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A fine summer's day in the north of France, Col. Marceau thought. Warm sunshine, flowers in bloom, good visibility... all in all an excellent day to be hunting les Boches.

The pleasant afternoon had been somewhat disturbed by distant thunder, but it seemed insignificant. Certainly thunder had never hurt anyone.

His troops moved forward, eager to make contact. All that was needed now was an enemy to fight....

Col. Marceau made a mental note to have words later in the day with the quartermaster. Surely, in all of France, there should be more than 1 81mm mortar and 1 60mm mortar:eek:

Things had been a bit quiet all day while the vehicles were refueled and ammo reloaded into the Panzers and StuGs. An intelegence report came to the Colonel reporting a French unit spotted heading into the area. Scouts and recon were mobilized and a short artillery barrage ordered to provide them a point of reference as to the enemy "lines" -- if that description is accurate as fast as it keeps moving west.

Reports from forward units came in reporting Vis IB, and a few other tanks and trucks moving toward them. A scout car drew fire as it moved to an advanced postion.

The map was unrolled showing a stretch of ridgelines running north and south across mostly open terrain with patchy woods. The weather was clear and visability was about a kilometer and a half. The Luftwaffe was busy elsewhere on the front, but artillery was available.

Col. Marceau's recon units reported sighting several halftracks to the north and to the south, accompanied by a handful of Panzer III's and IV's. A couple of scout cars had taken up positions on high ground in the central region of the map.

His forces continued to move toward their objectives.

A German fishing expedition using howitzers must have proven a disappointment to les Boches, since nobody was in the area to truly appreciate it. Col. Marceau's noble French artillerists, on the other hand, had managed to say 'bonjeur' to a brace of PzKfw IV's with a 155mm handshake. No evident damage, but perhaps they would show more caution in their future movements.

Col Schwendt listened to the sound of French guns firing. "Sounds like they have about 6 - 155s and 4 - 75s. Any casualty reports?"

"Well, sir," reported an aide, "Lt Wittman reports that some of his tankers complained that the clumps thrown up by the artillery barrage got dirt in their coffee and on their chocolate, but no other damage. any where. On the other hand, sir, our artillery s***s."

"Ah, you would think the French would at least respect the fact that we are having dinner. With their food fetish, you would think they would know better then to ruin a meal."

Updated reports from the scouts indicate a center advance of some 20 Char B1s tanks in two formations each supported by a few FCM 36s and Char D2s. The South has AMR 33s and FCM 36s, but not in any quatity. Same is reported in the north. Both flaks also reported seeing a few trucks, most likely carrying infantry.

Earlier visability reports were incorrect, sir. Visability is just over 2 km.

Col. Marceau smiled as an aide rushed up with news.

"Sir! We have reports that two Boches scout cars have been destroyed!"

"Tres bien[\I]." Ah, the removal of the filth which has polluted our soil proceeds, he thought.

"Alors[\I], we have also lost a camion[\I] to mortar fire."

"Merde![\I]" If only that would be the last of our losses, he thought. All too soon, for some of his valiant men, other lives would be lost as the two sides came closer to grips.

"Lieutenant, would you please instruct our forces to begin setting out the camembert and burgundy traps?"

"Mais oui, mon colonel[\I]. It will be my pleasure."

Perhaps this would lure the vaunted Panzers into range...

The good news is the artillery has started hitting things. The bad news is that AT crews aren't.

Only a few hits on a few trucks and some infantry to report. Nothing beyond that. Although the Infantry platoons on the flanks look pretty whimpy -- but, hey, they're French.

Evidently, FMC-2C infantry tanks are armored with tin foil and tissue paper. One has fallen victim to a 3.7cm Flak gun

A German special ops squad managed to infiltrate into the French rear area. Not content with kicking the tires on used trucks, they have decided to blow them up. The manager will be along to speak with them presently

My infantry don't hold up well to artillery bombardment. The routing has begun in the south

On a positive note, I've destroyed an FO, a couple of 8-wheeled armored cars, and another scout car. :)

Somewhere there are Panzers...

The Spec Ops squad destroyed the truck by kicking the tires. They also reported another reserve Armor cluster of Main Battle Tanks with engines at idle in the rear of the French advance.

Armor, armor evrywhere and not a one to dink.

Could you please move closer to my AT guns? Thank you.

And here I thought I was moving my armor closer to your AT weapons.

What a silly French person I am. :p

The Char 1b's are searching, but they are finding only pipsqueak armored cars to destroy.

Still, it gives them something to do.

The AT crews are finally waking up enough to actually hit something. Scratch one AMR 33 and a pair of FCM 36s from the north group.

Artillery, on the other hand, is not nearly as effective. Each group from South to north was pounded with no reportable results. Most entertaining was the slaps of the turrets of the B1 bis groups in the center and souther central area.

A couple more infantry hit by infantry weapons.

Reports and requests for permission to drive the enemy back are met with admonissions of patience from Col Schwent. "They are already dead, they just don't know it -- yet.

Requests for French artillery fire missions must be submitted in triplicate to High Command, for approval by General Gamelin. I understand that permission has been granted to shell suspected German positions at Arras. Unfortunately, Arras fell over two weeks ago

My infantry and armor (such as it is) in the woods to the north are too scared to move. At the end of the turn, however, they demonstrated their speed at retreat. I'm beginning to think that the motto of the French infantry is: 'Veni, vidi, vamoosi'

A couple of squads of spec ops have been eliminated from the backfield, and it looks as though another armored car or two has become a casualty on the Hun side.

The central VOs are now in French hands

On a slightly different note, I'm beginning to wonder how a match between France and Italy in June 1940 would go... would the winner be the first player to retreat all of his/her troops? :p

The French have opted for the wide, thin front advance. In the center are two companies of heavy armor, while each flank has a platoon of infantry and support armor. Most of the North flank is gone, sone to be gone or running like hell for the rear areas. The sout flank seems to have vanished. a a bunch of legionaires and MG squads are clustered in a wood in the back. Defending something? Or just hiding?

I expect the reserve armor (another co of big tanks) will start forward soon. With the right (north) flank crumbling, my AT guns will get into the backfield soon.

Southern VOs have been occupied by Char B1's of the valiant French army.

The less valiant infantry in the northern woods continues to hunt for truffles and avoid people wearing gray uniforms and carrying guns

One of the Char's poked it's turret over the hill by the southern VOs and found where all of the 88's have been hiding. Lost a Char and an FMC-2C to 88's; took out a PzIII with a Char

A few pot shots have been taken at an AT gun, another AC, and a few other Panzers. Looks like a shooting match will be erupting soon in the south.

i lIKE pZIIIs - tHEY dIE eASY! (sorry M4 Jess )

The battle continues with the destruction of a few vehicles on both sides. The MDTs of the French lie burning in ruins, while a scout car or two and a PZ II bite the big one.

The French currently hold possession of the central VHs. But it remains to be seen whether they can be held without infantry.

Originally posted by challenge
The French currently hold possession of the central VHs. But it remains to be seen whether they can be held without infantry.

Infantry? We don't need no stinking infantry!

(Well, maybe a little... )

More vehicle losses on both sides, and another GE Spec Ops sqaud goes down in flames in my rear area. When will they learn that it is an unhealthy place for Huns?

The number of halftracks terrorizing my troops in the north woods has been reduced somewhat. Perhaps the French rifle squads might consider returning to the front. :rolleyes:

Another turn... we now have armor slugging it out face to face around the central VOs. StuG's and Char's missing each other at point-blank range

The noble French (routed or retreating) infantry in the northern woods seem to look up from their truffle search periodically and manage to close assault the odd halftrack. Astonishing! :rolleyes:

Hun infantry is being hustled up to the central hill; so is French infantry. Looks like a real shooting war is going to happen in the center of the map.

Now the superiority of the French military will make itself felt!

Originally posted by Seagull
Now the superiority of the French military will make itself felt!

What the F....?!? Seagulls really ARE birdbrained!;)

Goblin- A Goblin makes an observation:D

You'll notice I didn't say how the superiority of the French military would make itself felt

Seagull - A Seagull is pedantic

It was the whole 'superiority' thing that had me confused. I now understand that you were comparing yourself to the Belgian army!

Goblin- A Goblin says Ahah!:p

I have nothing but praise for the brave French soldiers dieing and running for their country. What actually surprised me was the tenacity of the French armor. The B1 bis is built like a tank (pun intended, of course). When they aren't running to get out from under the German Artillery, they put up a reasonable static defense -- meaning my shells bounce of resoundingly.