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

[warspite1]

25th May 1940
French 2nd Army

Where are all the French rivers when you need them?

Huntziger is ordered to make a stand behind the Aisne. With just one corps - XVIII - remaining, and a literally a couple of units from X Corps, he is entitled to ask with what.....

Weygand authorises the transfer of the Polish and the 23rd Divisions from reserve to X Corps.

[warspite1]

25th May 1940
9th Army (South)

Corap is advised that the lead panzers of 6th Division are in poor shape. The French general orders an ill-advised attack using a regiment from each of 1st and 54th Divisions.....with expected results...

[warspite1]

25th May 1940
French 9th Army

Orders, Schmorders!

Corap orders his XI Corps to maintain a rear-guard at the bridges and retreat with the remaining units. This order has been received and translated as...All units retreat and leave the bridges un-manned. They are destroyed anyway so I'm sure it'll be alright....

[warspite1]

25th May 1940
French 1st Army

North of XI Corps, the men of III Corps have just had their right flank exposed thanks to the unauthorised retreat. Two regiments of German infantry have crossed the river, but it is decided to withdraw or risk being surrounded in a pincer movement.

To their left Prioux's Cavalry Corps are in danger from the breach of the river to the northeast. Prioux orders and attack against a regiment from the 263rd Division anyway (Free Card).

[warspite1]

25th May 1940
French 1st Army

Achtung Panzer!? Achtung Baby! [8D]

Prioux's men co-ordinate their attack with a regiment of the 2nd Division. The attack is preceded by air and artillery strikes against the German units threatening the flanks. To the south the men of the 1st and 2nd Divisions start to pull back from the river, while the 2nd Light Mechanised Division attack the German infantry east of Biesmeret. The attack provides a rare bit of success for the French.

[warspite1]

25th May 1940
French 1st Army

The 101st Fortress Division is nominated as the rear-guard for the V Corps, V Corps having previously been given the honour of being the rear-guard for 1st Army. As such, it is unlikely that any of 12th and 101st Divisions will get back to safety.

[warspite1]

25th May 1940
British Army

The BEF hold a 'line' from Gent in the north - through the western suburbs of Brussels - to the left flank of the French 1st Army west of Nivelles. Two Brigades of 5th Division manage to extricate themselves from being surrounded, but both are out in the open and likely to be swallowed up...

[warspite1]

26th May 1940
German Turn

The sheer number of German units streaming down from Holland and through northern Belgium is depressing... 6th Panzer spearhead the column bearing down on the British 2nd Division at Gent. To the south, the Germans are in force in and around Brussels.

The essential problem is that now the Germans are over the Meuse there is a growing gap between the French 1st and 9th Armies. What the AI chooses to do now will be interesting. The Germans could try and head straight for Paris or they could simply try and undertake a number of encirclement actions....

[warspite1]

26th May 1940
Allied Situation

DESPERATE!!

The French have 21PP and I think what is lacking here is sheer numbers on the ground. I spend 10 to obtain a further infantry division southeast of Paris.

Weygand's plan is to continue the headlong retreat - try and find some natural obstacles and - to keep armour concentrated so that if any counter-attack opportunities do present themselves, they are in a position to take advantage.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

25th May 1940
French Army

Huzzah!

Recall reading that the French decision to put the pre-WW1 75/76mm artillery back into use was one of their more astute decisions. Gave the Germans quite a few shocks in the second phase of their offensive (ie post Dunkirk).

Overall this has become rather grim reading. How do the victory conditions apply? Do you do better by merely controlling the speed at which this disaster is unfolding?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: loki100

ORIGINAL: warspite1

25th May 1940
French Army

Huzzah!

Recall reading that the French decision to put the pre-WW1 75/76mm artillery back into use was one of their more astute decisions. Gave the Germans quite a few shocks in the second phase of their offensive (ie post Dunkirk).

Overall this has become rather grim reading. How do the victory conditions apply? Do you do better by merely controlling the speed at which this disaster is unfolding?

warspite1

Apparently Victory Points are based on key cities and towns taken. The losses only count against a victory type - not a victory itself. At present German losses are 15% (the maximum allowed). My understanding is that if they get to 70 VP (currently at 52 or so) then the Germans will win - but I can make that a minor victory or whatever by causing losses above the 15%. I don't know what effect on Victory the loss of the BEF would be as opposed to them remaining but being wiped out.

Yes, this is grim. The French can't make a stand because they have insufficient unit to form a line. As shown in the last turn, the French can hurt over-extended German units, but the penalty is likely surrounding next turn.

But its still fun at the moment. I don't know what the AI will do and I am trying not to be gamey (even if I could!). The British are thinking about exit and the French want to protect Paris.

[loki100]

well you've convinced me to pick it up and give a go. I could never quite get into DC:Blau (not sure why) but the total lack of 1939-41 period operational games and that the granuality of this just seems right for those campaigns, so happy to try again.

After all, what could go wrong [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: loki100

well you've convinced me to pick it up and give a go. I could never quite get into DC:Blau (not sure why) but the total lack of 1939-41 period operational games and that the granuality of this just seems right for those campaigns, so happy to try again.

After all, what could go wrong [:)]

warspite1

Cool. I am sure you will do a better job than me.

Yes, its nice to 'play' with something different [:)]

[Orm]

My computer is to old, and slow, for me to practically be able to play this game. I seek comfort in following your progress and it is probably more fun doing so than actually playing. [&o] [:)]

[warspite1]

26th May 1940
French 2nd Army

General Rochard orders every bridge over the Aisne to be blown to kingdom come. Around Vouziers and to the south, this is successfully achieved. A line is held by the 41st and 3rd Colonial Divisions, but Huntziger is all too aware this is just a thin crust - and there are no armoured units in reserve here.

On XVIII's left flank the reconstituted X Corps holds the line as far as Rethel - although the units of 23rd Division seem unable to blow a bridge.....

[warspite1]

26th May 1940
French 9th Army

The right wing of 9th Army is going to be needed to attach to the left flank of 2nd Army, but to do so - and still maintain a line (given the distance involved) is going to need more units. However, at this stage the Corap's army are more interested in successfully disengaging from the Germans.

[warspite1]

26th May 1940
French 1st Army

The flight of 9th Army west, is the signal for Blanchard to finally do the same. Beginning in the south with III Corps who find themselves in danger of encirclement thanks to the previous counter-attack.

[warspite1]

26th May 1940
French 1st Army

III Corps have done their best to withdraw, but 2nd Division are likely to be gobbled up in trying to provide an obstacle at Gent. A Brigade of 5th Division cannot get away and its days are numbered.....

[warspite1]

26th May 1940
British Army

The British find individual area where they can hope to delay the Germans - that is fine except they are running the real risk of being overrun...

[warspite1]

27th May 1940
German Turn

Opposite Huntziger the German VII and XIII Corps' do not seek to press on up to the river. This may have something to do with the state of the German troops and the need to rest and refit.

To the north, between Rethel and Mezieres, the German 9th Army and their XIV Corps mete out punishment to the French stragglers caught out in the open. But the majority of troops that have crossed the river at the latter town, have headed northwest and may be looking to force an even wider gap between 9th Army's XI Corps and 1st Army's III Corps.