AAR 1940 France: Berthonval Farm by Mark Luther

Berthonval Farm

The French set up their defence around this farm. From the 4e Regt Dragons Porte (RDP), Doug had the infantry sections from the Esc de Recon Mixte (2 sections), the Recce motorcycle unit (2 sections) the 25mm ATG (2 guns) from 4e Esc de Mitralleuses et Engins d' accompagnement, two MMGs and the FO for the 81mm mortars (offboard). He had four Big Men for this force. He also had three AMR 35s ZT 2s. Ten of these 25mm armed light tanks were apparently built and they were used in this action. A very rare beast indeed

Berthonval again

Doug split his MMGs and ATGs up and anchored each flank with one each. The sections of infantry were spread across the front. The AMRs were in the orchard.

View from the south

The village of Mont St Eloi is off table to the left. Carency off to the top left. Germans come down from the right side of the table

From the Northeast corner

The woods are actually too close to the farm, but I wanted something to block off the Germans from coming in on this corner.

Pre game stonks

John got two pre game stonks that covered the farm effectively. It took out an ATG and an MMG and several vehicles and motorbikes. Quite a bit of shock was accumulated also.

Still stonking

The guns that were lost were on Doug's right, the vehicles on his left. So if he wanted to move the weapons he had to run the vehicles to the opposite flank...which is what he wound up doing.

The German's view

John headed down the gentle slope across the fields with his panzers and motorcycles.

Motorcycle zug going cross country

Besides this platoon, John had armor from the 5th Panzer Div, 31st Pz Rgt, II Pz Abteilung:  one unit of three Pz IIIEs, one unit of three Pz IICs, one unit of two Pz IICs and two Pz IBs and the command element of two Pz IIIEs and a PZ III BeFlug. Total of ten gun tanks, two Pz Is and the command panzer and three sections of m/c troops (two LMGs each) and a light mortar.

Moving toward the farm

Zugs of Pz IIIs and Pz IIs hope to get close enough to engage the defenders before the shock comes off.

Moving to the left

John's m/c are trying to get around the flank of the farm and cut the road to Mont St Eloi by the woods

All the panzers

The command zug is in the lead to the top with a couple of Pz Is and IIs behind. Still no response from the farm.

Looks like the bikes are going to get off the table

Except for the bumpy ground this has been pretty smooth so far

Stuka drops a load

The air was swarming with aircraft during this operation. This was the only bomb run that occurred in the game and it didn't do more than destroy some already damaged vehicles.

The Royal tanks arrive

The Allies get lucky and have an early appearance from the 7th RTR. First to appear is the HQ unit of two Vickers Mk VI B light tanks followed by three Matilda Mk Is. Because of the rolling terrain they don't have much to see and John's m/c are heading for cover as fast as they can.

Panzers preparing to hunt

Tanks ahead!

AMR 35 ZT2 appear

Doug runs his light tanks out to engage the Pz IIs-A more than even fight. These are the Scotia models.

Score

A Pz II smokes after getting hit by the 25mm gun. While this action is happening, Doug is moving his still operational ATG from his left to his right using the prime mover from the destroyed gun on the right.

Matildas also score

Following the Mk Is were a section of three Matilda Mk IIs which immediately open up on the zug of Pz IIIs and do some amazing damage over the next few turns. Of those three Pz IIIs one is destroyed outright, one abandoned after getting immobilised and the third takes a few hits to the tracks and turret. The Matildas take some mobility hits in return.

Matilda Mk Is charge

Although only armed with a MG the Mk Is try to get past the panzers to engage the motorcycle troops. John halts and dismounts the troopers to take what cover they can in the fields and hope that his panzers can stop these Brits. They do put some mobility hits on the Mk Is and damage the top Mk badly. Fuzzy picture-sorry.

Close action

John's command zug charges in also and suffers losses. The Mk IIs have also taken some hits, but one broke down its second turn on the table. One of the Command Vickers also broke down. The Allied Vehicle Break Down card was not kind to the RTR in this game. The number chits are shock markers.

The end of the game

At this stage, John was just about out of panzers. We also had a platoon of S35s from the 2e Esc de Chars/ 18e Rgt Dragons waiting off table to come in. All of the Pz IIIs were out of action, and only a couple of Pz IIs were runners. The motorcycle troops had made it on foot into the woods in the SE corner. Doug had an AMR still in good shape, a 25mm ATG, a MMG, and almost all of the infantry still in the farm. The Brits had a damaged Mk VI, two Matilda Mk IIs, and five Mk Is still running in various degrees of health. The Germans really had to move fast to get into the farm before the shock wore off and hope that their Stukas and FOs could keep the Allies at bay when they counterattacked. The Brits arrived at the first opportunity possible so that really made it tough for the panzers.