KG Klink, France, Game 1

[Just Jack]

All,

Its 1600 on 13 May 1940, elements of 7th Panzer Division (to whom Kampgruppe Klink is attached for the campaign in France) is advancing west, descending on the Belgian town of Dinant, where it intends on crossing the Meuse River. The Commanding General, Rommel, dispatches elements of the 37th Reconnaissance Battalion slightly north towards the town of Houx, where it is to scout ahead of the 7th Infantry Regiment. KG Klink’s Armored Reconnaissance Company, commanded by 1st Lieutenant Wehner (wearer of the Iron Cross 2nd Class), is on the far right (northern-most) flank of the division, and closes in on a small hamlet defended by a French force from the 39th Infantry Regiment, 5th Motorized Division (5 DIM), which today pushed into Belgium in an attempt to halt the Germans at the Meuse.

The Recon Company was moving west and, as it approached a small bridge, began receiving small arms fire. 2nd Motorcycle Platoon immediately dismounted (on the east side of the bridge; the river is really but a stream, a tributary of the Meuse, which is still two miles to the east), while two armored cars pushed across and two more darted right, searching out a covered position to ford the stream, while 1st Motorcycle Platoon escorted a single Panzer Mk III forward on the far right.

The opposing forces, French on the left, Germans on the right.

The German force:
CO – 1Lt Wehner (Iron Cross)
Armored Car Plt, Commander: 2Lt Weider (Sdkfz 222)
Vehicle 2 (Panzer II): Sgt Keck (Iron Cross)
Vehicle 3 (Sdkfz 232): Sgt Pichler (Iron Cross)
Vehicle 4 (Sdkfz 222): Cpl Dormund
Vehicle 5 (Sdkfz 222): Cpl Edst

1st Motorcycle Platoon, Commander: SSgt Gradl (Iron Cross)
1st Squad: SSgt Sachs
2nd Squad: Sgt Lowenstam
3rd Squad: Cpl Wilhelm
4th Squad: Cpl Visner

2nd Motorcyle Platoon, Commander: SSgt Behrendt (Iron Cross)
1st Squad: Sgt Eisen
2nd Squad: Cpl Obst
3rd Squad: Cpl Wallon
4th Squad: Cpl Pankau (Iron Cross)

Pz Mk III, Vehicle 4 3rd Platoon: Cpl Benten
MG34, Schwere Plt, Schutzen Co: Cpl Creuzburg

The French: Command stand, one H35 light tank, one .30 cal machine gun, and two infantry platoons of four squads each.

Overview of the map, east is up, Germans in the east and French in the west. The Germans were placed, then the French blinds were placed, then revealed.

If you’re thinking this map looks familiar, well, I’m cheap and I’m lazy. This is the same map I just fought the Team Yankee deal on…

The French defense was formidable, and bloodied the German invaders substantially. The French were forced to withdraw, but caused significant casualties and safely withdrew quite a bit of their force.

To see the whole report, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/04/kg-klink-france-game-1.html

The fight was about two hours, and a lot of fun, though more than a little frustrating: German marksmanship left a lot to be desired, while the French tank, in particular, was pretty efficient, and while both sides attempted a few close assaults, they didn’t carry the day in their normally decisive manner. It was, simply put, hard fought and bloody. I love it and look forward to the next one!

V/R,
Jack

[kyoteblue]

The french did very well. Gen,l Rommel will not be all that pleased.

[Rod Robertson]

Just Jack:

What an exciting and hard fought opener to France 1940 campaign for KG Klink. The French may be surrender monkeys but they made the Germans pay for their gains this time.  Did you know that Kradschutzen companies had their own HMG teams transported by four motorcycle sidecar combos or in 1.5 tonne trucks and the same for 50mm mortar teams. So your Recce force does not have to have attachments from the Schutzen. The scenario was very exciting and I laughed when the German MG managed to do nothing to French troops advancing in the open. Been there, done that, have the t-shirt!

Thanks for posting this and I look further instalments of Der Klinkkriegsaga.

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

 

[Just Jack]

Thanks gentlemen.

Kyote – Rommel don’t care about no casualties, he just wanted a crossing invested, so we’re good to go 😉

Rod – It was a helluva fight, and I was pleased with the German firepower dice rolling.  The whole KG is suspending ops and heading to the range to fix their shootin’ irons.  I did know that about the Motorcycle Companies, but I don’t have a full M/C company, just two platoons as part of the Recon company.

The Recon company is going to stay in this format at least through North Africa, maybe even a little bit into Russia, but certainly by Kursk the Recon company will take on a new look, in which it moves to halftracks and has three rifle platoons, its own heavy weapons platoon, and probably the Stug platoon.  At that point KG Klink will have two Panzer companies (though much smaller, i.e., three platoons of three vehicles each), a Schutzen company, the Armored Recon company (of three rifle platoons, a Schwere platoon, the Stug platoon, and maybe a platoon of  armored cars),  and a heavy Flak (88mm) section, a Combat Engineer platoon, and an SP AT platoon (Marder IIs then PzJg IVs then Jagdpanthers, as the war goes on) in general support.  At some point the KG will also get a heavy panzer (Tiger) platoon in general support.

Maybe I’ll throw the Tiger platoon in now; if one little H35 can run around, cruising back and forth, shooting up the entire German column with impunity, I probably need them 😉

V/R,
Jack

[War Panda]

Very enjoyable BatRep Jack. You have a real gift of narrative which is always complimented by your knowledge of military exercise. Coupled with Rod Roy’s expertise in history (kind of intimidating actually 🙂 ) Ivan’s brilliant rules we have a excellent chance of experiencing  something special in this campaign. Myself and Blue will have to be content in our cheerleading role.

From a modelling point of view the photos look great. Your new 6mm minis look just great. Lot of detail for such tiny toys. What make are they? Love those surrendering stands too.

The battle itself was very exciting and well told. I like the way you inject your feelings and frustrations as the action transpires. I’m also a hound for random events (as long as they’re not over used) and while I know the activation mechanics in the rules also have a random feel to whats going on I enjoyed  The “confusion” event which is a reminder of the uncontrollable nature of the battle.

Some unlucky rolls for the Germans but they did the job in the end against a formidable and determined French force.

Thanks for all the trouble you’ve gone to posting this and keep up the good work 🙂

 

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[kyoteblue]

Tigers in France in 1940 !!!!!!! The Horror !!!!

[Rod Robertson]

Jack:

If anachronism is the game, why stop at Tigers? Give KG Klink Leopard II’s and Marder II’s and watch the Frenchies cry in their Beaujolais Nouveau and Merlot!

I think Panda said something which is very important (I cannot believe I’m agreeing with the wise-cracking paddy!). I too want to thank you for all the work and effort you put into your gaming and reporting of same. I know you enjoy it, but through your efforts you invite others to enjoy it along with you and that is a kind of generosity which should be commended and celebrated. So, well done Marine!

Now, don’t for a moment think that this is going to give you any kind of immunity from our ribbing and poking fun at you. That we do out of “respect” and “admiration” and so your continued efforts will be met with buffoonery and silliness.

Keep up the great work Jack and soldier on!

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

[War Panda]

Well said Rod Roy…

I mean the part that I said something very important. Goes without saying really but still its always good to emphasize the highlights of any thread.

 

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[Just Jack]

Panda – Thanks man, I appreciate it.  The game was rough, but a lot of fun.  I didn’t get depressed until afterwards when I was making my campaign rolls for the units that had been hit and I rolled up four KIAs.  Thinning the ranks in a hurry.  Have you played a game of Company Command and/or Brigade Commander yet?

Kyote – Don’t worry, I won’t bring the Tigers in unless I’m really, really getting my ass kicked 😉

Rod – It’s my pleasure, I like posting the stuff and discussing it with folks, particularly the game design and tactics side of things.  As you’ve probably noticed, I’m not nearly as much of an OOB nut; if you look at all my campaigns, every single one of them is actually based on a fictional unit, so that I basically have license to do what I want.  In KG Klink, I basically took a regiment-sized KG and ‘bath-tubbed’ it down a level (roughly), and later I’ll adjust the table of organization to reflect how I think things went.  I mentioned above that KG Klink will have two Panzer Companies from North Africa on; this reflect the real-life German change which basically halved the complement of tanks in Panzer divisions so they could turn out twice as many Panzer divisions.

So KG Klink will see the number of tanks in a company reduced from four 5-tank platoons to three 3-tank platoons, but, because the KG has performed so well and Col Klink is in favor, he’s able to lobby to get two Panzer companies in the KG.  So, instead of dropping from 21 tanks (including 1 for Company Commander) to 10 (incl CC), the KG will go from 21 to 20, which reflects the German T/O change, but keeps me in the ball park for what I figure I need to carry out my campaign (the way I play, if the KG had only 10 tanks they’d be out by the third fight of a twenty fight campaign).

I hope all that makes sense 😉

And I can stand you guys’ silliness; I just wish:
1) you two were funny, and
2) you talk about wargaming every now and again 😉
Let’s make it three: you post photos of actual war games you participated in (even Kyote does it!) 😉

V/R,
Jack

[kyoteblue]

Yeah I kinda sorta post AAR’s and Pics……Kinda.

[War Panda]

“Have you played a game of Company Command and/or Brigade Commander yet?”

No my only wargaming has been WoG WWI. Had a four player game with some pals and they took to it really quickly.  I’d like to try them out but I’m going to be really busy and I’m not sure if its realistic to be playing anything soon. Most of my pals that I visit in the area are into games but haven’t got them into military stuff yet (and kind of doubt that will happen)

And I can stand you guys’ silliness; I just wish:
1) you two were funny, and
2) you talk about wargaming every now and again 
Let’s make it three: you post photos of actual war games you participated in (even Kyote does it!) 

Look since you choose to ignore some of the most creative and innovative humour since the Marines accepted you to join them I have decided to treat you as you deserve Jack…no I’m not intending to report you to PETA…I’ve decided to overlook your differences, preferences and orientations in whatever recent deviancies you’ve decided to indulge yourself in.

I did want to ask you what modifications/house rules are you using if any.

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[kyoteblue]

We need to get Tgunner over here love his Bataan stuff.

[Rod Robertson]

Just Jack:

7th Pz. Div. M/C  OOB porn:

http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/German/Various/motorcycle_rifle%20battalion%201939%20to%201940.htm

Jack wrote:

“And I can stand you guys’ silliness; I just wish:
1) you two were funny, and
2) you talk about wargaming every now and again
Let’s make it three: you post photos of actual war games you participated in (even Kyote does it!) ”

1) Panda and I are humorous, we’re not however “funny” like you Jack as we have no proclivity towards goat exploitation.

2) Panda and I often talk about wargaming and excellent and enlightened discussions they are too! However, Panda is a diminutive and evil refugee from a “Lucky Charms” cereal box with a raging Napoleon complex and I am a barely civilised mote of self-propelled, Scottish dirt (according to Fitzpanda), so we have a cultural predisposition to debate the merits of each other’s worth while discussing wargaming. This to me is an important public service, as it will illustrate to other’s who might be more prone to Panda’s pied-piper-like tune, not to fall victim to his demented and fatally Irish world view. Thus by doing this we will avoid suffering down the road. History has proven beyond a shadow of doubt the natural superiority of Scottish descent compared to the “Irish perversion” but it is still important to make the young and innocent aware of the dangers of Panda’s regrettable and deviant gestalt. It’s for the greater good!

3) Not happening dude, no time, no skill, no inclination and that goes for goats too!

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

[War Panda]

Biggest sporting event in Scotland. One side are covered in the Irish Tricolour, the other British Union Jacks…a country embarrassed just to be itself

…and who can blame her…

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[Rod Robertson]

[Rod Robertson]

Just Jack:

See we’re discussing wargames!

Rod Robertson.

[Rod Robertson]

Mr. Fitzpanda:

The truth can hurt sometime. You won the battle but we’re still winning the war!

Table below from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rugby_union_matches_between_Ireland_and_Scotland

Rugby Union Results:

:                    Played    Won By Ireland  Won By Scotland       Drawn Ireland points  Scotland points

In Ireland        63                    32                    27                    4          669                         603

In Scotland     67                    27                    39                     1          747                           817

Neutral venue  0                      0                      0                      0          0                              0

Overall             130                  59                    66                     5          1416                         1420

[War Panda]

Okay 90% of those stats are from when the occupying Brits represented Ireland and I’m not giving you any credit for beating a bunch of British landlords and their poncy sons…

Lets see in more recent times when it was Scots vs Irish

Last 15 years …

Irelands total championship point tally during that time 103 with 3 Championships won. Game Points difference of +503

Scotlands total points 40 with an impressive 0 Championships won. More impressively thats a points difference of  -744 (yes that is a minus 744)

The other photo was actually Scotland’s two biggest football teams: Rangers and Celtic. Rangers fans wave Union Jacks and Celtic wave Irish Tricolours….from a nationalistic point of view kind of embarrassing but hey in their defence they are Scottish 

 

 

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[kyoteblue]

War Panda, I do not think your post did what you hoped it would do…..Ah you edited it as I posted.

[War Panda]

Wont accept the stats table….must be a Scottish editor

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[Rod Robertson]

Fitzpanda:

God and Rod are on Scotland’s side and Ireland is the land God gave to Cane!

Kyoteblue:

Don’t help him!

Jack:

I was looking on the interweb to see if anybody does Pz 38(t)’s in 10mm and only Minifigs makes a rather mediocre model so you now have divine dispensation to continue with your 7th Panzer division armour non-compliance programme. In nomine, Rod.

Rod:

Isn’t Scotland wonderful?

Rod:

Why, yes it is! In every way superior to the Emerald Isle!

Rod:

Could not agree more!

Rod:

Right then it’s settled. Scotland is the best! Ah, with the possible exception of Canada (because it has so many Scots in it.)

Rod:

Hmmm. Good point that!

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

 

[Just Jack]

Rod – Pendraken and Pitthead make Pz 38Ts, so come on over to the 10mm side.  I don’t need any though, plenty of Is, IIs, IIIs, and IVs.

Panda – The only house rules I remember is 1) my heroes give +1 in close combat and rally pinned/hunkered/man down units for free the whole game (not just once); and 2) my ‘armor return fire’ rule.  If a vehicel (not an ATG) that can hurt a tank shoots at a tank and doesn’t get at least a pin, the tank gets to shoot back for free.  Ivan may be able to help more (i.e., he may read a batrep and think, “what the hell is that?  That’s not in the rules!”).

V/R,
Jack

[Rod Robertson]

Just Jack:

I just had a moment to take a wee boo at the Pithead Pz 38(t) and it was underwhelming. Why is the casting of 10mm vehicles so poor compared to larger 15’s and smaller 6mm and 3mm models? Are all the manufacturers using older casting techniques or degraded old moulds? I would expect to find a range of quality in any scale but in 10mm WWII all the manufacturers which I have looked at seem to be gravitating towards the weaker end of the spectrum.  Perhaps I am being impetuous due to my general ignorance of the scale but are all 10mm manufacturers of WWII kit so weak? I have seen and painted excellent 10mm ACW and Franco-Prussian War figures so I know that excellence in this scale is possible. So why does 10mm WWII seem to be so poor in comparison? if I have wronged any 10mm producer please let me know and I’ll look at your stuff. If it’s good I will happily retract my remarks, make an apology and sing your praises, but so far there are some pretty thin pick’ins out there.

Jack, with this realisation I am even more impressed with what you have fielded because you have managed to make mediocre castings look very good. Well done!

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

[Rod Robertson]

Just Jack:

Ah ha! I stand corrected. I just stumbled upon Arrowhead 10mm WWII miniatures and they’re beautiful. My faith in miniatures is intact again.

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

[Ivan Sorensen]

I have a few Pendraken 10mm tanks and they are quite nice. It may be an issue with just that one manufacturer.

[Just Jack]

Yeah, I’ve got quite a bit of Pendraken and Minifigs and I’ve got no problem with them.  It’s certainly not my painting making them look good! 😉

I figure it’s like every other scale (that puts out a lot of vehicles: each company has a couple dogs, the vast majority is pretty decent, and then a few pieces of art.  In the past I had quite a bit of 15mm and I saw that with Battlefront, PSC, and Old Glory CD, have quite a bit of 6mm and 10mm and see it there as well with different manufacturers.

Quit actin’ stuck up, Rod, and quit poutin’ ’cause you’re backin’ the wrong team: 10mm is where it’s at 😉

V/R,
Jack

[Ivan Sorensen]

Using more than 3 colours (the wash is a colour right?) on your mini’s is bourgeois decadence.

[Rod Robertson]

Ivan and Just Jack:

Pithead and Minifigs seem to be pretty weak overall. Pendrakes are OK but the best I have seen are the Arrowhead 10mm’s. Now, I am willing to admit that sometimes miniatures and models look better in reality than their pictures do on the internet but when you compare the detail and crispness of these 10mm castings to let’s say CinC or GHQ, the 10mm WWII does not meet muster. What I don’t get is why other genres of 10mm do have good figures but there seems to be a dearth in WWII. I am not being stuck up or whining about it. I just wonder why this is so? And sorry to say it Jack but I’m sticking with my lovely and well cast 15’s.

I will back Scottish Rugby and I will back 15mm’s all the way. If I am backing the wrong side, so be it. I’m bloody-minded enough to not care. But I am proud to be a 15mm Scot wargamer.

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

 

[Ivan Sorensen]

That was weird, somehow I had gotten you on Ignore on accident. I was confused why it kept not showing your post.

It seems some of the 10mm ww2 stuff is more recent so maybe the 6mm guys have just had more time to perfect their craft 🙂

I’ll back you on 15mm which is Lenin’s own scale, though I own stuff in basically every scale (and occasionally multiples)

[Rod Robertson]

http://www.madaxeman.com/10mm/10mm_WW2_directory.php

[Just Jack]

Simmer down, Rod, it was just a joke.  Though I’m not sure what ‘bloody minded’ means 😉

Back to wargaming: no one, in any scale, is as good as GHQ, so that’s a bit unfair.  But Pendraken and Minifigs are every bit as good as CinC.  I don’t own any Pitthead, and some of their stuff doesn’t look so hot, but some of it looks pretty damn good (they’ve got H35s/H39s with the tank commander coming out of the right spot on the back of the turret).

Either way, what’s it matter, you’re a 15mm guy?

V/R,
Jack

[Ivan Sorensen]

Well, there’s a reason GHQ is like twice the price of everybody else in 6mm 🙂

(Also, their infantry are spindly little bastards)

[kyoteblue]

I’ll stick with 15mm, but some one needs to get Just Jack a bridge so all the 10mm trolls don’t live under it.

[Rod Robertson]

Grrrrrr!

[War Panda]

I’ll stick with 15mm, but some one needs to get Just Jack a bridge so all the 10mm trolls don’t live under it.

 

Thought this might compliment the rest of the terrain

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[Rod Robertson]

War Panda:

You’re wicked, mate! That’s perfect!

Rod Robertson.

[Just Jack]

That’s from his therapist’s office, something to do with the inability to tell real life from (sexual) fantasy…

If you two would spend half the time on wargaming you spend looking through old family albums/buying, setting up, and photographing vignettes, you might actually get something done.

Isn’t it time for you two to rehearse some more Braveheart lines?

V/R,
Jack

[Rod Robertson]

Just Jack:

Methinks thou dost protest too much. Now go, on blended knee, and do make miniature-war most terrible on the Frank. Let loose the snapping, snarling dachshunds of tiny-war and boldly traverse the rivers, bridge and carpets of France! Gird thy loins and prick most sore the Frankish chèvre, that he might learn the blood-curdling countenance of war and shrink before this visage so terrible! Let the soldiers of France squirm as craven cowards, cringing in the dirt and grinding teeth in misery and fear. Now, set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit to his full height with fearsome resolve and bloody intent. Be like the dreadful tiger and fall upon Harfleur and all of France! No heart, no mercy, No Quarter! Advance!

Cheers and terrific gaming.

Rod Robertson.

[War Panda]

Isn’t it time for you two to rehearse some more Braveheart lines?

 

“The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

[kyoteblue]

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOMMMMMMM !!! LOL !!!

[Author]

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