Implementing Plan XVII

jonnymacbrown · 03-09-2011, 04:01 PM,

Implementing Plan XVII

The natural tendency playing the French in F 14 is to assume that Plan XVII is fatally flawed, and that it is a good idea to get out of the Ardennes asap. What makes this seem true is the precarious position of both the French 3rd Colonial Division, as well as the French 33rd Infantry Division which, like the 3rd DIC, begins the game split asunder and under heavy pressure.

However, nobody ever made an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Here are the facts: French IV Armee has 250,000 men and 772 guns. They are up against German 4 AOK with 161,000 men 678 guns. So right off the bat, IV Armee has an edge of 90,000 men and 94 guns and is poised to attack. Why not go for it? There cannot be any hesitation. Nor can the French engage in infantry musket duels. The French must assault at every opportunity. Sometimes French assaults fall astray but conversely; with those high assault values, you can win three or four assaults in a row and knock off some of those fearsome Hun MG units. The high French assault factors can definitely take the Hun by surprise. Élan can stun him!

The map [u]9e Corps attack[/u] shows the advance for 17th DI, beefed up with 7 batteries of guns to advance and take the high ground to the north thus holding up any advance of German VIII Korps strung out on the road to Givet. This allows 21st DI, 11e Corps, to advance on the right, cross the river and assist 22 DI in the attack on the severely outmanned and outgunned German 25th ID Hesse . The next map, 11e Corps attacks shows this in more detail: Both the German 25th Hesse Division and the 21st ID, XVIII Korps are in trouble. The 25th has its back to the river can be completely annihilated as there is no help for them as the other division in the Korps, the 21st is already engaged: They have the French 33rd DI in a pickle and the 33rd will lose 700 men and a few guns on the first turn. But that’s as bad as it gets. German XVIII Korps has 29,000 men and 160 guns. But they can be completely overwhelmed by 11e Corps and 17e Corps with 66,000 men and 237 guns. French 4th Cavalry Division can lend support on Day 2 with an additional 5,000 troops. The map 17e Corps attacks with 17e Corps hi-lighted shows the situation. It’s easy meat on the table and they can’t be rescued by XVIII Reserve Korps coming from the east since they are about to be fiercely attacked by French 12e Corps.

German XVIII Reserve Korps is strung out on the road to Neufchateau. Here are the numbers: French 12e Corps = 34,500 men & 120 guns, German XVIII Reserve Korps = 28,000 & 72 guns. The map 12e Corps attacks shows this. 12e Corps is highlighted and also observe the French 9th Cavalry Division, which is fixed, mauled and resting, but perfectly positioned to lend support without even moving by protecting 12e Corps advance on the left. In two days those troops will be ready to fight, and if necessary protect the retreat. The line of advance is laid out: 23rd DI north toward Neufchateau, and 24th DI north along the tracks to the left.

To the right of 12e Corps is the independent French 5th Brigade, attached to Colonial Corps, which must attack hard to the right to rescue 1st Brigade, French 3rd Colonial DI which is in the jaws of death. That’s another problem, and while 1st Brigade is going to get mauled, the German 12th ID can’t stand up to a sustained attack by the “A” rated 5th Brigade, the best outfit in the French Army. The map 3rd Colonial shows the situation. The 3rd Brigade, 3rd DIC (hi-lighted) can advance and establish itself on the high ground in front of it and become extremely difficult to dislodge. Every available bridge engineer unit must be immediately rushed to the scene to build bridges to maintain contact with 3rd DI in case things don’t quite go according to plan. This will be an even and fair fight which can go either way. The French 2nd DI Colonial, “B” rated 13,000 men and 25 guns are on the scene, strung out on the east-west road, and fixed until the evening can either mop up on Day 2 or turn the tide. It’s a good division to have in reserve only a short march from the fight.

Now what we don’t want to do is end up like Varus who lost 3 Legions in the black forests of Germania and had his head sent back to Rome on a silver platter. But we can use all the available resources of French IV Armee: Since the Germans will not be able to advance on Givet nor Fumay, this frees up 51st DI (Ve Armee) to assist in the defense of Dinant, and also allows 60e DIR to get in on the fun and form a reserve on the left of 12e Corps and eventually assist in the attack. The right is protected by 2e Corps, 33,000 men & 120 guns, up against German V Korps, 26,000 men and 72 guns which can be hit in flank and mauled since they are frontally engaged with 4e Corps, IIIe Armee. While you’re at it, load up the 18th DI, 9e Corps on RR. They are near Nancy and send them back up to 9e Corps near Sedan. Nancy isn’t going to fall so don’t worry about it. This will take a day. Please leave the Moroccan Division, the best division in the French Army right where they are; being perfectly positioned to go anywhere by road or rail. They are your Iron Reserve.

The question is, can this kind of attack win the game? Certainly German 4th Army can be overwhelmed as its units are all strung out on roads and not concentrated for an attack. Nor are they ready to receive an attack. However, can the French far left hold against von Kluck’s 1st Army and Bulow’s 2nd Army? But like Buddy Ryan used to say “This ain’t a game for sissies.” You are going to take a lot of hits as the French playing this game, might as well take ‘em while dishing out some good punishment.

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