"French small unit actions" Topic

Are there any good online sources that details small unit actions (~platoon size elements) in the Battle for France (1940)? I had a small book with a few, but I think it went in a box that was sold to a book dealer. Haven't seen much else. I don't care if it's in French, I can read the language.

Sundance,

Here is a link to the Desperation Morale website. It is a free set of ASL scenarios, lots from France 1940 if you scroll through.

Might be helpful. I will post more if I find anything.

desperationmorale.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tactiques-english-translations-for-download.pdf

Skirmish Campaigns has a few books on France ‘40, ranging from a couple squads on up to Genbloux tank clashes.

Thanks for the input. I'm looking for primary sources, though. I know most ASL scenarios aren't historical – the units have been tinkered with to balance the scenario. Dunno about the Skirmish Campaigns – I'll have to take a look.

MGK has published an expansive set of scenarios for the 1940 campaign in the west. There are 192 scenarios in all, if you include Belgian, Dutch and British forces. But the majority of the campaigns covered are either for French forces, or at least involve French forces.

You can find them on Wargamer's Vault: link

I purchases a few of the books in the series after reading about them two months ago on this TMP thread: TMP link

My only interest is in the French forces. I do not have, and do not intend to build, any early war British, Dutch, Belgian or German forces.

I have not yet played any of the scenarios, nor even really gotten close… but I am impressed by the research, and if nothing else they make good reading.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

I have and enjoyed the book "The Breaking Point: Sedan and the Fall of France."

I know MGK is a member here as MGK4167 so here are a couple questions I hope he will chime in on and answer.

Are all the small scenario groups (from 5 to 15 scenarios pre book) ones which are included in the 42 to 50 scenario volumes? I assume so. And all of these are part of the 192 scenario bundle?

I downloaded the free scenario number 19 and understand the units represent one stand per platoon. I play at 1:1 but see no reason the numbers couldn't be used directly. As written I take it that the French 41st armoured battalion was down to only the battalion command unit, a single company which was equivalent to the company's command tank and a single platoon also represented by a single tank making a total of 3 "units" available from that force. Am I correct or would I interpret that to be only one full strength company which would have X platoons of tanks. I assume they are only able to field the 3 "platoons" represented by 3 tanks but would like to understand these scenarios as written and intended.

Thank you for you replies in advance. Of course anyone familiar with these books who feel able to give authoritative answers please do so.

OK found the answers to my fist question(s) in this thread here;

TMP link

Still looking for answers to the second part of the above, please. Thank you.

Hi Stephen, Michael here, author of the scenarios mentioned above. Trust you are well and plague-free.

All my scenarios are designed for one platoon = one stand so they do not have the granularity of detail you might be after if you want to play 1:1. Rounding up as I do means approximations have to be made.

In terms of your specific question, the scenarios are written for Command Decision rules. In these rules one platoon is designated as the command platoon and so is expressed as a command stand. It is a normal stand that has the additional ability of issuing orders. So, a standard three-platoon company would have one command infantry stand and two infantry stands. In the case of Scenario 19, the Battalion Command platoon is present as is a separate company. This reflects that only one company of the 41st was present during this time period, but the battalion commander was also present. It also helps the French a bit in this scenario as, in Command Decision rules, if the company suffers a Shaken or Demoralised morale result, the battalion command stand can rally the company.

I have the two Skirmish books mentioned above. I would describe them as based on historical actions rather than detailed simulations. They are vague approximations, especially the maps, more like Squad Leader in their generalisations.

Hope this helps. As number one fan Mark 1 notes above I think you will enjoy the research in my scenarios, but they will need a fair bit of work to make them 1:1, and some games would be enormous. Still, we all have plenty of time at the moment…

Cheers

Michael Krause

I recommend starting with Small Battles available at: link

As the name suggests, they are some of my smaller battles and so most appropriate for conversion to 1:1 – which would make them Quite Large Battles…

The two skirmish books? Please post a link. As for the Skirmish Campaigns site it seems dominated by CY6 and when I try some of the links I get error 404. So if you would please link me to what you mean. Thank you very much.

BTW I have tried reaching out to Mk1 on the GHQ site as it has messages but no reply yet so I assume(hope) he just hasn't gone there yet.

Found them at: skirmishcampaigns.com/books.htm

Scroll down to find France '40 Ghost Division and France '40 Battles for the Meuse

Those scenario books look great. Are they still in business though? Reason I ask is because that webpage was last updated 7 years ago.

I bought a few. When they get here I can review and let you know what I think.

mgk4167 I bought the lot on the 'Vault. Is it possible to contact you direct with questions? Thank you.

Mark 1 if you get this and visit the GHQ site I would still have a couple questions on Mein Panzer. Thank you.

Stephen m

Thank you very much for your purchase. Very happy to answer questions: email me (without the spaces) at:

mgk milsims @ gmail. com

I had a very quick look at the Skirmish Campaigns books which arrived a couple days ago. The thing that stood out was the size of units involved. Again just a quick look but Skirmish is the rule. Each side has a couple squads, detailed to the individual, with the possibility of a largest size being a platoon. Support (handled as randomly generated extras to the base forces) are a squad to possibly a couple of vehicles. The terrain is very small, although I could find no size referred to in my look (too quick to call a read) for the table size but again figure what a couple of squads would battle over. I estimate half the size of a Chain of Command board which is the closest I have played in scale to these scenarios.