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

[warspite1]

27th May 1940
German Turn (Cont)

The threat to III Corps did not materialise. Instead the Germans switch focus to the north where the British 2nd Division hold off an attack at Gent - and a large road block is starting to form behind.

To the south individual British brigades hold off strong German forces.

[Orm]

Do you have the option for RAF to release more aircraft for Belgium and Framce?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Do you have the option for RAF to release more aircraft for Belgium and Framce?

warspite1

The only cards the British have a Free evacuation cards. Whether such an option exists I don't know, but the British only have 2PP anyway and so even if it does I couldn't afford it!

[warspite1]

27th May 1940
French Army

Realistically there is no way - with the number of French and British units available, that the Allies will be able to protect the borders of France. The decision taken by Weygand is to hold a line starting at Abbeville on the Channel coast and ending on the Aisne (where 2nd Army currently occupy). This means the giving up of Lille and many of the Channel ports, but this is the only option if complete collapse is to be avoided - and even then there is no guarantee.

I don't know if this gives enough VP to the Allies but....

[warspite1]

27th May 1940
British Army

The British remain caught between retreating and trying to hold onto 'strongpoints'. The 2nd Division remains in Gent and to the south the 4th Division are slow to retreat from the Dendre and have the 3rd Panzer Division to their north. A brigade of the 5th Division is lost.

[warspite1]

28th May 1940
German Turn

From south to north:

- 2nd Army positions at Vouziers and Rethel are brought under fire from infantry and motorised units. There are few panzers in this sector.

- A major thrust is launched toward Montconnet spearheaded by 1st and 10th Panzer. Another thrust is launched by 2nd Motorised and 6th Panzer Division to the north, south of the town of Hirson. This is a major effort in good tank country.

- Strong German forces are being held up behind the river west of Charleroi. But to the north around Nivelles, 3rd and 4th Panzer Division are exploiting open ground and will envelope the defenders of Charleroi if they are not careful.

- The British 2nd Division are holding off the might of the XXVI Corps at Gent, although the Germans are reinforcing the area heavily and will either break the resistance of simply encircle the defenders.

German losses remain at 15%.
Victory points are 53 of the required 70.

[warspite1]

28th May 1940
French 2nd Army

The French artillery pour shot and shell into the German positions on the north bank of the Aisne. Huntziger visits the front line to rally the troops of the 3rd Colonial Division (Free Card).

The Polish Division are brought into the line to free up troops to double up on the bridge defences.

[warspite1]

28th May 1940
French 9th Army

XI Corps have been a concern from day 1 and, after all the effort expended to keep them out of trouble, they are right back in it again. The German thrust between Hirson and Montcornnet has XI Corps in all sorts of danger. French 1st Army are going to have to provide cover.

[warspite1]

28th May 1940
French 1st Army - III Corps + Cavalry Corps

To assist the hapless XI Corps, Blanchard's III Corps move south to attack a German Flak unit that appears to have strayed to far ahead of its comrades. The entire 1st Motorised are used for the attack, which proves a success.

[warspite1]

28th May 1940
French 1st Army - III Corps + Cavalry Corps

The attack by 1st Division leaves them open to counter-attack and the 3rd Light Motorised Division from the Cavalry Corps is held in reserve. Also brought up to assist the extraction of XI Corps is the 2nd Armoured Division of the Army Group reserve.

[warspite1]

28th May 1940
French 1st Army - IV and V Corps

The IV and V Corps try and extract themselves whilst maintaining a roadblock at Charerloi. Because of a mix up in orders a regiment of the 12th Division marched to the northeastern suburbs of the city rather than southwest - thus hastening its own demise....

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

27th May 1940
French Army

Realistically there is no way - with the number of French and British units available, that the Allies will be able to protect the borders of France. The decision taken by Weygand is to hold a line starting at Abbeville on the Channel coast and ending on the Aisne (where 2nd Army currently occupy). This means the giving up of Lille and many of the Channel ports, but this is the only option if complete collapse is to be avoided - and even then there is no guarantee.

I don't know if this gives enough VP to the Allies but....

In my humble opinion it is good that you do not know. Then you play to win for real rather than to reach an artificial goal.

[warspite1]

28th May 1940
British Army

The British continue to play with fire. The 2nd Division holds Gent and refuses to budge, while the 4th Division's position looks altogether worse as their entire lefty flank is exposed to attack.....

[warspite1]

29th May 1940
German Turn

Now that was a good turn for the Allies. The German focus was the same as the previous turn and all attacks on key points were rebuffed, taking German losses to 16%.

A big shout out to the following units:

French 12th Motorised Infantry Division (Charleroi)
British 2nd Division (Gent)

Each held their ground inspite of furious attacks by German forces. That said, there was infiltration of the ground west of Charleroi and both here and at Gent, the Allies will have to decide whether these division are to stay and be sacrificed.

[warspite1]

29th May 1940
French Turn

I am not sure how random the weather is in this game but from memory there has been just one day where the weather has not been fine. The 29th dawns bright too sadly....

The French use another 10PP to obtain an extra division. These can only move very slowly to the front, but increasing strategic movement is a huge 15PP. Weygand has only 9PP to play with so no decision needs making for another day at least.

There are three divisions in the Paris area slowly moving east (plus the one just purchased (91st, 92nd, 93rd and 94th) together with reinforcement fighters - 75 Dewoitines 520's and 75 Morane-Saulnier 406's.

[warspite1]

29th May 1940
French and British Turn

Not too much to report.

On 2nd Army's front Huntziger has added fresh troops to defend against the German Schwerpunckts. The pull back everywhere else continues. An air attack was made against the panzers threatening XI Corps but the effects were desultory.

The British have made the decision to try and hold Gent. The main reason is that there is no obvious place to retreat to so holding up the Germans for as long as possible here makes sense.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

29th May 1940
German Turn

Now that was a good turn for the Allies. The German focus was the same as the previous turn and all attacks on key points were rebuffed, taking German losses to 16%.

A big shout out to the following units:

French 12th Motorised Infantry Division (Charleroi)
British 2nd Division (Gent)

Each held their ground inspite of furious attacks by German forces. That said, there was infiltration of the ground west of Charleroi and both here and at Gent, the Allies will have to decide whether these division are to stay or be sacrificed.

Retreating sacrifices the units? [&:]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

29th May 1940
German Turn

Now that was a good turn for the Allies. The German focus was the same as the previous turn and all attacks on key points were rebuffed, taking German losses to 16%.

A big shout out to the following units:

French 12th Motorised Infantry Division (Charleroi)
British 2nd Division (Gent)

Each held their ground inspite of furious attacks by German forces. That said, there was infiltration of the ground west of Charleroi and both here and at Gent, the Allies will have to decide whether these division are to stay or be sacrificed.

Retreating sacrifices the units? [&:]

warspite1

Thank-you - that's an and [;)]

[Orm]

Just trying to show that your audience eagerly follows, and analyses, every word. [:)]

[warspite1]

30th May
German Turn

No sooner do I ask the question than..... its rainy weather - hussah!

In the north the Germans finally make a breakthrough at Gent. The 4th Brigade, holding the southern suburbs of the city, are thrown back by elements of four German divisions led by the 255th Infantry Division.

The left flank of the division - in the form of the 5th Brigade - is about to be outflanked by a regiment of the 256th Division that crossed the river further north.