Free France Campaign

[terminator]

Panzer General 3D Assault

French forces Mini Campaign:

Leclerc.jpg (63.14 KiB) Viewed 5167 times

[bru888]

Hey, terminator, it occurs to me that you might be able to serve as French translator, the way CoolDTA is helping me with Finnish. Just a phrase here and there. Interested?

[ColonelY]

Don't knock yourself out. You've done enough already. I'll either find suitable maps or I'll "freelance" it. I can guarantee you quality, either way.

Wonderful, thanks a lot.

I think I will carry on gathering some of the main relevant and available info, before posting them here.

[terminator]

Hey, terminator, it occurs to me that you might be able to serve as French translator, the way CoolDTA is helping me with Finnish. Just a phrase here and there. Interested?

Well yes, it could be.

[bru888]

Hey, terminator, it occurs to me that you might be able to serve as French translator, the way CoolDTA is helping me with Finnish. Just a phrase here and there. Interested?

Well yes, it could be.

Oui, très bien. (I took French in high school and I remember some of it. Finnish, though, forget about it. Now, don't start speaking French to me! Your English is much better than my French.)

[ColonelY]

GABON – PART1 SCENARIO… Again!

Addition of an historical event: “Not many but much!” (on the 31st October 1940, on the corresponding time during the scenario, so around the middle of this scenario)

“After three months and three weeks, the Battle of Britain just comes to an end this 31st October 1940 by Allied victory!

Almost 1’700 airplanes have been lost to achieve this, whereas about 2’000 German airplanes have been destroyed. The Luftwaffe and the Corpo Aereo Italiano have been unable to take the edge over the Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force and their reinforcements of “Non-British personnel”.

Indeed, on the Allied side, about 20% of the pilots were from non-British countries. There were many Polish and Czech pilots, but there was as well (amongst others) Belgians and… some Free French!

Oh yes, we’ve helped them there as well!

In fact, thirteen French men have been recognized in the Battle of Britain Roll of Honor.”

Maybe with some picture of a non-British pilot or of the planes used, or something similar…

[ColonelY]

This nice picture can certainly be useful sooner or later: https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... 4102973088

[bru888]

This nice picture can certainly be useful sooner or later: https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... 4102973088

Probably not, because it's anachronistic. It's a memorial plaque that has the year of his death on it.

[ColonelY]

This nice picture can certainly be useful sooner or later: https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... 4102973088

Probably not, because it's anachronistic. It's a memorial plaque that has the year of his death on it.

Damn right, it's true. All right, well, this one will do the trick if it's needed:
https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... 4105037423

[ColonelY]

Ah, at least a good map of the famous battle at Bir Hakeim: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... m1-grd.jpg

And another, showing the defensive positions, the minefields, etc. http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... m3-grd.jpg

[ColonelY]

There are at least two units that must/should be put as CORE:

- “1er Bataillon d’Infanterie de Marine” (who distinguished himself in Sidi Barrani and participate to liberate Tobrouk, suffering some losses… - we’ll come back to that later)
- “13e Demi-brigade de Légion étrangère” (who appears in front of Dakar and, later, Libreville)

Those two units (or some of their elements at least) will take part in the future Eritrea campaign, so the “Batailllon d’Infanterie de Marine” must be introduced first.
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Another campaign event, OR something to add in the next scenario description (here next = later than the 29th Nov.):

"29th November 1940, de Gaulle on BBC: «Nous avons en ce moment 35.000 hommes sous les armes» (“We currently have 35,000 men under arms”)."
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Historical background: (can be partly added in some descriptions or something)

After the Fall of France (the end of June), there was in September two Italian Armies in Italian Lybia:

The 10th Army (10 divisions), based in Cyrenaica and faced the British in the Kingdom of Egypt, a British ally.

The 5th Army (only 4 divisions left, the others transferred to the 10th), based in Tripolitania and faced the Vichy’s French Tunisia.

Plus, of course, many forts in the southern part of the country and desert patrols between them – that they will soon reinforce, because they feared some action from the Free French units coming out their French Equatorial Africa.

The Italians, or their local Allies, still used some cavalry units (on horse or on camel)…
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“MINI” SIDI BARRANI SCENARIO: (10-11 December 1940)

Suggestion of scenario description:

“On 13th September 1940, four divisions of the Italian 10th Army plus the Maletti Group (most of the M11/39 medium tanks in North Africa and many L3 tankettes) conducted the “Italian invasion of Egypt”, their “Operazione E”, and advanced bis Sidi Barrani, before preparing defensive positions in fortified camps.

For the British troops to push them back into Libya, this lock of Sidi Barrani must first be broken. Originally planned as a five-day raid, this counterattack, called the Operation Compass, has been launched on the 9th December 1940, against the fortified Italian camps set up in a defensive line outside Sidi Barrani. Now the Free French have there a golden opportunity to distinguish themselves…

The Free French do have a single infantry unit to engage there, the “1er Batailllon d’Infanterie de Marine”, rallied in Cyprus in June (so even before the units of “Légion étrangère”!) and completed by French from Egypt. These guys leaded by the commandant Folliot, were somehow loaned by de Gaulle to the British local HQ. Anyway, even if they are (still) few (for now), put them on the scales for good!”
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Idea on how to “build up” this…

“Zoom in” on the general battle map (that I don’t have ), enough to have maybe our Free French battalion representing roughly the third or the fourth of all the allied infantry units visible on this scenario (thus having maybe 3 or 4 infantry battalions to manage on overall)… then some decent challenge with Italians having some fortified defenses plus some decent artillery (the first purely British assaults having historically been repealed only by artillery shots).

As primary objectives, the “classical” capture of few points starting under Italian flag, but the “less-classical” do at least 20 (or 30 or more!) damages with the Free French troops… The later one being there to force the player to use them and thus to “put in situation” the fact that, even if they were few, they did their part!

It could maybe be a medium scenario…

At that time, the British didn’t really care about these “few Frogs who claim their wish to fight” and thus weren’t afraid to put them on the first line, maybe as well simply to test them…

At the end of the scenario, a text which mention the fact that “now that we have contributed to open the way for them at Sidi Barrani, the British HQ can proceed with its Operation Compass and maybe even push forward towards the fortified Tobrouk”.
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There is a port at Sidi Barrani…

British ships: the destroyer (or “monitor”) “Terror” and the two gunboats “Aphis” and “Ladybird” were not far away… at least the “Ladybird” has for sure bombarded Sidi Barrani!

Global Allied assaulting forces: 16th Infantry Brigade (brought forward from 4th Indian Division reserve) + parts of the 11th Indian Brigade + two (heavy) field artillery regiments + 7th RTR (rushing forward unserviceable tanks back into action!) + our (little) Free French battalion…

-> like this, it looks indeed more like a raiding party than a heavy assault with the very best and elite troops only…

Global Italian defense of Sidi Barrani: 2 Italian divisions in eight strongpoints, each defended by a battalion, with some artillery in support…
But it is said that their defensive perimeter was too long for effective command… PRECISELY A LONG PERIMETER, SO FINE IF (ONLY) ONE PART IS CHOSEN! A part, maybe, which allow the use of the “Ladybird”, why not?

There was an Italian HQ at Sidi Barrani…

Once the town has been taken, the remains of the two Libyan Divisions and the 4th Blackshirt Division 3 Gennaio were trapped between the 16th Infantry Brigade and Selby Force… So, the Selby Force was not far away from this action at Sidi Barrani…

It this is to be trusted, then the 2 divisions defending the Sidi Barrani’s perimeter should have been either: 4th Blackshirt Division 3 Gennaio (the Italian equivalent of the SS? ), the 1st Libyan Division Sibelle, or the 2nd Libyan Division Pescatori…
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“MINI” TOBROUK SCENARIO: (21-22 January 1940)

Continuation of the “Operation Compass”…
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Suggestion to add this in the scenario description:
“De Gaulle has said on 16th December 1940 on the BBC: “Le canon de Sidi Barrani, en faisant tressaillir d’espoir la patrie écrasée, a mis au comble du désarroi les collaborateurs de l’ennemi.» (“The cannon of Sidi Barrani, by making the crushed homeland shudder with hope, brought the enemy's collaborators to the height of disarray.”)

And towards the end of December 1940, the King of England, George VI, was kind enough to point out in a speech that the Franco-British troops did a good job in Libya.”

Purely historical again - nice if we consider than less that 1% of the soldiers were French at that time and particular location... Maybe a little political, this speach, but anyway still nice!
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Same general idea: “zoom in” somewhere so that the Free French can do their part… And again, in terms of objectives: capture some points and deal enough damage with them only.
This time, the “1er Bataillon d’Infanterie de Marine” was not the single Free French unit engaged – some Free French dogfighters join the fight on the 22nd!

More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_capture_of_Tobruk - even if they don’t dare to mention the (few) Free French which participate!
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Digression:

The Free French have helped in other fights during this Operation Compass, but the two actions at Sidi Barrani and Tobrouk are the most important of these fights (all not really well documented anyway, it seems, concerning the French part of them), thus those two (only) deserve their own scenario.
The Free French will late continue gathering volunteers, including some of the Vichy’s French troops, and to continue training troops from their colonies (like the “Bataillon(s) de Marche” – the first 5 of them, each one of them from a different African country)… finally, the Free French will manage their own real divisions – but that’s for a little later. For now, here is how it was!

So, they have distinguished themselves at Sidi Barrani, thus contributing to transform this planned “five-days raid” into a real offensive! And their actions at Tobrouk (where they have had few deaths amongst them) made Churchill himself say few nice words about them on the BBC.
-> I know that a have read a quote of this, but I don’t know any longer where it was… But there is already quite a lot of matter anyway, so...
There is another famous quote, made by Leclerc in a given circumstance (I’ll come back to it)… but it seems that there exists up to 8 versions of it!
In this case, maybe it’s better to simply mention if without giving to much detail?!

[ColonelY]

KOUFRA SCENARIO(S):

MAPS: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataille_ ... Koufra.jpg
Or here (as well as Mourzouk): https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/11640092
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Once the fort was captured, Leclerc would then pronounce what would become known as the "Koufra oath" (or “le serment de Koufra”), namely he pledged not to lay down his weapons until the French flag once again flew over the cathedral at Strasbourg (France). This is a good symbol of the will of a few diehards to reclaim the national territory...
Picture: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... uselang=fr
-> a nice final event!
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Background, presentation, elements of scenario description, etc.:

Koufra, THE symbol of Italy's African power, is a group of isolated Libyan oases in the middle of the Sahara more than four hundred kilometres from any inhabited region.

It is highly strategic: Koufra controls the South-East of Libya, represents an air relay between Libya and Italian Ethiopia (capital since the Suez Canal was closed to Italian ships), as well as a source of abundant water in the heart of the desert, halfway between Libya's largest cities and, finally, the only track linking all the Axis positions.

The El Tag fort defends the area. This fort is a square of one hundred and fifty metres on each side with walls four metres high and two metres thick. There are two defensive lines around the fort, with barbed wire, trenches, machine-guns and light AA guns.

In the event of an attack, the Italians are trained to defend themselves according to two modes of action: dynamically by counter-attacks in the form of harassment operations or statically in the form of two successive lines of resistance and a reduction constituted by the fort. The weakness of this system lies in the absence of artillery, the lack of motorized means to carry out dynamic actions and too rigid planning of defence. The garrison, numerous, is therefore crammed into a reduced too small. So, the defenses are designed to stop the rezzous of indigenous dissidents, or, at worst, enemy reconnaissance…

Koufra is defended by a fixed garrison of a small battalion of Libyan Askaris with Italian cadres and by a Saharan company that squadrons around the oasis, under the protection of a small squadron of light aircraft.

This oasis is about 50 km long and about 20 km long, 250 km from the nearest Italian post, Tazerbo in the north, and 800 km from Tekro, the first French border post in Chad, in the south-west. Grouping together several small towns…

Purpose of the assault is to relieve as well as the British fighting in the North.
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ITALIANS:

Garrison: (about a battalion – so more than the attackers!)
the 59th and 60th Machine-gun companies,
about 280 Askari (local infantry – colonial; could have still been some Eritrean amongst them, at least the Italians were helped by Eritrean auxiliaries when they’ve taken this place…)
the famous "Compagnia Sahariana di Cufra" (about 120 men, almost twice the number of those of the LRDG at the beginning of the expedition)
4 to 6 fighters/bombers Savoia (but mainly bombers! )

Fort d’El Tag, aérodrome d’El Giof (Northwest from fort, +AA gun) -> can be with a lot of MG nests and few bunkers… but all (or almost) around the Fort only and in principle not a single mine here!
Several villages (including one at El Tag and one at El Giof)…
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FREE FRENCH (once their started ):

About a hundred of heteroclite vehicles (!) and 120 méharis (mounted or not?)

- Elements of the “Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais" (from Chad) -> about 150 men (could be represented by some colonial infantry mounted on trucks for the transport and with the corresponding name… could them be equipped by various kind of trucks, like French trucks, British trucks and even few Italian trucks, to figure out this heteroclite vehicles party…)

- Patrols of the LDRG (around 80 men AT THE BEGINNING, the G and T – I’ve checked, it’s really the T – as in the scenario about Mourzouk! )

- 2 mountain guns of 75mm (2 pieces, not 2 full units… -> a depleted unit to represent this? Historically it must appear, for it as played a crucial role… only 1 of them reached Koufra through the desert)

- few mortars (a heavy unit present, maybe depleted or something? – or this could just be forgotten, but NOT the mountain gun, which even became famous in that occasion!)

- even a nomad group, it’s known that as natives there was some Tibbou from the Tibesti region and Touareg… -> what about (finally) two units of cavalry, (could even be with the "Italian" model!) one called “Tibbou” and one called “Touareg” (and we won’t bother to precise what they were mounting! )
NOPE, NO "REAL" CAV THERE - please, see a later post about this!

- air support (at the beginning): 10 light bombers (so 2x the air power of the Italians, roughly - Blenheim & Lysander French planes)
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Leclerc set up this operation which, to all, seems impossible... His cult expression: « Ne dites pas que c’est impossible ! » ("Don't say it's impossible!”) -> an event somewhere, or part of the briefing?

History:
Several clashes in the desert, but at 100 km of the goal, strong ambush in desert by Sahariana and their planes… heavy losses amongst the French party, most of the LDRG are destroyed or afterwards called back by the British… Leclerc seems to have received less air support than previously planned…

Finally, after three months of preparations and reconnaissance on the ground and in the air, and clashes in the desert, the column is getting ready to attack Koufra for good.


So, there should definitely be a scenario about the famous Koufra capture (and not less known oath!), but it would be a pity to present it saying that Leclerc’s column travelled far in the desert, sustaining some heavy clashes, without trying to represent at least one of them…

Therefore, I suggest two scenarios:

“LECLERC’S COLUMN AMBUSHED IN DESERT!” -> ambushed by many Saharianas and bombarded by planes… initial French deployment with the LDRG quite in front (recon party), taking most of the damages… Italian IA playing first (for the flavor!), objectives could be to not lose to much of these LDRG units (the same than in Mourzouk – except the name of the Free French one, of course…) and maybe to carry on towards the other extremity of the map and there exit at least a certain amount of units…

“KOUFRA!” -> At Koufra, with a little less units available for us, so maybe 1 Chevrolet or Willys only left vs 4 or 5 Sahariana (as the French have finally captured 4 times as much armored vehicules they had left). In principle no more air support for us too…

In real, Koufra was besieged for a while… but captured the 1st March 1941. The famous oath could have been made more on the 2nd March… so maybe from 28th February to the 2nd March for this one?
And the previous one, somewhere before this (of course), maybe on a single day…

[ColonelY]

Let's review, shall we?


Here is an overview of the scenarios I've suggested so far (or I suggest now for two of them ):

1. Dakar, Operation Menace (23-25 September 1940)

2. Gabon campaign, part 1, two columns marching against Lambaréné (27 October - 5 November 1940)

3. Gabon campaign, part 2, landing of the third column in front of Libreville (8 - 10 November 1940)

4. "Mini" Sidi Barrani (Egypt), begin of Operation Compass, Free French helping to open the way (10 - 11 December 1940)

5. Mourzouk (Libya), raid vs Italian airfield and fort (10? - 11 January 1941)

6. "Mini" Tobrouk, continuation of Operation Compass, Free French still helping (21-22 January 1941)

7. Leclerc's column ambushed in desert (somewhere in-between, timewise)

8. KUB KUB, an outnumbered Free French battalion forcing its way through (21-23 February 1941)
-> THERE, THE "FORTRESS" OF KUB KUB, already in Eritrea has been taken in February 1941!!! -> In few days; (mainly) by the "Bataillon de Marche n°3" (from Chad) -> another scenario to add, I'll check probably what info I can provide about this... -> Ok, see just a little below...
By the way, it's not anecdotic at all, for the single road to Keren pass by Kub Kub, which was fortified and thus blocking all progression towards Keren!

9. Koufra (end of February? - 1/2 March 1941)

10. KEREN, Eritrea... (But NOT the first phase of the battle, of course... )

11. Etc.

(Plus, of course, the few suggestions made, related to "campaign events" between some of them. )


Like this, we should have all the relevant elements so far and be ready to approach, or continue actually, the Eritrean campaign (with the famous Battle of Keren where the Italians put a hell of a defense in the mountains ) and then to begin the Syrian campaign, both with serenity.
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KUB KUB SCENARIO: (21st - 23rd February 1941)

Here is already a map showing the progression of the Allies in the Eritrean campaign: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataille_ ... 941-fr.svg
And a good (Italian) "zoomable" map of Eritrea: http://1886.u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr/items/show/70081
And elements to consider, probably, when preparing the scenario description of Kub Kub:

"It is essential to keep open the Red Sea route, now the only possible supply route for Egypt, and to prevent the Italians from going down the Nile and threatening the sources of oil in the Middle East. The British command then decided to go on a bold offensive, attacking from the north, west and south to push the Italian forces into the Red Sea.

At General de Gaulle's request, elements of the Free French Forces took part in this offensive. With the remarkable economy that characterized the British use of infantry, these French Forces, although few in number, were called upon to play an important role that is generally little known."

Maybe together with parts of:
"This part of the Erythrea is an enormous mountainous, arid, steep-sided and almost roadless molehill. The crests look like knives, with continuous landslides and thorny vegetation that does not generate any shade. Water is dramatically scarce, adding to the difficulties of torrid days and icy nights.

We're replacing the British who've just been severely beaten by the Italians; our battalion must seize a parade blocked by the fortified village of Kub Kub!"
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This notion of "With the remarkable economy that characterized the British use of infantry, these French Forces, although few in number, were called upon to play an important role that is generally little known" could certainly appear somewhere else within this campaign...
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Some more info:
Kub Kub was defended by the 112nd Italian colonial regiment (of Ethiopian Ascaris)... (So our battalion with few supports vs one regiment! The assault was to follow, in short, a symmetrical plane of the Schlieffen Plan. )

The "March Battalion No. 3" (BM3) was made up of three companies of riflemen, an accompanying company with machine guns and mortars, and a command company. -> So, maybe 3 (colonial) infantry + 1 heavy?

The battalion had to capture a parade locked by the fortified village of Kub Kub. To do this, it will begin a double overrun on foot while the English will try to bypass with brenns quarrymen.

Fighting began on 21 February, the day a battery of 65mm guns was captured. On the 22nd, General Briggs brought a reinforcement of two 25-pounder batteries and a platoon of brenns carriers. The enemy stalled on the morning of the 23rd, when the BM3 conquered all the ridges, captured around 450 enemy (Italians and probably locals) and killed about 100 others... not to mention the captured 65mm gun battery. They have had prisoners during the hard fightings, but they were able to free them all once the victory was achieved!

Text element for the "Major Victory", "Minor Victory", etc:
"The only French unit engaged in this theatre, initially in difficulty against a more numerous, better armed opponent and installed on favourable ground, the BM 3, by its dash, offered after a few days of fighting, the first victory to the Free French. The tone was set for future actions".

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By now, there should already be enough to start creating the first part of the campaign.


So, there will be some swamps (Dakar), forests (Gabon), desert actions (sometimes with sandstorm), a part of a campagn with a "big" map (Gabon 1 - or just another unit scaling?), two landings, two "zoomed in" part of bigger battle, then fights in/near mountains (Kub Kub, then Keren)...

Sounds good?


And, already, for (much) later within the campaign:
XYZ. Normandie-Niemen, Free French heroes on Russian sky (around the end of June 1944)

[Zekedia222]

Gabon is mostly savannas, from what I remember in 7th Grade geography, so maybe mostly open terrain with tree decorations, probably with jungles on the border with Congo.

[ColonelY]

Gabon is mostly savannas, from what I remember in 7th Grade geography, so maybe mostly open terrain with tree decorations, probably with jungles on the border with Congo.

Well, not quite actually. The savannahs are into the east and south only (so out of the main theater of action for us) .

Map: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... uselang=fr

In fact, Gabon is said to be more than 80% covered by forest.

As a result, the Gabonese soil is hardly used for agriculture and breeding, so Gabon is largely dependent on imports for its food.

As far as the forest is concerned, there is traditionally a distinction between the Okoumé forest (coastal basin & Crystal Mountains) - which occupies, by the way, the western 2/3 of the territory - and the forest without Okoumé. Economic distinction, because Okoumé is the most important species in the wood economy (2nd economic sector of the country after the petrol). Okoumé is a soft wood, easily unrollable and floatable, which was an advantage in a country where the routes for heavy transport have long remained riverine (you can see on the first map I made available on Gabon that there are indeed many rivers ) .

In fact, it is even said that Gabon has the highest rate of forest area per capita in Africa... which allows it to maintain a remarkable fauna and flora , but that's another story!

[ColonelY]

Franco-British understanding... not always very cordial.


General de Gaulle's role has been crucial in "holding the helm" against all kinds of pitfalls:

1. The British would have found it more convenient, administratively and politically, to simply treat the Free French as part of the British forces and services, rather than as ambitious and demanding allies.

2. Trying to obtain from the British the indispensable, while maintaining a resolute independence from them... This is the source of much friction!

For the General de Gaulle, the fact of having land in Africa allowed him of course to raise new troops (such as the "Battalion(s) de Marche")... but above all it gave him legitimacy over for example Vichy and the British, proving that he was not simply leading a band of brave mercenaries!

He continues to gather troops to form larger unit and, more importantly, he wants to involve them in the actual fightings! For example, in Eritrea, there was the "Brigade Française Libre d'Orient" (BFO)... so now it's about brigade(s), later it will be about division(s).

By the way, on the 19th March 1941: Free France and England sign a financial and monetary agreement...


-> Based on all this, one could see a "campaign event", or something, appearing to talk a little about this... For the flavor and the depth of it, as well as for the "historicity" (if I may say so ) of the campaign! And it will appear again later within the campaign, under different variants, so...

[ColonelY]

Related to KEREN scenario, and Eritrea on overall:

« Brigade Française Libre d’Orient » (BFO), colonel Monclar, with 3 battalions: "13e Demi-brigade de la Légion étrangère" (1 bataillon), "1e Bataillon d’Infanterie de Marine" et "Bataillon de Marche n° 3" (BM3; from Chad), together with few other smaller units such as: "1e Escadron de Spahis Marocains", "1e Groupe d'Artillerie Coloniale", "1e Section de Sapeurs-Mineurs" (so some engineers), "1e Compagnie de Chars", "Ambulance chirurgicale légère", etc.

Monclar did not "come out of nowhere"; he commanded the first troops of the Foreign Legion that decided to rally de Gaulle.

Allied units: "4th Indian division", "5th Indian division", some Highlanders, some English battalions and our BFO!

The main objectives of the Allies in Eritrea: the crossing point of Keren in the mountains (with road + railroad), then the capital Asmara and the large port of Massaoua.
The role of the French:
1. Capture of the Italian fort of Kub Kub by the BM3!
2. From March 23rd, the whole brigade is in line in front of Keren which falls four days later, so on March 27th after very violent fights. The French did help the Allies by breaking the right wing of the enemy's defence and then entering Keren.
-> Historical event (or event when beginning the next scenario): On 30 March, de Gaulle reviewed the brigade at Chelamet.
-> Historical event: Asmara, declared "open city", capitulates on April 1st, when the British (the 5th Indian Division!) just walk in.
3. On 7 and 8 April, the troops of Monclar (commander of our brigade) take successively Montecullo, Fort Umberto and especially Massaoua ... the Italian admiral is obliged to surrender to the chief of the BFO; this surrender leads to the capture of 10,000 men (soldiers and sailors)!
-> Then, this deserves an event (or two): Indeed, in total, the French detachment took 14,000 prisoners (including 4,000 in combat).
Monclar, at the head of about 1,200 men, achieved this...
(That's a lot of prisoners? Yes, but let's not forget that when the 10th Italian Army was defeated, during Operation Compass... the less than 36'000 committed Allies took more than 130'000 prisoners!!!)
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Anecdote (another EVENT once the outskirts of Massaoua are reached!): for obviously political reasons, after having cleaned everything up to Fort Umberto and the outskirts of Massaoua (including Moncullo, Fort Moncullo, Fort Vittorio Emanuelle and, of course, Fort Umberto), the French were FORBIDDEN to enter the port... the British wanted, once the royal road had been mapped out, to reap the fruits of victory themselves. Disregarding these orders (it was badly knowing him anyway ), Monclar rushed forward, with the results we know!
In the prisoners, there was General Bergonzi, commanding the defense of Massaoua, but also - and above all - Admiral Bonelli, the commander-in-chief in Italian East Africa!
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For its part, the British attack led by the 5th British Division and the 7th Brigade had progressed normally along the sea and reached the first heights north of Massaoua. As the Italian resistance collapsed, the general commanding the 5th D.I. gave the order to cease the attack. But it was too late..., Colonel Monclar was (officially) already in the heart of Massaoua or (actually) rushing for it.

The success was due to the speed of action of the attacking elements, the demoralization of an opponent well armed and superior in number, but cornered at sea after several defeats.
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Monclar has recieved the Admiral Bonelli's sword and sent it to the General Platt. On 10th April, General Platt (himself) reviewed the entire French brigade assembled and addressed a few words to the officers to thank them for the efforts made and the results obtained by the French. (This should be mentioned somewhere as well, for the flavor and the respect of the history, either as a final event or in the texts for "Major Victory", "Minor Victory", etc., or something!)
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After Keren's victory, the 5th Indian division heads to the capital Asmara, while 4th Indian division stays at Keren for a few days and then returns to Egypt.
From the 4th April, the few brigades (including our BFO) are heading towards Massaoua, where there are still some tanks and other armoured vehicles...

Now that's a bit confusing because, depending on the sources, the BFO could have attacked with the "10th Indian brigade" OR with the "5th Indian brigade" AND with the "7th Indian brigade"... So it could have been 2 or 3 brigades in total (plus few support units), with the French being anyway deployed/moving to their right, on the right flank... This localisation of the Free French (mainly) as the right wing is coherent by considering the name of the forts they've taken and the panoramic view of Massaoua (have a look at this: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... saouah.jpg).
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That's for the general overview of the Eritrean campaign and the role of the French. Probably some more info will follow.
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About Keren:
« Jamais dans leur histoire les Français n’ont combattu avec plus d’élan » = "Never in their history have the French fought with more élan" (de Gaulle in Cairo, 2 April)
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So, having seen this, I do suggest the following scenarios:

-> SCENARIO BATTLE OF KEREN (23-27 mars 1941) - I shall soon provide more info about the initial deployment of the Italian defenders...
-> SCENARIO MASSAOUA (or "MASSAOUAH" ) (7-8 avril 1941), with Montecullo and the different forts visible on the map as well... maybe with even few depleted Italians units retreating towards Massaoua...

[ColonelY]

By the way, I hope I'm not oversaturating all...

[ColonelY]

SOME MAPS AND MORE PICTURES:

A map of the action, showing (for the first time!) where actually Kub Kub is: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... 5/BFO2.png

The fort at Kub Kub: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... ub-Cub.png

The same with Free French soldiers: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... 5/BFO1.jpg

The Free Frenc are coming: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... nnique.jpg

Prisoners (of the Saint Hillier Company) taken at the Fort of Monte Culo: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... 5/BFO4.png

A battle map of Kub Kub (with units, arrows and all): http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... ub-Cub.jpg

Keren: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... Chéren.jpg

When General de Gaulle comes (after Keren) to congratulates the Brigade at Chelamet: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... elamet.png

Surroundings of Massaoua (or "Massaouah" - it depends...): http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... saouah.jpg

The port with saborded Italian ships: http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-con ... aliens.jpg

And another document, a boardgame scenario about Koufra (which gives some idea of the fort localisation and its surroundings - assuming it's enough correctly done ): https://www.flamesofwar.com/Portals/0/D ... fKufra.pdf

[ColonelY]

Air activity at that time: pretty low...

In March 1941, after the Koufra operations, the "groupe de bombardement n°1" (G.R.B.1), future "Lorraine" group, was reduced to 3 twin-engine Blenheim bombers attached to the 209th R.A.F. Group and based at Gordon's Tree in the desert about 20 kilometres from Khartoum. They were the only (French?) bombers operating on the entire western side of Ethiopia...

One of our three Blenheims was attacked near Gondar, Ethiopia, by three Italian C.R.42 fighters. The aircraft was rescued by Staff Sergeant Jean, a gunner, who, after informing his captain and directing the manoeuvres, succeeded in shooting down the first Italian fighter, damaging the second, while the third cleared without insistence. For this feat of arms, Jean received the "Distinguished Flying Medal of the R.A.F.".
-> It must have happened in early April1941, although my sources aren't exactly clear on WHEN it was ... so what about seeing still this appearing as an event? (a historical event in a corresponding scenario or a campaign event, to respect "more or less" in this case the timing)


By the way, for the anecdote, it's aboard one of those Free French Blenheim bombers than de Gaulle comes to see, on the 30th, the brigade after the battle of Keren (and maybe with this one should as well complete the corresponding event)...