Free France Campaign

[ColonelY]

22AmherstDrop:

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Amherst it should be French paratroopers/SAS, Canadian recon units and Dutch partisans... against German soldiers and Dutch collaborators...

Well, I haven't studied the operation in detail, but what role did the British play? They are mentioned (in this link, I mean), though... for the transport planes? Or also with other paratroopers?


Well, for us, in the scenario, it will be (at least) in the air, in support, notably with jets!

[ColonelY]

I never paid much attention to their roster, to be honest, but the Dutch have some nice units... for example the Landstorm Infantry (with their hat)... they could hold the role of some "partisan" units, right?

[bru888]

For Indochina, this is the only significant change that I want to make at this point:

"Major Victory at the beginning of turn 35..." — still too close for comfort in that you are a stong player having played the scenario twice before. Therefore, I have introduced "bonus turns"! On Turns 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30, two locations will be selected for spawning evacuation vehicles instead of one. This is still subject to the evacuation route being available at both ends, so luck is still a factor. So is defending those locations so that the odds are better.

[However, I did move the Haiphong artillery unit and reduced the number of bridge destructions in the area.]

[bru888]

Free France 1940-1945 v0.67 has been uploaded. It includes all of the changes in Indochina discussed in the preceding post.

Free France 1940-1945 (twenty-one scenarios)

[ColonelY]

[...] Therefore, I have introduced "bonus turns"! On Turns 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30, two locations will be selected for spawning evacuation vehicles instead of one. Good! This is still subject to the evacuation route being available at both ends, so luck is still a factor. Sure. So is defending those locations so that the odds are better. Of course.

[However, I did move the Haiphong artillery unit and reduced the number of bridge destructions in the area. => Nice, too!]

And it's really handy to have the counter clearly marked.

Great, so let's move on!

[bru888]

22AmherstDrop:

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Amherst it should be French paratroopers/SAS, Canadian recon units and Dutch partisans... against German soldiers and Dutch collaborators...

Well, I haven't studied the operation in detail, but what role did the British play? They are mentioned (in this link, I mean), though... for the transport planes? Or also with other paratroopers?


Well, for us, in the scenario, it will be (at least) in the air, in support, notably with jets!

There is also the 5th SAS (Belgian):

Operation Larkswood was a British special forces reconnaissance operation by squadrons of the Belgian Independent Parachute Company (5th Special Air Service). The 5th SAS was an elite airborne unit initially trained in sabotage and intelligence gathering, then converted to motorized reconnaissance in armored jeeps. The terrain was poor for Jeeps as it was crisscrossed by dykes and canals, but these SAS troopers did nevertheless manage to capture several bridges and relieve some of the Amherst parties which had not been reached by the Canadians.

For the Canadians, only this (the rest of the Second Canadian Army Corps will be off-map):

The SAS [in this case, the two French battalions of the SAS-Brigade (3rd and 4th SAS or “Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes”)] was relieved by the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars) of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division: three reconnaissance squadrons identified by the letters 'A', 'B' and 'C'; an anti-aircraft troop; an anti-tank troop; and a mortar troop. The primary scouting vehicles of 8 Recce were the Mark IIIA Humber Armoured Car as well as the (from October 1944 onward) Daimler Armoured Car. Other major weapons deployed by 8 Recce included the Universal Gun Carrier, the M5 half-track, 2-inch light mortars, 3-inch mortars, 6-pounder anti-tank guns, PIAT portable anti-tank weapons, and heavy machine guns.

For the enemy:

The strength of the available troops of the Germans in the north-east of the Netherlands had been estimated by the allied intelligence units to be a division (amongst whom a Dutch SS-Brigade) supported by a few local units (Feldgendarmerie, NSKK and various spread out units of a large paratroopers unit). Because it had been assumed that the German troops most likely would be worn out and demoralized, it had been expected that they incidentally probably would be prepared to surrender honorably when the opportunity would rise. In practice this would be proven wrong.

(NSKK = Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrer Korps, which was a transport unit of the German Army often manned with Dutch volunteers)

As for partisans:

The SAS would contact resistance groups get them to take actions and supply intelligence about the enemy to the approaching Canadian troops. For security reasons the Dutch resistance would only be informed half a day after the start of the operation by means of a coded radio message by Radio Oranje, the Dutch broadcasting station from London during the war ("Le bateau est renversé" = the boat has turned over.)

The British supplied air support, including transport planes (Stirling bombers — I have tested them and they work). I am planning to open with one objective: Re-establish air supremacy. The player will need to kill X enemy air units, including jets, for the parachute operation to begin. Of course, the Gloster Meteor will be there to face off against the Me 262 and the other German jet that you found.

[terminator]

German, Italian and Japanese Commanders in this Campaign ?

[ColonelY]

German, Italian and Japanese Commanders in this Campaign ?

No commander at all in this campaign (yet), to stay fair as the French have no commander available (yet) in OoB!

[ColonelY]

Thanks, bru, for these info.


More info, perhaps, related to Operation Amherst:

Parachuting of the mythical SAS jeeps: (which would certainly be useful as they work as recon units )

http://association-sas.chez-alice.fr/PgJEEPS.htm & http://association-sas.chez-alice.fr/Pg ... eJeeps.htm

Due to weather, this didn't work as expected, but they should have had some jeeps with them!
*******
Several nice pictures there: http://association-sas.chez-alice.fr/PgeHollande.htm (where, with the various compagnies, they do mention jeeps again, by the way)

Like (the one with the dark grey sky) Massive parachuting often far from the planned D.Z.! The initiative will do the rest...
Or the radioman "in a Dutch wood"...
... and the two penultimate images.

& "Hundreds of dummies were dropped at the same time to amplify the mass effect of the airborne operation. This trick had already been used in Normandy in June 1944."
*******
A chaotic sky, very cloudy, with a violent wind... the parachuting was largely complicated by the weather!

From https://stichting-liberation-route-euro ... n-amherst/ too, this weather effect is confirmed:

"Conditions for the drops were unfavorable: Low cloud covered the area of operations, so instead of jumping from their usual altitude of 200 meters, the paratroopers had to jump from 600 meters. With wind speeds of twenty-five kilometers per hour, they landed hard and were scattered across the drop zones.

Seventeen of the 47 sticks [of 15 paratroopers each] landed in, or a reasonable distance (five to eight kilometers) from, their designated drop zones. Twelve sticks landed at greater distances (eight to fifteen kilometers) from their drop zones and one stick even arrived forty kilometers away in an region that had already been liberated. In addition to the troops, more than 200 containers of weapons, ammunition and rations were dropped too."

=> To be simulated using the "Sandstorm" effect when they'll be dropped?

The same link gives info about their goal:
"The French troops would be parachuted into the triangle Groningen - Coevorden - Zwolle around forty-eight hours before the Canadian vanguard. Their aim was to prevent the destruction of eighteen bridges so that the Canadian vanguard could advance quickly, create confusion, and prevent their opponents from regrouping and taking defensive positions. They would also provide guides and information for the Canadians and the region's resistance movement."
*******
Two good maps here: https://www.tracesofwar.com/articles/26 ... mherst.htm (the 2nd map is down below... click on it, you'll find the location of a German HQ in the sector!)

Sectors for the 3rd and 4th (French) SAS, German HQ, another camp ( ), info that both Canadians AND Polish were not very far...
*******
Another smaller HQ there?

"In Gasselte four sticks attacked successfully the NSKK command post (NSKK = Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrer Korps, which was a transport unit of the German Army often manned with Dutch volunteers). Here 18 Germans, amongst whom two officers, were captured and transmitted to the surrounding woods, and some got wounded. A French para lost his life. In the evening the Germans returned from Borger to Gasselte and locked the whole of the male population inside the church, this because of suspected help to the French troops. The occupying forces consequently started preparations to shoot all hostages. Fortunately this “almost drama” ended well. Sixteen civilians were imprisoned in Assen and liberated by the Canadians on 13 April."
*******
Nice picture here: http://enenvor.fr/eeo_actu/wwii/amherst ... usion.html

Another with the first one here: https://theatrum-belli.com/operation-am ... mi-au-sol/ (in this link, they talk as well about the dummies)
*******
The commanders of these French regiments at the time of the operation: https://www.defense.gouv.fr/english/nod ... on-amherst

[ColonelY]

Opération Amherst: It is said that some groups of French paratroopers had to fight for two weeks instead of the 48 hours that were planned...
*******
Small return to French Indochina, about the awesome new counter (and which works perfectly well), for a little clarification of its description:

Now: "This is not an objective. It is a counter. As the number of French-held evacuation towns fall, the chances of generating an evacuation vehicle each turn falls with it. Also, remember that losing a border crossing town shuts down the three evacuation towns associated with it. When that happens, this counter drop by a value of -3."

I suggest to replace this final sentence:

"When that happens, this counter drop by a value of -3."

By perhaps:

"When that happens, this counter can drop by a value of up to -3 (depending on whether the associated evacuation towns are still French or already Japanese)."

[ColonelY]

And translated from here: https://www.france-libre.net/operation-amherst/

"[...] The uncertainty did not last. From the very first briefing, we knew that our destination would be Holland, and more precisely the province of Drenthe, which bordered Germany and was sometimes referred to as Germanic Holland, so great was the influence of the neighboring country.

The two French regiments (3rd and 4th SAS), in reality of battalion strength, regrouped at the secret camp, were part of the SAS brigade with the two British regiments (1st and 2nd SAS), whose command had just been given to General Calvert, nicknamed Crazy Mike since the incredible missions he had carried out in Burma on the Japs' rear.

Major Jacques Pâris de Bollardière (RFL).
The 3rd SAS was headed by Colonel Pâris de Bollardière, a former member of the Legion but also freshly returned from a long clandestine mission in the Ardennes, under the BCRA. He replaced Major Château-Jobert, known as Conan, a veteran of the Eritrean and Syrian campaigns, an astonishing adventurer who had joined the Free French Forces in the early days and was a Companion of the Liberation like himself.

Major Pierre Puech-Sanson (RFL).
The 4th SAS, since its intervention in the Ardennes at the time of the von Rundstedt offensive, was led by Major Puech Samson, Companion of the Liberation, who, as early as July 1940, shortly after having joined General de Gaulle, was sent by him to Morocco to create Gaullist networks there. A formidable fighter, he had enjoyed immense prestige since the battle of Saint-Marcel in Brittany in June 1944.

The mission assigned to the two regiments was code-named "Amherst" and coincided with what they knew best. "The sticks spread throughout the province of Drenthe, apart from a few specific objectives to be destroyed or preserved as the case may be, were to cause the greatest confusion in the enemy's rear by disorganizing them and creating maximum insecurity." The operation would last only three or four days, the time for the Canadian armoured vehicles, blocked by a fierce resistance in Coeverden, to finally break through and enter the area where we were to operate. [...]

[ColonelY]

[...] The British supplied air support, including transport planes (Stirling bombers — I have tested them and they work). I am planning to open with one objective: Re-establish air supremacy. The player will need to kill X enemy air units, including jets, for the parachute operation to begin. [...]

Indeed, the Stirling were in use; some pictures here: http://association-sas.chez-alice.fr/Pg ... irling.htm
Now, so much the better if they work... but, they are not troop transports (in OoB, I mean), in principle, right?
Well, of course, it can be done using triggers ("exit" the bombers when over some predefined locations, "spawn" instead some units on land)...

Opening with this single primary objective? Yes, 'does look really good and appropriate!

[ColonelY]

About the jeeps:

It might not be 100% historical (but hey, you have to make do with what you have ), but it would be possible to do this:

1. To accompany the French of the 3rd and 4th SAS, maybe some Willys jeeps (US model).

2. As for the men of the 5th SAS (Belgians), these SAS units could be motorized with Chevrolet WBs (this is allowed, normally, according to the Unit Navigator)... and later on, their desert jeeps were used as well, although a bit adapted of course, so...

[ColonelY]

I made a test, because we already know that the Chevrolet WB can neither be purchased nor repaired using RPs...

However, an SAS unit that uses them as a means of transport CAN be replenished (unless the unit ends its turn IN its means of transport to go a few hexes further).

So all is well!

[bru888]

All good info, thanks. Revised the objective statement in Indochina as you suggested — next update.

[bru888]

Colonel, as a test, would you be willing to play the air duel that opens Amherst Drop to see if it makes sense? It should be relatively short and decisive, else if it drags on or is unwinnable, it will delay or even prevent the start of the important action. Or, would you prefer to wait and test the scenario as a whole?

[ColonelY]

Colonel, as a test, would you be willing to play the air duel that opens Amherst Drop to see if it makes sense? It should be relatively short and decisive, else if it drags on or is unwinnable, it will delay or even prevent the start of the important action. Or, would you prefer to wait and test the scenario as a whole?

I prefer to test it "now", as I think it's better to test it beforehand. This is very important, indeed, to help defining the number of turns of the whole scenario.

[ColonelY]

About jet stats:

First stat: air attack against small targets & second stat: defense against air targets

British Meteor: 15 & 16

German He 162: 15 & 13
German Me 262: 16 & 17

Observation: the British jet is slightly better than the He 162 (defensive level), but on the other hand the British jet is slightly worse than the Me 262.

Conclusion: if there are only jets, then there should be more British than Germans, otherwise it could be complicated...

But one does NOT expect to see only jets on the Allied side ; this time, since the last massive air operation (Bodenplatte I believe), the Germans are losing control of the skies for good!


It terms of fuel, they are almost equivalent (Meteor & Me at 10 turns, He at 9), but another point may be worth mentioning: the British jet is the slowest of these three units (14 mvt pts instead of 15 for the He and 16 for the Me)...

[ColonelY]

To help dealing with them, the British could involve a handful of Supermarine Seafire XV.

These planes can land on a carrier... some space on sea for this, perhaps? I doubt it, but who knows - some sea hexes with the map you're preparing?

What could be made, perhaps, once the jet duel has been won: removing a big part of our air force, which has become useless (except for some supporting air strikes). We could then introduce another objective of getting all remaining jets off the map using exit (non-return) hexes, to avoid casualties and take less risk of letting the enemy learn more about British technology.

[ColonelY]

Here is already the information I have gathered for the last scenario, 24BlackForest:

First, again from the “Mémoires de guerre” of de Gaulle, T3, starting from p 196: (as intro, or to enrich some texts, etc.)

"However much I pay attention to the development of business on the Atlantic, in the Alps and in Indochina, it is what is happening in Germany that haunts me above all. There, indeed, destiny is set. And then, the operations of the various allied armies on German soil, their objectives, their directions, the limits of their sectors, create as they go along accomplished facts which will practically influence what will follow the armistice. It is my responsibility to ensure that the French army's share, the relative size of its successes, the extent of the territory it will have been able to conquer, will be large enough for France to assert itself in the debates and decisions that will follow the hostilities. In order that no one should be unaware of this, I proclaimed it on April 2, on the occasion of a ceremony organized in Paris on the Place de la Concorde, during which the colonels of the new or reconstituted regiments received, from my hands, their flag or their standard.

Now, in the spirit of the allied command, obviously directed by Washington, it is the American forces that must take on almost all the action in this last phase of the struggle. The orders of the Grand Headquarters entrusted the Americans alone with the task of seizing the Ruhr, an essential region among all others, then to push, on the one hand towards the Elbe, on the other hand towards the Danube, in order to submerge the German corps, and finally to make contact, on the side of Berlin, Prague and Vienna, with the Soviet troops. The British were left to devote themselves to the North Sea coast. As for the French, they first tried to settle on the left bank of the Rhine. However, since they have found a way to cross the river, we will try to keep them as close as possible to it. It goes without saying that at the very moment when the perspectives are widening we will not lend ourselves to such a reduction.

[...] So I did not fail to specify to de Lattre, even before his troops had begun to cross the Rhine, what national interest would be served by the action of his army. We agreed that, in any case, the 1st Army should seize Stuttgart. The capital of Württemberg will be, in fact, for our troops, the open door to the Danube, Bavaria and Austria. Its possession will also ensure us an important pledge to support our plans for the French occupation zone.

But we had to reckon with the enemy. His 19th Army was vigorously pushing forward in the Black Forest massif. It is therefore in this harsh region, not towards Stuttgart, that the French army's efforts are focused during the first two weeks of April. [...] But the Württemberg capital remained in enemy hands and within reach of the Allies. It is high time to seize it. Without interfering in the dispositions of the Commander of the 1st Army, I let him know again, on April 15, that the government expects him to take Stuttgart.

Precisely, the next day, General Devers sent his Army Group an "instruction" in the opposite direction. According to this directive, it was the American 7th Army, which had been engaged further north, that was to seize Stuttgart and, going up the Neckar, reach the Swiss border near Schaffhausen. The French would be confined to the Black Forest and cut off from all roads that could lead them further east. "I must," Devers wrote to de Lattre, "warn you against a premature advance by the French 1st Army. "

General de Lattre discerned that it was urgent to change direction. He ordered the 2nd Corps to do so. Monsabert therefore launched Guillaume's 3rd North African Division, Linares' 2nd Moroccan Division, Sudre's and Schlesser's 1st and 5th Armoured Divisions towards Stuttgart and Ulm, from Pforzheim and Freudenstadt. On 20 April, the French tanks entered the capital of Württemberg, a large city where 600,000 inhabitants were waiting for them in silence amidst the ruins. But, while this part of the army marched rapidly towards the east, another part, led by Béthouart, advanced straight south. The 4th Moroccan Division of Hesdin, the 9th Colonial Division of Valluy, the 1st, 10th and 14th Divisions of Caillies, Billotte and Salan [! The 1st is therefore NOT the 1st DFL!], will work to complete the conquest of the Black Forest.

Indeed, General de Lattre, while seizing on the Neckar and on the Danube the objectives that I had set for him, did not want to leave behind him enemy forces that were still formidable. Moreover, General Guisan, the Helvetic Commander-in-Chief, who fears to see the Germans in a state of desperation penetrate Swiss territory to seek passage or refuge, has insisted strongly to the Commander of the 1st Army that French troops come to border the Rhine from Basel to Lake Constance. SUPER, TO BE MENTIONED, FOR SURE!] At other times, the decoupling of our troops along two different axes, some to the east, others to the south, could involve great risks. But the enemy has arrived at this point of disorganization that everything that is done against him is arranged and justified. The report that de Lattre sent me on 21 April was a victory bulletin. He wrote: "Complete success of the operations undertaken in the last two weeks in Württemberg, in the Black Forest and in Baden. The Danube has been crossed for more than 60 kilometers downstream from Donaueschingen. We entered Stuttgart from the south, completing the encirclement of important enemy forces. In the Baden plain, Vieux-Brisach and Freiburg fell into our hands. The envelopment of the Black Forest is complete. "

However, it was only a week later that the 1st French Army managed to finish off the 19th German Army. The latter, although surrounded, regrouped in the wooded area east of Freiburg and tried furiously to break through to the east. Unable to do so, its remnants finally put down their weapons. While this affair was being settled, our vanguards reached Ulm and Constance. When the month of April ended, there was no longer any organized resistance to the French. Since they crossed the Rhine, 110,000 prisoners had fallen into their hands. Every day, thousands more will surrender until the end of hostilities.

But, in the coalition, the roses of glory cannot be without thorns. [...]"