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

[warspite1]

30th May 1940
German Turn

The Germans push the French back at Mons thanks to the massed tanks of 3rd, 4th and 7th Panzer Divisions. This could have serious implications for the units of IV and V Corps just west of Charleroi.

[warspite1]

30th May 1940
German Turn

Between Hirson and Montcornnet the German thrust west gathers momentum....

[warspite1]

30th May 1940
French and British Turn

Huntziger continues to shuffle his forces to try and ensure those defending the bridges are as fresh as possible. He also orders the defenders near Rethel to hit the German forces north of the river with all available artillery.

A crisis is starting to develop along the Oise for the simple reason that there are not enough French units to form a line. Reserve armour is ordered to head in that direction, as is the Cavalry Corps of 1st Army.

The British II Corps decide to try and make a stand at Dixmuide and Kontuijk. The three battalions of 2nd Division finally leave Gent - although disengaging is difficult and they don't get far. A sacrificial rear-guard is left in the city to delay the Germans as much as possible.

The lead elements of the British Line of Communication troops have reached Abbeville and work is begun on creating a line here. But for that they need the bulk of the three British Corps to survive.....

[warspite1]

31st May 1940
Axis Turn

So the game reaches the last day in May...these are the highlights from the AI turn as they happen:

The Germans take Mons

The British rearguard stand their ground in Gent, surviving two furious assaults, but they cannot survive a third. However, the delay inflicted has meant a chance for the three brigades to retreat.

The Germans continue to pressure IV and V Corps south of Mons, but also the junction between III Corps and the left flank of 9th Army.

Ominously, large panzer formations are witnessed approaching the 2nd Army sector in the south.... There is no attack here, but this is clearly the next objective of the German Army.


A company of men from the 2nd Royal Norfolk Regiment were holding the northern sector of the Gent rearguard. They surrendered after running out of ammunition.... nothing has been heard of them since

[warspite1]

31st May 1940
French 2nd Army

The panzer units entering 2nd Army's front are identified as the 6th and 9th Panzer Divisions. Artillery fire is ordered against the German positions north of the river. but with reserves already deployed, there is nothing more that Huntziger can do other than try and encourage his men - and particularly those of the 23rd Division on whom the axe is about to fall (free card).

[warspite1]

31st May 1940
French 9th Army

Once again it's bloody 9th Army! To be fair, this is not there fault, they simply don't have the men required to hold the river line they are expected to cover. The Germans bear down on the Oise near Laon. Some stout defended at Marle by a group of brave Engineers delays 2nd Panzer but Corap believes the time saved is unlikely to be enough to hold the line.

However, unbeknown to him the Cavalry Corps have continued making good progress south and are able to slot in behind the river. But in doing this, there is now simply a gap where the cavalry units should have been...

Corap tries to bolster the remains of 18th Division (Free Card).

[warspite1]

31st May 1940
French 1st and 7th Armies

Other: Another 10PP are spent on a new division. Note 10PP are required so that DeGaulle and increase the effectiveness of a Corps. I want to ensure I have this in reserve.

[warspite1]

31st May 1940
British Army

The British continue to retreat in line with the French but man river lines and obstacles along the way to impede the Germans. The LoC troops are in place at Abbeville, heading southeast.

[warspite1]

1st June 1940
Axis Turn

I will do as before and comment here as the AI turn unfolds:

The Germans begin with massed airstrikes and then attack and destroy the engineers guarding the river line on the extreme left flank of 9th Army.

The Germans take Hirson.

An attack is made against the 4th Cavalry Division south of Laon but it rebuffed with heavy French casualties.

No attacks on 2nd Army and units appear to have moved away.

A bit of dumb AI play too - the XIX Panzer Corps has not exploited its opportunity north of the river, but appears to have moved south.....

That could be an important mistake by the German High Command.

[warspite1]

1st June 1940
French dreams.....

The French capture Sedan!!! [:D]

[warspite1]

[&:][:(][:@]

[warspite1]

1st June 1940
2nd and 9th Armies

The game eventually loaded so I'll keep everything crossed and continue.

There are no movements to report on 2nd Army front, while Huntziger works out if the German move away is permanent or just a feint.

On 9th Army front, the 4th Cavalry unit badly mauled is taken out of the line and fresh units are put in place - this involves a bit of shuffling around but seems to have worked.

1st and 7th Armies

The 1st Army's IV and V Corps are taking a beating in holding up the Germans between Mons and Mauberge. However there is little to hold onto there - in terms of natural obstacles and so the retreat is inevitable.

7th Army is still trying to work out the best position and so is looking to consolidate its two corps while this is worked out.

British Army

A turn spent consolidated their present positions as the Germans are not engaging here in northern Belgium.....

2nd June 1940
German Turn

The Germans do not appear to know what their objective is. The XIX Panzer Corps doubles back yet again and makes progress over the river, but not in any strength. Units head back to 2nd Army's position again, having moved away last turn (unless fresh units employed?). In Belgium progress against the British remains tortuously slow.

Don't get me wrong, Weygand and Gort are delighted, but it just seems a little strange that the Germans, having created the opportunities, don't seem willing to grab them.

[warspite1]

2nd June 1940
Allied Situation

The Germans gain another victory point that turn - currently 58 vs the required 70. Their losses remain at 17%.

The French High Command has 23PP to play with and so Weygand uses 10PP for another division.

2nd Army

Huntziger orders a reshuffle of the troops at the front and also puts in place a large artillery bombardment against units in and around Rethel.

The first of the 'card' divisions arrives - it will be given over to 2nd Army to provide them with a reserve.

[warspite1]

2nd June 1940
French 9th Army / 1st Army's III and Cavalry Corps

The pressure applied at Laon appears to have eased as the German attacks appears to have been no more than a probe.

To the north on 9th Army's right flank, the positions on the Oise have become untenable and the French objective becomes the Can - but they will try and delay the Germans on the Somme first.

[warspite1]

2nd June 1940
French 1st Army - IV and V Corps

Not much to report here - there isn't too much of either corps left as they continue west without much by way of natural obstacles.

British Army

I've noticed its become ever more difficult to blow bridges. A regiment of the 3rd Panzer Division is heading toward the most extreme southern flank of the BEF. The 42nd Division have responsibility for blowing the bridge ahead of them but appear totally incapable of doing so.

It remains to be seen what the Germans intend to do in northern Belgium. With Barker still suffering from health issues, Brooke's II Corps once again assume the task of rearguard action on the Can/Escaut line near Kortijk.

[warspite1]

3rd June 1940
German Turn

Well that all got a bit fraught.

The Germans concentrate on 2nd Army once more. They force troops from the 23rd and 3rd North African Division to retreat from the river line by sheer weight of airstrikes and artillery pounding. However, and thankfully for Huntziger, the German assault troops are not in a position to force the river.

To the west the town of Laon becomes a focus once again, while to the north the Germans are across the undefended Oise.

The British did their job at Kortijk but the Germans appear to be moving to surround them......

This is tense.

[warspite1]

3rd June 1940
French 2nd and 9th Armies

The army, corps and divisional lines are increasingly blurred as the strained French defenders try and plug gaps and weak points in the lines.

The first of the newly created reserve divisions arrives and is thrown straight into the line in II Corps sector. This is so that units can then 'shuffle along' to plug gaps.

Fortunately there appears to be no tanks near Rethel and Vouziers but there are tank formations bearing down on Laon once more. Free cards are played by Huntziger, Gransard and Rochard to bolster 3rd Colonial, 1st Polish and 54th Divisions respectively.

Artillery is brought down on the Germans formations at the two eastern towns but the effect appears desultory.

[warspite1]

3rd June 1940
French 9th (northern flank), 1st and 7th Armies

On the southern flank a regiment of the 22nd Division is ordered to provide the rearguard at La Fere on the Oise. The bridges behind are successfully blown.

Elsewhere there is not too much movement as the Germans have not yet engaged. However the position in the north - the junction between French 1st Army and the BEF - needs careful watching as there is a large gap between the two and the Germans are close. Balancing retreat and delay is not always easy.

[loki100]

among the bad news, also looks that a lot of your units are in the red/orange strength range while most of the Geramns are yellow/green.

but you are clinging on most impressively [;)]

[warspite1]

3rd June 1940
British Army

The BEF are playing with fire. Units from II and III corps continue to be involved in a delaying action around Kortijk. Both 50th and 4th Divisions are bolstered (by Brooke and Gort respectively) using Free Cards, but it really doesn't help their cause that no one thought to bring the corps artillery into the area....

In the absence of any artillery the AASF are called upon to attack the German artillery positions north of the river, but this is repulsed with heavy loss.

They must avoid getting surrounded or......