The Adventures of Kampfgruppe Klink

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

No, shan't! 

[Techno]

Me, neither ! 
(Suppose I'll have to, really. )
Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

You two are insufferable! 

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I resemble that remark!

[bigjackmac]

Indeed you do, Lemmey

I've got the table set for tomorrow morning.  I'd promised myself I'd take the Fall of France slow, one game a weekend, so that I could keep working on other stuff, but I'm feeling the old urges coming back.  You know, the 'let me spend a whole day up here and knock out three or four fights' urge 

V/R,
Jack

[ronan]

Hard fight !
great AAR again, thanks !

( and I love when the french act like this    )

[bigjackmac]

Thanks Ronan!

I played two more games yesterday that I need to write up.

Unfortunately, I don't think you'll be as proud of the French.  The first was a French counterattack in which the Germans were able to make great use of firepower, the French attack never really got off the start line.  The second game was all armor: 3 Char Bs and 3 H39s vs 6 Pz IVs, 5 Pz IIIs, and 3 PzJgr Is.  The Char Bs were pretty tough, and one in particular was able to bust up some German tanks, but ultimately the Germans were able to use superior numbers to outmaneuver them.

Hope you're doing well, and getting more gaming in!

V/R,
Jack

[ronan]

Unfortunately, I don't think you'll be as proud of the French.  (...) but ultimately the Germans were able to use superior numbers to outmaneuver them.

That seems historical   

Hope you're doing well, and getting more gaming in!

I only had time for one game for the last ten days 

I'm waiting for your new AARs. Thanks

[bigjackmac]

"That seems historical"
Sure, and after that one H39 shot me to pieces I made sure to have lots of German tanks on the board!

With any luck I should have a batrep up tonight.

And I look forward to more of your batreps too! 

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0730 on 14 May 1940, and the German 7th Infantry Regiment quickly poured across the Meuse in the wee hours of the morning, followed by the 7th Motorcycle Battalion, which streamed forth, KG Klink's Schutzen Company in trail.  First Platoon had only reached the village of Haut le-Wastia when French forces appeared in the area, keen on pushing through the ville in order to stem and, hopefully, pinch out the German bridgehead.


The opposing forces, with a relatively large French force on the left, looking to force a rather modest German force (right) from the village.

The German force is a Command stand, five rifle squads, an MG34, an 80mm mortar, and a Pz Mk IV.  The French had their Command stand, twelve rifle squads, a .30 cal MG, and a 25mm anti-tank gun with prime mover.


The initial setup, north is up.  The French have platoons in the N, NW, and SW corners (MG is in SW, ATG is in N), while the Germans are in the ville and vineyard at center right.

Spoiler alert: things didn't go well for the French, and they made a classic tactical error, reinforcing failure (with two H39 light tanks).

For the whole fight, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/04/kg-klink-france-game-2.html

Another fun fight, at least for the Germans.  From my readings, the French, in those cases where the Germans were forced to go straight at them, were extraordinarily dogged in the defense, but when the Germans were able to outmaneuver the defense, and when on the attack, the French were often ill-coordinated and sluggish.  I think we saw that today.

I still have another batrep to get written up.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Nice stuff again, Jack !
(I'll return to the full report, later.)
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Another good read. Very enjoyable Jack!

[Blaxkleric]

Great stuff Jack and now I know of your site I'll be following so I don't miss any more   

[bigjackmac]

Thanks gentlemen, I appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed it.

The next fight is almost ready for publication.

Blaxkleric - I need to join up with your blog as well, loved the winter Eastern Front.  My winter Germans and Russians are primed on sticks, but that's as far as I've gotten 

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0730 on 14 May 1940, and 7th Panzer Division has crossed the Meuse River and defeated a French counterattack on the bridgehead.  Seeking to outflank French forces in the area, the division begins to flow around the village of Haut le-Wastia.  As part of the southern prong, Kampfgruppe Klink's Panzer Company is leading elements of the 25th Panzer Regiment when they encounter elements of the French 25th Tank Battalion, 2nd Demi-Brigade, and elements of the 37th Tank Battalion, 1st Demi-Brigade, both of the 1st French Armored Division (1DCR) in the French countryside.

The KG is on a road march, with the Armored Reconnaissance Company in the lead.  Luck is with the French as the German recce elements speed along the road south, and the French armor arrives on the scene, catching the German Panzer Company still on the road.


The opposing forces:the Germans have 3rd Panzer Platoon (Pz Mk IIIs), 4th Panzer Platoon (Pz Mk IVs), and the Panzerjaeger Platoon (PzJgr Is), along with the Panzer Company Commander.  The French have 3 Char Bs and 3 H39s.


Overview, north is up.  Germans are on the road at right, travelling south, while the French have an H39 and two Char Bs in the southwest (bottom left) and two H39s and one Char B in the northwest (top left).


The fight devolved to a bloody, close-range brawl, and the Germans managed to carried the day despite knocking out only one of the French heavy tanks, with Sgt Graebner, hero of the fight in Haut le-Wastia, once again distinguishing himself.

For the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/04/kg-klink-france-game-3.html

The game was fun, but next time I want to try fighting out the battle over the length of the table, not the width.  I don't like how the ranges closed so quickly; don't misunderstand, it has to end up that way, it's what the Germans did in real life (when they had to, i.e., they didn't use Stukas or arty), but I think they should have to go farther to get there, and so that's what I'm going to do next time I have an 'armor only' fight.

I'll look to get another one in this weekend.

V/R,
Jack