France 40 (Leonidas [Germans] v. Hellen [Allies])

[Hellen_slith]

Easy-to-read scenario briefing available via my google drive.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iuOhR ... 7Yls3iAxrK
It is a two-page PDF file that will open in a new window.

Here's the map at beginning of Allies turn 1.

Not too bad air losses from the first turn...
I re-based a lot of the Allied air forces;
no use having them based right at the front, all that range extending so far east...
so I pulled them back to keep their range at the edge of battle.

Allied units starting out w/ pretty low supply.

Looks like an interesting scene,

15km per hex, half-week turns, 18 turns, May - July 1940.
I don't remember playing this one,
maybe in TOAWII days, haven't seen an AAR.
Well, here goes! Good luck to Leonidas!

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allied turn 2

most units are still way low on supply,
(around 23%) so I am trying keep as many units stationary as I can,
hoping for transport asset sharing to help supply.

Dutch and Belgians seem to want to fight on ... for now

The few times I played this before,
seemed they surrendered pretty quickly.

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allied turn 3:

Dutch surrendered.
Belgians fight on.

One of the things about the Allied formations is,
that they all seem to be set to "Internal Support"...
so I try to keep them fighting together and not "hot dogging" them around w/ other units.

So far, I have inflicted more damage than I expected,
not sure how long I can keep that up, w/ supply levels so low.

Even stationary units are up to only about 30% supply now.

[StuccoFresco]

Do the scenario give some chance to the French player or it's just about how long you can resist the onslaught?

[Hellen_slith]

Not sure yet, I've done better than I expected so far. My opp. divided some of his Panzer and infantry units, so that made it a bit easier for me to push those back.

Germans get 100 VP points each for surrender of Holland and Belgium (and the city point value for hexes). Those are givens in this scene, I think. As are the VP hexes up to around Paris, Dunkerque, and Calais. That's about a draw on victory level I think.

Allies have to hold Dunkirk and Calais or chance British withdraw ... So if Germans get one or both of those cities, I think it is pretty sure Germans win. Or if they get Paris, pretty sure win. That's just eyeballing the map. I think a hyper-aggressive German player will surely win (and a overly cautious Allied player will surely lose.) Not sure of replacement schedule for Allies, I forgot to check that. But so far, it seems pretty balanced (or maybe we aren't playing it "right"! LoL)

It seems like a good novice level scene, esp. for learning about "internal support" formations and supply and air units. Expert player probably will be bored by scene, but me (just a kibitzer) think this would be a good "beer & pretzels" scene

below is @beginning Allies turn 4

Belgians fight on, but will fall next turn.

Supplies are beginning to pick up a bit.

Formations / Units that don't move,
get asset sharing and are up to about 45% supply now.

Units that move (even just one hex) are up to about 30% after their move expense.

Tempting to race Allied formations up to the front,
but that just burns their supplies.
Better to let them gas up while they can and then try to fight with a full tank

[Hellen_slith]

I forgot the screenshot, here it is

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allies turn 5

Brussels holds, Belgians fight on.

A few Brit and French reinforcements show up.

Supplies increasing to 60% for asset sharing units.
Blowing as many bridges as feasible to slow Germans down.

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allies turn 6:

Brussels falls ... Belgians will surrender now, I think.

German aircraft have landed at a couple of airstrips near Paris (blue circles).

I wish I had some artillery to put on them,
but there is none to spare!

Some "garrisoned" Allied units are waking up ....
can the Allies hold?

We shall see!

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allied turn 7:

Major losses shown, I figure upwards of 150K troops / airmen etc. lost so far for Allies.
Haven't counted # tanks / arty lost.

A second wave of Germans now approach the outskirts of Paris (blue circle)
First wave that got that close was repulsed.
Second wave (this one) has mostly been repulsed again.

If the Germans take Paris, it is automatic victory for Axis.
So, must defend Paris!

Brits are engaged holding Dunkirk / Calais area.
Looking grim for the Allies, trying to get more French to Paris
(blue lines)


This is a tough one for Allies.
I was very good about going carefully through my OOB the first six turns ...
now I'm getting a bit rattled.

Pretty fun scene!

[StuccoFresco]

Looks grim.

[Hellen_slith]

Yes, it is ... but, fight on!

@beginning of Allied turn 8:

A few Belgians fight on at Gent.
A third wave of Germans approach Paris ...

A second wave approaches Dunkirk.

I had a "pinky slip" around Paris,
accidentally "dug in" a unit I needed to attack ...
I keep my pinky finger on the "D" key, and accidentally pressed it when planning that attack.

ah well, such is war!

How long can the French hold? and the British?
This scene might be looked at as, "How fast can the Germans win?"
Still fun, though.

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allies turn 9:

Paris is under siege!

Can they hold out? For nine more turns?
Probably not ...

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allied turn 10:

Paris holds for another turn!
The British are sweating it out at Dunkirk!

Can the Fr. 8th Army Reserves break through the German screen to help Paris?

[Hellen_slith]

during Allies turn 11:

French reinforcements break thru from Chartres!!

Totenkopf SS troops retreat!

How much more can Paris take?!

[Hellen_slith]

OOPS! Here is the correct screenshot, showing French advance (blue lines) and British movement (orange lines) toward Paris.

[StuccoFresco]

Mmh your reinforcements are not yet into Paris.

[Hellen_slith]

Yes, just on outskirts ... they broke through siege by one hex, into suburbs,

cannot see in the previous screenshot b/c that was from beginning of move.

At end of move, they had pushed back the Totenkopf ... and into suburbs ...

but it may be that Leonidas will push me back now ... probably so ...

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of Allies turn 12

Paris still holds ... by a thread!

[StuccoFresco]

Scary situation, and the units near Soissons look lost.

[Hellen_slith]

@Allies beginning turn 13:

scary all around, but ...

Paris holds again!
Germans infiltrate Dunkirk,
but are repulsed!

They cut the rail at Chartres ...

Dijon is retaken by Belgian reinforcements.

Still a draw ... but six moves to go.