All,
Ambush at Abbeville, #2
0530 28 May 1940
Following the fighting in and around Flavion, KG Klink was briefly pulled out of the line to rest, refit, perform maintenance on their weapons, machines, and equipment, and bring in a few replacements. They were actually parked outside the Dunkirk perimeter when they were called back to action; further south, German forces had forced a crossing on the Somme. At 0600 27 on May, the Allies counterattacked the German bridgehead, striking the German 57th Infantry Division southwest of Abbeville, in an attempt to reach the encircled Allied troops at Dunkirk.
Unbeknownst to the Germans, the French French 4e DCr (or 4th Division Cuirassee, 4th Armored Division) arrived in the battle area that evening. The French force, heavily armed with Char B1, Somua S-35, and Hotchkiss light tanks, immediately set about reorganizing, preparing to attack on the morning of 28 May.
But KG Klink moved all through the night in order to reach the battle area. arriving at approximately 0500 on 28 May. The plan was for KG Klink to counterattack down the Blangy-Abbevile Road, hoping to flank the French 2e DLC (2nd Cavalry Division), maybe even cut all the way across and in behind the British 51st Highland Division, cutting off the British 1st Armored Division. With that, KG Klink set off, passing through the German 217th Infantry Regiment, launching its attack down the Blangy-Abbeville Road. KG Klink passed through Villers sur Mareuil, then Huppy, and were moving towards St Maxent en Vimeu, when they encountered trouble near the three (fictional) villages, Dujour, Deture, and Toujour, on the River Bleu.
The first fight saw Colonel Klink lead the 1st Grenadier Platoon, supported by Stugs, in the attack on Dujours. Repulsed, they were reinforced by the 4th Grenadier Platoon and drove the French force back onto Hill 44.
The second fight sees the Schutzen Company Commander, 1st Lt Tausch, lead his 3rd Grenadier Platoon, supported by elements of his Schwere Platoon, in the assault on Hill 34, north of the Blangy-Abbeville Road.
The battle area, north is left. The Germans are attacking across the fields at left, with their base of fire element at top left and the engineers hoping to get get into the farmhouse (top center left) and cause some trouble, while the French are defending from positions atop Hill 34 (right). This is an example of what some folks call 'pizza-box gaming.' No pre-contact maneuver or messing around, we're hopping into the action immediately, starting the game at the point of the first shots being fired.
The German engineers and their rifle squad escorts don't even make it off their start line before their roughed up, as Sgt Oberlander gets his 7.5cm Infantry Gun into action, sending HE shells up the hill at the French defenses.
Similarly, 3rd Platoon had barely crossed the line of departure before it was receiving effective fire. Lt Tausch, their Company Commander, is busy cursing and kicking ass to the get German riflemen moving again.
Lt Tausch is able to push the German infantry up the hill and into contact with the French left flank. The French machine gunner in the defensive position at center bottom unlocks his gun and swings it all the way over to the left, onto his Final Protective Line, and goes cyclic, trying to keep the Germans from overrunning the French riflemen there (top center left, with Germans at top center right).
The German infantry, under heavy pressure, continue to work their way right, around the French flank.
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
link
As the Germans were reorganizing, SSgt Janke motioned to Cpl Arndt and Lt Tausch; "look there, there go them Recce boys!" All three craned their necks to watch the stream of armored cars and motorcycles rush south in a cloud of dust, destined to pull off another of their famed 'Hussar Tricks,' looking to grab the bridge over the River Bleu before the French even realized it was in jeopardy.
Lt Tausch could hear the Colonel on the radio net: "Yes, yes, Wehner, push hard, we'll seize the bridge and fling the panzers and 4th Grenadier Platoon across to seize Toujour, now go!"
Coming up next!
V/R,
Jack
