Free France Campaign

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ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

French OoB for 24BlackForest: 8)

« On March 30, the First French Army crossed the Rhine at six points, including Germersheim, south of Spire, under intense fire. On 21 April, it captured Stuttgart, on 24 April Ulm and on 26 April Constance. It reached the Voralberg on 8 May 1945. On the evening of the same day, General de Latte de Tassigny, on the instructions of General de Gaulle, signed the unconditional surrender of the German Reich in Berlin, on behalf of France.

..... Thus, in 8 months and 23 days, the First French Army covered 1500 km, from the Mediterranean to Austria. It liberated a third of the metropolitan territory. It invaded 80,000 km² of Germany; it annihilated two German armies, the 19th and 24th armies. Its victorious action, the fervor, the efforts and the heroism of its soldiers contributed to restore France's rank as a great power
. » :D
*************
:D 5 Free French divisions to spearhead the attack, in basically 3 groups:

(Some attached to the first or second corps, while other divisions at the disposal of the army are NOT directly attached to either corps... well, corps 1, corps 2, well, to make it simple, let's forget it, ok? :wink: )

1. The “9ème Division d’Infanterie Coloniale” (or “9e DIC”) that is deployed near the Rhine and tasked to move south through first a plain. First goal: capture the city of Freiburg!

2. The “4ème Division Marocaine de Montagne” (or “4e DMM”) and the “1ère Division Blindée” (or “1re DB”) deployed at or near Freudenstadt. They are tasked to move south (though the forest mainly), to cut two German forces into two parts… First goals: capture Rottweil and Tuttlingen! Or, if one prefers, to reach the Danube!

3. The “2ème Division d’Infanterie Marocaine” (or “2e DIM”) and the “5ème Division Blindée” (or “5e DB”) deployed East of Frendenstadt. They are tasked to move East first. First goal: capture the city of Tübinger!

Then we see some complementary units inside this green box (the one you've selected, I mean - I’ll come to these units into more details very soon):
9e Zv -> Zouaves (regiment)
C.C. -> tanks (regiment)
Spahis (regiment recon)
Lebel (regiment tanks)
Choc (regiment size)

4. The very last part of these 4 maps shows the Free French reducing some pockets of German resistance, and there we see as well the “14ème Division d’Infanterie” (or “14e DI”) put into action… As well as the Goumiers, but, well, we may neglect them this time!
Now, if you wish to add the Goumiers, you had on overall 3 Groupements, the “1er Tabor Marocains” and the “4e Tabor Marocains” (attached to the second French army corps, so they could very well stay outside of our green box), AND the “2e Tabor Marocains” attached, this one, to the 2e DIM that IS on our battlefield… but this division starts very in the North of our green box and it’s known that, from time to time, units have been sent elsewhere… Besides, we’ve already a cool extra unit for the 2e DIM (we’ll come back to this latter in due time). So, we could do without them… it would be perfectly plausible!

=> Anyway, the good point is that we may involve this French division as well, which means a total of 6 French divisions in this sector (plus various elements) against a total of 6 German divisions in this same sector (plus various elements as well)… so, the fight should be equilibrate, like this! 8)
:idea: But we’ll have the possibility to involve German reinforcements as well, and directly from inside their mottis (especially the western one), to maintain the challenge up… we’ll come back to this later!
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

French OoB for 24BlackForest – continuation: 8)

Groupement Valluy (general who commanded the 9e DIC from the 12th March 1944):

9ème DIVISION D’INFANTERIE COLONIALE

We’ve already seen this division in Operation Dragoon, but its OoB has changed a little as in October 1944, some regiments of colonial infantry have replaced the “Régiments de Tirailleurs Sénégalais”. (Check here: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/9e_divisi ... omposition )
So now, it could be like:
1. No more “Sénégalais / 9e DIC” but rather:
6e Infanterie Coloniale / 9e DIC
21e Infanterie Coloniale / 9e DIC
23e Infanterie Coloniale / 9e DIC
2. No more Tabors here (who were added because there were some in Operation Dragoon)!
3. ‘Could have more artillery as with the “Régiment d’Artillerie Coloniale du Maroc” there were as well 2 groups from the “Régiment d’Artillerie Coloniale d’Afrique Occidentale” (RAC-AOF)
-> Perhaps adding one “Artillerie AOF / 9e DIC”?
4. The AT-gun should be replaced by the M10 unit, in principle… As the “Régiment Colonial de Chasseurs de Chars”, but this model has a big star on it, thus the M18 may be a little more “discrete” from that point of view. (The M18 is faster but weaker defensively…)
5. We’ll see what should be done for the supporting tanks… at first, one should remove the 4e Spahis (chars B1) because then this unit was attached to the 4e DMM as a RECON unit. For now, I would say we could keep the old Renault R35 unit
So:
6e Infanterie Coloniale / 9e DIC
21e Infanterie Coloniale / 9e DIC
23e Infanterie Coloniale / 9e DIC
Artillerie Coloniale Maroc / 9e DIC
Artillerie AOF / 9e DIC
71e Bn du Génie / 9e DIC
26e Grp Antiaérien / 9e DIC
Reconnaissance / 9e DIC [the not very clearly named « RICM », perhaps cooler as « Coloniale du Maroc / 9e DIC » ?]
Chasseurs de Chars / 9e DIC (M10 or M18 ?)
Chasseur d'Afrique / 9e DIC (keeping the old Renault R35 of the Operation Dragoon?)

*******
Complementary units to be deployed near the 9e DIC:
9e Zouaves” (this regiment helped the guys of the 9e DIC before joining, in Mai 1945, the 5e DB; https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/9e_r%C3%A ... e_mondiale )
1er Cuirassiers” (this regiment was equipped by American tanks, apparently, but some “medium” tanks… Sherman?, as the Cuirassiers of Leclerc in the Liberation of Paris, or Stuart as the Cuirassiers of Operation Dragoon… I would vote for the Sherman tanks here!; several pictures here: http://www.ami1rc.org/his152.htm ; Hotchkiss H39 in 1940… but no longer later!)
As it appears, again, that this tank unit is linked to the 5e DB, one could name it instead rather:
1er Cuirassiers / 5e DB”, but the “9e Zouaves” has to be kept like this as it will join the 5e DB AFTER the end of the scenario 24BlackForest! :wink:
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

French OoB for 24BlackForest – continuation: 8)

Starting deployed between this first division and the two next, we’ve the
1re Brigade de Spahis”, composed actually of two regiments:
7e Spahis Algériens
5e Spahis Marocains

Now, let me quote this:
The regiments that made up the 1st BS for the 1944-1945 campaign were the 7th Algerian Spahis Regiment commanded by Colonel Winsbach and the 5th Moroccan Spahis Regiment under the command of Colonel Sabarots. Colonel Winsbach was killed in Alsace on February 26, 1945. From then on, the pennant of the 7th RSA was adorned with a white ponytail in memory of the death of its commanding officer in combat.

These regiments were made up of mounted squadrons, with only a few platoons, notably those assigned to the P.40 anti-tank, being motorized
.”
( https://www.spahis.fr/2011-03-11-1ere-b ... 1944-1945/ )
=> Look at these picture, it seems that they were really on horses until 1945! :shock: (Or even 1946 actually. :wink: )
There were surprises all the way to the end! :lol:

Now, of course, there is not any French cavalry unit available… :?
What to choose? Use two units of cavalry (from another nation) and give them the corresponding name? Or somehow “upgrade” them to some armored recon version… using perhaps 2 French Panhard models or like 1 M20 and 1 M8 recon armored? :?:
Cavalry, really?
Well, here as well, it’s “mounted” and not “armored”:
https://www.servicehistorique.sga.defen ... 0P_11P.pdf (p245/270)
=> mounted cavalry VS armoured cavalry :o
*************
1ère DIVISION BLINDÉE” (or “1re DB”)

Basically, we can use the very same OoB than in Operation Dragoon, except that we don’t have to bother really about the different “CC” of this group. If it’s now mostly at regimental level (instead of battalions), then the 3 battalions of “Zouaves” should only be depicted by 1 or max 2 infantry units (instead of 3). Same thing for the “68e Artillerie”: one or max two units only.
It may be better to keep 2 units of infantry… otherwise, the battalion of engineer may seem overpowered?!
But the various Chasseurs represent each a regiment and thus, we may keep the same number of tanks, armored recon and tank-destroyers!

Zouaves / 1re DB
Zouaves / 1re DB (another similar unit?)
2e Chasseurs d'Afrique / 1re DB
3e Chasseurs d'Afrique / 1re DB
5e Chasseurs d'Afrique / 1re DB
9e Chasseurs d'Afrique / 1re DB
2e Cuirassiers / 1re DB
68e Artillerie / 1re DB
68e Artillerie / 1re DB (another similar unit?)
38e Grp Antiaérien / 1re DB
88e Bn du Génie / 1re DB
12e Chasseurs de Chars / 1re DB (or Antichar, as you prefer)
Reconnaissance / 1re DB
(As well based on https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/1re_divis ... on_en_1944 )
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

French OoB for 24BlackForest – continuation: 8)

4ème DIVISION MAROCAINE DE MONTAGNE” (or “4e DMM”):

1er Tirailleurs Marocains / 4e DMM
6e Tirailleurs Marocains / 4e DMM
27e Infanterie / 4e DMM
19e Chasseurs Alpins / 4e DMM
(‘from the Resistance… well, actually a “Battalion”, but as we haven’t seen these guys, we could add now some of them, even if it’s only a version of ’40 that is available – for immersion it would be so cool! Evidence? https://www.servicehistorique.sga.defen ... 0P_11P.pdf p244/270, called “BCP” because it has evolved with time!)
4e Spahis Marocains / 4e DMM (recon or light tanks)
64e Artillerie d’Afrique / 4e DMM
69e Artillerie de Montagne / 4e DMM
33e Grp Antiaérien / 4e DMM
82e Bn du Génie / 4e DMM

! This unit is actually lacking some AT-capability like this… :?

(Based on https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/4e_divisi ... e_montagne )
**************
5ème DIVISION BLINDÉE” (or “5e DB”)
Easy : we’ll take as example the order of battle of the 1re DB and just adapt the names based on available info ( https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/5e_divisi ... on_en_1944 )

Légion Étrangère / 5e DB
Légion Étrangère / 5e DB (another similar unit?)
1er Chasseurs d'Afrique / 5e DB
6e Chasseurs d'Afrique / 5e DB
+8e Chasseurs d’Afrique / 5e DB depending on sources (perhaps tank-destroyers too)
1er Cuirassiers / 5e DB => which may NOT be represented here, as it’s more in the West!
62e Artillerie / 5e DB
62e Artillerie / 5e DB (another similar unit?)
31e Grp Antiaérien / 5e DB
96e Bn du Génie / 5e DB
11e Chasseurs de Chars / 5e DB (tank-destroyers)
Reconnaissance / 5e DB (or 1er Spahis Algériens / 5e DB)
+ Groupement de Choc 1 / 5e DB => a commando unit at disposal !

This Division seems a little weaker :roll: than the 1re DB (less regiments of tanks), but, well… 8)
*******
2ème DIVISION D’INFANTERIE MAROCAINE” (or “2e DIM”) :

4e Tirailleurs Marocains / 2e DIM
5e Tirailleurs Marocains / 2e DIM
151e Infanterie / 2e DIM (‘certainly from the FFI forces)
20e Chasseurs Alpins / 2e DIM
(‘from the Resistance… well, actually a “Battalion”, but as we haven’t seen these guys, we could add now some of them, even if it’s only a version of ’40 that is available – for immersion it would be so cool! Evidence? Here’s one: https://www.musee-du-genie-angers.fr/fp ... che-41.pdf ; page 6/8, in the middle!)
3e Spahis Marocains / 2e DIM (recon or light tanks)
63e Artillerie d’Afrique / 2e DIM (‘should be guns of 155)
DARR / 2e DIM (light armored AT unit – very light as, literally “support detachment of the reconnaissance regiment”… the recon should be able to move fast, so if they have support, then their support should do the same as well!)
41e Grp Antiaérien / 2e DIM
87e Bn du Génie / 2e DIM
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

14ème DIVISION D'INFANTERIE” (or “14e DI”):

Our “reserve” division is relatively “recent” in its organization, according to https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/14e_divis ... position_4 as it’s written there, for example: “It was reformed on February 9, 1945, by amalgamating units of the French Forces of the Interior. Commanded by General Raoul Salan [… and later:] April 10: It entered Germany and ended the war on Lake Constance.”
For us, OoB based on the previous link: :wink:
Mostly 3 infantry regiments :
3e Chasseurs à pied / 14e DI
35e Infanterie / 14e DI
152e Infanterie / 14e DI

4e Artillerie / 14e DI
12e Dragons / 14e DI (apparently an armored recon unit!)
114e Grp Antiaérien / 14e DI

Maybe with Ingénieurs / 14e DI (+engineers?; but no real need at this point, I guess…)
… here lack of AT capability, like this, with this OoB… :?
*************
Groupement Lebel:

8) The role of this Lebel group is to rush at the head of the 1st Army Corps to reach Switzerland and encircle the German troops. => So, it was indeed one of the main goals: to cut the German lines into two parts in this region… :wink: (It wasn’t that easy to find out, I’ve had to compile several documents for the OoB…)

So, the “Groupement Lebel”, it’s basically a vanguard (mostly of recon units, and tank-destroyers):
“19e Chasseurs Portés” (a motorized infantry battalion),
“1er Spahis Algériens” (recon or light tanks)
“4e Spahis Algériens” (recon or light tanks)
“8e Dragons” (tank-destroyers?)
+ some engineers for demining (in trucks too… but how many?)
(One source here: http://rhin-et-danube-yonne.wifeo.com/u ... tantes.php ; another here: http://delamarejean.free.fr/Service_Mil ... ale12.html )
*************
Now, about the “Groupement(s) de Choc”: 3 of them, the 1st being explicitly at disposal of the 5e DB… Each “groupement” consists of 2 battalions!

Groupement de Choc 1 / 5e DB
Groupement de Choc 2
Groupement de Choc 3


Source : https://www.servicehistorique.sga.defen ... 0P_11P.pdf p244/270
(And on maps, we see them as well. We know where to deploy them!)
*************
By the way, what I’ve found exploring various sources (already mentioned here above):

Approaching Lake Constance, a group of SS had to be exterminated in Engen and before Singen could be taken a few kilometers from the lake.

While fighting at the outlet of the Black Forest, the 1st Army continued its offensive. The Lebel group crushed the S.S. training school in Bohringen. On April 26, the group entered Constance. The area around the city was transformed into a sanitary area protected by huge Red Crosses. Thousands of hospitalized or convalescent patients and, more surprisingly, several generals who had suddenly fallen ill were there. White flags are flying everywhere and more curious yellow and white flags of the papacy
.”

Bohringen or Böhringen, apparently also called Radolfzell... It is the same corner, why that, there it is not necessary to ask me too much, nevertheless, hein!
What? Well, okay, I’ll do a little effort. Here it is: “Böhringen is known as the "stork village" on Lake Constance. The largest suburb of Radolfzell is well connected to Radolfzell and the regional transport network by bus and train.
Lake Böhringen, a romantically situated bathing lake with a camping site, also belongs to the village.
” (https://www.radolfzell-tourismus.de/de/ ... boehringen & https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B6hr ... adolfzell) )


=> We’ll have the place where Pétain hides and enjoys his time to visit. :x And now we can crush a SS training School, but actually not only a SS school, but the “executive” school, a school for future SS officers... :twisted:
=> That’s definitely something as well to take into account! :wink:
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

French OoB for 24BlackForest – continuation: 8)

In the Army reserves, one finds (in case one needs more engineers or something, we’ll have names for them :wink: ):

-> 2e Dragons (recon) => this unit, has historically been engaged against the western motti… it may appear at the same time that our reserve division. Engaged too soon, it would only reinforce the Lebel group…

Now, engineers (and here only regiments!):
-> 17e Colonial du Génie
-> 101e Génie
-> 151e Génie
-> 152e Génie
-> 153e Génie
-> 201e Pionniers Nord-Africains
-> 202e Pionniers Nord-Africains
-> 211e Bn Ponts Lourds (okay, except one battalion)
-> 215e Bn Autonome du Génie
-> 180e Bn Génie

Now, artillery (only regiments here):
-> 65e Artillerie d’Afrique (3 groups of 155)
-> 66e Artillerie d’Afrique (idem)
-> Artillerie Coloniale du Levant (4 groups of 155)
-> Artillerie Coloniale d’AOF
(3 groups de 155 – already mentioned, 2 were with a division…)

Now, about AA (only groups here and not under some divisions):
23e, 32e, 33e, 34e, 35e, 36e, 40e, 11e and 12e (that’s definitely too much anyway, but if needed, we’ve numbers at disposal! :wink: )
*************
More cool pictures? :P

https://www.musee-du-genie-angers.fr/fp ... che-41.pdf

:idea: The first one on page 4/8; the one on page 5/8; perhaps the two littles on page 7/8.
*************
Various elements, complements, dug out throughout the main research about OoBs: 8)


-> With the 257th VdG, the Germans have 6 artillery groups (!), a Luftwaffe brigade (with planes?) and a fortress regiment... :wink:

-> Bebenhausen Castle... :P

-> "Stuttgart: The city of 800,000 inhabitants is completely destroyed. The streets are empty, but thousands of prisoners of war emerge from the cellars, including 20,000 French prisoners from 1940 who have captured their former captors. With them were Poles, Russians, Greeks, Belgians, Dutch, Yugoslavs and Italians. The city was not yet completely liberated and the shots were still ringing out. The French infantrymen could not follow the tanks and were still blocked by the numerous German defences. The 4th R.T.T. arrived in the town at about 8.00 pm. The 49th R.I. and 152nd R.I. continued the cleaning of the suburbs before rallying the C.C."
(It may fluctuate from 600 to 800’000 inhabitants… but it’s still quite a lot!)

-> "The I Corps did not remain inactive. Since the capture of Kehl, the units have been crossing the Rhine without interruption. Leaving the French bank of the Rhine in the custody of the 10th I.D., the divisions crossed to the right bank and marched on Freudenstadt. The 211th Engineer Heavy Bridge Battalion built an 18-ton bridge opposite Maximilliansau. 60,000 vehicles crossed it in a few days. Further south, the 152nd Engineers and two companies of the 88th Battalion dismantled the Germesheim bridge and rebuilt it. In a few days 13,000 vehicles crossed it. Opposite Kehl, the 180th Engineers launched a 40-ton double-traffic bridge. The vehicles followed each other without interruption on the tracks cleared by the IInd Corps. The 6th R.T.M. completed the cleaning of the surrounding roads. Nobody wants to miss the great final explanation. The C.C.1 coming from Alsace (Molsheim) covers 300 km in 18 hours to arrive at the rallying point, Freudenstadt."

-> Defensive boost: the survivors of the 106. and 257.V.G.D. were incorporated into the S.S. corps (the 18th, the one in the west!)... a few more units, with immersive and evocative names! :wink:

-> "It is obvious that the XVIII.S.S.A.K. is not going to surrender. It is clear that the Germans threatened on the plain of Baden will try to escape towards the Bavarian and Austrian Alps or to penetrate Switzerland. They are collecting everything that could escape destruction. De Lattre's Swiss visitors were worried. They asked the French for help to border their country.Moreover, this maneuver would have the advantage of completely encircling the Germans in the Black Forest. [...] General Valluy presented himself at the border post in front of Lorrach to the great satisfaction of the Swiss authorities."

-> "[...] But what are the 30,000 to 40,000 Germans locked up in the massif doing? They prepared themselves under the command of General S.S. Keepler, assisted by General von Oppen. They reorganized the survivors of multiple divisions into three new divisions (719., 352., 89. V.G.D.) including tanks, infantry, guns, pioneers, train, services and a strong staff. Elbow to elbow on a 15 km front, they prepared to attack. On April 24 at 10:30 p.m., the 719 and 352 went on the attack in the 27th R.I. sector." => :idea: So it is possible to make new units appear to reinforce the western pocket, at a given time, with an event... enough to maintain the action there without compromising the success of the main objectives of the scenario! :D

-> "[...] In this village, the defenders had to retreat in front of the 3,000 to 4,000 fanatics who passed by and came upon the Moroccan Spahis who started to harass them.

On 27 April, the 18.S.S.A.K. came to an end and was only made up of isolated groups that were still trying to get through. The 4th D.M.M. pushed forward these dispersed groups and began to collect prisoners. The number of prisoners reached 5,000 on the 27th. On the 28th, the mounted Spahis brigade captured 1,000. The 2nd G.T.M. and the Chocs captured the same number. The 9th D.I.C. took 3,000, including Gl von Appen. For miles, it was nothing but destroyed vehicles, abandoned equipment, destroyed guns, dead horses and men. The XIXth German Army, which had been crushed and successfully retreated from Provence, was in agony. It has lost 110,000 prisoners since crossing the Rhine
.”

-> :D You’ve another map here, if that may help (just click on it – well, the map, I mean, not only the link): https://www.xaintrie-passions.com/la-vi ... au-danube/ (roughly near the middle of this webpage)

-> The 18th SS Corps has a large number of self-propelled artillery... :twisted:

-> The 1st French Air Corps supported the ground troops... :D the “1er Corps Aérien Français”! More information here about the planes they’ve used: http://gaubs.free.fr/--DATES--/R%E9cit.htm (to “jump” at the relevant area, search for the word: “reunification”)
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

:?: Offer a German unit of “captured tanks” to the French forces in 24BlackForest? :D

The German managed to use some French tanks previously, but the French tried to use all they could… and they did capture several German tanks here and there…

=> I’ll suggest, for 24BlackForest, as captured unit under the French flag, one unit of Panther A! :idea:

(Even the Russian do have this model available under their own red star, in the OoB roster!)

As name, either “Panther A” (as the Russian unit) or “Captured Panther A”… you’re pick!
*******
Some sources? :wink:
https://worldoftanks.com/en/news/chieft ... -panthers/
https://worldoftanks.eu/en/news/history ... r-history/
https://www.google.ch/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... BO45Cy8qZK
(pdf => p.14, the Panthers of Francheville; p.15, the Panther of Bizien…)

Oh, and by the way, p.18 of this pdf, bottom right, I quote (and translate):
“General Leclerc, to thank the 3rd Company of 501, entrusted a crew of this Company with the task of bringing Hitler's last car to Paris, to the President of the Government.

This was the final point of the epic of this magnificent unit, where, next to the Frenchmen who had escaped from France, Germany and North Africa, there were Mexicans, Brazilians, Argentinians, Chileans, Canadians, and even Americans, "Volunteers", who had come to put themselves under the flag of France without being forced to do so by any human law.”
=> Some material for some awesome events, to help finishing the campaign on a very positive note, right?
*******
:D We might as well have this one, for much later... as one of the very last events? A reminder of a heroic epic? :idea: :?: (Perhaps even to maybe replace the picture for the Campaign Victory?)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/545005992399778210/
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

That's it. 8) Phew. :wink:

That's about all the relevant information I've gathered, until now at least (mostly from the French side, so that's where I was doing my research), for the last scenario of the campaign! :D
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

Any news about 22AmherstDrop?
bru888
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

ColonelY wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:38 pm Any news about 22AmherstDrop?
Soon on that aerial duel test. Following an unexpected travel delay, I've been ill the past couple of days.
- Bru
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

Oh, I'm sorry to read this; get well soon!
bru888
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

Okay, back in business. Please see what you think of this aerial battle. Here are my thoughts:
• Nothing else happens until the aerial battle is won.
• 10 turns is the maximum that I want for this opening; the trigger is set for this. Less turns possible?
• If the player wins the aerial battle in 10 turns or less, seven other objectives — Operation Amherst — are enabled.
• Can you win this battle in 10 turns or less? The objective is to destroy all enemy air units and/or force them to land.
• If you cannot win this battle in 10 turns or less, how would you change the array of opposing aerial forces to reasonably* assure this?
• One other thing I would appreciate your comment on: When this aerial battle is over, I want to retire all air units. I want this scenario to have a Jedburgh Missions-feel. I don't want the player using a jet to destroy German HQ, for example. Sure, in real life there were probably air strikes but in this game, in this situation, it's going to be rather one-sided and boring to have air domination.

*If the player is absolutely terrible, then he should lose the scenario at this point. If he is in the least competent, then Operation Amherst should be assured.

This scenario is obviously incomplete; below is the file containing just the intended aerial battle test. You can look over the rest of the objectives if you want. These are the things that I want to do; how I do some of them is still to be determined! There is one objective in particular that I am looking forward to designing.

22AmherstDrop.zip
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- Bru
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

Ah, very nice! :D

A beautiful map, a complete and relevant set of objectives...
*******
About this aerial battle:

1. Yes, 10 turns is enough to do that (with some inevitable British losses). :wink:

2. Of course, we don't care at all about replenishing our (British) planes because we don't have (British) RPs, nor do we really have the time to do it anyway... But then, it's not very appropriate to see "Warning, low fuel!" :| during the last turns of these air actions either. That's why I suggest to :idea: add a module to boost the fuel reserves of our engaged planes (up to 12 turns? :wink: )...

3. For a little more comfort for the player, I suggest :idea: adding an extra British plane (even if it means having an odd number of them on the map)... let's say the weakest one in this context, another Typhoon. :arrow: Or, perhaps even 2 of them? :?:
(I don't really think that it is now really feasible in less than 10 turns... :? Well, of course, one could get lucky, but... So, a little extra strenght may be welcome. 8) )

EDIT: Indeed, a German plane that has landed does not count as "deployed" anymore. So, it's perfect like that about it! :D

:arrow: With that, we can quietly move forward. 8)
*******
Now we have to evacuate the remaining British planes, and deal with the rest of the scenario. :D The part with the Dutch resistance looks very promising, by the way, as one can see from the description of the objective concerned. :wink:

:?: Perhaps the capture of the airfield could be :idea: accompanied (soon after) by the arrival of additional reinforcements (for us :wink: ), spawned in the immediate surroundings of this airfield? (But it could trigger :idea: some enemy counterattack as well...) :wink:
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

Very good. Thanks for pre-testing. 10 turns it is; only the worst player will fail, especially with an extra Typhoon and extra fuel.
- Bru
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

I trust, by the way, that this satisfies your lust for an aerial duel of jets. If not, please advise as to suggested improvement. :wink:
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ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

Yes, it does, so that's all good, thanks. 8)
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

If you experienced long "Thinking ..." delays for the German planes during their turn, I have fixed that now.

The Dutch partisans module is coming along nicely:

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Bad news, perhaps: They are automated. :(

Good news, perhaps: They are automated. :)

That is, once "contacted," they will lead the player's SAS units to "targets of opportunity" (whereupon they will disappear into the forest, their usefulness ended). Two targets per partisan unit (factories, fuel depots, etc.) = 10 targets. The objective will be to destroy at least 8 of them.
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

Heh:

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ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

Yes, good thing that you've managed to do something about AI's thinking time during initial aerial fight. :D It was indeed at times a little long... :? What was the issue there, by the way? :?:

About these Dutch partisans: just splendid, congrats! :D
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

ColonelY wrote: Thu Jul 08, 2021 6:05 am Yes, good thing that you've managed to do something about AI's thinking time during initial aerial fight. :D It was indeed at times a little long... :? What was the issue there, by the way? :?:
Good question. The following is based solely on empirical evidence.

1) It seems that air AI teams have a harder time in general sorting things out when assigned Air Defend Hex and Air Seek & Destroy tasks.
2) This phenomenon is magnified once a certain number of air units is assigned to one AI team. What that number is, I cannot say for sure.

So, originally all eight enemy planes were assigned to one AI team with the Air Seek & Destroy task. It's as if the machine is trying to choreograph them all to its ultimate advantage: How to best attack the enemy (the human player) with eight units, one task, and countless resulting permutations?

The solution was to assign each plane to its own AI team. This seems to take much of the guesswork out of it for the computer.

The same things can happen to land unit AI teams but for some reason, it does not seem to be as much of an issue as air units.
- Bru
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