French Border Incident

French-Italian Border in the Alps, June 1940...

Historical Situation

The Italians have just crossed the border, and advanced about 4-5km. The French have initially retired and the Italians have settled down to consolidate their gains. The following day the French launch a counterattack, just off table behind the Italians is an important French border town - the object of the counter attack was to break through and relieve it.

Map

There is no map available for this scenario at this time (but see photos in the After Action Report for an idea). For 15mm figures the table size is approximately 2.2m x 1.5m (7'6" x 5') and runs long-ways North to South. The opposing sides use the long edges (East & West) as their baselines.

Italian Player

Morale: Regular

1 Rifle Battalion HQ:
     1 BC (+1)
     1 Regimental Gun Section, with:
          1 65mm L/17 Infantry Gun Stand*
3 Rifle Companies, each with:
     1 CC (+1)
     3 Rifle Platoons, each:
          1 PC (+1)
          4 Rifle Squads

2 Divisional Anti-Tank Sections, each with:
     1 47mm L/32 Anti-Tank Gun Stand

1 Attached Medium Tank Battalion Platoon (Part):
     1 PC (+1)** - in one of the M11/39s
     3 M11/39 Medium Tanks (37mm L/40)

1 Attached Light Tank Battalion Platoon (Part):
     1 PC (+0) - in one of the L3/33s
     2 L3/33 Tankettes (Twin MG)

1 Divisional Artillery Battery:
     1 FO
     4 75mm L/18 Howitzers (off-table, 6 Fire Missions)

* Instead of deploying on-table for direct fire this may be left off table and used indirect for 6 Fire Missions (designate one Company Commander to have FO capability for it). If used on-table it can be assigned to a Platoon or Company or left under the Battalion C.O.

** Applies for Morale (Rally) Rolls only, not Close Combat.

Italian Objective

Hold the line and prevent a French breakthrough.

Italian Deployment

Deploys First and has Second Initiative. The Italians deployed everything on-table up to halfway in from the East (long) table edge. They are allowed to keep 1 Rifle Company and the Medium Tanks off-table as reserves if they wish (but must specify entry points for each platoon before game commences).

French Player

Morale: Regular (unless noted otherwise)

1 Rifle Battalion HQ:
     1 BC (+1)
     2 Regimental Mortar Platoons, each with:
          2 81mm Mortar Stands (6 Fire Missions)
     2 Regimental ATG Sections, each with:
          2 25mm L/72 Anti-Tank Guns
3 Rifle Companies, each with:
     1 CC (+1)
     4 Rifle Platoons, each with:
          1 PC (+1)
          3 Rifle Squads
1 MG Company, with:
     1 CC (+1)
     3 MG Platoons, each:
          1 PC (+1)
          2 MMG Stands

Depleted Remnants of Border Guard Company, with: [Morale: Green]
     2 Border Guard Platoons, each with:
          1 PC (+1)
          2 Rifle Squads

1 Divisional Heavy ATG Section, with:
     2 75mm L/36 M1897 Anti-Tank Guns

1 Attached Infantry Tank Platoon, with:
     1 PC (+1)* - in one of the R-35s
     5 Renault R35 Light Tanks (37mm L/21)

* Applies for Morale (Rally) Rolls only, not Close Combat.

French Objective

Breakthrough the Italian Lines and exit 10 Stands or Tanks off the Italian table edge.

French Deployment

Deploys second, has first initiative. The Border-Guards start on table supported by the 75mm ATGs and if desired up to one Platoon of MMGs and one Section of 25mm ATGs. They deploy up to 1/4 of the way in from the West (long) table edge. The rest of the French force comes on from the baseline as and where desired.

Victory Conditions

This is a straight full battalion shoot 'em up battle - if the French breakthrough and get 10 stands off table they win, if not the Italians win. Simple.

Scenario Special Rules & Rules Variants

1. French M1897 75mm Anti-Tank Guns may not move in the game other than to pivot.

2. Even if your local house rules allow it Italian & French Tanks may not group move at all as they lacked radios and relied on flags or hand signals to communicate - the commanders were also the gunners as well so command control was extremely rudimentary .

3. French Rifle Sections have Grenade Launchers that can be used as rudimentary mortars or anti-tank weapons. Each initiative phase allow one shot from a stand in each platoon as a Light Mortar firing HE to represent the cumulative presence of these.

4. French 25mm anti-tank guns have no HE capability, they relied on firing 25mm solid shot at enemy infantry and soft vehicles - in Crossfire therefore they cannot shoot at infantry, only tanks.

5. L3/33 and M11/39 get 4D for their twin MGs, the Renault R35 gets 3D for it's MG or 3D/0 Sq for it's 37mm main gun.

6. With this scenario we tried out a new AT fire system we had been working on, the second of various systems we have tried or tinkered with. To summarise:

The weapon throws 1D and must score the number indicated or better to get a "hit" against that armour value. To hit & penetration are all built into a single roll.

Modify the throw as follows, but a 6 always hits and a 1 always misses:

-1 When firing at targets in cover (whether hard or soft) or that are Hull Down.
-1 if Reactive Fire at a moving target that is not on a road.
+1 if Second or subsequent shot at same target in consecutive Initiative Phases.
+1 if target is Pinned or Suppressed.

Once you hit throw a second die for effect, regardless of result any hit is deemed adequate for retaining/gaining initiative:
   6 = Destroyed*
4-5 = Suppressed
2-3 = Pinned
   1 = No Effect
* French Grenade Launchers can only Suppress not destroy, so treat a 6 as Suppressed.
Effect is same as for Infantry, and multiple suppressions will destroy a vehicle.

Read the After Action Report...