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

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group B Liege - Eban-Emael Sector

At the risk of sounding like a rubbish DJ - a big shout out to the two Chasseurs Ardennais which were finally destroyed but who put up a sterling defence.

Meanwhile the same can be said of the 3rd Regt of the 2nd Division, the 1st Regt 3rd Division and the Carabiniers from the Corps HQ. The former keeps Eban-Emael out of German hands. Okay, so the value of the fort has somewhat receded [:D] but it is a bold defence regardless. Meanwhile in Liege the the 1st Regiment survives attack after attack. To the west of the town the Caribiniers are almost wiped out but refuse to yield, ensuring that Liege will not fall today....

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group B - Hasselt

More Belgian heroics at Hasselt. The German 6th Army are made to fight through rubble of this Belgian town (a portent of things to come!) but they cannot gain a foothold.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group B Holland

Amazingly Eindhoven still remains Dutch, but the Germans have broken through and are closing in on Amsterdam.

[loki100]

as ever great stuff. Been interested in this for a while - as you say there is a real lack of 1939-40 games. Seems as if the game scale and the political system is a good fit to create a slowly unfolding disaster?

The only DC I've ever picked up is CB and really struggled with that as the Germans to try and work out how to conduct a mobile offensive.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: loki100

as ever great stuff. Been interested in this for a while - as you say there is a real lack of 1939-40 games. Seems as if the game scale and the political system is a good fit to create a slowly unfolding disaster?

The only DC I've ever picked up is CB and really struggled with that as the Germans to try and work out how to conduct a mobile offensive.

warspite1

Thanks. With Dunkirk coming out this year, I put some effort into reading about the Western Front. I wish I had opened this game before reading though. It not only helps with picturing what was where, but also really helps to understand the scale of the French mis-management of the battle (and the German luck) and so would have been a useful aide to the reading. I mean we all know all about 2nd Army, but really? 9th Army? What the hell was that all about?

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
General Situation

Well that's nice [:)] We need you NOW!

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
French Army

So the French sector most threatened - that defended by Corap's 9th and Huntziger's 2nd Army are both suffering from big AP deficiencies....

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
French Army

French losses are up to 2% thanks largely to the sacrifice of the cavalry units no doubt. BUT importantly, the losses are less than the Germans which I think proves the genius of Monsieur Gamelin n'est pas? [;)]

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
French Army

This is the regiment of the French 5th Cavalry surrounded southwest of Chinyy. "Hold on boys - every moment you do helps seal the fate of the evil Hun swine!"

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
French Army

Well as XI Corps is part of 9th Army my hopes weren't exactly high in the first place for this unit.....

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
Armee de l'air

Until now the French air force have kept their powder dry. Now there can be no doubt about the fact that this is the main point of the German attack, the French air force are sent up en masse Kleist's panzers are the main focus of the attack - but the 34th Infantry Division, bearing down on Montmedy to the east are also targeted. The pilots claim all manner of victories, but.....

Worse follows. The French II Corps can get nothing to the river crossing to stop the lead elements of 1st Panzer Division....

7th Army tortuous journey to Holland is cut short and they have been diverted southeast - but Giraud is miles from the threatened breach.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
French 1st and 9th Armies

The new plan is to use the retreating Belgians to take over part of the BEF's frontage, push the British south into the Gembloux Gap, order 1st Army to take over the northern sector of 9th Army's line south of Namur and for 9th Army to try and seal any potential breakthrough across the Meuse west of Sedan. The killer however is the lack of AP. The French just cannot move quickly enough to provide any cohesive barrier.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
British Army

British Command and Control remains at 80% and only the Line of Comms Corps unit suffer from AP loss.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
British Army

General Barker really needs to get his **** together.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
Royal Air Force

The RAF are brought in to try and delay German progress around Liege and further south where a Panzer Corps bears down on Namur. Results, like the French, are not spectacular..

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
Belgian Army

The Belgians lose a morale point because of losses. The AP restrictions shouldn't hurt too much this turn.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
Belgian and British Armies

The British begin their manoeuvre to cover the Gembloux Gap with III Corps leading the way and I Corps leapfrogging II Corps position.

Meanwhile the Belgians continue to retreat from the Albert Canal where possible. But for two Corps this is simply not possible:

I Corps, defending Hasselt, launch an attack on the 31st Infantry Division west of the town. To the south in and around Liege, III Corps are on a 'defend to the last man' mission. There is no hope of extraction for these men but they need to try and delay 16th Army - who already have a substantial bridgehead.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
Dutch Army

The Dutch stay around, but II and III Corps are in full flight with whatever troops still remain. Ineffective air strikes are brought down on two German units leading the advance.

[warspite1]

15th May 1940
German Turn - Southern sector

The German Army continue to press around Montmedy and the 3rd and 41st Divisions are not going to be able to hold much longer - although the fortress garrison in the town itself is helping. General Doyen, commanding XVIII Corps desperately seeks assistance from General Grandsard and at least one division of his X Corps, but Grandsard has his own problems. It seems that the move of the panzers against 9th Army may have been a feint as much of the German panzer force has double-backed toward Sedan....

[warspite1]

15th May 1940
German Turn - French 9th Army (south)

Strangely there are still significant panzer elements in 9th Army's southern sector, but those remaining seem to have made a play for Fumay and Montherme rather than attempt the quick bounce of the Meuse that they appeared to be aiming for.