Counterstrike at Marle - The Matrix Games version of West Front
Rating: | 7.13 (7) |
Games Played: | 7 |
SM: | 10 |
Turns: | 30 |
Type: | Custom |
First Side: | Allies |
Second Side: | Axis |
Downloads: | 158 |
Marle, 100km W of Sedan, France: (Best against humans)
Following the swift German drive through the Ardenne, in which the battle-tested panzers swept aside light forces and frontier units, the Meuse was crossed at Sedan on 14 May, far too quickly for the Allies to react. Wasting no time, Guderian sent the XIX Panzer Korps, comprising the 1st and 2nd Panzer divisions, striking down the Somme valley and reaching Abbeville on May 20th. During this time, feeble efforts were made by the French against the southern flank as the Germans drove west. In the first, on May 15th, the 3rd Armored Division attacked at Stonne, delivering a sharp check to the 10th Panzer Division and the Großdeutschland regiment. On May 17th, De Gaulle with his 4e Division cuirassée (4th Armored Division) attacked at Montcornet, temporarily halting the 1st Panzer Division in its tracks. Neither operation ultimately succeeded due to lack of support, the French having little in the way of reserves in these sectors.
In this hypothetical battle, we presume that the Allies learned well from observing the Wehrmacht in Poland. Although the French and the BEF have moved substantial forces, as planned, into Belgium following the German attack, they have left sizeable armored forces in reserve and relatively concentrated. As the 1st Panzer Division and 2nd Panzer Division form up abreast, and begin their advance towards St. Quentin and the Somme valley, the French launch a concerted attack with the 3rd and 4th Armored Divisions moving up from the south (Laon). Coming in from the northwest is the British 1st Armored Division, reinforced with a motorized infantry brigade. Faced with this sudden powerful attack from two directions, the Germans scrap together elements of 7th Panzer Division (Rommel), a Flak regiment, and the battered Großdeutschland regiment to come to the rescue!
Following the swift German drive through the Ardenne, in which the battle-tested panzers swept aside light forces and frontier units, the Meuse was crossed at Sedan on 14 May, far too quickly for the Allies to react. Wasting no time, Guderian sent the XIX Panzer Korps, comprising the 1st and 2nd Panzer divisions, striking down the Somme valley and reaching Abbeville on May 20th. During this time, feeble efforts were made by the French against the southern flank as the Germans drove west. In the first, on May 15th, the 3rd Armored Division attacked at Stonne, delivering a sharp check to the 10th Panzer Division and the Großdeutschland regiment. On May 17th, De Gaulle with his 4e Division cuirassée (4th Armored Division) attacked at Montcornet, temporarily halting the 1st Panzer Division in its tracks. Neither operation ultimately succeeded due to lack of support, the French having little in the way of reserves in these sectors.
In this hypothetical battle, we presume that the Allies learned well from observing the Wehrmacht in Poland. Although the French and the BEF have moved substantial forces, as planned, into Belgium following the German attack, they have left sizeable armored forces in reserve and relatively concentrated. As the 1st Panzer Division and 2nd Panzer Division form up abreast, and begin their advance towards St. Quentin and the Somme valley, the French launch a concerted attack with the 3rd and 4th Armored Divisions moving up from the south (Laon). Coming in from the northwest is the British 1st Armored Division, reinforced with a motorized infantry brigade. Faced with this sudden powerful attack from two directions, the Germans scrap together elements of 7th Panzer Division (Rommel), a Flak regiment, and the battered Großdeutschland regiment to come to the rescue!
Player Voting Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Member | Balance | Enjoyment |
Otto von Blotto | Slightly Pro Allies | 8 |
kernel t | Well Balanced | 8 |
Dan Caviness | Slightly Pro Axis | 8 |
Cole | Totally Pro Axis | 1 |
Cam | Slightly Pro Axis | 7 |
Gaming Records | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Side Player | 2nd Side Player | Result | Score | ||||||
Outlaw Josey Wales | vs. | kernel t | Axis Major Victory | 120 | 20 | ||||
Big Ivan | vs. | Warhorse | Allies Minor Victory | 90 | 40 | ||||
Ragnar | vs. | Tankertony | Axis Major Victory | 120 | 20 | ||||
Cam | vs. | Zap | Axis Major Victory | 120 | 20 | ||||
Dan Caviness | vs. | Cole | Axis Major Victory | 90 | 15 |
Issues with VP conditions. Played as Allied and there was a point in the game that if we had taken all remaining VP hexes without suffering a single SP loss we would only get a minor victory.
Two orphaned French HQs, one a Division I believe and another a brigade. Not sure if the HQs were there by mistake or missing significant French forces.
This is a theoretical scenario but the German theoretical OOB has the three German divisions equipped with almost all Pz IV's in the entire German Army inventory at the time. Probably similar adjustments in the OOB on both sides for balance.
One French Division starts in the SW corner. That's fine but time limit in scenario does not allow that division to threaten the main objectives (around Marle) in a realistic time frame.
In the scenario as is, British division needs quick victories then hold on for the inevitable counter attack.
My assessment is that most of the hard work has been done for this scenario but much testing is needed to make it playable.
I went trough heaven and hell here. The allied tanks are supperiour to the german counterparts. Only the time limit saved me from total destruction and contained my vicory level.