Poplar Ridge
Road to Dunkirk #8
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(Attacker)
Germany
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vs |
Britain
(Defender)
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Total |
| Side 1 |
2 |
| Draw |
1 |
| Side 2 |
0 |
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Total |
| Side 1 |
2 |
| Draw |
1 |
| Side 2 |
0 |
|
Total |
| Side 1 |
0 |
| Draw |
0 |
| Side 2 |
0 |
| Overall Rating, 3 votes |
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Scenario Rank:
--- of 913 |
| Parent Game |
Road to Dunkirk |
| Historicity |
Historical |
| Date |
1940-05-21 |
| Start Time |
07:15 |
| Turn Count |
19 |
| Visibility |
Day |
| Counters |
58 |
| Net Morale |
0 |
| Net Initiative |
1 |
| Maps |
1: 125 |
| Layout Dimensions |
43 x 28 cm
17 x 11 in |
| Play Bounty |
152 |
| AAR Bounty |
227 |
| Total Plays |
3 |
| Total AARs |
0 |
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Introduction
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The British who had retreated from the Dyle to the Senne River and then again to the Dendre River had been ordered to retreat further to hold back the northern arm of the German attack along the canalized River Escaut. An air of tension lay on the river line that morning. The heavy early morning mist hung like a blanket on the water and hid the attacker’s moves. Suddenly all hell let loose as the enemy opened up with artillery, mortars and machine-guns.
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Conclusion
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Despite the violent bombardment, the crossing proved very difficult. From well-built and well-concealed positions in wood on a small hill west of the Escaut River, known as Poplar Ridge, the British inflicted heavy losses to the Germans. Even so, they had to give way as the 3rd Grenadier Guards’ 4th Company was practically destroyed. Bren carriers spearheaded repeated counter-attacks against the tiny German bridgehead in suicidal charges that incurred heavy losses but forced the Germans to fall back across the river.
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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.
- APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
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| 4 Errata Items |
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All Bren carriers should have a movement value of 7.
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Two British infantry have their full strengths printed on the back. They should both be "2-3" when reduced.
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Ignore the direct fire values.
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The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France.
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RtDk007 
