28mm BOLT ACTION - ARDENNES 1940

This Thursday we played a game at Hugh Wilson‘s house using the Bolt Action rules. The scenario was set in the Ardennes in 1940. It was a debut for the French early war collection of Campbell Hardie. The rest of the figures and the scenario were provided by Colin Jack. Hugh provided all the terrain on the 12ft by 5 ft table.

German advance guard stopped at the first roadblock

In this game, the Germans (elements of Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division - played by Martin Gibson, Donald Adamson and Hugh) had to break through the winding and narrow roads in the Ardennes in order to encircle the Allied armies in Belgium. Defending the main road were the Belgians (myself and Bart Zynda), who were to be supported by advancing French motorised forces (Colin and Campbell). The Belgians decided to at any cost to delay the Germans march along the road, so they left some barricades on the road at the resistance points, to delay the German armour, and to give the French more time for the arrival of their forces.

French S35s move forward

The Belgians showed exceptional courage, but their blocking forces were successively eliminated by the stronger and far better armed Germans. This heroic Belgian sacrifice gave the French time to arrive and join the main Belgian defence line and effectively stop the German advance. We used the draft Warlord 1940 French Army list. The rules in this force the French tanks to order any advance move and this proved problematic, worsened by the effects of a German air strike which scored multiple pins on both the S35s. The main allied line was still holding at the end of the game but by then French armour only seemed capable of going backwards.

HS123 attacks the French armour

FRENCH BRIEFING

You command a small task force which has been sent into the Ardennes to assist the local Belgian troops in resisting the advance of the Germans. While it might be acceptable for your force to die to the last Belgian we simply cannot leave the defence of the Ardennes to them. You should try to avoid upsetting the locals who will no doubt believe that they have the situation under control. Press forward to the most advanced road block and try to assume command or
at least influence the tactical troop deployment. At your disposal you have the following:-

Force HQ Officer, SMG, 2 rifles, medic, Regular
Char B1 tank Medium (9+), light AT gun, light howitzer, MMG, Inexperienced
Somua S35 tank Medium (9+), medium AT gun, MMG, Inexperienced
Somua S35 tank Medium (9+), medium AT gun, MMG, Inexperienced
Infantry section Officer + 10 rifles, inc LMG, Regular }
Infantry section Officer + 10 rifles, inc LMG, Regular } motorised
Infantry section Officer + 10 rifles, inc LMG, Regular }
75mm gun + tow 3 crew; light howitzer, Regular
25mm AT + tow 3 crew; light AT gun, Regular

Must attempt to reach the front, at least with the armour.
Roadblocks must be dismantled to allow passage and this may have to be done by your infantry if Belgians refuse.
Belgian troops are unlikely to take any orders from you.

BELGIAN BRIEFING

You command a small force which has been given the task of preventing the German invaders moving up the through the forest road towards the French frontier. You have constructed roadblocks and sited anti-tank guns but you have very few troops to cover the whole area. The French have announced that support is on its way which might be helpful except for the fact that they will want to take control of operations. This you should resist while accepting what assistance seems appropriate. At your disposal you have the following:-

Force HQ Officer, 2 rifles, light AT gun with 3 crew
Infantry section Officer + 7 rifles + LMG + ATR Veteran
Infantry section Officer + 8 rifles + LMG Regular
Infantry section Officer + 6 rifles + LMG Inexperienced
HMG section 3 crew Regular
Mortar Section 3 crew Veteran
AT Gun section 3 crew Veteran
AT Gun section 3 crew Regular
T15 tank Light tank; light autocannon Regular

May set up 3 roadblocks marked on map. Invisible until direct LOS established.
Each roadblock guarded by an infantry section.
AT guns may be set up anywhere and will also be invisible. Hard Cover.
Tank may be concealed or even dug in.
French will arrive behind the roadblocks and will insist on dismantling them to allow their own troops to reach the front. Belgians will have to rebuild.
Dismantling/Re-building takes inf section 1 turn
Belgians have option of refusing to co-operate.

GERMAN BRIEFING

You have an armoured column with motorised support which is ordered to head through the Ardennes Forest via route N37 and break through towards the French frontier. The terrain lends itself to ambush but the Belgians will have little in the way of AT weapons and even less in the way of armour. The French may attempt to give support but a quick thrust should see you at the border before they are able to react. You have the following troops at your disposal:-

Commander A/C Armoured Car (7+); open top Regular Recce
Sdkfz 222 Armoured Car (7+); light autocannon, Regular Recce
Sdkfz 222 Armoured Car (7+); light autocannon, Regular Recce
Pz38t Light tank (8+); light AT gun; MMG, Regular
Pz38t Light tank (8+); light AT gun; MMG, Regular
Pz38t Light tank (8+); light AT gun; MMG, Regular
PzIV short Medium tank (9+); medium AT gun; MMG, Regular
Infantry HQ Officer, 2 smg, 2 rifles, medic Regular, Kubelwagen
Infantry section Officer, 2 smg, 8 rifles, 1lmg, Regular, Hanomag
Infantry section Officer, 2 smg, 8 rifles, 1lmg, Regular, Hanomag
Infantry section Officer, 2 smg, 8 rifles, 1lmg, Regular, Hanomag
Engineer section Officer + 11 rifles Veteran, Hanomag
Luftwaffe liaison Officer, radio op. Regular, VW Van

You can reinforce with
Infantry HQ Officer, 2 smg, 2 rifles, medic Regular, Kubelwagen
Infantry section Officer, 2 smg, 8 rifles, 1lmg, Regular, Truck
Infantry section Officer, 2 smg, 8 rifles, 1lmg, Regular, Truck
Infantry section Officer, 2 smg, 8 rifles, 1lmg, Regular, Truck
PzIV short Medium tank (9+); medium AT gun; MMG, Regular
PzII Light tank (8+); light autocannon, MMG, Regular
　
Your advance up the valley is certain to be hindered by roadblocks and ambushes.
Roadblocks will not be seen until LOS is established.
KO'd vehicles will block road but can be pushed off in one turn by heavier vehicle, doing nothing else, or in two turns by equal vehicle.
Engineer section can open roadblock in one turn, normal infantry in two turns.
You have a Luftwaffe liaison team who may be able to call in an air strike. The pilot will only be able to see troops/vehicles on the road.