tank guns, Anti-Aircraft weapons, or artillery. Stack as combat units. Move like trucks, but fire like guns. Do not limber or unlimber. Have the truck's -1 armor value. Truck and gun are treated as a single unit, and do not transport other units. (SB)

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.
Portees: Trucks with mounted Anti-Tank guns, Anti-Aircraft weapons, or artillery. Stack as combat units. Move like trucks, but fire like guns. Do not limber or unlimber. Have the truck's -1 armor value. Truck and gun are treated as a single unit, and do not transport other units. (SB)

Display Order of Battle

France Order of Battle

Armée de Terre
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Armée de Terre

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (3)

3 Errata Items
	In 1940: Fall of France, the units show Direct Fire. All units are Indirect Fire. (rerathbun on 2015 Jun 06)
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Fall of France 2 #8 - Through the Ardennes

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2023-06-01
Language	English
Scenario	FoF2008

Both sides for this scenario are highly mobile, the Germans have the edge in motorized infantry, but the Frogs have the better AT assets, the key for the Frogs is how many bridges can two engineer platoons demo in 20 turns and how are you going to use your light cavalry to buy them the time needed, since you have two full maps and 8 bridges to demo. Did I forget to mention the Germans have engineers as well, the crossing numbers are 10-8-7, one of the German objectives is to establish a bridgehead on the west side, so in essence you will have to cover the whole river.

For the Germans which bridge or bridges are you going to go after, most of the bridges are to the south in or around a built-up area which could be difficult to get thru, while there are fewer bridges to the north (3) but the terrain is more open, once you get thru the wooded hills because you need to capture one bridge intact as one of your objectives. If you fail to capture a bridge then you will need to get 25 units across the river the old fashion way, using you engineers.

For my play thru the Frogs fought hard, their dragoons supported by the P178s, AMR 33/35s and Portees poked and prodded the main German advance causing heavy casualties early on, but the Frogs could not be everywhere, and the Germans were able to get around on both flanks.

This game come down to the wire, the Germans had captured one bridge, edged the Frogs by 4 steps and were able to rally two disrupted platoons on the last turn to reach 26 good ordered units on the west side.

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