French Army 1939-1940

[mkka]

Hi
Before purchasing any of the modules, I wanted to know if any one of them contain an original French Army including tanks as the Char B1 bis and SOMUA S-35 plus the 75mm Mle AT Gun. I would like to test out the French vs the Germans in era of 1939-40

[Pzman]

The SOMUA S-35 is in CMBB, but only for the Germans as a captured tank. CMAK has free French, but no Char B1 bis or SOMUA S-35 as they were all abandon like many British tanks after Dunkurk.

[von Paulus]

That's not the true reason Panzerman. After June 1940 there were hundreds of S-35 Somua but hey were belonging to the Vichy Army. French only used "captured" heavy weapons to the Vichy government, who still had a lot of Somua especially, in 1941 and 1942 (obviously in Syria and North Africa)

[Pzman]

He is asking about whether or not they are in the game. Although the VF had them, the VF are not in CMAK.

[Hans]

I'm nearing completion on three scenarios for France 1940.


In one of them I've used substitutes for the H-39's and Char B 1bis in the battle.

Small Battles, First Blood: its a historical scenario on the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards first clash in Belgium.

Small Operations, May 15, 1940. A small operation of two battles that has Rommel's vanguard running into the 1st French DCR (armoured division - this is the one with French tanks)

Small Battles, Sigh Bridge: set during the retreat to Dunkirk on the 27th of May, retreating Brits try to clear a blocked bridge while under pressure of the pursuing Germans.

[mkka]

Thank you very much for the information.
How can I try out the 3 scenarios offered by Hans?

[junk2drive]

at the scenario depot.
link here (http://ns9.super-hosts.com/%7Edragonlair.net/combatmission/)

[Hans]

The last of those three, sigh bridge is going up in a few hours.

[Hans]

Mikka

Admiral Keith seems to away from the bridge (at Scenario Depot) he has not put up the scenarios I've sent yet.

Here is my email, put CMAK in the subject and send me a message and I'll send the three scenarios to you directly

Wayne100@emirates.net.ae

Hans

[Rupert_2]

Is anyone thought of doing the battle of Calais May 1940?? I would like to see a large operation of this....Please!! smile.gif

[Hans]

Rupert_2 do you have a link or information on that action?

[Rupert_2]

I only have a Pen & Sword book on the action by Jon Cooksey. :(

Best I can do is from this site of the Royal Green Jackets.
http://www.egframes.co.uk/cdRGJ1.htm


"On 22nd and 23rd May 1940 a small British force was disembarked in Calais. It's orders were to keep the port open and establish lines of communication with Dunkirk. The 30th Infantry Brigade consisted of the 2nd King's Royal Rifle Corps, the 1st Rifle Brigade, the 1st Queen Victoria's Rifles and the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. On the afternoon of the 23rd, the Germans began shelling the town and the next day surrounded it and opened a heavy bombardment. Fighting continued in and around Calais until the 26th when short of food and ammunition and with numerous casualties the Brigade was overwhelmed.

On 4th June 1940, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, made the following statement in Parliament: "The Rifle Brigade, the 60th Rifles and the Queen Victoria's Rifles, with a battalion of British tanks and one thousand Frenchmen- in all about four thousand strong-defended Calais to the last. The British Brigadier was given an hour to surrender. He spurned the offer, and four days of intense street fighting passed before silence reigned over Calais, which marked the end of a memorable resistance. Only thirty unwounded survivors were brought off by the Royal Navy, and we do not know the fate of their comrades. Their sacrifice was not however, in vain. At least two armoured divisions, which otherwise would have been turned against the British Expeditionary Force, had to be sent to overcome them. They have added another page to the glories of the Light Division and the time gained enabled the Gravelines Walnlieu to be flooded and to be held by French troops; and thus it was that the port of Dunkirk was kept open."

[Hans]

Looks interesting, I've ordered a book on the subject and will see if there is enough 'meat' for a scenario.

One of my main playtester however hates city fights!

: ]

[Rupert_2]

That's great, if you have ordered the Pen & Sword book there are loads of great maps that will be of some use.

For someone that hates city fighting, there is some 3 RTR tank action on the out skirts. :D

[Hans]

Obtained a book on Calais, the entire battle is too large for an operation but could be broken up into smaller battles/operations. CM is not that good at representing city fighting but there is some material there. Noted three scenario opportunities outside of the old town.

Hames Boucres: meeting engagement between British armour and a German column

Les Atteques: German attack to take a bridge over a canal with the defenders being an odd lot of AA and a Searchlight light company

Fort Nieulay: French and British forces hold an old Vauban fortress against the Germans on the outskirts of Calais.

Listed down as N0. 43,44 and 45 - be a few months before I get to them.

Book source Calais by Jon Cooksey

[Andreas]

The British tank battalion should be 3rd RTR, I just read an orbituary on one guy who received the MC at Calais on the flight yesterday.

[Hans]

Hello Andreas, Yes the book has a good OOB on the Brits and so-so for the Germans. An interesting fight in some regards.

[Hans]

Rupert

Per your suggestion I obtained a book on Calais. I have a draft version of a meeting engagement between the 3 Royal Tank Regiment and 1st Panzer Division on the 23 of May on the outskirts of Calais near Guines.

Thanks for your suggestion, 4 good small scenarios in that battle.

Hans

[Rupert_2]

No problem, I'm glad you found it useful...Looking forward to seeing them. smile.gif

You'll have to do Boulogne 1940!!! :D

[Hans]

Oh no another battles, Boulogne huh, well I guess I'll have to look that up too.

Hmmm I was hoping you'd beg to play test, my regular play testers are swamped with two Arab - Israeli scenarios??

I mean its your fault for bringing this up :]

[Rupert_2]

"Boulogne - May 23 1940. A town under siege. A rampant German panzer division hammers at its gates. Panic in the street and chaos on the docks. Air Raids. Frightened refugees and dispirited Allied soliers scramble to escape. Churchill sends the Guards: the Irish and the Welsh, to help the French garrison stem the German tide. Two fine battalions with no support against an armoured division. A hopeless task. Hours later he pulls them out but some are left. The final act-riffles against tanks across the Bassin Napoleon. The last bullet. The bitter taste of surrender." Give you an idea of that battle from the Pen & Sword book. smile.gif

I would be happy to help play test the Calais scenarios!! smile.gif

[Hans]

Ah hah, badgered you into eh. I did order the Boulogne book.

Will send you Small Battles, 3 RTR at Calais, 1940 tomorrow or Sunday as I'm finishing up my own internal play test.

Thanks

[Rupert_2]

That's good to hear I need to order the book myself. :D Seeing as you have ordered it I will do myself.

Looking forward to testing them... smile.gif

[Tank Ace]

one word sums the French army up, surrender.

[Andreas]

Two words sum up Tank Ace - clueless troll.

[Corvidae]

actualy, during ww2, the french fought very well, as individuals and as lower formations*, they did so on both sides, and fought with distinction, It was the government of the third republic that surrendered, and only after Paris was taken,
The army, and the public, wanted to continue the fight,

*higher formations of the french army were infected with incompetence and petty inter-unit rivalry, thus hampering the effectivness of french strategic doctrine

[Hans]

I would agree that the French were cut short by their government as were the Belgians and Dutch.

I would also say that in general the French didn't fight with the same elan that they did in WWI. The reasons are complex but poor senior leadership was a key point.

At some points in history certain nations just fail to fight in the way they had in the past, ie the Swiss & Venetian against Napoleon, the Greeks against the Romans, etc. Somedays a nation has a 'bad' day. Like the Prussians against the French in war of the fourth coalition.