Seagull vs challenge France, June 1940

[Seagull]

Unfortunately, the Hun artillery continues to suppress and rout my Char B1 bis's

I lost a couple of trucks in the south, trying to carry some infantry to the hill.

On the plus side, the French forces have destroyed two armored cars, four Panzers, and some crewmen.

Hope springs eternal...

[challenge]

This has not been one of the best few minutes of the German Army in France...

We lost more than we got. The only bright note in the artillery is proving anoying to the French and keeping the armor going in the wrong direction.

Whoever said the French were pushovers need to either rethink the situation, or play very early war battles. It seems, according to what I've seen, the tenacity of the armor is a difficult obsticle to overcome with low velocity 75s and 37mm guns.

[Seagull]

Char B1's continue to rout and head for home under the pressure of relentless German artillery. There appears to have been some successful Hun CB fire, too, since one of my OB 75mm batteries is in retreat.

The infantry in the north woods continues to surprise by knocking out more halftracks. Perhaps the truffles they've been searching for have given them courage.

The Germans have lost another pair of 8-wheeled armored cars, two 3.7cm Flak units, and at least one more Panzer.

As an aside, some testing I'd conducted a while ago, matching up a force of Somua S35s against an equal number of PzIIIs in an open area showed that the French tanks kicked German a**

[challenge]

It has become apparent that the French have collected every tank in the South of France, and probably a few from North Africa for this little sojern. There are what appears to be three companies of B1 bis, one or two of Char D2s and more mobile AT guns than the German high command believed still existed. The good news is that there is only one, maybe two, infantry comapnies on the front.

Most of the panzers being taken out are Pz IIe'swhich barely qualify as tanks, but there are enough of the Pz IIIs and IVs going down to be a concern when faced by these odds.

Colonel Schwendt has notified the high command that it looks like French have committed everything they have and may try to reach Paris with this advance.

[Seagull]

Yes, indeed, all available tanks in France and every French possession have been collected together for your viewing pleasure!

The troops have been briefed on the differences between children's toys (Pz IIs) and real Panzers (IIIs and IVs) and have responded appropriately. They have knocked out two PzIVs and two StuGs this turn, along with an 8-rad and an HT.

The army of the Republique has, however, lost another truck or two and a pair of Char B1s.

[Seagull]

Under the remorseless pressure of Hun artillery, the French forces in the south are all routed or in retreat.

Elsewhere, more bits of armor are lost on both sides of the line.

French infantry is once again attempting to put up a fight in the center. Unfortunately, once fired upon, they acquire massive suppression which is difficult to remove.

The only bright spot this turn is one of the Char B1's now has 5 kills, having knocked out it's second PzIV.

A counter attack has been launched against the forces of oppression lurking in the northern woodland. Maybe something will develop up there. If nothing else, it may force the Germans to divide their artillery among more targets, reducing the strain in the south.

[challenge]

The armor and infantry of the glorious, German Army stands at the crest of the ridgelines running north-south through the field of battle. The French infantry carriers and trucks move forward lead by armor in a wave across the flat, clear terrain in front of them. Burnt hulks of both sides mark the advance point of both sides.

The wave of the French advance reaches the western edge of the ridge and breaks on the slope as the artillery pounding takes its toll on the poor attackers. It appears entire platoons are breaking to run, returning to their headquaters to turn in their resignation.

Since my Panzers and AT guns (with the exception of the 88s which can't see anything to shoot at) can't seem to punch holes in many tanks, it has become an artillery battle. The only local high points is the SS Infantry squads taking out B1 bis tanks as they get in range of the AT rockets. An AC with a 20mm took a D2; there was much rejoicing by the crew until the taken out by two more of the behemothes.

The battle continues as Colonol Schwendt sees a glimmer of hope in the impressive display of artillery fire.

[Seagull]

The bright spot for the French is the sight of German troops in the northern woods fleeing for the border under attacks from Somuas and elements of the Legion Etrangere.

In the central and southern regions, however, German artillery continues to own me :(

The only thing I can do with the forces in these areas is watch them scurry for the retreat hexes at the end of my turn.

French armor is frustrating... between a low ROF and miserable accuracy, it's a miracle that they manage to hit anything at all.

I lose several tanks this turn, in exchange for another armored car and a halftrack of some species or other.

A sign of the times: a squad of mechanized infantry fires on a group of GE crewmen. A casualty is inflicted, after which the remaining crewmen return fire with miscellaneous small arms (at a 2% hit probability). The FR infantry takes 16 points of suppression.

Oh, well. C'est la guerre.

[Seagull]

Legionnaires and Somuas continue to mop up German leg units in the trees to the north.

In the central and southern areas, shots are exchanged and some further armor losses inflicted on both sides. The French have lost another Char B and a couple of APC's; German losses include a Panzer flush... a II, a III, and a IV.

Attempts to suppress the 88's are inconclusive. I wish that my artillery was operating on the same calendar page as the rest of my troops.