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

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: 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

Thank-you [:D]

I must say it is very, very tense. In the north the Allies have some space to fall back, but in the south that is not the case and any breakthrough is likely terminal.

[warspite1]

4th June 1940
German Turn

As expected the Germans laid on a massive effort to take Kortijk, but the British brigade defending held off four assaults.

To the south the Germans walk into Tournai and there are questions asked about why a rear-guard was not placed here?

Further south still, a regiment of the 526th Division force back elements of the 15th Motorised Division and establish a tentative bridgehead across the Escaut.

A retreat to the Somme is now ever more likely as the Germans put pressure on the defenders of St Quentin, west of the Oise.

Major panzer formations are spotted on 2nd Armies front east of Laon, while German units elsewhere continue to probe for gaps and weak spots in the line.

The tension builds.

[warspite1]

4th June 1940
French Turn

The French are back up to 25PP and so spend 10 on another new division, still keeping 15PP back for DeGaulle.

[warspite1]

4th June 1940
French 9th Army

The pressure is being turned up between Laon and Gugnicourt, and the French inability to blow a bridge is potentially serious [&:] There is more shuffling of the front to try and hold back the panzers on the opposite bank. The 102nd Fortress and 5th Motorised Divisions are given free cards to bolster their defensive capabilities.

[warspite1]

4th June 1940
French 1st Army

Instead of retreating toward Arras with the rest of the Corps, the commander of the 15th Motorised Division unilaterally decides he can snuff out the weak bridgehead using two regiments of his division. The battle ends as expected....

British Army
Meanwhile the British decide to try and stick it out for one more day in Kortijk as the German forces there don't look in the rudest of health after those four repulsed attacks.


A before and after shot of the dumbest attack of the campaign so far...

[warspite1]

5th June 1940
German Turn

For the second turn running its raining.

Once again the Germans try and break French resistance southwest of Rethel but are repulsed.

Massed armoured and motorised formations descend upon the regiment of the 22nd Division defending La Fere. The Germans own the west bank of the Oise and Corap is surprised they don't use that option to take the town. Even so, the Germans should make short work of this next turn.

Further north the build up around St Quentin continues.

The absurdity of the 15th Motorised's attack the previous day is brought into sharp focus as the surviving regiments are pushed north and German infantry and armour pour over the river and through the gap.

But the worst news is in the British sector. Once again 50th Division holds firm in Kortdijk but to the southwest the 42nd Division is pushed back, allowing the Germans to cross the river and completely and utterly unhinge the defence of the area around Kortdijk. The British have the best part of three divisions there and loss of these would be catastrophic.

[warspite1]

5th June 1940
French Turn

The French 7th Army has had an 'interesting' campaign - marching here there and everywhere and getting nowhere (although to be fair the intervention of one corps did help out XI Corps from getting swamped on the Meuse at one stage).

But now their role (barring disaster elsewhere) is set. They will form up along the Can and allow as much as IV and V Corps to escape southwest as possible.

[warspite1]

5th June 1940
British Army

The unexpectedly poor show by 42nd Division means that there is no choice but to abandon Kortijk. This is a real shame as the Germans were suffering both casualties and serious delays trying to take the town.

Instead all divisions stream back toward Lille and it is to be hoped the exit route can be kept open to allow units to fall back toward Abbeville. If the Germans attack from the south then 42nd Division will likely face the brunt of the attack. Major-General Adam plays a Free Card to try and stiffen their resolve. Brooke does the same for the 50th Division, the most exposed unit to the north.

[warspite1]

6th June 1940
German Turn

The rain continues to fall.

German infantry eject the British rear-guard from Kortijk, but are slow to pursue further. The 35th Division move up to the south of Lille but appear in no position to attack.

To the south, German formations continue to pour over the Escaut and it is vital the 44th Division hold the Can, while the three divisions around Lille try and extricate themselves. A mixed force of infantry and paratroopers are also threatening the British withdrawal.

A little further south the French positions around Cambrai are coming under relentless pressure and it is going to be vital for 7th Army to get in position soon.

Having been building up for a while an attack is made against St Quentin but is rebuffed at some cost by III Corps.

The Germans decided to send the strong armoured formations back to the southeast and not follow through with the attack on La Fere. Huntziger and Corap need those reinforcement divisions quickly.

At the end of all this the Germans edge closer to victory - 60 out of the 70 required.

[warspite1]

6th June 1940
French Turn

Another Division is purchased. Two of these - the 91st and 92nd - are now firmly in the line southeast of Laon.

Giroud's 7th Army is deployed - I Corps in the south behind the Cavalry and III Corps, while XVI Corps slot in east of Arras. The army reserves set up between the two ready to act as and when required.

British Army

The BEF continue to retreat from Lille but its a slow process. 44th Division are brought up to strength to try and stop an encirclement via Douai.

[warspite1]

7th June 1940
German Turn

Ouch! Tough turn.

1. The 15th Infantry Division tried attacking at Vouziers once more. The forces ranged their are not that strong and the attack was rebuffed.
2. There was no attack at Rethel but north of Gugnicourt the panzers concentrate once again.
3. The German 17th Division makes a breakthrough at St Quentin. The newly arrived I Corps should be able to push back the lone regiment (supported by engineers) and DeGaulle's card may be appropriate here.
4. However, there are also issues to be resolved east of Arras, where the 32nd Division, behind river, seemed to crumble. The remains of 1st Army's two northern corps are in big trouble here.
5. The British have been badly mauled at Lille and two German units have sought to cut off their retreat south. They are weak however and its possible a counter-attack could be mounted.

[warspite1]

7th June 1940
French 2nd Army - XVIII Corps

With less than two weeks to go and the game seemingly entering into a couple of critical phases, I think a close look at exactly what is what is required.

We'll start with Major-General Rochard's XVIII Corps on the extreme right wing of the front. As can be seen from the OOB Summary, this corps has seen more than its fair share of the action as is in pretty poor shape.

The Montmedy regiments replace two of the 1st Colonial Division regiments. There is a gap left in the line but hopefully the newly arrived 94th Division can rectify this in the next day or so.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

2nd June 1940
Allied Situation

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

Reserve?! You have troops in reserve? [X(] What a novel idea. I really must try that sometime. [:)] Just need to figure out where to find troops for that, [&:] [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

2nd June 1940
Allied Situation

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

Reserve?! You have troops in reserve? [X(] What a novel idea. I really must try that sometime. [:)] Just need to figure out where to find troops for that, [&:] [:)]

warspite1

The only problem with creating a reserve is that by the time they are ready to act as a reserve, they are needed to replace losses at the front [:(][:D]

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

7th June 1940
French 2nd Army - XVIII Corps

With less than two weeks to go and the game seemingly entering into a couple of critical phases, I think a close look at exactly what is what is required.

We'll start with Major-General Rochard's XVIII Corps on the extreme right wing of the front. As can be seen from the OOB Summary, this corps has seen more than its fair share of the action as is in pretty poor shape.

Only two weeks left? Maybe the Expeditionary Force can extend their line and take over part of the French sector?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

7th June 1940
French 2nd Army - XVIII Corps

With less than two weeks to go and the game seemingly entering into a couple of critical phases, I think a close look at exactly what is what is required.

We'll start with Major-General Rochard's XVIII Corps on the extreme right wing of the front. As can be seen from the OOB Summary, this corps has seen more than its fair share of the action as is in pretty poor shape.

Only two weeks left? Maybe the Expeditionary Force can extend their line and take over part of the French sector?

warspite1

Not if they can't extract themselves from Lille they can't! [X(]

[warspite1]

7th June 1940
French 2nd Army - X Corps

[warspite1]

7th June 1940
French 9th Army - XLI Corps

A free card is played by General Libaud and this increases the bombardment strength against the German armour on the north bank of the Aisne. It didn't seem to make much difference however.....


Note: After this picture was taken the four regiments of the 5th Motorised Division were transferred to XLI Corps. The corps boundary now extends one hex west. A regiment of 61st Division will be transferred back as soon as possible to II Corps
Note: One regiment of the 4th North African Division was 'lost' and temporarily put under the command of II Corps. This unit is now on its way back to XLI Corps.

[warspite1]

7th June 1940
French 9th Army - II Corps

[warspite1]

7th June 1940
French 9th Army - XI Corps