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

[warspite1]

12th May 1940
Dutch Army

There is really not too much to say. Whilst it was pleasing that many units held last turn, this is merely a temporary respite. No attacks are made and indeed as little movement made too to allow for possible entrenchment - enemy action permitting.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group A

On the extreme right flank of the French 1st Army Group the Germans have almost reached the Meuse. The 2nd Cavalry Division's 3rd Cavalry Brigade in Virton came in for a concerted attack but held on, while the 12th Light Mechanised, guarding the approaches to the river south of the town was heavily shelled.

To the north, the 5th Cavalry have been engaged by elements of the 29th Motorised Division, while a regiment from the sister 13th Motorised has forded the river and seeks to envelope the French cavalry from the south.

The Belgian Lanciers in Neufchateau were wiped out after a grim defence.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group A

The brave resistance of the Chasseurs Ardennais raises morale in the Allied armies - both the 1st Regiment at Houffalize and the 2nd Regiment to the north withstand attacks. Ominously however, Panzer Group Kleist, spearheaded by Lt-General Veiel's 2nd Panzer Division, has broken through the gap between the French and Belgian cavalry screens and is heading toward the Meuse.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group B (Belgium)

The Belgian defence of the Albert Canal/Maas has been blown apart. The lead elements of four infantry divisions and, more worryingly, the 4th Panzer Division, race over the river to form a solid bridgehead, brushing aside the Belgian defenders of III Corps with ease.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group B (Holland)

If every picture tells a story, here is a picture of despair and misery. The bolstering of the 4th Infantry Division appeared to have no effect and the Dutch plan for Fortress Holland goes up in smoke. In the south, amazingly the Light Division continue to gold Eindhoven....

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
General situation

So there is some good news for the Allies. The dumbarse plan that is the reason for their problems is going like clockwork..... [:D]

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
French Army

This kind of begs the question; am I being unlucky here or are 7th Army always this bad???

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
French Army

I guess the British must have suffered an airstrike - though I don't recall it if they did.....

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
French Army

I have a card to play and its free - but I suspect its a mickey take....

...Gamelin has personally visited the Headquarters of Corap's 9th Army, whereupon he met the commanders of all units of the 5th Motorised Division. General Gamelin tells the officers that, from reports that HQ are receiving, it is believed that the weight of the German panzer arm is bearing down on their sector. The 5th Motorised is all that stands in the way of at least 4 panzer divisions and so if they could stand to the last man and not let the German tanks through then that would be good.

With a brief 'merci beaucoup' to his 'inspired' audience, the General heads back to Vincennes for some cocoa and a nap.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
French 1st Army

With the Belgians beaten on the Maas, the plan has somewhat changed. Blanchard will seek to link up with the British at Wavre but then, instead of carrying on north east, the army will halt and use the river line down to Huy and try and defend the Meuse/Maas from there.

The problem is the French still haven't got 1st Army into that shortened position....

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
French 1st Army

By the end of Day 3 the French 1st Army is still woefully out of position. In order to allow time, the Belgians are going to have to make some serious sacrifices here...and even then will it be enough?

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
French 9th Army

The 9th Army units continue to arrive on the Meuse but are woefully strung out. This is just a mess - a complete mess.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
French 2nd Army + southern section of 9th Army

It has been decreed by General Huntziger that the 2nd and 5th Cavalry Division will fight and die between the Meuse and the Semois. The remaining bridges are blown in that sector confirming the cavalry's fate. To the west the regiment of the 55th Division defending Bouillon has blown the bridge and been ordered back to behind the Meuse.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
British Army

The British hold their allotted position along the Dyle. From North to South we have:

1st Infantry Division
1st (Guards) Bde
2nd Infantry Bde
3rd Infantry Bde

2nd Infantry Division
4th Infantry Bde
5th Infantry Bde
6th Infantry Bde

4th Infantry Division
10th Infantry Bde
11th Infantry Bde
12th Infantry Bde

3rd Infantry Division
7th (Guards) Bde
8th Infantry Bde
9th Infantry Bde

50th Infantry Division
150th Infantry Bde
151st Infantry Bde
25th Infantry Bde

44th Infantry Division
131st Infantry Bde
132nd Infantry Bde
133rd Infantry Bde

42nd Infantry Division
125th Infantry Bde
126th Infantry Bde
127th Infantry Bde

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
Belgian Army

The out of supply units are the two regiments of Chasseurs Ardennais in the Ardennes and a regiment of infantry caught at Eban-Emael. The Belgians have lost one morale point due to casualties which stand at 8%.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
Belgian Army

Whoopy-freakin'-do.....

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
Belgian Army

The Belgians are ordered to withdraw from the Albert Canal/Mass line and move to a new position running from Antwerp to Louvain. III, VII and K Corps will try and assist the French 1st Army in holding the Meuse around Namur.

[warspite1]

13th May 1940
Dutch Army

The Dutch are in a hell of a mess with 18% casualties and massive AP reductions across the board. A further morale point is also lost.

Many units are unable to move and I suspect this is now the end for the Dutch.

From top to bottom

IV Corps - are heading west toward Amsterdam
II Corps - out of moves, seriously depleted and out of hope, the remaining units can only sit around and await their fate
III Corps - surrounded and out of supply
Light Division - Eindhoven is about to fall and there is nothing the out of supply Light Division can do to stop it

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
German Turn - Army Group A - East of Sedan

Sacrificing the cavalry has perhaps bought time, but at the expected cost of more than half the cavalry. For all practical purposes the 2nd and 5th Divisions have ceased to exist.

To the west the regiment of the 55th Division seeking to return to the rest of the division behind the Meuse, is caught in the open and ground struck. The remnants will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

[warspite1]

14th May 1940
German Turn - 9th Army Sector (South)

Zut Alors!!

While Reinhardt's 6th Panzer tackles the French cavalry east of Boullion, his remaining panzers support the what is clearly the Schwerpunckt of the attack. Guderian's XIX Panzer Corps (1st, 2nd and 10th Panzer Divisions) head for the Meuse between Fumay and Montherme.