View Full Version : Rethel 40 the German side AAR
Turn 1 (1)
For turn 1 the objective was the disorganization of the first French line, with the goal to break the most units possible. I didn’t choose a very subtle tactic for that, and decided to launch frontal attacks with the 3 IRs of the same division on the same hex. One of the mistake of this tactic was that units in retreating mode could be dig in by ER Chaser after a simulated attack, or retreated along hexes without enemy ZoC. And so this mediocre tactic gave mediocre results. But at the same time I didn’t want to take risks and to permit to my opponent to counterattack on a disorganized line. This too important prudence is one of my wargamer faults. Moreover I prepared two attacks per round at the maximum (at least in theory), afraid by the fact that too many attacks could end the turn too early. Another thing I didn’t want to do was to split my units, despite the designer’s advice. A mistake of course, due to my lack of flexibility in my way to play.
As explained before, each AK has its own sector on the map : West and center for the 13th AK and East for the 23rd AK, with the possibility for the 73 ID to help the advance of the 13 AK along the road Rethel—Perthes and toward Alincourt if necessary. Then the general strategy for this turn was to gain the greatest number of hexes on the road Château—Avançon and Rethel—Perthes with the 13 AK, and to repulse the French line in the East with the 23 AK. These directions were general, and adaptable to the circumstances of course.
So the first attack ran forward, toward Alançon on the one hand (17 ID) and on Thugny on the other hand (73 ID). The results were good, with quasi no losses, the hex taken, and in a correct time limit. The other divisions took their place in front of their future objectives while these attacks. And so on in the course of the 5 or 6 rounds of the turn : the divisions already in place attacked while the other walked to their position for the next round. Each time the 4 divisions, sometime helped by a rgt from another ID, took their objective hex, with few loses, even when only two rgts attacked (this last remark proves that I was too cautious).
The first picture with this post show the different directions taken by the attacks of this turn, more or less.
First picture of turn 1
-The red crosses are the hexes attacked in the first rounds.
-The green crosses are the hexes attacked in the second part of the turn.
-The black arrows are the main axes of attack in the West and the center.
-The red arrow indicates the overrun on the battalion.
-the black line in the center is the objective for the end of the turn.
After frontal attacks all along the front which repulsed the French line without really breaking its readiness to fight, the first objective line was in my hand at the end of the turn. I kept a strong cohesion in my front to avoid ER Chaser’s attempts to infiltrate units in my line and put them in the way of my next moves. But at the same time, there was no real hole in the French plan of defense, and I didn’t have any wedge driven in the French front. However I had the impression to have obtained good results. Good in the sense that I couldn’t obtain better with my TOAW skills. And I waited ER Chaser’s reply, with the fear of his counterattacks. That when the real French player’s goal was to take advantage of everything that the German player let him to build new defense positions. New defensive positions which were supported by the HQs’ artillery.
I composed this turn 1 after a game with General Staff where I played the German side. This game showed me that my first turn, far from being perfect, was only mediocre against a determined player who know his job. But I tried not to think about it when I wrote this AAR, to present quickly what I thought when I played this turn, and the following ones. At the same time, and in view of the turn given by Jamiam, I must admit that the second image of this first turn shows a second-rate advance.
Picture of the end of turn 1.
The red line is the limit between Western/center sector and Eastern sector.
Turn 2.
ER Chaser retreated a good part of his first line units during his first turn. And then only one or two strongpoints were still there to offer a resistance to the West at the beginning or turn 2, on the roads to Avançon, Tagnon and Perthes. On the other hand the replay didn’t reveal his moves on his rears, and it was impossible to determine the exact organization of his defense after the first line. The German reco wasn’t very good. He didn’t launch any counterattack, and instead of putting his units close to mine and block their movements, he chose to set back his troops. To the East he set up a front from Perthes to the Pauvre area. This new defense seemed not very difficult to attack, particularly to the West. But that was only an impression, and the attacks of the turn were not so easy.
Except the one on the first line, quasi no French units were detected by the reco when the turn began, and on this first line, only the ones which weren’t dig in were completely identified. And it was very possible that this weak reconnaissance hid good defenses just after the first line.
Another time the West became the priority for the turn, and the attacks to the East were rare at the start, another time to avoid a too early end turn. I still try to reduce the risks here, a little too maybe. This turn the objectives remained the same : driving back the French units in front of me and getting closer to the Le Chatelet area. And this with the idea to keep the best cohesion in my line and to avoid counterattacks and infiltration. Always this lack of flexibility, I am too methodical. To the East I planned to repulse two cpies holding the North-East of Saulces.
The first actions of the turn was the movements of the IRs to their attack positions. I moved the artillery units toward the South, posting them in tactical reserve for the first assaults, while the engineer units (and 1 HQ) rebuilt the bridges on the Aisne river and the Canal. Then the first assault troops ran forward to try possible overruns. They worked well to the East, in the 23 AK sector, and allowed to the 73 ID to occupy good attack positions in front of a non identified BCP (a French motorized unit). And the 86 ID took Saulces in this way. Those overruns permitted the move of IRs without the enemy ZoC penalty after that those units were repelled. Those movements revealed some French HQs along the La Retourne river. In the same time no overrun was possible to the West.
The first real attacks were made on Avançon, and progressed relatively well at the start, the French being exhausted in this sector apparently. At the same time an attack by the 86 ID didn’t give anything to the East, and it’s only after three assaults that the position fell. After that the attacks were launched on the Perthes road, in the center, where a French battalion held until the end of the turn, but with very heavy losses. Another time the advance in this turn was very methodical, as usual with me… But this turn the luck decided to end the turn relatively early, after the third attack round. Bad news, when I hope to take Perthes and Avançon this turn. And the 23 AK didn’t launch important attack, and wasn’t really able to help the attack on the central road toward Perthes. But maybe the French didn’t have the intention to defend so far to the North in this sector, Perthes being not occupied. The main body of the French forces were maybe more in the direction of Le Chatelet. This sector seemed to have weak defenses, between Tagnon and the Eastern approach of Perthes. And the Alincourt defenses should be more to the South apparently. Only assumptions…
Picture of turn 2.
In red, the expected attacks.
The black points are the overruns.
A little turn, with few good results, which should permit to ER Chaser to install good defenses, and to recover other units disorganized during turn 1. But if he doesn’t launch counterattacks, and prefers to build a defense more in the South like in turn 1, I will be able to take good positions at turn 3, which will allow me to assault Le Chatelet turn 4.
Like in turn 1, the losses were weak in general for this turn 3, when the enemy losses turned around 30 % at each attack. That showed another time that instead of concentrate all my IRs on the attack, I would have use some of them in raids in the enemy rears, to take the French on the flanks, as I said it in the turn 1 AAR.
The end of turn 2.
I indicated in red the attacks I wasn't able to launch.
Turn 3.
This turn is very important in the West, it is the turn 4 antechamber which would see the attack on Le Chatelet. I had to make up lateness occurred the last turn, and to place units for next attacks on Le Chatelet turn 4. I had to bring the panzers on the front too, to prepare their next attacks.
Taking far West French position and eliminating static units in the first turns would have been a good idea to allow the panzers to rush toward the left flank of Le Chatelet. But thinking I needed everybody for the advances on the Avançon and Perthes road, I preferred not to use units for this outlying sector. So I should concentrate the Pz K units on two axes, with the risk of several retarding traffic jams. The 2nd PzD went in direction of Alincourt, and the 3rd PzD in direction of Le Chatelet. If Alincourt was the 2nd PzD’s objective, the division had to help the assaults on Le Chatelet if necessary.
During his turn the French player reorganized his front, but the reconnaissance gave very few pieces of information. Anyway, neither counterattack nor units put in my line. ER Chaser didn’t even try to reoccupy the Saulces hex after that the IRs holding it had advanced after combat at the end of my turn 3.
The defense seemed strong on his right wing, forming a unbroken line. The only objective in this Eastern sector was to drive back and to disorganize the defenses in the direction of Alincourt, particularly the 31 BCP in front of the 71 ID.
It was not easy to know how ER Chaser had built his defense to the West. The first line was weak. It was after these first positions that the things could become more complicate, around Tagnon and Le Chatelet. Then the first task of the turn was to remove the screens blocking the access. In this sector the attacks would be made on Alançon and Tagnon, and on Perthes, on the Alincourt road.
The beginning of turn 3.
After their movements to their attack positions, and after the ones of the Pz units, Alançon to the West fell rapidly, the position being poorly defended and giving way to the first assault. The French battalion retreated toward the South West. Then one of the IR overruned and repulsed it in the same direction. The units defending the positions before Tagnon, attacked at the same moment, resisted and suffered heavy losses. It evaporated at the second attack. The advance on Perthes necessitated two rounds too, and the direct support of a strong artillery, despite that the battalion holding the hex were exhausted. After each of this steps the Guderian’s units advanced toward the South, preparing the next turn and the attack on Le Chatelet. Unfortunately Tagnon wasn’t taken at the end of the turn, and my predictions gave me 3 or 4 rounds at least to have Le Chatelet in my hands next turn. At the same time the defenses between Tagnon and Perthes were weaker apparently.
While I still had 50/60 % of the turn, I decided to start the attacks to the West. The priority there was the 31st BCP, at the right of the Alincourt road. Despite the support of all the AK artillery and 3 attacks the motorized battalion hadn’t retreat at the end of the turn. But without help, it wouldn’t be able to resist next turn. A last attack on Tagnon were launched too, with the first participation of a Pz rgt, with the goal to weaken the position.
At the end of this turn, the next one seemed difficult, with the possibility that Le Chatelet would still be French at the end of the turn. I would say that at this moment the French defense was strong everywhere, except maybe in the center, on the road to Alincourt, the goal of one of the two PzD.
End of the turn.
In red the French defenses before Le Chatelet.
In black the possible attacks on Le Chatelet for the next turn.
Turn 4.
The French turn 3 replay was short, only some fits in the defense line. ER Chaser transferred units from the East and center to Le Chatelet, and others left the front to the rear in the Eastern sector. The picture with this post presents those defenses, at least the one discovered by the reconnaissance. The lack of aircraft in this scenario didn’t help to find the French units positioned in the rear.
I had the impression that the defense in front of me was made of a set of strongpoints commanding the access to the main objective groups : Le Chatelet to the West, Alincourt to the center and Pauvre to the East. Apparently ER Chaser didn’t place a real line of units between those positions. And of course it’s there that I should have attack, to surprise the French from the rear. But I took the decision to advance ahead, directly straight on the main VP sites. It was only during the turn that I understood that I should to use the opportunities of the fights.
Le Chatelet was the essential goal of this turn, and I anticipated the fall of the town before the end of the turn. But if the main objective was known, obtaining it was largely more doubtful. According to my plans I needed to walk on two hexes at least before assaulting the city : Tagnon and the hex before Le Chatelet, occupied by an armored cavalry regiment. To the East I didn’t expect a lot of things in the Pauvre sector, and I didn’t want to risk precious rounds on the strong defense standing there. The 23 AK should attack in direction of Alincourt, and to take an isolated objective hex, defended by some weak cpies.
Start of the turn.
In red where the French defense was strong.
In black where it was weak.
The picture forgotten in the previous post.
The first movements saw a readjustment in the attack line. The exhausted units of the 13 AK left their place and gave it to the Guderian’s panzers. So at the moment Tagnon had before it 3 Pz rgts and 1 PzGr rgt, the attack was ready. The light units, two reco battalions and the PzJgrs, infiltrated among the French, as you can see it on the second picture showing the situation just before the attacks on Le Chatelet (before the overrun) and Alincourt. This assault on Tagnon, supported by the two 13 AK artillery, succeeded perfectly, with the town taken and the battalion repulsed. A Pz rgt advanced in the empty hex. I still had 80 % of the turn. At the same time a 73 ID IR failed in his attempt against two cpies to the right of the central road, but the French losses was high. The frontal attack toward Le Chatelet should take its course when an overrun allowed to try a better approach of the town, and to avoid an uncertain assault on the armored cavalry unit. The right of Le Chatelet wasn’t really defended, and there was only the battalion repulsed by the preceding attack in front of the PzRgt which had advanced to the hex where was the battalion. And a rapid overrun permitted to place this rgt in the hex adjacent to Le Chatelet, an hex at the right of the city. At this moment Le Chatelet became the absolute priority, and I resolved to attack it with the PzRgt. Because of the expended MPs this assault was going to cost many rounds, but that would have no importance if the place fell. Crossing my fingers, I clicked on the combat resolution, the only one of this round, with Ignore Losses. And it worked perfectly, kicking out the enemy of the so coveted position.
The turn wasn’t finished, and I was able to launch other attacks. One of them permitted to open an hex at the extreme West of my line, where two 13 AK rgts broke a battalion on my flank. Some movements allowed the overrun of the rest of this unit toward the South. And until the end of the turn attacks were organized on the French defenses to the North of Le Chatelet. The armored cavalry rgt gave in and retreated. Other assaults exhausted the French defense around Alincourt, and offered good positions to the attack of an isolated objective hex at the left of Pauvre. But even if a last attack let the hex free, no IR was able to advance into it.
The raids on Le Chatelet and Alincourt.
Finally, if now some of my units were exhausted, the turn gave good results, better than what I hoped, with Le Chatelet and Alincourt in my hand. After that, I had to wait the ER Chaser’s reaction, and his probable counterattack on Le Chatelet.
The end of the turn.
The red line indicates the front at the start of the turn.
The arrow is the red behind the enemy lines.
Turn 5.
As usual the beginning of the turn start with the consideration of the replay. What did ER Chaser undertake, what did he prepare ? The French armored units became released this turn, turn 4, and I was able to see a part of their movements toward my lines. The greatest part of those units went to the South of Le Chatelet and around Alincourt. And finally 6 attacks were launched on the PzRgt in Le Chatelet, and failed. In his email ER Chaser said me that his losses were important. At the start of my turn, even if it was exhausted by the repeated thrusts, my PzRgt still had quasi all its panzers. And ER Chaser didn’t try any attempt against Alincourt, even if the reco unit holding it wouldn’t have resisted for a long time.
I noted too that at the start of the turn I had a SD. And I had the feeling that the last two turns would only permit me to pick up few positions and to consolidate the one already in my hands.
On my left wing, I was going to launch an attack on the right of Pauvre, to take 2 VPs, and to position some units in the perspective of an attack on Pauvre, even if it didn’t seem probable. On the right wing I wanted to try assaults on the two hexes to the South of Le Chatelet, with frontal attacks another time. I Thought too that I had to consolidate the positions already taken to avoid surprise from ER Chaser.
Start of the turn.
Red : general directions of the attacks.
Black : The raid behind the enemy lines.
The PzJgr released the reco unit in Roizy to the West. Thus I was able to launch this reco unit on the enemy rears, and to occupy some free objectives with it. Then several units tried overruns where it was possible, while 3 IRs (13 AK) took position around French units to the South West of Le Chatelet. The first goals of this IR weren’t to attack the adjacent enemy battalions, but to be in the way of these units if ER Chaser would desire to use them against the raids on his rears, on the road of Reims. After that the PzJgr moved to the river, just behind the left wing of the French defense in this sector (Le Chatelet).
Some units came back up toward the static French units, where there were two VP hexes. Sadly I forgot to organize attacks on them this turn. And I didn’t try in the last turn too, it was certainly too late.
The first attacks, three in total, are made against defensive moles more or less surrounded, to the West and the center. Even occupied by exhausted troops, 2 of those positions resisted, another time with heavy losses, certainly the price to pay. Otherwise the battalion to the West was eliminated. After those first attacks, moves and overruns in the Pauvre area showed that the French defense was strong there, with fresh and well entrenched troops, ready to face any shock. At least the isolated 2 VPs were taken.
The attack on the hex at the top of Alincourt should be launched another time, as the one on the cpies just at the right. Another one was organized to take an hex to the South of Le Chatelet. Its defense was weak (1 HQ and 1 cpie), and offered nearly no resistance. The two first attacks pushed the French to leave the ground with important losses. But there wasn’t any advance after combat, and a PzRgt ended its turn in reorganizing mode.
Even if the turn was far from being finished, the rest of the time was used to move units to new positions. And now the greatest part of the right wing was occupied by the Guderian’s troops. Everywhere, in the major part of my front, the units dug in to face possible counterattacks in the next ER Chaser’s turn. A last assault on an hex adjacent to the last objective behind Le Chatelet only drove away the infantry, the B1bis resisting against the weaker panzers.
I decided to stop the turn after this last attempt against the French, and to wait ER Chaser’s reaction during his turn. Despite the counterattack on Le Chatelet the last turn, he didn’t try many thing to take back his lost positions.
End of the turn.
Turn 6.
So came the last act of this battle. I counted 4 parts in this game : turn 1, the breaking of the first French line ; turns 2 and 3, the race to the decision ; turn 4 where the decision was made ; and turn 5 and 6, the time of the exploitation.
To the West, ER Chaser tried to reorganize his positions another time, withdrawing units from the front to the South, certainly with the goal to block my raids in the South of the La Retourne river. He placed a mechanized unit in the center, just behind Juniville, maybe to counterattack on the city, or on Alincourt, where the defense would have to be strengthened.
This turn should see the last rushes to the VPs able to fall in my hands. In fact there were not many possibilities ! Even if it wasn’t so clear in my mind, we can note that during the most part of the game my main goal was more the French troops than the VPs hex, at least in theory. And I was surprised to start the turn with an OV. I hadn’t really checked it at the end of the last turn. I had the impression that the only counterattack that ER Chaser could try in his last turn should be made on Alincourt. So a part of the turn had to be used for the building of a defense around the city. This turn the objectives were : the raid on the road to Reims (South West) ; trying to take the VPs just behind Le Chatelet ; reinforce the defense of Alincourt ; and maybe an attack on Pauvre with the 23 AK.
Turn 6.
Red : the next attacks, more or less.
Green : advance of some IRs to help the raids toward the South.
Black : the raids.
In the South West the French sent the 8th RDP, a mech. unit, toward my reco battalion, maybe to block it, or to prepare an attack on it for the next turn. I decided to dig in my unit on Warmeville, a little city on the road. The French ZoC didn’t pose any problem, except of course concerning the MPs. It’s possible too that the 8th RDP was moved to the South of Le Chatelet to prevent any attack from this direction. During this time the 13 AK infantry overruned a cpie blocking the way of the PzJgr to the South. With the way completely free in front of it, the PzJgr unit went to occupy the last hex of the road leading to Reims, taking a supply source at the same time. The unit was even able to dig in with its last MP.
For the last attack on Le Chatelet the 1st PzRgt overruned the B1bis to the right of the position. The objective itself was defended by a mechanized battalion and two infantry cpies. Those units weren’t identified. I only had PzRgts in front of the hex, and then I decided to release one of them by a PzGr rgt standing back (the only available reserve in the area). Another PzGr rgt repulse the exhausted B1bis. Another overrun was made by a rgt of the 23 AK on a little cpie to the North of Alincourt.
During the following steps of the turn an attack on Pauvre gave poor results. It was only a scratch for the French defense. Another one on the hex just to the North of Alincourt succeeded rapidly, with light losses for the French. A little comment : I can see now that I didn’t really have a general view of the situation, of the exact course of the game, and I didn’t have a precise plan of attack. Attacks and moves during the game were led by the circumstances, even if or course I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do.
After the first attacks there was a little reorganization around Alincourt, to consolidate the defense. The town was held by a PzGr rgt, with a reco battalion in tactical reserve just behind. An assault on the right of Pauvre inflicted 46 % losses to the French, but no ground was taken, and the IRs began to be really exhausted. And when the turn became to 40 %, an assault on the last Le Chatelet VPs was organized, with only two units. It worked well, but the PzRgt let free 5 VPs after its advance in the attacked hex. Fortunately it was possible after that to move an unit to these VPs. Two other attacks without importance offered some positions in the East, giving little space against possible counterattack in the next opponent’s turn. And my turn ended just after these attacks.
The end of the turn in the West.
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