 |
Difficulty
Reorganization Prestige: 1048 Prototype: 5-cm Pak Upgrade: overstrength all available units Purchace: 1 Ju-87B, 1 Bf-109E Core 6th D: 1 PzIIIE, 1 PzIVD, 1 PSW231, 1 10.5 leFH 18, 1 15 sFH 18, 1 Infantry 2nd D: 1 PzIIIE, 1 PzIVD, 1 PSW231, 3 15 sFH 18 (tracked), 1 Infantry, 1 Pioneer Luftflotte: 2 Ju-87B, 2 Bf-109E Strategy First scenario with some real challenge. Speed is the key. After taking Sedan, you should rush through the gap as fast as possible and drive for the objectives. Also, you'll need to take as French cities as you can while advancing. At 50% pretige, I am running a poor man's war and those pretige points will be badly needed. I stay with the principle of combined arm by purchasing more firepower for the Luftwaffe. The effectiveness of the Stuaks will be devastating and allow your forces to advance quickly and to destroy the enemy along the line. On the other hand, no money left for a bridging unit for the northern group who has to cross the Vence river for the northern objectives. For a quick breakthrough at Sedan, I deployed all the artillery on the east bank of the Meuse with Pioneer and infantry up front and Panzers of the 2nd D behind. 2nd D will then dash south following the Sedan-Tannay road. 6th D was deployed north of the city and will turn west toward the Vence for the northern objectives. Turn 1 Stuka attacked French artillery covering the Meuse, which were finished off by artillery and a PSW231 of the 6th D coming down from Donchery. Pioneer, transfered from the 6th D, destroyed fortification at Sedan. PSW231 of the 2nd took the town with staggered movement to prevent enemy reinforcement (note: take and leave by a recon is very effective to counter the AI bug of purchacing unlimited amount of reinforcements even though the objective is in the zone of control of friendly forces, sometimes even half surrounded). Turn 2 Pioneer cleared Sedan. 6th D took St-Aignan while PSW231 outflank Flite. 2nd D crossed the Meuse and took up position in front of Bulson. Turn 3 2nd D took Bulson and rushed south toward Tannay. 6th D approaching the Vence while taking Flite, Sapogne and Omicourt. Bought a SdkFp6/2 for the 6th D to cover the river crossing. Turn 4 2nd D advanced quickly south led by the PSW231, followed by artillery. Other units took La Basace, Stonne, Chemery and Malmy. 6nd too Vendresse and took up crossing points east of the Vence river south of Boulzicourt. Turn 5 2nd D took Tannay and Le Chesne. 6th D started crossing the Vence. Airdefense and fighters destroyed the last allied fighter unit. Bought a legged Stosstruppen to guard Sedan. Turn 6 6th D completed crossing the Vence. 2nd D pivoted at La Chesne and droved west along the north bank of the Aisne river (note: do not take the road south of La Chesne. It is defended by French reinforcements covered by heavy artillery and the terrain on the south bank of the Aisne is not suitable for the Panzers). Turn 7 6th D assembled west of Poix-Terron. 2nd advanced toward Rethel led by Panzers. Artillery units stoppted and resupplied. Strosstruppen dug in at Sedan. Turn 8 6th D lined up in front of Sainy-l'-Abbaye. 2nd advanced quickly, protected on its left by the Aisne and covered by Stukas in the sky. French infantry tried to cross the river but they were annihilated by the combination of Stuka, artilery and Pazers overrun attacks. The PzIVD overran 4 French infantry when it arrived west of Rethel. Turn 9 6th D, helped by Stukas, cleared enemy armored formations east of Sainy-l'-Abbaye. This group was lagging behind schedule. The bridging unit was soarly missed. 2nd D lined up east of Rethel with artillery already in range. The other Stukas were punishing a B1-bis which arrived from the south. Turn 10 Raining! 6th D took Sainy-l'-Abbaye with only artillery and infantry (reduced to 4). Panzers overran the remaining French forces and took up position in front of Liart. Near Rethel, the B1-bis retreated north, hence opening the way for the Panzers. I formed a defense line to the north with the 5-cm Pak, an infantry and the PSW231. The Panzers overran a H39, an infantry and an artillery and pressed onto Rethel. The Pionner guarded the river bank with artillery in the middle all in range on Rethel. Turn 11 6th D attacked and almost capture Liart but a French Chasseur resisted even when reduced to 2. 2nd D easily crushed enemy resistance at Rethel but there is no infantry nearby to take it. I decided to wait until Liart was taken. Turn 12 (Brillant Victory) The French sent in a fresh Chasseur at Liart. But this time it is not so lucky without entrenchement. Artillery reduced it to 4 and 6th D took Liart easily. The Bi-bis drove back from the north trying to counter-attack but it was surprised by the infantry on the defense line and reduced down to 6. This offered a good shot for the 5-cm Pak just beside. Apparently due to lack of experience and thick armor on this heavyweight, it only got 2 on the B1-bis. It was again the Stukas who did the job. 2nd D, helped by Stukas, also succeeded in capturing the airfield and Nevion-Percien before investing Rethel. Great Blitzkrieg victory! |
