All,
Ambush at Abbeville, #5
0815 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-Abbeville 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 54.
The second fight saw 1st Lt Tausch, lead his 3rd Grenadier Platoon into the assault on Hill 34. The attack stalled in several locations, but the Lieutenant's skillful leadership maneuvered his troops until they were able to unhinge the enemy's defensive line.
The third fight saw the Reconnaissance Company Commander, 1Lt Wehner, seize the bridge at Deture after some very heavy street fighting.
The fourth fight saw Colonel Klink go down in a blaze of glory atop Hill 54, the remainder of his Stugs and 1st Grenadier Platoon chewed to pieces, though still able to force the French off the hilltop.
The overall area of operations, and that stupid north-seeking arrow at top right is incorrect, north is to far left… The three villages are, from left to right: Dujour, Deture, and Toujour, and the hills are, from left to right: Hill 34, Hill 44, and Hill 54. The River Bleu runs east-west down the center of the table.
The fifth fight sees Major Schultz, the Kampgruppe Executive Officer (and now Acting CO, he just doesn't know it yet) leading a pincer attack on objective, the French village of Toujour, with the 4th Grenadier Platoon on the left and the 1st Panzer Platoon on the right.
A bigger fight in store this go round. The opposing forces, with Germans on left and French on right. The French are completely made of Minifigs UK troops, while the German infantry is Minifigs, but the tanks and command stand are Pendraken.
The German attack kicks off, with infantry on the left (top left) and armor on the right (center). While still mutually supporting, they were supposed to be attacking in tandem as a one-two punch, but the French mortars still dropping on Deture forced the German infantry to move their jump-off point further east (top).
Out on the French far right flank, a lone squad of riflemen stands resolute against the invaders.
The German tanks push forward, nearing the edge of town, but having to slow down as their infantry support (top left), held up by machine gun fire from the town and mortar fire from Hill 44 (bottom right), has barely gotten off its start line.
Which allows the French ATGs to get more shots in on the lightly armored Panzer Is and IIs. The Panzers put up a helluva fight in the center…
But take a helluva beating.
The German infantry, though hard pressed, take advantage of the sacrifice of the Panzer bretheren by forcing their way into the town.
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
link
Next up, French tanks!
V/R,
Jack
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