Trench of Bayonets
Last Days of May #43
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(Defender)
Germany
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vs |
France
(Attacker)
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Total |
| Side 1 |
0 |
| Draw |
0 |
| Side 2 |
0 |
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Total |
| Side 1 |
0 |
| Draw |
0 |
| Side 2 |
0 |
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Total |
| Side 1 |
0 |
| Draw |
0 |
| Side 2 |
0 |
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| Overall Rating, 0 votes |
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Scenario Rank:
--- of 940 |
| Parent Game |
Last Days of May |
| Historicity |
Historical |
| Date |
1940-05-24 |
| Start Time |
09:00 |
| Turn Count |
18 |
| Visibility |
Day |
| Counters |
32 |
| Net Morale |
1 |
| Net Initiative |
3 |
| Maps |
2: 27, 33 |
| Layout Dimensions |
86 x 28 cm
34 x 11 in |
| Play Bounty |
220 |
| AAR Bounty |
227 |
| Total Plays |
0 |
| Total AARs |
0 |
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Introduction
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While the Germans consolidated their bridgeheads across the Aa and rested after Hitler’s stop order, the French command at Dunkirk built up strong artillery support groups and ordered a counterattack against the small village of St-Georges to restore their lines. The 137th Infantry Regiment, part of 21st Infantry Division, had defended Verdun on 12 June 1916 when one of its companies was buried alive in the Trench of Bayonets. This generation was no more willing to yield to the invaders.
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Conclusion
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The French counterattack started at 0900, backed by artillery support and a handful of tanks. The unsupported German recon troops in the village fled after calling in some artillery fire and airstrikes that failed to stop the French. At noon the French infantry reached its main objective (the railway embankment dominating the surrounding landscape) and the Germans fell back to the bridge of St-Folquin. This small victory showed that the French would keep defending Dunkirk as fiercely as they had Verdun. Over a century later, the 137th Infantry Regiment’s Third Company still holds its trench.
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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
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| 2 Errata Items |
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In 1940: Fall of France, the units show Direct Fire. All units are Indirect Fire.
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The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France.
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LDoM002 
