Chain of Command: Many Rivers to Cross Campaign Game One

After a couple of dry runs playing Chain of Command. At the weekend we started “Many Rivers to Cross” campaign from the 2018 Lardy Special. The first game, fought on Map Two: The Village, of the Ladder campaign saw a German First Wave platoon in the vanguard of the assault. 

The German’s made good progress attacking in the wake of a Stuka bombardment not really being effected by French counter battery fire. As a result the made it to the village before any real French intervention. 

Has the Germans closed on one of their objectives near the Great War Memorial the end of turn and the end bombardment, allowing the French to deploy and defend the objectives.

By focusing on one of the German section and although the Germans were very close to capturing an objective, the French successfully eroded their Force Morale to zero theeby winning the game.

Early War French Dragons Portee / Motorcycle Reconnissance Troops

The ongoing Early War French project continues with this set of 3D printed Dragons Portee/ Motorcycle Reconnaissance troops. While my preference is for metal miniatures I have been really impressed by the high quality of recent 3D sculpts. To be honest these guys look better than their 3D renders.

Some of the main things I look in a figure range are an animation and character and these lads have both in spades. I am very grateful to Jason at Danger Close Studio for rescaling them to 20mm so they fit in with my existing mix from the Early War and CheckPoint Miniatures ranges. 

It is great to have a mix of uniforms and  poses to represent an ad-hoc unit or even  a Group Franc force to provide great level of versatility to my Early War French. These figures can fit in to a British Expeditionary Force force as an (un)reliable ally also. 

Because they have been scaled down form 28mm my only concern is the strength of the resin on the extremities such as rifle barrels and waving hands &c. Although they survived the painting table okay. This has not always been the case even with metals. 

I look forward to getting them on the table next month in the first game of the 'Many Rivers to Cross' Campaign. 

French Motorcycle Reconnaissance Fusilier Platoon: Chain of Command

In preparation for learning Chain of Command 2 I am going to play the “Many Rivers to Cross” Pint-Size Campaign, from the 2018 edition of Lard Magazine. This is always a good opportunity to put a campaign force list together.

Senior and Junior Leaders. 

For the longest time I have been taken with the look and the uniforms of the French Reconnaissance Motorcycle Platoon. It has always struck me has one of the most practicable uniforms of the Early War period.  Most of the miniatures come from Early War Minaitures & TQD Castings. With the release of Chain of Command 2 it a great opportunity to get them back on the table as a defending platoon in a Pint-Size Campaign.

1re Groupe de Fusiliers

2eme Groupe de Fusiliers 

According to the Blitzkrieg Handbook this platoon is potent in terms of firepower with two LMGs per Groupe eight Fusiliers. However they only have two Groupede Fusiliers and the V-B Team. Which  makes them smaller than the standard three Groupe French Platoon.

V-B Team with two Senior Leaders

Since this is one of the few French formations which benefit with two Senior Leaders the  The Support points difference  may give the opportunity to add an additional Groupe the Combat with a Junior Leader From List 5 to beef it up and act as a  mobile reserve. 

Some of the Support Options for the French Early War force:  

Support Option: Groupe de Combat

Support Option: 60mm Brandt Mortar Team with Junior Leader.  

Support Option: Hotchkiss M1914 MMG Team with five crew.

Support Option: Sniper Team.

Support Option: Engineer Team.

 The Beginings of a 'Groupe Franc' Sizaine.

Support Option: A Hotchkiss H35 & Somua S35.

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Chain of Command , Assualt on Fortiforcations May 1940

 That was a some introduction to Chain of Command  2. A German Pioneer assault on French fortifications in May 1940. The game was loosely based on Scenario 3: Point 247 from the Forgotten Battles : Battle for France, 1940 by Peter Heath. The Germans had just crossed the River Meuse and were to assault a series of fortifications.

Sadly in the set up I made bit of a pig’s ear of it. Not thinking I placed one of the objective markers in the town rather than on the hill. This resulted in a major advantage for the Germans. Due to a poor patrol phase the Germans advanced up the flank in to the village in the first round. Putting pressure on these poorly placed objectives markers from  the get go. Nevertheless, this provided me with an opportunity to salvage something for a bad situation, a position enjoy from a game perspective.

With an off table bunker buster smashing one of the fortifications in the second round. German Pioneers pouring into the town and swamping the French rifles posted as pickets at the edge of the village. Desperately, attempting to hold the line. As two further Sections deployed to protect this compromised flank as the final started in the third phase of counted down from eight. 

As the Germans brought their weight to bear the French Force Morale stated to tumble  When it reached t two the tattered remanence of the French Reserve platoon withdrew. leaving the field to the German. 

 

On reflection , it seems a plausible scenario for May 1940, an aggressive German Pioneers find a weak spot and flank a defensive position while the French scramble to plug the hole. I was struggling to focus on what was new, what was existing and  how it all goes together. There is a lot there once it gets on to the tabletop. 

I am very much looking forward to getting more games under my belt and becoming more confident with the raft of changes.