Any consensus on F 14?

[jonnymacbrown]

"So, to develop the discussion even further, I would say that the encouraged strategy is for the Allies to fall back immediately and then solidify north of the extremely valuable objectives with an eye towards attacking the German flank. Now whether or not the Allies can hold off the Germans from the valuable objectives for over 150 turns depends on the skill of both sides. Playing through the Charleroi scenario, I can hold off the Germans to the point where practically everything is apart, at which point - if it were a campaign - I know that I would have to take flight (when the scenario ends). The tricky point is: at what point are the Allies going to keep falling back under pressure and at what point are they going to dig in their heels for that one great battle? And at what point are they able to rest?"

I've been thinking about this, and I think you are right, that an immediate retreat is probably best: But how to do it? Let's face it, good wargamers are infinitely more aggressive than actual commanders for a lot of reasons; especially because we have perfectly accurate maps and because it is after all a game. However, how does one retreat in good order 150 K on foot against a ruthless attacking player? In the actual campaign there'd be a battle somewhere like at Mons, and then the Germans would let the enemy retreat and reassemble somewhere else. In one game I'm playing, my opponent never lets up; even attacking in disordered formation at night. He does not allow me to break contact. There is constant battle.

I can see that from the initial set up, the French can get out of there if they crank up V Armee from the get go, leave some rearguards in forts and bunkers to hold the crossings and pull immediately out of the Ardennes too with 9 & 11 Corps on the left with the rest on the right to follow in echelon. But is it practicable? Has anyone actually moved French V Armee and the BEF, as well as IV & III Armee from the environs of Charleroi/Sedan to somewhere near Paris/Chalons on the Marne and formed a new line? You can't just run: you are going to be overwhelmed somewhere if you do. Has anyone actually been able to do it? The retreat toward Moscow in 1941 in much easier done because there is a constant stream of well placed reinforcements as well as units already in place along the line of retreat. In F 14 there is none of that. The units that are on the front line in very awkward positions must extricate themselves and reform 100 miles to the rear and there are no Siberians to the rescue. jonny :conf: