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0512_01: The Matador's Cloak - PzC 12 France '40

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0512_01: The Matador's Cloak Image
Tiller Operational Campaigns Ladder

0512_01: The Matador's Cloak

By Mike Prucha
Allies 8 - 2 - 2 Axis
Rating: 6.9 (10)
Games Played: 12
SM: 4
Turns: 37
Type: Stock
First Side: Allies
Second Side: Axis
The Battle of the Gembloux Gap, 12 May 1940: 4. Panzer-Division led Heeresgruppe B's assault against Belgium, cutting through scant Dutch resistance in Limburg on May 10th and all but annihilating Belgium's 7e division d'infanterie on May 11th. After a dispute about whether the Panzers should turn south to help encircle the Liège fortresses or continue the advance deep into Belgium, Generalleutnant Erich Hoepner ordered 4. Panzer west. 3. Panzer-Division, still in Germany, would follow. This westward advance had to wait - most of the division, led by Generalmajor Johann Stever, had to stop for refueling. Nonetheless, on the morning of May 12th, Stever sent one advance battalion (II./Panzer-Regiment 35) forward towards Hannut. There the battalion encountered French tanks and motorized cavalry belonging to 3e DLM, part of René Prioux's elite corps de cavalerie. What started as a limited reconnaissance mission would soon expand into the full-scale clash of armored divisions - the first great tank battle in history. [Size: Medium] Design Note: This medium scenario covers the action in the Gembloux Gap from May 12th-15th. The "Hannut" scenario focuses in on the action around Hannut and Orp on the 12th-13th. Retreating Belgian units are ommited from the scenario.
Player Voting Stats
Member Balance Enjoyment
zorak's Profilezorak Moderately Pro Allies 6
giorgiobeacco's Profilegiorgiobeacco Moderately Pro Allies 7
fabiominatti's Profilefabiominatti Moderately Pro Allies 7
The Killer Rabbits's ProfileThe Killer Rabbits Slightly Pro Allies 7
Bioman's ProfileBioman Totally Pro Allies 1
Gaming Records
1st Side Player 2nd Side Player Result Score
Axis originalperson's Profile originalperson vs. giorgiobeacco giorgiobeacco's Profile Allies Axis Major Loss 8 72
Axis Smedley's Profile Smedley vs. Basadovsky Basadovsky's Profile Allies Axis Major Victory 72 8
Axis vLuttwitz's Profile vLuttwitz vs. vendetta vendetta's Profile Allies Axis Major Victory 72 8
Allies Andrea G's Profile Andrea G vs. philm philm's Profile Axis Allies Minor Victory 56 24
Axis BigDuke66's Profile BigDuke66 vs. Saddlesore Saddlesore's Profile Allies Draw 40 40
BigDuke66
First Sergeant
BigDuke66 Frid Apr 16, 2021 6:28 pm
Some fixes to it are coming with the next patch, one should wait till patch 2.04 comes to play this one.
Saddlesore
Staff Sergeant
Saddlesore Frid Apr 16, 2021 10:44 pm
Allies have an advantage in being able to use real estate for time. Allies cannot waste forces on unnecessary counter attacks and utilize terrain to their advantage.
vLuttwitz
1st Lieutenant
vLuttwitz Thu Mar 30, 2023 3:25 pm
Wds version
Basadovsky
Private 1st Class
Basadovsky Sun Aug 27, 2023 4:32 pm
The beginning of the scenario was engaging on the Allied side with the French superiority, and the tactical complications for the German player facing Hannut is well represented. However, the retreat to Gembloux and the transition between the two confrontations seems strange to me and doesn't leave much room for manoeuvre as units are arbitrarily removed from the scenario.

All in all, an interesting scenario, but one that lacks the flexibility of more important scenarios, and which requires the French side to master the retreat, something I obviously failed to do, even if the defeat came down to a few hours.