Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fall of France 2 #25

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Early Montcornet Fall of France 2 #25
(Attacker) Germany	vs	France (Attacker)

Formations Involved
France		2e Division Cuirassée de Réserve
France		61e Division d'Infanterie
Germany		6th Panzer Division

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 0 votes
5 4 3 2 1 0
Scenario Rank: --- of 913

Parent Game	Fall of France 2
Historicity	Historical
Date	1940-05-15
Start Time	17:00
Turn Count	12
Visibility	Day
Counters	50
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	1
Maps	1: 29
Layout Dimensions	43 x 28 cm 17 x 11 in
Play Bounty	218
AAR Bounty	227
Total Plays	0
Total AARs	0

Battle Types
Bridge Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Meeting Engagement
Urban Assault

Conditions
Reinforcements
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fall of France 2	Base Game

Introduction
The small crossroads town of Montcomet lay at the nexus of the Reims, Laon and Vervins roads, giving it a special strategic importance. The German "sickle-cut" plan had confused French forces as to the real objectives of the attack, throwing them into disarray as they moved hither and yon to cope with a ubiquitous enemy. Some motorized elements of the 2nd Armored Division were shifting positions around Montcomet when they met a recon column from 6th Panzer Division closing on the town.

Introduction

The small crossroads town of Montcomet lay at the nexus of the Reims, Laon and Vervins roads, giving it a special strategic importance. The German "sickle-cut" plan had confused French forces as to the real objectives of the attack, throwing them into disarray as they moved hither and yon to cope with a ubiquitous enemy. Some motorized elements of the 2nd Armored Division were shifting positions around Montcomet when they met a recon column from 6th Panzer Division closing on the town.

Conclusion
Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck's column approached Montcornet from the east around 1700, just as a detachment from 17th Bataillon de Chasseurs Portes (motorized infantry) approached the town from the north. Spotting the Germans, the French formed a defensive line around the railway station at the north edge of the town. The combined attack of the German motorcyclists fording the small river and the tanks of the 6th Panzer Division firing from the rear eventually wore down French resistance. Combat ended around 2000 with heavy French losses: three officers, nine NCOs and 45 chasseurs wounded or killed and ten 25mm guns lost along with their trucks.

Conclusion

Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck's column approached Montcornet from the east around 1700, just as a detachment from 17th Bataillon de Chasseurs Portes (motorized infantry) approached the town from the north. Spotting the Germans, the French formed a defensive line around the railway station at the north edge of the town. The combined attack of the German motorcyclists fording the small river and the tanks of the 6th Panzer Division firing from the rear eventually wore down French resistance. Combat ended around 2000 with heavy French losses: three officers, nine NCOs and 45 chasseurs wounded or killed and ten 25mm guns lost along with their trucks.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.