The Adventures of Kampfgruppe Klink

Started by bigjackmac, 31 December 2014, 05:05:18 AM

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bigjackmac

All,

Ambush at Abbeville, #1
0530 28 May 1940

Following the fighting in and around Flavion, KG Klink was briefly pulled out of the line to rest, refit, perform maintenance on their weapons, machines, and equipment, and bring in a few replacements.  They were actually parked outside the Dunkirk perimeter when they were called back to action; further south, German forces had forced a crossing on the Somme.  At 0600 27 on May, the Allies counterattacked the German bridgehead, striking the German 57th Infantry Division southwest of Abbeville, in an attempt to reach the encircled Allied troops at Dunkirk.

Unbeknownst to the Germans, the French French 4e DCr (or 4th Division Cuirassee, 4th Armored Division) arrived in the battle area that evening.  The French force, heavily armed with Char B1, Somua S-35, and Hotchkiss light tanks, immediately set about reorganizing, preparing to attack on the morning of 28 May.

But KG Klink moved all through the night in order to reach the battle area. arriving at approximately  0500 on 28 May.  The plan was for KG Klink to counterattack down the Blangy-Abbevile Road, hoping to flank the French 2e DLC (2nd Cavalry Division), maybe even cut all the way across and in behind the British 51st Highland Division, cutting off the British 1st Armored Division.  With that, KG Klink set off, passing through the German 217th Infantry Regiment, launching its attack down the Blangy-Abbeville Road.  KG Klink passed through Villers sur Mareuil, then Huppy, and were moving towards St Maxent en Vimeu, when they encountered trouble near the three (fictional) villages, Dujour, Deture, and Toujour, on the River Bleu.

The first fight sees Colonel Klink himself, looking to seal his axis of advance from flank harassment and searching for a place to post his headquarters, lead 1st Grenadier Platoon, supported by attached Stugs, in the attack on Dujour.


The overall area of operations, and that stupid north-seeking arrow at top right is incorrect, north is to far left...  The three villages are, from left to right: Dujour, Deture, and Toujour, and the hills are, from left to right: Hill 34, Hill 44, and Hill 54.  The River Bleu runs east-west down the center of the table.

My intent is to play a series of battles on a 6' x 4' layout, using small pieces, maybe 2' x 2' with 10mm troops.  I've gone back to my old standby, Ivan's "5Core Company Command."


The German force: their CO, two Stugs, and five rifle squads.


The French force:
Commanding Officer
MG Team
2 x 25mm Anti-Tank Guns
Four Rifle Squads


My interpretation of the operational area, with the villages Dujour (top left), Deture (center), and Toujour (far right) and hills 34 (bottom center left), 44 (top center left), and 54 (bottom center right, with the River Bleu running east-west (top to bottom) at center.


The Germans cross the line of departure and are immediately met by French anti-tank fire from Hill 44.


Colonel Klink rallying the troops under fire.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2019/08/kg-klink-france-game-8.html?m=1

More fights coming up.  Next fight in this series is Lt Tausch leading 3rd Grenadier Platoon (supported by an MG-34, an 80mm mortar, and a 75mm Infantry Gun attempting to take Hill 34, a simultaneous attack west of the Blangy-Abbeville Road.

V/R,
Jack

Steve J

Great to see these chaps in action again :).

Duke Speedy of Leighton

Nie one Jack.
Drove past Abbeville the other day, it's perfect tank country...
You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
2016 Pendraken Painting Competion Participation Prize  (Lucky Dip Catagory) Winner

bigjackmac

Steve - Thank you, Sir, I appreciate it!  Yes, I'm looking to close out the Fall of France, maybe play a few games of Germans vs Brits in Greece, then on to Barbarossa.

Lemmey - Thanks, and that's fantastic, I'm extremely envious!

V/R,
Jack

Techno

Nice one, again, Jack.

Cheers - Phil

bigjackmac


bigjackmac

All,

Ambush at Abbeville, #2
0530 28 May 1940

Following the fighting in and around Flavion, KG Klink was briefly pulled out of the line to rest, refit, perform maintenance on their weapons, machines, and equipment, and bring in a few replacements.  They were actually parked outside the Dunkirk perimeter when they were called back to action; further south, German forces had forced a crossing on the Somme.  At 0600 27 on May, the Allies counterattacked the German bridgehead, striking the German 57th Infantry Division southwest of Abbeville, in an attempt to reach the encircled Allied troops at Dunkirk.

Unbeknownst to the Germans, the French French 4e DCr (or 4th Division Cuirassee, 4th Armored Division) arrived in the battle area that evening.  The French force, heavily armed with Char B1, Somua S-35, and Hotchkiss light tanks, immediately set about reorganizing, preparing to attack on the morning of 28 May.

But KG Klink moved all through the night in order to reach the battle area. arriving at approximately  0500 on 28 May.  The plan was for KG Klink to counterattack down the Blangy-Abbevile Road, hoping to flank the French 2e DLC (2nd Cavalry Division), maybe even cut all the way across and in behind the British 51st Highland Division, cutting off the British 1st Armored Division.  With that, KG Klink set off, passing through the German 217th Infantry Regiment, launching its attack down the Blangy-Abbeville Road.  KG Klink passed through Villers sur Mareuil, then Huppy, and were moving towards St Maxent en Vimeu, when they encountered trouble near the three (fictional) villages, Dujour, Deture, and Toujour, on the River Bleu.

The first fight saw Colonel Klink lead the 1st Grenadier Platoon, supported by Stugs, in the attack on Dujours.  Repulsed, they were reinforced by the 4th Grenadier Platoon and drove the French force back onto Hill 44.


The second fight sees the Schutzen Company Commander, 1st Lt Tausch, lead his 3rd Grenadier Platoon, supported by elements of his Schwere Platoon, in the assault on Hill 34, north of the Blangy-Abbeville Road.


The battle area, north is left.  The Germans are attacking across the fields at left, with their base of fire element at top left and the engineers hoping to get get into the farmhouse (top center left) and cause some trouble, while the French are defending from positions atop Hill 34 (right).  This is an example of what some folks call 'pizza-box gaming.'  No pre-contact maneuver or messing around, we're hopping into the action immediately, starting the game at the point of the first shots being fired. 


The German engineers and their rifle squad escorts don't even make it off their start line before their roughed up, as Sgt Oberlander gets his 7.5cm Infantry Gun into action, sending HE shells up the hill at the French defenses.


Similarly, 3rd Platoon had barely crossed the line of departure before it was receiving effective fire.  Lt Tausch, their Company Commander, is busy cursing and kicking ass to the get German riflemen moving again.


Lt Tausch is able to push the German infantry up the hill and into contact with the French left flank.  The French machine gunner in the defensive position at center bottom unlocks his gun and swings it all the way over to the left, onto his Final Protective Line, and goes cyclic, trying to keep the Germans from overrunning the French riflemen there (top center left, with Germans at top center right).


The German infantry, under heavy pressure, continue to work their way right, around the French flank.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2019/08/kg-klink-france-game-9.html

As the Germans were reorganizing, SSgt Janke motioned to Cpl Arndt and Lt Tausch; "look there, there go them Recce boys!"  All three craned their necks to watch the stream of armored cars and motorcycles rush south in a cloud of dust, destined to pull off another of their famed 'Hussar Tricks,' looking to grab the bridge over the River Bleu before the French even realized it was in jeopardy. 

Lt Tausch could hear the Colonel on the radio net: "Yes, yes, Wehner, push hard, we'll seize the bridge and fling the panzers and 4th Grenadier Platoon across to seize Toujour, now go!" 

Coming up next!

V/R,
Jack

Steve J


Techno


Lord Kermit of Birkenhead

Looking good. But a tad confused - is that an ATGW I can see ?
FOG IN CHANNEL - EUROPE CUT OFF
Lord Kermit of Birkenhead
Muppet of the year 2019, 2020 and 2021

Duke Speedy of Leighton

You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
2016 Pendraken Painting Competion Participation Prize  (Lucky Dip Catagory) Winner

pierre the shy

12 August 2019, 10:13:05 AM #191 Last Edit: 12 August 2019, 11:26:55 AM by pierre the shy
Your batreps are always good to read Jack.....Kampfgruppe Klink looks like they have run into an elite French unit given the toughness of the French in those last two fights.....and they haven't met up with the Highland laddies from the 51st Division yet....

Quote from: ianrs54 on 12 August 2019, 08:16:11 AM
Looking good. But a tad confused - is that an ATGW I can see ?

I assume it's representing a shell/MG burst in mid-flight?
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
we are not now that strength which in old days
moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.

bigjackmac

Thanks everyone, I'm glad you liked it, it's been lots of fun. I've actually already played the entire mini-campaign, I just have to finish writing them all up.

Pierre, you're absolutely right, the French defenders have been quite tenacious.  My reading is that the French defenders were quite tough, causing heavy casualties every time the Germans had to dig them out, but where the war was lost was in the incredibly slow communications/reaction times of the French command, allowing the Germans to run circles around them at the operational level, the French drawing and carrying out plans for tactical situations that changed 12 hours ago.  Perhaps it's too simplistic and reliant on too small a sample size, but that's how I've been treating the campaign in France.

Sorry, the French will not run into the British during this campaign, but I'm looking at playing a few games in Greece, where the two will meet.

Ian, Sorry man, I'm not sure what you're referring to.  Are you talking about the orange tracer I use (along with the little orange explosions) to help the reader understand who is shooting at who?


Here's the orange tracer.


And here's what a missile or rocket looks like on my table.

Is that what you were talking about, or something else?

Thanks again everyone.

V/R,
Jack

Lord Kermit of Birkenhead

FOG IN CHANNEL - EUROPE CUT OFF
Lord Kermit of Birkenhead
Muppet of the year 2019, 2020 and 2021

bigjackmac

Gotcha!  Maybe if the French had had ATGMs...

V/R,
Jack