Force H puts to sea - where they will stay to give cover to the troops on the coast. The Manchester Militia lands in Antwerp, freeing up the 8th Mechanised Corps to move to the hex southwest, which in turn allows Alexander to move into France.
It's all a bit desperate - and first impulse will be vital.
Attachments
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Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
And here is the Historical Description for Artevelde.
• Engine(s) output: 21,700 hp
• Top speed: 28.5 knots
• Main armament: 4 x 4.1-inch (105mm), 2 x 40mm guns
• Displacement (full load): 2,270 tons
• Thickest armour: Not applicable
This is strictly speaking a World In Flames “what if” counter, as the Belgian navy had actually been disbanded in 1927. The ships that remained in the civilian manned coastal defence force were insufficient - even in total - to make up a World In Flames counter, let alone an individual Ships In Flames counter. Players should ignore the reference to this counter depicting a CA (heavy cruiser type) - there is no effect on gameplay.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Belgians had the grand total of one ex-Royal Navy sloop, named Zinnia and two torpedo boats, named Wielingen and West Diep. As said, these three vessels were manned by civilians and acted as a coastal defence force.
The name on this counter, Artevelde, refers to a ship that was still incomplete at the time of the Belgian surrender in May 1940. She was intended to replace the ageing Zinnia and would have acted as a fishery protection vessel that doubled as the Royal Yacht.
In reality, Artevelde was completed by the Germans to a different specification and renamed Lorelei; she was to survive the war.
As far as the Belgian navy was concerned, when war loomed, a naval corps was built up and this small group took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk and for a short time until the French surrender, took part in operations with the French navy.
A handful of Belgians bravely made the journey to the UK and while some Belgians served within the Royal Navy, the majority became part of the Belgian Section of the Royal Navy, established in September 1940. This force was provided with two corvettes, Buttercup and Godetia, a squadron of minesweepers, and three patrol boats, named Phrontis, Electra and Kernot.
The two corvettes were deployed in the Battle of the Atlantic and in June 1944 took part in Operation Neptune; the naval component of the D-Day landings.
After the liberation of Belgium the minesweeping squadron was sent to Belgium to clear coastal waters of enemy mines.
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Commonwealth:
2 x AMPH has been placed in the Construction Pool
MIL (Auckland)
FTR
MOT
HMS Formidable
France:
2 x FTR
INF
2 x INF HQ (Georges and Pretelat)
MOT DIV
AT
USA:
AMPH has been placed in the Construction Pool
USS Hornet has been placed in the Construction Pool
USS Indiana has been placed in the Construction Pool
TRS
USSR:
2 x INF
GARR
MECH DIV
INF HQ (Yeremenko)
HMS Formidable
Attachments
formidable_unknown_a.jpg (37.96 KiB) Viewed 220 times
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
The French have to decide whether to try and nip out the "bulge" that has developed east of Paris, or simply to try and reorganise the lines and let the Germans attack. The latter approach has not really worked so far and, in addition, in doing so the British Army could end up cut-off and surrounded in Belgium/Holland.
In his HQ, Gamelin is about to start his breakfast. He realises this will be one of the defining moments in the campaign. He is already wavering at the thought of launching the attack. He desperately needs some fortification. There is only one thing for it....
Valet: Would you like your usual boiled egg and soldiers this morning mon General?
Gamelin (thinks long and hard before banging the table and defiantly announcing): Non, I will ave Weetabix!!
The main problem the French have is that they will likely be crucified in the air. However, they decide to request RAF diversionary support to draw some of the French fighters away. The RAF agree - and furthermore, call up their best pilots for the action.
This is where its all going to get complicated [X(]
The French seek to attack with their only bomber, the Potez. They can get 6 points of fighters to the hex but these are in half range so do not need to commit first off.
The RAF send in two bombers to the hex to the northwest. They are accompanied by a Spitfire from Rotterdam.
The Germans decide to meet both attacks with just enough fighters to have the advantage in each battle. 7 points fly to the French hex and 8 to the northern hex.
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
So, to the Belgian hex first and its 5.7:7.0 advantage to the Luftwaffe. The Axis will throw first.
Round 1:
2 - AX (ouch!) Germany decides whether to destroy the from fighter or bomber. The pilot survives. They choose the fighter.
11- DC Effectively no result.
The odds are now 4.3:7.0 but the British decide to risk one more round in the hope they get lucky....
Round 2:
11 - DC! The Allied player chooses which bomber to send through. They obviously choose the Hampden.
10 - DC Effectively no result again.
The RAF do not push their luck - they have already lost one precious fighter and so withdraw.
Attachments
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Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
The Germans now bring into play their pesky AA unit - although this cannot help the German units in France.
Only 3 damage points are available - but this is enough to render the bomber impotent in what would otherwise have been a successful attack on the 47th Panzer Corps.
Attachments
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Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
The Commonwealth decide its time to say goodbye to Holland. They vow to be back, but for now, the position is becoming ever more dangerous.
Meanwhile, the French can get enough attackers for a 3:1 (no modifier) attack. BUT they cannot stop the Luftwaffe getting the 9 points they need to bring those odds back to 1:1.
Gamelin, choking on his Weetabix, has no choice but to call off the attack.
If there is one bright spot, at least in going first the Allies have been able to strengthen their lines....
Attachments
AAAA.jpg (553.66 KiB) Viewed 220 times
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
