Nach Frankreich 1940(t) - Axis

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May 17, 1940 – Turn 10:
This was my first attempt at the scenario Nach Frankreich 1940(t) – otherwise known as Fall Gelb, which is the German invasion of Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, and France. I had managed to get across the Meuse River at four locations but the bridge heads were tenuous at all but one. None of the crossings showed any apparent break throughs. So, I decided to take a “mulligan” and try again.
The following set of posts is that attempt to improve the position across the Meuse River by May 17, 1940.

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May 10, 1940 – Turn 3 (T3):
On turn 1 of the scenario Nach Frankreich 1940(t) the German player has a Theater Option choice and I picked to set up the game according to the Historical Allied Reaction. The remainder of turn 1 and all turn 2 is set up by the computer based on the theater option selected.
Here is the initial starting position prior to launch. There will be follow on divisions (reinforcements) as the game progresses.
A few noteworthy items:
1) There are three army groups:
1) Army Group B – consisted of 6th Army, 18th Army, and 3rd, 4th, and 9th PZD
2) Army Group A – consisted of 4th Army with 5th and 6th PZD, 12th Army, 16th Army and PZGRP Kleist (1st, 2nd, 6th, 8th, 10th PZD)
3) Army Group C – consists of the 1st and 7th Army.
2) Germany has only one supply point noted on the map at Freudenstadt – need to protect.
3) Read the briefing documents. Only scanned these on my first attempt. There is some key information that helps.
4) Engineering units with ferry capabilities and with bridge repair capabilities are important especially in the opening drive. They also help in crossing the Meuse. I did not use these effectively in my first attempt.
5) The Panzer units have a high reconnaissance value and of course maneuverable so they should blow through enemy units which are trying to slow down the Axis push to the Meuse river crossings. The support units (Art., AA, etc.) may suffer damage as they pass by these units and disengage. In my first attempt, I tried to clear the path so the support units could keep up.
Following is my basic plan.

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Overall:
1) Follow the concepts in the briefing document.
2) Air Units: For the first few turns I will use the Air Assist which allocate units for Air superiority, airfield attack, and interdiction. Later I may manually override to provide combat support as needed.
Army Group C:
1) 7th Army - No change. Protect the key supply depot. Monitor key bridges over the Rhine (red arrows).
2) 1st Army – Close the gap on the Maginot Line and extend frontage coverage to the NW so I can use the 16th Army in support of the push to the Meuse. Once the gap is closed I will do probes for weak spots in the Maginot defenses. These probes are really a feint to try and keep the French forces engaged here and not run off to defend the Meuse River crossings or elsewhere.

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Overall:
1) Engineers – Use ferry engineers and bridge repair engineers to create kick off avenues in order to maximize travel distances.
2) Panzers – Tanks don’t stop. Clear the roads of enemy units by pushing to the side and then move on to the crossings. Let the follow-on infantry handle the bypassed enemy units.
Army Group A:
1) 4th Army – Take the crossings at Dinant and Givet.
2) 12th Army – Take any 3 of the southern 4 crossings. Sedan, the southernmost crossing, is a must and then take two more as conditions allow.
3) 16th Army - Provide southern flank support for Army Group A. Also try to gain access to the two major roads (indicated by red arrows) in an attempt to get behind the Maginot Line.

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Overall:
1) Engineers – Use ferry engineers and bridge repair engineers to create kick off avenues in order to maximize travel distances.
2) Panzers –Tanks don’t stop. Clear the roads of enemy units by pushing to the side and then move on to the crossings. Let the follow-on infantry handle the bypassed enemy units.
Army Group B:
1) 7th & 22nd Air Division – Consolidate units to Den Haag. Air drop the 22nd Artillery into Den Haag once other units have arrived. If these units manage to take Den Haag then a 50% chance Holland will surrender. Once Holland surrenders push towards Antwerp.
2) 18th Army - Proceed to Utrecht. Once taken there is a 100% chance Holland surrenders. Once Holland surrenders push towards Antwerp.
3) 6th Army – Move towards Namur (red circle) and once taken shift towards Brussels.
4) 9th PZD – This division is poised to support the push into Holland and into Belgium. I will use it to support the 6th Army push into Belgium and moving in the direction of Namur (red circle).

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May 12, 1940 (T5)

High level view of advancement after the first two days.

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May 12, 1940 (T5)
Army Group B – Holland
7th & 22nd Air Divisions – Most of the regiments are in Den Haag. I plan to air bombard for a day or two on the Allies located in Den Haag and then launch a ground assault. Again, there is a 50% chance Holland will surrender if I take all of Den Haag.
18th Army – Units have come against an established enemy front line on the way to Utrecht. If the capture of Den Haag fails or fails to cause Holland to surrender then capture of Utrecht is vital to Holland surrendering. Moving Axis units to the northern end of this line is hindered by well place Dutch units in a delaying action (see red arrows). I will also move all available artillery into place to help inflict casualties and possibly dis-entrench Allies prior to a ground assault.

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May 12, 1940 (T5)
Army Group B – Belgium
6th Army – The southwesterly shift of units is going slow because of two reasons. 1) The units needed to cross a major river at the jump off point. Even with engineers doing ferry duty and bridge repairs it still required the units to take turns crossing the river. 2) The area indicated by the “slow going” had many gun emplacements and units that could not be effectively pushed out the way by the Panzers.
9th PZD – Units have made good progress coming all the way from the northern flank of the 6th Army.

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May 12, 1940 (T5)
Army Group A – note Allied units have been pushed aside and passed by the Panzers.
16th Army – Slowly moving to position to try and gain entry to the southerly roads marked by red arrows. There are no direct roads under Axis control to point of contact so movement will be cross country.
12th Army & PZGRP Kleist – the leading Panzer regiments are within 35 km of the crossing at Sedan which looks unoccupied for now. Also, additional infantry and Panzer reinforcement are arriving.
4th Army – The lead Panzer regiments are within 25 km of the crossing at Dinant. Both of 4th Army crossing targets, Dinant and Givet, look unoccupied at this time.

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May 12, 1940 (T5)
1st Army – In each division, every 2 out of 3 regiments were divided in half creating one full regiment and 4 half-regiments per division. This allowed for the following:
1) The front has been stretched to cover 150 km.
2) Closed the gap moving to Maginot Line.
3) Each half regiment is used on the front line and are digging in. The remaining full regiment is held in reserve as reaction force to any attempts to attack by the Allies.
4) This also freed up 2 full divisions that are not on the front and will be used in reserve and as additional reactionary forces.

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I think I need to scale my maps done some. I will work on that.

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May 13, 1940 (T6)
Army Group B
7th & 22nnd Air Divisions – Den Haag has fallen to the air divisions but Holland did not surrender. In my first attempt Holland did surrender after I captured Den Haag.
18th Army – unto Utrecht.
Army Group A
4th Army - PZ units have crossed the Meuse at Dinant
PZGRP Kleist – PZ units have crossed the Meuse at Sedan.

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May 14, 1940 (T7)
Here is the situation at the start of turn 7, four days since the start of the offensive.
Army Group B
18th Army – Still fighting its way closer Utrecht
Army Group A – Has now crossed the Meuse River at four locations.

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May 14, 1940 (T7)
Army Group B - Holland
18th Army – units have pushed the defenses in front of Utrecht back by 10 km in the last 2 days. However, the Allies remaining units have been worn down and I hope to break through this turn.
7th &22nd Air Divisions – Holding on to Den Haag. The division is not being supplied however, the infantry units show a supply health of 60+% per unit but the artillery unit is at 16% supply health.

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May 14, 1940 (T7)
Army Group B – Belgium
9th PZD – was cut off from supplies last turn. They have enough supplies but I am hesitant to push forward without re-establishing a supply link.
6th Army – Panzer units have reached the outskirts of Namur but not sure they are strong enough to take the city. The 3rd PZD is in rough shape and needs some rest and supplies. Infantry divisions need time to catch up to the PZD. I am thinking of by passing Namur and shift focus towards Brussels.

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May 14, 1940 (T7)
Army Group A
4th Army – PZDs and IDs are moving across the river crossings at Dinant and Givet. Next goal is to link up the two Bridge heads and then push forward.
12th Army & PZGRP Kleist – Only a few PZ divisions have made it across each of the two river crossings. Plan is to continue to pour units as well as try to secure the other two bridges. A few of the PZ units are re-organizing but for the most part the PZ units are still fairly strong.
16th Army – These units have just reached their target areas, the two southerly roads. Strong enemy force in this area this will probably be slow going.

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May 15, 1940 (T8)
Army Group B
18th Army – leading units have broken through the Dutch units by Utrecht, which looks wide open.
6th Army – Attacks by Allied forces has confused the front line between Namur and Brussels (arrows). See next post for a detailed look.
Army Group A – Bridge heads are established, growing, and connecting up with each other. Two of the southern bridgeheads (see blue arrows) appear to have potential “breakout spots”.
Army Group C
1st Army – there has been a buildup of enemy forces (red arrow) on the northwestern front. I will need to keep an eye on this to see if the enemy will try to exploit this weak spot.

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May 15, 1940 (T8)
Army Group B
6th Army – Attacks by Allied forces has confused the front line between Namur and Brussels. The 3rd & 4th PZD were pushed around last turn. I may need to rest all the 6th Army PZDs once the front lines have stabilized.

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May 16, 1940 (T9)
Army Group B
18th Army – Utrecht was taken and Holland has surrendered. Units will begin moving towards Brussels by way of Antwerp.
1st Kav/18th Army - will move south into 6th Army and Army Group An area of operations in order to help clean up remnant enemy forces thus freeing up Inf. Divs. to move to the front.
7th &22nd Air Divisions – Will begin to move towards Brussels by way of Antwerp.
Security Forces – will move into Holland to maintain order.
Army Group A – Four breakout areas are developing. (blue arrows). Bridge heads have almost all connected up.
Army Group C – Enemy build up continues in the northwestern front lines of the 1st Army.

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May 17, 1940 (T10) - 2nd Attempt versus 1st Attempt
This is a comparison of the 2nd attempt for this scenario versus the 1st attempt. Key differences are:
18th Army – Holland did not surrender after the fall of Den Haag like the 1st Attempt therefore these forces are still moving into Belgium.
6th Army – Did not capture Namur area (yellow circle) as they did in the 1st Attempt.
Army Group A – Firmly captured key Meuse River crossings and generated approximately 85 km front wide breakout. This “breakout” front is about 40 km beyond the front in the 1st attempt.