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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Sacrifice at La Horgne
Swallows of Death #18
(Attacker) Germany vs France (Defender)
Formations Involved
France 3e Brigade de Spahis
Germany 1st Panzer Division
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for SwlD018
Total
Side 1 0
Draw 0
Side 2 0
Overall Rating, 0 votes
5
4
3
2
1
0
Scenario Rank: --- of 940
Parent Game Swallows of Death
Historicity Historical
Date 1940-05-15
Start Time 09:00
Turn Count 26
Visibility Day
Counters 129
Net Morale 0
Net Initiative 1
Maps 1: 31
Layout Dimensions 43 x 28 cm
17 x 11 in
Play Bounty 242
AAR Bounty 227
Total Plays 0
Total AARs 0
Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Road Control
Urban Assault
Conditions
Anti-tank Ditches
Off-board Artillery
Reinforcements
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 2 Maps + Counters
Swallows of Death Base Game
Introduction

La Horgne, France. The small village of La Horgne, about 20 kilometers south of Charleville-Mézières, is the kind of non-descript hamlet that gives no hint of its historical destiny. Located in the heart of a wide clearing, it was well away from any major roads and was of no strategic interest. But on 15 May 1940 it lay on the itinerary of the 1st Panzer Division’s Battle Group Krüger. The French needed time to bring reinforcements to the Rethel area. The badly depleted 3rd Brigade of Spahis would have to hold out for 24 hours at La Horgne.

Conclusion

The epic stand of the Spahis at La Horgne would become one of the legendary feats of arms of both Moroccan and French military history. The Moroccan and Algerian horsemen sacrificed themselves in ten hours of heavy fighting. The Brigade suffered 30 percent casualties, with both regimental commanders killed at the head of their troops and the long-time brigade commander Col. Olivier Marc badly wounded and captured by the Germans. During the night the survivors broke out of the German encirclement and escaped to fight for the remainder of the campaign.

Additional Notes

Swallows of Death may be played with the 1st edition pieces and maps from 1940: Fall of France.

When a French piece in the order of battle was apparently Moroccan and was in the Division Marocaine set, that piece was used in the order of battle list. Substitute equivalent French Army pieces Moroccan pieces when the Moroccan piece is unavailable.


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
  • Self-Propelled Artillery: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
  • APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
  • Prime Movers: Transports which only transport towed units and/or leaders (May not carry personnel units). May or may not be armored (armored models are open-top). All are mechanized. (SB)

Display Order of Battle

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

Display Errata (4)

4 Errata Items
Overall balance chart for 2

Two 105mms (ID#s 1204, 1205) have "16-31" fire values in black (direct fire), when they should be in white (indirect fire).

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
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)
Overall balance chart for 47

All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0.

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
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