Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Last Days of May #41

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 > LDoM001

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Before the Stop Order Last Days of May #41
(Attacker) Germany	vs	France (Defender)

Formations Involved
France		137e Régiment d'Infanterie
France		18e Groupe de Reconnaissance de Corps d'Armée
France		402e Régiment d'Artillerie de Défence Contre Aéronefs
Germany		Grossdeutschland Division

	Total
Side 1	3
Draw	0
Side 2	0

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

Parent Game	Last Days of May
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-05-24
Start Time	04:30
Turn Count	12
Visibility	Day & Night
Counters	34
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	2
Maps	1: 29
Layout Dimensions	43 x 28 cm 17 x 11 in
Play Bounty	161
AAR Bounty	165
Total Plays	3
Total AARs	2

Battle Types
Bridge Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
River Crossing

Conditions
Off-board Artillery

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 1	Maps + Counters
Last Days of May	Base Game

Introduction
The British and French troops trapped at Dunkirk prepared to evacuate behind whatever thin defensive lines they could muster. But the panzer divisions facing them had outrun their own supply echelon and been exhausted by constant combat. They could not hope to strike the final blow. The Germans therefore released 1st Panzer Division from its mission reducing the defenses around Calais and sent it eastward toward the canalized Aa River. At St-Nicolas and La Bistade (south of Gravelines), a collection of cavalry, infantry and old anti-aircraft trucks defended the bridges across the canal, but not any other locations. Infantry Regiment Grossdeutschland (attached to 1st Panzer Division) would establish and consolidate a bridgehead on the Aa River. The first firefights erupted the night before Hitler ordered a halt to the German attack on Dunkirk.

Introduction

The British and French troops trapped at Dunkirk prepared to evacuate behind whatever thin defensive lines they could muster. But the panzer divisions facing them had outrun their own supply echelon and been exhausted by constant combat. They could not hope to strike the final blow. The Germans therefore released 1st Panzer Division from its mission reducing the defenses around Calais and sent it eastward toward the canalized Aa River. At St-Nicolas and La Bistade (south of Gravelines), a collection of cavalry, infantry and old anti-aircraft trucks defended the bridges across the canal, but not any other locations. Infantry Regiment Grossdeutschland (attached to 1st Panzer Division) would establish and consolidate a bridgehead on the Aa River. The first firefights erupted the night before Hitler ordered a halt to the German attack on Dunkirk.

Conclusion
At dawn, the Germans attacked all along the canal line, which presented the last major obstacle before Dunkirk itself. Some Germans attacked the bridges while others crossed the canal in small boats and hit the French in the flanks near St-Nicolas and La Bistade. The bridges’ defenders had no reserves to call on, but their mortars and autocannon slowed the Germans enough to allow for an orderly retreat despite heavy losses.

Conclusion

At dawn, the Germans attacked all along the canal line, which presented the last major obstacle before Dunkirk itself. Some Germans attacked the bridges while others crossed the canal in small boats and hit the French in the flanks near St-Nicolas and La Bistade. The bridges’ defenders had no reserves to call on, but their mortars and autocannon slowed the Germans enough to allow for an orderly retreat despite heavy losses.

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) Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable

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)
Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable

Display Order of Battle

France Order of Battle

Armée de Terre
Foot Leader Motorized

Armée de Terre

Foot

Leader

Motorized

Germany Order of Battle

Grossdeutschland Division
Foot

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Display AARs (2)

Last Days of May #1 - Before the Stop Order

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2023-06-01
Language	English
Scenario	LDoM001

Short, 12 turns, 1 map scenario with the French having a mixed bag of infantry units supported by a lone 75mm AA Portee, but no OBA assets defending two bridges against elements from the Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment.

The French defense on the right held fast inflicting a number of early step losses on the advancing GD troops, at this moment it looked like the French might hold.

Unfortunately for the French, their forces on the left defending the bridge was subjected to intense OBA (snake eyes) and mortar fire (box cars), broke and ran thus opening up that flank to the Germans who overran the Portee and a battery of 81mm mortars to take the other bridge from the east side of the river. Granted this scenario went down to the wire.

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Les Morts pour la France

Author	Blackcloud6
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2024-05-30
Language	English
Scenario	LDoM001

A fun short scenario to play solo.

The French set up with a company sized defense in the main town covering the middle bridge while a small for covered the south bridge. They had the DRG forward of the main defense and an infantry platoon forward of the southern bridge, both set to delay the Germans. The German main effort was towards the middle bridge while a company sized supporting attack went for the southern bridge.

The German came on strong using their high moral and good leaders to close with the French massing their fire power. They hammered the French with many X shots. The French collapsed mid game and the Germans took the southern bridge and went after the portee AA gun while the main effort mopped up the French in the large town and slipped a platoon around and down the river bank to take the bridge. By turn ten, the French force was wiped out; major German victory.

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LCDT012

LDoM002

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > LDoM001

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