Free France Campaign

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bru888
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

ColonelY wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:07 pm Well, as usual I know you're going to browse through all the posts and their content. :D

Not too much stress though, building this campaign should remain a pleasure! :wink:

:arrow: I'm still convinced that there are still some relevant elements related to OE (like the construction group, the handful of Vichy French dogfighters, etc.) and in the events that could also follow OE...

Everything in its own time, but - while not stressing yourself - please take as usual the time to go through all of them. :wink: It would be a pity to lose interesting elements... :(

I know, I'm sorry but I'm often writing novels :lol: :wink: - well, let's say that, amongst others, I've a lot of ideas. :D
Colonel, I will take this opportunity again to assure you that I do indeed "browse through all [your] posts and their content." I think you realize that from how many of your ideas and materials have made it into this campaign so far. You have made a ton of contributions and Free France 1940-1945 is so much better for it.

But if this campaign is to remain a pleasure - in terms of designing it and taking pride in it - I must make the decisions as to what will be included and how it will be implemented. And I do not want to waste precious time debating these decisions. Hence, I may not always react to everything you propose.

Much of what you offer is great stuff but if I were to incorporate ALL of it, this campaign would be like reading a history book. As it is, I fear that I have too much in it already, but I feel the need to tell the story of the Free French in the best manner that I can, given the constraints of the game. Some of your topics are gems and others . . . not so much. I don't want to lose my audience by indulging in minutiae.

In other aspects, such as decorations and units, I give it my best judgment based on my tastes, my research, and again, the constraints of the game. Don't forget that this is "open source" in that, while I would not take plagiarism too kindly, I certainly anticipate players will make their own private revisions to my campaign, once it is finished. Please feel free!

That said, Operation Exporter is finished. Let us now move on to Bir Hakeim.
- Bru
bru888
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

bru888 wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 2:26 am Let us now move on to Bir Hakeim.
Speaking of which, Bir Hakeim is ready. I have uploaded the campaign with this scenario included and ready for play. Also included is the final version of Operation Exporter.

Free France 1940-1945 (six scenarios)

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Notes:

- I have made the spelling corrections that you recommended, Colonel. This includes “Général Marie-Pierre Koenig” and “Bn de l'Oubangui.”
- However, I did not add any "re" or "e" to unit numbers, nor did I put in any spaces in unit names, per your suggestions. Where these were omitted, it was intentional to save room in the unit name boxes.
- The number of turns in this scenario is fixed: 32, which is related to the 16 days on the calendar that the battle lasted in real life. I omitted an "Early scenario ending" trigger but I have rethought this, just in case the player does kill off all axis land units. I'll include the trigger in a future update.
- I don't want suggestions for additional units. The fortress is only so big to hold the Allied units; the Axis already has more than a 2-1 advantage in land units (huge in this game, although it was more like 10 to 1 in real life), and this map is smaller than previous ones and space is "tight" in that I need the open areas for one of the secondary modules.
- What I do request is your judgement as to whether the player has a chance to win this scenario on Middle Difficulty by lasting 32 turns without losing the HQ hexes. Also whether that secondary module is feasible.

Thanks in advance for all comments, everybody.
- Bru
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

Next up: 07Fezzan followed by 08Tunisia.

In the campaign interlude before 07Fezzan, I will mention what happened to the Free French at 2nd El Alamein. At least in Fezzan, they are not huddled under a cliff in a minefield with German shells raining down on their heads, waiting for the order to withdraw. Fezzan will be much more fun to design for and play.

This map will do as a template, although I am looking around for a better one:

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For those scratching their heads, wondering where the heck Fezzan is (I wasn't sure myself until now), I will include this map in a popup message that informs "Fezzan was a governorate within both Italian Libya and the Kingdom of Libya":

Map_of_traditional_provinces_of_Libya.png
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"Fezzan is the southwestern region of modern Libya. It is largely desert, but broken by mountains, uplands, and dry river valleys (wadis) in the north, where oases enable ancient towns and villages to survive deep in the otherwise inhospitable Sahara Desert."

dunes_Sahara_Desert_Fezzan.png
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[Colonel: I am "in contact" with your earlier posts on Fezzan and Mourzouk/Murzuk (transliteration spelling differences in this campaign drive me crazy! :? )]
- Bru
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

Well, there's not much information on the Fezzan Campaign that I can find. (A reference in Wikipedia had me excited until I realized that the timing was wrong by around 70 years. :wink: )

We know that Leclerc's forces came up from Chad, chased the Italians away, took Murzuk and environs by January 1943, and continued north to Tripoli in order to join Montgomery. From this thin framework comes an opportunity to be creative but more facts would be welcome.

So now is a chance to shine, Colonel, and anyone else who can provide further details. Please feel free. In the meantime, I will get started on the map.
- Bru
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

Do you wish to have some complementary information? 8)

Here you'll already find some good information (mainly, but not only!, under the section about the "seconde campage" (=2nd campaign)): https://www.france-libre.net/koufra-fezzan/ Well, it's in French, but you know how to handle it, don't you? :wink:

Or here: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territoire_du_Fezzan with something like "The Free French Forces (FFL) reached Koufra in Libyan territory, which was then part of the Italian colonial empire, which they took following the Battle of Koufra (January-March 1941)1. A first campaign followed in the Fezzan (February-March 1942) aimed at weakening the Italians while sparing the French forces' resources. Between September 1942 and January 1943, a second campaign dealt the Italians a decisive blow. De Gaulle insisted to Leclerc on the importance of not leaving this Saharan region to the British because of its strategic situation, and he specified that: "The Fezzan must be France's share in the Battle of Africa". The capture of Sebha, the regional capital, on 12 January and of Mourzouk the following day marked the completion of the conquest of the Fezzan. The capture of Sebha, the regional capital, on 12 January and of Mourzouk the following day marked the completion of the conquest of the Fezzan. Colonel Raymond Delange is appointed governor of the territory and settles in Sebha, renamed Fort Leclerc."

(Not leaving this to the British? Well, yes, because the British have already tried to "steal" Lebanon and Syria from French control (Vichy French kicked away, that's fine, but then it should be Free French!), just as they allowed the evacuation of many well-trained and well-armed soldiers (which could have been very useful shortly afterwards on the battlefield)... this is also what is called "politics". :roll: )

Or you have here (again in French): https://edu.fondation-marechal-leclerc.fr/fezzan/

Some more info:
One of the three traditional regions of Libya, the Fezzan is an oasis area located in the south of Tripolitania, climatically hyper-arid, but rich in groundwater near the surface which has allowed the emergence and development of a number of oases (where irrigated cultivation of cereals and date palm) grouped into three main alignments that are oriented east-north-east-west-south-west: in the north, the alignment of the ouadi Chati (Brak, Idri, Bergin), where water springs; in the center, that of the ouadi el-Ajal (Sebha, Garifa); in the south, the alignment of the Hofra with its artesian wells (Mourzouk, Tragen). To the southwest, on the Algerian border, the Ghat oasis is isolated.

And more info about Leclerc:
https://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr/c ... uteclocque
With a quote (quickly translated thanks some online tool) like this:
"In mid-December 1942, Leclerc undertook the conquest of Fezzan with more than 3,000 men forming the "Force L". The attack is dazzling and very deep, going as far as Tripoli. The success is total. On January 24, 1943, the junction was made with the British troops. The "Force L" then settled in Tunisia to protect the flank of the British VIIIth Army, entered Kairouan on April 12 and marched on May 8, 1943 in liberated Tunis, which earned Leclerc a presentation by Montgomery to King George VI.

On 15 May 1943, Force L became the 2nd Free French Division (2nd DFL).

Three months later, the 2nd Armoured Division was born and took shape in Morocco, in Temara, where it was organized, trained and equipped with American equipment. In April 1944, it was transferred to England, where it waited impatiently for the landing in France. Leclerc came under the command of General Patton and landed in Normandy, near Saint-Martin-de-Varreville on August 1, 1944. Leclerc leads his troops during the difficult fighting in Normandy: Alençon, the Forest of Ecouves, Ecouché, Carrouges, Argentan.

On 18 August, the enemy was routed everywhere. But Leclerc was unable to obtain the order to march on Paris. It was only on August 22nd that, authorization having finally been granted, he had the 2nd AD set in motion. On August 25, 1944, he entered the capital through the Porte d'Orléans, standing in his scout-car, received the surrender of General Von Choltitz and set up his CP in the Montparnasse station.

At the beginning of September, he resumed his journey eastward and after having forced his way through the Vosges, had the French flag raised at Croix de Lorraine on the spire of Strasbourg Cathedral on November 23, 1944.

He cleaned up Alsace and Lorraine, participated in the reduction of the Colmar pocket and, at the end of April 1945, having reached Bavaria, received Hitler's eagle's nest at Berchtesgaden as his objective
."
Yes, this extract goes a little further already... After Africa, From Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest: The Liberation Epic! :D
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

Fezzan, Second campaign: 8)
The operation is delicate. Leclerc had to cover a thousand kilometers carrying food, ammunition and fuel, and he had to coordinate his advance with the British troops advancing in Cyrenaica. :?

Sebha: main military center; Mourzouk: religious capital. :wink:

Goal: to drive out the Italians and to open the road to Tripoli. :D
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

:arrow: Or, from here: https://www.google.ch/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... agKu6f6UBf 8)

Some very good info too, from pages 7 to 10 of this pdf file (or 223 to 226 from the book). :D

(Easy to copy-paste and Google-translate it, so... and this will directy give a good idea on what it's about.)
Last edited by ColonelY on Tue Jan 19, 2021 10:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

:arrow: So, basically, it happened in two phasis, in two campaigns. The first being more a set of raids... and the second and last one being more like a real conquest.

:idea: But the scenario, of conquest, can go with some raiding parts, as some recon and, well, both preparatory attacks (against airfields for example) or diversionary attacks (outside the main axes of attack) ... a failure in the first, it is a few more Italian bomber units in the air, a failure in the second, it is a few more ground units in front of the troops of the "Force L", of the main Free French group, the one in charge of the conquest of the Fezzan's province itself. :P :D
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

:arrow: Or, and I think this option would be even better, alternatively, it could actually comes as TWO scenarios: 8)

1. :idea: One "mini-Mourzouk" scenario as I've suggested before (in an old post)... LRDG (including French) on Chevrolet WB and Willys Jeeps launching a surprise assault against some Italian airfield to destroy bombers on ground and fuel depots... a pure raid! Together with some campaign variable about "The Italians won't be able to use as many bombers as they could have without our previous successful raid operation.", or something.

2. :idea: The big "Fezzan campaign" scenario you're working on the map right now... with this campaign variable involved (more Italian bombers available or not?), and here more a pure "conquest" scenario.

:arrow: The very first one would be a complete change of pace, another kind of scenario too, a little as the one you're planning about the ship "La Combattante". :wink:
bru888
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

Very good. Enough to work on, thanks. We have seen many more sources in French than English on some aspects of this campaign.

Yes, I can run these links through Google Translate (unlike that PDF file which was protected against copying). I can get the gist that way; same with La Combattante so never mind about that.

You know what is also a good site? The philately (stamp-collecting) web site that you linked to in an earlier post: LA PHILATÉLIE, TÉMOIN DE L'HISTOIRE (PHILATELY, WITNESS OF HISTORY). Not only do they provide maps (that's where these three maps come from) . . .

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. . . but a stamp can be worth a thousand words!

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So. I think we have a scenario in the making here! Two? I don't know. My initial inclination is to have one that shows the action from Chad to Tripoli. We'll see. (Rubs hands together in glee. :) )
- Bru
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by Mascarenhas »

I've been through all these sources and agree that there's good stuff for a couple of interesting missions, culminating with the encounter of French and Brit forces in Tunis, after al those races. It'll be a nice ending, before French participation in the invasion of southerrn France and Normandy campaign on the road to Paris.
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by Mascarenhas »

If I may, there's some more information here: https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campagna_del_Nordafrica , see particularly the section about the meeting in Tripoli, not Tunis, sorry.
bru888
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

Mascarenhas wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 3:03 am If I may, there's some more information here: https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campagna_del_Nordafrica , see particularly the section about the meeting in Tripoli, not Tunis, sorry.
Thanks, Masca. Google Translate is going to get a workout!

More campaign news: Next up: 07OperationLilaDenied.

With dropping of 2nd El Alamein, the timeline changed so that Operation Lila Denied would come next in terms of dates. Right now, the lineup of the next few scenarios looks like this:

07OperationLilaDenied
08Fezzan
09MarethLine

Yes, I am thinking of zooming in on the Battle of the Mareth Line to represent Tunisia. It's not like I need to show the entire Tunisian campaign to get a feeling for the participation of the Free French in it; one battle and some popup messages will cover it. Besides, I love the pairing of the French with the Greek Sacred Squadron in this battle!

One more bit of news: Operation Lila Denied should be out very soon.

I was working on this scenario about a year ago, intending to insert it between Operation Torch and Arctic Convoy in the Kriegsmarine campaign. Obviously, it was from the German point of view. I never finished it, despite being about three quarters done. With Free France 1940-1945, I saw an opportunity to revive it, switch sides, and play it as the "Free" French (technically, the French involved were still loyal to Vichy, but not on the day that Operation Lila was denied).

So for now, play Bir Hakeim if you are interested and have fun while I keep working!

Free France 1940-1945 (six scenarios)
- Bru
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by Mascarenhas »

Thanks, Bru;

I will be ready to play it in a few days. Meanwhile, I'm available to do any research you may need in order to support new scenarios design.
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by Erik2 »

Bru, would you like some assistance with a Mareth/Tunis scenario?
I could do the map and units for you.
From the (max zoomed-out) 1943 map below you'll see that the (blue) French units are deployed pretty much along the whole frontline in Tunis.
tunis_mareth.jpg
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bru888
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by bru888 »

No thanks, Erik. That map is WAY too large. I will be doing a fresh map of the area inside this box, if that big. Maybe even smaller:

tunis_mareth.jpg
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- Bru
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by Erik2 »

Aha, I see. Is it room for any Frenchies there ? :D
ColonelY
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

TUNISIA: 8)
bru888 wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 3:22 pm No thanks, Erik. That map is WAY too large. [...]
Ah? :o Well, it seems to me that the surface area of Tunisia is smaller than that of Libya and Lebanon combined.


8) But, indeed, instead of a full Tunisian campaign, why not zooming in on this or that part of the battle? Yes, as you mention it here:
bru888 wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:45 pm [...] 09MarethLine

Yes, I am thinking of zooming in on the Battle of the Mareth Line to represent Tunisia. It's not like I need to show the entire Tunisian campaign to get a feeling for the participation of the Free French in it; one battle and some popup messages will cover it. Besides, I love the pairing of the French with the Greek Sacred Squadron in this battle! [...]

Awesome idea!
:D
:P Let's meet some Greek for once, and even some special forces! :D

:?: But now, there are some questions:
1. Do you intend to include the "Battle of Medenine" (a prelude to this one) within this scenario as well? If yes, as integral part of the scenario ('so having to fight it) or using some event to introduce it?
Factions: British + British India + New Zealand + Free France + Greece VS Italy + Germany...
2. With the same concept, two other battles/scenarios could be build up just before this "Battle of the Mareth Line"... There are:
-> The "Battle of Kasserine Pass" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kasserine_Pass)
-> The "Operation Ochsenkopf" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ochsenkopf)
So one could move from different theatre of operations: from west-central Tunisia, to Northern Tunisia to end up to the Southern Tunisia with the Mareth Line...
And like this, already see some US troops fighting together with some Free French - it will be the very first time within this campaign! :wink:
3. I see no fighting at all in Tunisia against the Vichy French... therefore (if we stay close to History) that would mean no French Somua nor B1 to be defeated on the battlefield... :cry: 'Could we do something about this?

bru888 wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:45 pm [...] More campaign news: Next up: 07OperationLilaDenied.

With dropping of 2nd El Alamein, the timeline changed so that Operation Lila Denied would come next in terms of dates. Right now, the lineup of the next few scenarios looks like this:

07OperationLilaDenied
08Fezzan [...]
This scenario does look promising! :D
A good change in pace too... And it will finally allow you to use the work you've done on it. :wink:

bru888 wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:45 pm [...] So for now, play Bir Hakeim if you are interested and have fun while I keep working! [...]
It's planned, no doubt about it! 8)
Though it'll take me several days, again, probably, as now... anyway, I'll do it with pleasure! :D
Last edited by ColonelY on Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Free France Campaign

Post by ColonelY »

8) We have nothing against having a few more scenarios... and it's not necessarily more difficult to prepare (I guess) if there are several "small" ones instead of one big one or even instead of one huge one! :wink:
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