Breakout at Juniville
10/6/40
v1.1 - changed victory conditions
On the 9/6/40 the German Army commenced the second stage of its conquest of France: Fall Rot.. One of the breakthrough sectors was across the Aisne River north of Rethel. The German 17, 21, 73 & 86 Inafterie Divisions would assault across the river against the French 2e & 14e Division d'Infaterie, each of which was defending a frontage almost twice as wide as doctrine proscribed. Behind the German infantry were Guderian's tanks: 1 & 2 Panzer Divisions waiting to exploit the crossing.
Although the French fought tenaciously they were over-extended and by the end of the 9th the Germans had a firm foothold over the river. On the 10th they renewed their offensive and the 1 Panzer Division was fed into the attack to break through the disintegrating French defences and exploit beyond
The panzers didn't get everything their own way: The French had fortified several villages in the rear area and the panzers had to go around them rather than through them, leaving the pockets of resistance for the infantry behind to mop up. South of the Aisne is the Retorne River. This is not a wide river but in places its banks are marshy and it proved a tricky obstacle for the Germans. None the less by the middle of the day the Germans were mostly through the French defences, the last obstacle being the town of Juniville manned by HQ elements of the 73e Regiment d'Infaterie.
It was at this time the French counter-attacked with their main reserve unit: Groupement Buisson an armoured "corps" consisting of the 7e Division Leger Mechanique and the 3e Division Cuirassée de Réserve. This was a well co-ordinated armoured punch into the face of the German advance, though it lacked any real artillery support or air support and was diluted by the French tendency to leave bunches of tanks in their rear as security.
The scenario depicts the southern half of this punch around Juniville: Groupement Salanié advancing to the north of Juniville and Groupement Aussenac to the south. Facing them are the lead elements of 1 Panzer Division attempting a break out to the south east
Map and Order of Battle
German Deployment
No German units start deployed on the map
II/1 Panzer Regiment enters turn 1 between points G & F
1 Kradschützen Bataillon enters turn 2 between points L & M
II/1 Schützen Regt enters turn 2 between points K & J
(note French Groupement Salanié enters turn 3)
Stab Gefechtsgruppe 1 Pz Brig & 2 Kp 73 Pioneer Abt enter turn 4 between points G & F
7 Batterie 73 Artillerie Regt enters turn 5 between points G & F
II/2 Panzer Regiment & Stab Gefechtsgruppe Balck enters turn 5 down the trail marked K and/or the Road marked J. The battalion is in column and for each vehicle after the first using an entry point 3" is lost off the move distance.
1 Kompanie 4 Aufklärungs Abt enters turn 10 down road H. The company is in column and for each vehicle after the first using an entry point 3" is lost off the move distance.
No reinforcement can arrive within12" and LOS of an un-demoralised enemy stand. If entry is impossible, the reinforcements can enter a turn later up to 12" from their indicated entry location. If entry is still impossible move 12" further away every turn until entry is possible.
French Deployment
The non command elements of 73e Infanterie Regt start on table within 6" of any BUA in Juniville. The command stands must be deployed in a BUA. The 25mm AT gun must not be facing south, or deployed to the south of the river. The 25mm gun may ignore the ROF restriction for being deployed in the town in its initial position. All non command stands may be entrenched (-3 cover)
4/4e RAM is deployed in the area indicated on the map by the pink dashed lines
1/31 RDP is deployed in the area indicated on the map by the pink dashed lines
Groupement Aussenac is in column along the road XC. This is a single file column with at least 1" between stands. Order in the column is up to the deploying player. Any stands that don't fit will enter at point C on turn 1. Each vehicle after the first using the entry point 3" is lost off the move distance.
Groupement Salanié is a reinforcement. It arrives turn 3 anywhere between points A & B
No reinforcement can arrive within12" and LOS of an un-demoralised enemy stand. If entry is impossible, the reinforcements can enter a turn later up to 12" from their indicated entry location. If entry is still impossible move 12" further away every turn until entry is possible.
Terrain
The map depicts a 8'x5' table if playing 1" = 50m.
The open ground is fields
The thick blue line is the Retourne river. Its not as marshy close to Juniville as further west, so can be crossed by personnel (not man handled guns) and tracked vehicles using 2xBMA. There is no "half across" which means any stand not starting adjacent to the river can not cross it this turn. The tributary, shown by the thinner line, is a lesser obstacle: personnel (not man handled guns) and tracked vehicles need a BMA to cross. Manhandled guns and wheeled vehicles 2xBMA.
Both rivers have wooded banks - in effect they are both in thin narrow woods
The treble black lines crossing the river are bridges. Those outside Juniville may carry a max weight of class III. Those inside Juniville may carry class 6 vehicles, as may all road bridges. Any stand crossing a bridge, or a river between BUA's, is assumed to be in the open
Brown dotted lines are ridgelines. They break LOS and give AFV's the benefit of hull down (-2)
Red lines are roads.
The green areas are open woods, 1/2 speed for vehicles and manhandled guns.. Light cover (-1). The green dashed line is a trail through the woods. It counts as open ground for movement purposes. All rivers, roads and trails through the woods: visibility along them is max 6" and all stands on them count as light cover (-1)
The large grey squares are 4x4 BUA's, the smaller 2x2 a BUA. The smaller BUA's can hold 1 personnel stand Both BUA's give +3 cover. The simple town fighting rules are in effect, however note the special rule for the 73e RI 25mm gun.
The roads into Juniville are barricaded. These only affect vehicles and manhandled guns. Any vehicle reaching the outskirts of Juniville (either touching a BUA or along one of the marked roads) must halt. Next turn AFV's (only) may spend 2BMA to enter the town, they may move up to 2" forward. Any stands following the turn after are not impeded; players may want to mark the breach. Personal stands are not affected by the barricades with the exception that they may not travel march through the town. French vehicles and guns are not affected LEAVING the town but German troops are (its assumed the French have a couple of unblocked routs to retreat through which are unknown to the Germans). Engineer or Pioneer stands may make a breach by "spending" a BMA touching the outskirts of the town
Air Support
The French Airforce is conspicuous by its absence. The Luftwaffe, however, is out in force. Each turn roll 2d6 for the Germans, 1 die for Stukas and 1 for Hs-126 spotters.
The Germans get a Stuka on a 5 or 6. They get an Hs-126 on a 4-6
The Hs-126 as only a slight game effect. Within 12" of the plane H&I fire is called 1-5 mot 1-3 against targets in the open. Stands on roads or trail count in the open for the artillery spotter but not for the Stuka
Special Rules
The scenario is 12 turns long
The 127e RI is just off the map top the east, so its supporting artillery (2e Batterie 4 Regiment d’Artillerie ) can fire on to the game table. for spotting purposes it measure ranges and LOS from any point on the board edge AB. It may not H&I
4 Batterie 73 Artillerie Regt starts off table but may be brought forward and deployed on table. It requires 1 turn not firing to do so and will arrive at point K
7 Batterie 73 Artillerie Regt may fire H&I before its FO arrives on table, however it may only H&I within 12" of the Hs-126 spotter. It may H&I against troops in cover within 12" but is called on a 1-3
Victory Conditions
There are four victory locations: Pommery Farm, Juniville, Road DY and Point B
For a victory the Germans have to hold all four locations. A draw is scored for three locations with the fourth scoring no points. Any other result is a French victory
To hold the road DY one side has to have the only stands in good morale touching the road. The side uniquely touching the road gains the points. If both sides have stands in good morale touching neither side gets the points. If neither side has a stand, in good morale touching the GERMANS get the points.
To hold point B one side has to have the only stands in good morale within 6" of the centre of the road where it exits the table. The side uniquely occupying the area gains the point. If both sides have stands in good morale within the area neither side gets the point. In addition, to gain their point the Germans must have a vehicle from 1 Kp 4 AufK Abt (in good morale) within the area. If neither side has a stand within, in good morale, the FRENCH get the point.
To hold Pommery Farm one side has to have a stand in good morale wholly within the BUA. The side within gains the point. If the BUA is partially occupied or occupied by a stand not in good morale neither side gets the point. If its empty neither side gets the point
To hold the Juniville one side has to have the only stands in good morale wholly within the BUA. The side within gains the point. If the BUA is partially occupied or occupied by a stand not in good morale neither side gets the point. If both sides have stands within in good morale neither side gets the point. If its empty of stands in good morale the FRENCH get the point
References
Main references are the various articles by David Lehmann: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=112&t=156894 and http://www.tarrif.net/wwii/pdf/DL%20-%20Battle%20on%20the%20Aisne%20River.pdf
The German side of the battle can be found at http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&p=1380002
As always IGN provided the basis for the map, supplemented by the maps in the sources above: http://www.geoportail.fr/visu2D.do?ter=metropole