Case Yellow - how the Allies **** it up even more

[warspite1]

18th May 1940
German Turn

Well that was an interesting turn! The Germans were able to consolidate their bridgehead over the Meuse, bringing another panzer regiment over the water, but otherwise they have made no big progress in 2nd Army's sector. The retreat by the right flank behind the Meuse seems to have worked, at least for now. Sterling work by the two rearguard regiments that were guarding the bridges either side of Montmedy (red crosses) has delayed German progress. Both units were ultimately wiped out but they did their job.

Ominously, west of the breakthrough by 8th Panzer, elements of the 2nd Motorised Division are gathering to attack Mezieres.

[warspite1]

18th May 1940
German Turn

To the north the threat has not materialised in 9th Army's sector, although elements of the German XXXX Infantry Corps are seemingly looking to attack across the Maas north of Givet. This is in XI Corps zone. XI Corps is the weakest corps in the army it seems judging by the reports I keep receiving, and this is the one I want taken out of the front line - to be replaced by Blanchard's III Corps, or frankly anyone.

[warspite1]

18th May 1940
German Turn

The probing attacks against VII Corps seem to have stopped and the bulk of the German forces that crossed the Albert Canal are heading west toward Brussels.... The defenders of Hasselt meanwhile withstood attack after attack and must be seriously annoying to von Bock....

[warspite1]

18th May 1940
German Turn

Finally the Dutch. The Dutch forget to order a unit to hold Utrecht which was a bit of a freebie for the Germans. However their follow up attacks from the city have all come to nought.....

[warspite1]

18th May 1940
French 2nd Army

The Germany lack of movement allows Huntziger a little time to re-arrange his forces on the right flank of his army.

The German 8th Panzer Division are bombarded - although once again to seemingly little effect - and the 55th and 71st Divisions can only sit and wait for the attack. There is nothing that the French air force can do at present, but Huntziger is heartened by the arrival of Groupements de Batailions de Chars (GBC) 506 - containing 180 R-35 and H-35 tanks -from Army Reserve. These, together with Huntziger's remaining tanks, are held behind X Corps front.

[warspite1]

18th May 1940
French 9th Army

This army remains Gamelin's biggest worry, but events in the last couple of days give him hope for a successful outcome. Two infantry divisions from the 1st Army Group Reserve - the 1st North African and the 43rd Divisions - have almost reached XLI Corps.

The 102nd Fortress Division has bombarded the Germans 2nd Motorised Division on the right bank of the Meuse and it is hoped they can hold for another day or so....

Perhaps just as importantly, on the left flank of Corap's army, he has begun the removal of XI Corps from the front line - starting with 2 regiments of the 22nd Division. The lead elements of III Corps have arrived - as have some units from Giraud's 7th Army.

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
German Turn

Well that was a good turn for Herr Hitler.....but there is a lot to go through so rather than precis the German turn separately I will cover off their attacks within the Allied posts.

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
French Army

Ohh some good news!

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
French 2nd Army

The French successfully counter-attack!!

One of the German breakthroughs on the 19th was east of the initial breakthrough. Units of the German 2nd Motorised Division and 34th Infantry Division forced a regiment of the 3rd North African Division to retreat - allowing another bridgehead across the Meuse.

Huntziger wasted no time. Ordering a preliminary bombardment, he then followed up with an attack spearheaded by the the tanks of GBC's 506 and 503, supported by three regiments of infantry from the 71st and 3rd North African Divisions. The Germans had no choice, but under the weight of the tank attack they had to withdraw back across the river.

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
French 9th Army sector

The French launch another successful counter-attack. As expected, General Martin's XI Corps fails at the first hurdle and a regiment of the 18th Division is forced to retreat by infantry of the German 263rd Division. Martin is ordered to take the 18th and 22nd Divisions out of the line. They are replaced by the 9th Motorised and 1st Light Mechanised Divisions of 7th Army which, it might be said, arrived in the nick of time.....


A regiment of the 263rd Infantry are pushed back across the river

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
French 2nd Army

The third breach of a river line is in the Belgian VII Corps sector and so I will come back to that. Let's look at the increasingly fragile position of Huntziger's army in the south of the Northeast Front's line.

The counter-attack has of course helped the situation but the original German bridgehead continues to grow, and the two French reserve divisions are going to take some time to reach this area. Huntziger seeks to rally the troops (Free Card - boosting morale) of the 55th Division, but they are in poor shape, as are those of the 71st.

Pressure is also being applied in XVIII sector, although at least the bridges have been blown....


X Corps sector is bulging at the seams.... she gonna blow apart if help can't be gained soon...

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
British Army

At the northern end of the British sector a panzer unit - identified as from 4th Panzer Division - probes the lines. Aircraft and artillery give the unit a bloody nose but there is no intention to seek battle in open country against panzers at this stage.

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
Belgian Army

The Belgians have fought well, holding the Germans up in Liege and elsewhere. In VII Corps sector the German breakthrough cannot be held and there is no point sacrificing more men here. The Belgian employment was only meant as a temporary expedient. Deffontaine and his men are ordered to retreat back to the French lines.

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
Belgian Army

However, the defenders of Hasselt will not last much longer and nor will Holland. At either point there will be a lot of German units heading west to attack the Belgians. Maybe I should have adopted a more Wellington-style defence and placed the BEF further north??

[warspite1]

19th May 1940
Dutch Army

The Germans break through the Dutch lines in the north. A furious counter-attack is ordered. Everything that can fly, bombard and attack is thrown into the battle. The Germans are able to hold their ground however and the Dutch are surely now staring defeat firmly in the face....

[warspite1]

20th May 1940
General situation

As we reach 10 days since the Germans launched Case Yellow, it might be an idea to look at the overall picture.

Losses

The German losses need to stay under 15% and are currently at 9% so I think that is encouraging.

As for the Allies we have:
- Dutch 44%
- Belgian 40%
- French 10%
- British 2%

Victory Status

The Germans have 32 of the 70 VP they need to win.

[warspite1]

20th May 1940
German Turn

The Germans cranked up the pressure. All I can say is that if I hadn't been able to replace XI Corps, the French line would have shattered! Key happenings (south to north):

1. The Meuse has been breached again - this time in 9th Army - XLI Corps sector, southeast of Mezieres.

2. Furious assaults have been launched against the junction of 9th and 1st Armies. None of these resulted in a breach however.

3. Renewed efforts in the Namur-Hannut-Huy area, by 5th and 7th Panzer, has seen the Belgian VII Corps defeated.

4. The last Belgian resistance in Diest and Hasselt has been crushed. Leuven is now firmly under siege - although has resisted so far.

5. Antwerp is now being attacked and the outer suburbs taken.

6. Fortress Holland remains on life support but the Germans failed to press home their gains west of Utrecht, but instead retreated.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

20th May 1940
General situation

As we reach 10 days since the Germans launched Case Yellow, it might be an idea to look at the overall picture.

Losses

The German losses need to stay under 15% and are currently at 9% so I think that is encouraging.

As for the Allies we have:
- Dutch 44%
- Belgian 40%
- French 10%
- British 2%

Victory Status

The Germans have 32 of the 70 VP they need to win.

Indeed. So maybe, in the end, you need to change the title of this AAR thread. [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

20th May 1940
General situation

As we reach 10 days since the Germans launched Case Yellow, it might be an idea to look at the overall picture.

Losses

The German losses need to stay under 15% and are currently at 9% so I think that is encouraging.

Victory Status

The Germans have 32 of the 70 VP they need to win.

Indeed. So maybe, in the end, you need to change the title of this AAR thread. [:)]

warspite1

Not yet. The Belgian position worries me....and as for bloody 2nd and 9th armies....

[warspite1]

20th May 1940
French 9th Army Sector

We'll start here today. Elements of the 6th Panzer Division smash into the junction between 9th and 2nd Armies. The 102nd Division pull back in disarray but at this stage only one regiment of panzers have crossed the river.

The 1st North African Division, from the reserves, will be ordered to plug the gap. Another reserve division, the 43rd, will be sent east of the Bar River in order to assist 2nd Army.

General Libaud orders a massive bombardment against the German tanks (Free Card - that gives 40% greater power). 1st Army Group artillery will also be made available - the French need those tanks back and the bridgehead extinguished. Unfortunately for the French, the attack does not succeed in ejecting the German tanks from the west bank. They have been badly mauled however.