Scenario 31 Chateau de Quesnoy
Scott B
CHÂTEAU DE QUESNOY
SCENARIO 31, CRESCENDO OF DOOM
AFTER ACTION REPORT
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Quesnoy-sur-Airaines. Along the Somme, June 6, 1940.
Rommel was at the Somme, looking to Paris ninety miles south. The British had evacuated Dunkirk, in their little sail boats. Only sixty French and two British divisions remained in a determined stand on the Somme and Aisne rivers. His thrust would start the French collapse that Guderian would exploit by racing to the Swiss border and cutting off the retreat of the French right flank. This was the beginning of FALL ROT and the end of France.
On the Somme, the French failed to blow two railway bridges which Rommel quickly secured. He immediately took up the rails and crossed with his panzers. The 25th Panzer Regiment was ordered to attack through Le Quesnoy. They found the French colonial troops fighting tenaciously, particularly around the Château de Quesnoy. The tanks rolled around both sides of the Chateau, fighting, and eventually came out on the coverless plain to the south. Rommel continued his advance toward Paris, leaving Quesnoy to the infantry.
The Senegalese Tirailleurs defending the chateau were the victims of terrible reprisals by German troops for their tenacious resistance and the color of their skin. Some German units refused to take prisoners. There were summary executions immediately after capture. Nearly two hundred were shot dead in the Lyon area on the 19th & 20th of June. Those responsible allegedly included Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division, refuting the claim of an innocent Werhmacht.
The Germans would push south on either side of Paris and capture the city unopposed on 14 June. Rommel would continue to Cherbourg, capturing it on 18 June, ending the war for him and the 7th Panzer Division. During the six weeks campaign, 682 were killed, 1,646 wounded, 296 missing and 42 tanks destroyed. They captured 97,648 prisoners, 341 guns, 458 tanks and armored cars, and over 4,000 lorries. France had fallen.
ORDER OF BATTLE
7th Panzer Division, 25th Panzer Regiment, Rommel
5th North African Division, Senegalese Note: It appears Quesnoy-sur-Airaines was held by the 5th NAD, not the 4th as stated in the scenario card.
MAPS AND ADVANCES
Château de Quesnoy here.
Google maps - Rommel crosses the Somme and the battle of Le Quesnoy coordinates.
Rommel through Quesnoy-sur-Airaines here. (following COD scenarios)
Rommel’s campaign through France. 10 May to 18 June, 1940 here.
RESOURCES
“Château de Quesnoy”. CRESCENDO OF DOOM. Baltimore, MD: The Avalon Hill Game Company, 1980. https://storage.googleapis.com/archivesqlt/CAJ00031A.pdf
Les Troupes Coloniales Sur Le Front De La Somme (18 mai - 8 juin 1940). Ancre d’Or Bazeilles.
Wikipedia. Battle of France.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_France#Fall_Rot
BH Liddel-Heart, The Rommel Papers page 48-51.
The Senegalese tirailleurs in the Battle of France | Chemins de mémoire. (n.d.). Www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from https://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/en/senegalese-tirailleurs-battle-france
“My great grand-father and his french “rated-B” regiment faced Rommel on the Somme river in June 1940”. (2019, May 6). The TimeGhost Army. https://community.timeghost.tv/t/my-great-grand-father-and-his-french-rated-b-regiment-faced-rommel-on-the-somme-river-in-june-1940/1633
Scheck, Raffael. “Hitler’s African Victims: The German Army Massacres of Black French Soldiers in 1940.” Cambridge University Press. New York. 2006.
INITIAL PLACEMENT
French Comments
The French commander must be mindful of the victory conditions. That is, he must protect the Chateau to the bitter end. Keeping that in mind, the French must guard against several approaches by the Germans. Setting up the French to defend one German approach is risky. In this case, the Germans could bypass the entire French position by a lucky choice.
The dispersed plan calls to set up against several avenues of approach. That shows promise, but the French must make sure they plan for their rally positions with leaders and their retreats to the Chateau when the time is right to do so. Setting up too far forward provides the German with an opportunity to cut off portions of the French defenders from the Chateau.
After the Defensive plan is set, the French work around their line setting up many traps with mines, bore sightings and hidden guns. With concealed infantry and dummy positions, the French defenses look like a porcupine. I like that.
German Comments
“Amateurs study tactics and professionals study logistics.'' I take heed of this advice because the Germans are short vehicles to transport their thirty-six squads and crews. Good traffic control should get the units into position in four or five turns, leaving nine or ten turns remaining to assault the chateau. It is most important to shuttle the troops without delay.
There are twenty-nine squads and six crews but only twelve and four transport, respectively. Accordingly, the first wave will disembark passengers at half their movement point allowance and then return to pick up more passengers. Later waves will leapfrog past the first and push deeper into the enemy perimeter while the first engages the enemy.
GAME TURN ONE TO FOUR
German Comments
The Germans take position during the first four turns. I pick one side to enter. The French 9-1 and HMG in the third level building are particularly irksome. He has a far reach and the Germans have poor terrain. I will enter on his side (board four on the bottom), and attempt to neutralize him early.
There are three major deploying movements. On turn one, all AFVs are pressed into transportation service, carrying and disembarking passengers to a distance of half their MP allowance. They return to embark more next turn. Second, infantry on foot move in the same direction. The next movement takes the third wave to the 6J8 building and that irksome 9-1 with his HMG. Spearheading the deployment are three SPW250s with 2-4-7 that are actively looking for minefields and hidden guns.
The SIG 1B positions to fire indirectly at the Chateau and accurately places a spotting round by German turn two. It can bombard any one hex of the Chateau with 30 IFT +3. This appears to scare the dickens out of the French 9-2 and HMG on the second level, causing them to retire out of sight. His retirement probably saved a few German squads from elimination by the HMG.
The Germans also placed and maintained an artillery barrage on the French 9-1/468/HMG in 6J8 for two game turns. This Suppression Fire dropped the morale of affected units by one for a game turn. Some advanced armor units managed lucky shots that eliminated the squads, leaving only the 9-1 manning the HMG at half firepower.
Fate could not have been kinder to the Germans so far. Indirect artillery suppressed two HMGs and the troops deployed with few casualties. They had a perfect suppression fire + lucky shot combo. Searching units found three of four hidden French 75 guns and both of the hidden ATGs. Their units deployed by turn four, easing the transportation shortage and returning armor to its support role. It's been a fortunate game so far, but there are ten more turns to go and that is a long time to tempt fate.
French Comments
The German commander moves his units forward to strike at one point on the perimeter. Unless the French have concentrated on one avenue of assault, he is guaranteed to burn through the defenses to the Chateau in time. He uses his mortars and 150mm to suppress the HMGs at the 2nd and 3rd level buildings. Moving forward with his sappers he locates mines and works to clear the way through the outer defenses. It is not always easy. Several squads are broken and eliminated due to mines. A 9-1 leader is KIA because of a booby trap. A small halftrack and crew are destroyed when they run into the fire of a 75mm artillery gun.
So far, luck has not been happy with the French. Still, the Germans have 8 victory points of losses in the graveyard. The French have lost two squads and a leader defending the perimeter. The three story building will fall soon. The rest of the French forces fall back to the Chateau. If the luck swings, the Germans could have a hard time.
GAME TURNS FIVE AND SIX
German Comments
The German enjoyed three major accomplishments in these last two turns. Most significant is the capture of building 6J8 with its third level and French HMG. Next, all the hidden French guns were found, although at the expense of a PzKw IV. Finally, the French sniper was found after he killed a German 9-2 leader. About half of the mine factors were discovered. However, the sIG B’s gun disabled on a roll of eleven. These accomplishments cost the Germans fifteen squad or equivalents of the allowable twenty-five.
The troops deploy along a line to concentrate fire on a portion of the Chateau, limiting the enemy’s line-of-sight while concentrating their own.
Of course, I could always malfunction my way to a loss, so far the 150 sIG 1B, SPW251/10, PzIV D MGs, Captured French HMG, and a SPW250/1 have malfunctioned and it is only turn six of fourteen.
French Comments
The French fell back to the Chateau and their luck changed. The Germans were making steady progress and then lightning struck several times. The Pzkw IVC moved into the line of sight of a hidden 75mm gun. It was shortly destroyed along with the German armor leader. In another action, a 9-2 leader was lost to a sniper’s shot. The sIB 1B fired its last 150mm round and went silent. Then, another halftrack was shot up and destroyed by a French HMG. Added squads were KIA as well and the total VPs lost by the Germans are 15.
The German attack has burned through one point in the perimeter and threatens to enter the Chateau. The French are in a good position in that the German attack seems to be contained to that one approach and the bulk of the French infantry have made it into the Chateau. This allows the French to orient themselves to the threat and maximize their remaining firepower. As the Germans get close, the French should also deploy half-squads and increase the number of loose units running around in the building. I believe the advantage is still with the Germans in this game, but the French have had a good run.
GAME TURNS SEVEN AND EIGHT
German Comments
The Germans breach into the Chateau de Quesnoy on turn eight and it should be a milestone as they finally gain a foothold in their objective.
However, this was overshadowed by my diabolical opponent firing into a melee hex, breaking and eliminating the elite German squad and freeing the French 4-5-7 to defensive fire. I could only look on in disgust, horror and envy at the point blank 8 IFT -1 incoming shot that seconds before had been a safe hex into the Chateau. Well played, Monty. Well played.
Nonetheless, the Germans have established themselves in the Chateau, outside they positioned fifty firepower factors in normal range, and encircled the building. They are now ready to start the next phase of the engagement - reinforcement and reduction of French units in the victory location.
French Comments
At Turn 8, the French are being worn down. The Germans have AFVs around the outside of the building. The IG is in German hands. The final HMG will be captured shortly. Losses are heavy on both sides.
There is still hope. Firing into the melee hex and killing a German sapper worked wonderfully. The French now have 18 VPs. If the French close assault two AFVs that are the closest and get good results, they will be at 22 VPs. A French 457 is roaming through the German rear areas trying to dispatch two broken German units that were left behind. The valiant ATG gun crew is hunting two more broken units trying to rally with an 8-1 leader. A good shot by one of the remaining 75mm guns could turn the tide in the building. Even if the building falls, these efforts can produce a French victory.
GAME END TURN 9
German Comments
The German Prep Fire breaks the front-line defenders in the Chateau, leaving a clear path for eight squads and their support weapons to reinforce the chateau this turn. This is more than enough to finish off the defenders in the remaining five game turns. While possible, it is improbable the French will eliminate the seven squads or equivalents necessary to prevent a German victory.
French Comments
With the start of Turn 9, hope is almost gone. The close combat at the end of Turn 8 did not go well. Neither AFV was destroyed and in the process the 457 was gunned down by the halftrack AAMG. In the next Rally, the Germans had a particularly good phase and rallied many units including the two broken squads with their 8-1 leader. Now there is only one AFV that is adjacent to a French squad and only two broken squads to be hunted down. That is only 4 of the needed 7 VPs. During the Prep Fire, the last French units on the front side of the building were broken. German units can now pour into the Chateau. The OBA observer finally got through to the battery and landed a SR next to the building. The Germans are only one smoke round mission from overwhelming the defenders. The Chateau will surely fall by Turn 9 or maybe 10. It is almost impossible now to get the necessary 25 VPs and I concede.
AFTERMATH
German
It is better to be lucky earlier in the game than later, and the elimination of the 9-1/HMG and retirement of the 9-2/HMG extended that luck over many turns. Had they stayed in position and eliminated four or five German squads, then the French condition would have been much improved and they may have stayed in the fight. The Germans were able to capitalize on early lucky success.
I think entering all units on the same side allowed for a smaller breaching force supported by large fire-groups focused on the schwerpunkt point of entry. They were also mutually supporting and the Sappers concentrated on only one side of the Chateau. The assault force was only four squads and a few LMGs, but the large support group’s fire cleared the path for them. Once in the Chateau, they had the cover of the stone building and were difficult to dislodge.
This was as good an example of blitzkrieg as I’ve ever seen with artillery, infantry and armor all working in unison to quickly take an objective. Artillery to suppress the defenses, transport to quickly close and engage, and armor to provide fire support. When the dice bring everything together, one can appreciate why the French had such trouble and how the Germans used their new tactics to so quickly bring about the fall of France.
Monty, thank you for a staunch defense.
French
The initial French setup is critical. Clearly, a balanced defensive position can be pierced by a concentrated German attack on one point. Positioning the SiG 1B as an on board artillery and landing an early spotting round on the Chateau was startling. The French struggled to deal with that until the gun ran out of ammo.
Many of the French units did very well. I was impressed with the 458s, the 75mm ART guns, and 37mm IG. I need to find more ways to target the German halftracks and their weak armor. I worked hard on retreat lines and still had two platoons of French with leaders cut off and killed outside the Chateau. I learned alot about how to play this scenario. As always, Scott thank you for the game and the education.