Belgian Blitzkrieg ETO (id:#62908)
(ASL Journal #12 ID: J182)   [next]   [previous]
Knesselare, Belgium 1940-05-27 ()
Designer: Lionel Colin
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
GermanBelgian
63.559322033898%

Overview:

On 27 May, the Germans renewed their offensive on the Lys River line. The Belgian 11ème division d’infanterie was unable to withstand the German attack, and a gap appeared in the Belgian lines. The only reserves available were the Groupement Morel de Westgaver consisting of two carabiniers cyclistes regiments and some AFV from the chasseurs d’cheval. This group was tasked to close the gap near the village of Knesselare to allow the 11ème DI to regroup. German Heinkel bombers had severely punished the village, destroying the church and rubbling or setting fire to much of the rest. Forward elements of the group pushed through the village just in time to delay the German advance guard, and heavy fighting quickly erupted.
Attacker: German (5ème Compagnie, 4ème Carabiniers Cyclistes)
Defender: Belgian (Kompanie 1, Infanterie-Regiment 338, Infanterie-Division 208)  
7 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:13.0 D:11.0
AFVs: A:0
Opel Blitz x 2

AFVs: D:2
T-13 Type III(b)
T-15(b)

Guns: A:2
3.7cm PaK 35/36 x 2
5cm leGrW 36
D:1
75mm FRC M27 AA
50mm DBT MTR

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: Pre-game Rubble creation, Grain in Season. A: Assault Fire
Overlays: NONE
Errata (source)
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Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultTimeComments
2025-02-19(A) Richard Webb vs Steve Hall German wininteresting scenario. I put 2 2suads and a leader as reinforcements. 1 Squad cam on on foot Gt2, the other deployed into 2 HS each coming on in one of the turn three trucks w/PAK 37.
The first building was a tough nut to crack, despite my berserkers, this held out till GT5, due to mad CC
VC was any two building and i had enough flexibility and manoeuvrability to sneak in on GT7 and take a second one for the win
2025-01-29(D) Tuomo Lukkari vs David Ramsey Belgian win
2025-01-03(A) Douglas Leslie vs Dave MareskeD Belgian winAs the German attacker, I allocated all of my elite units and my 9-1 leader to enter as turn 3 reinforcements. I should perhaps have simply bypassed the forward victory building but decided to to attack with the remainder of my starting force. The first attacking shot promoted the Belgian 9-1 leader to a
9-2 and this turned what was already a tough nut to crack into a real nightmare proposition. I got lucky when the Belgian MMG malfunctioned and its manning infantry suffered a casualty MC and this allowed my landsers to close with the defenders. Unfortunately, they forgot to pack their bayonets. During the course of the assault, the Belgians rolled three snake eyes in CC. Two didn't really matter too much, since the same mutually assured destruction could have been achieved with higher DRs, but the one that really hurt was when I had a CC attack against the sole remaining defending squad in the first victory building at 3 to 2 odds which resulted in the attackers being eliminated and the creation of a new Belgian 8-1 leader to add to the 9-2 that was rallying stragglers to the rear. The final CC resulted in everybody in the building dying apart from one Belgian HS that kept control. To the west, the attacking Germans couldn't manage to capture one building let alone two. Dave did a good job allocating defending units between the forward defenders and those guarding the VC buildings to the east and his HIP AT gun caused major disruption when I waltzed 3 squads and a leader in OG three hexes away. After that, the Germans never managed to get back on timetable to take any of the buildings in the village.

2025-01-02(D) Dave Mareske vs Doug LeslieD Belgian winThe Germans concentrated their power attacking the first stone building and reserving 5 squads to enter on Turn 3. The German progress against the first building was slow with a high power Prep Fire and some assault moving. They eventually got into the building but by game end the Belgians rolled 2 2's in CC, leaving the Germans unable to take the building. On the other end, the Germans ran into the HIP AT gun, which slowed them down, but they eventually got into the next stone building, but where not able to prevent the Belgian reinforcements from also getting there and preventing the Germans from its capture or going any further into the town.
2024-12-27(A) S. Slunt vs Paul Legg German win

(VASL Log)		The Belgians held on to the Z6 building with some very tough Close Combat. Germans could have taken the Building on the Beligan turn two but were stopped by some very strong CC
The German reinforcements were 4.5 squads a 8-0 LMG and ATR 1.5 squads and the LMG came on in the north edge to keep the Belgians from running away and the rest came on the South edge
The Belgians conceded at end of the German Prep fire phase turn 5, when his over watch in M6 broke letting the Germans run almost unhindered on the south side of the map.
2024-12-27(D) Paul Legg vs Steve Slunt German winASL Scenario Archive tournament 2024

This is a balancing act on defending the forward building to prevent immediate german victory and having enough to hold for the belgian reinforcements. I just held the building but none of my forces were able to fall back to aid in the delaying actions. When my overwatch unit broke there was nothing to prevent a land grab before my reinforcements arrived, with too few turns to take back captured buildings.
2024-12-24(A) Andy Bagley vs Tim ReadeD German winOutstanding scenario and one of the most exciting games I've ever played. Lots of options for both sides and the Belgian setup is clearly crucial. We gave the Belgians the balance, so no 8-1 leader for the Germans.
Based on the Belgian setup I decided to make just a small holding attack on Z6, and diverted most of my force to the northern flank, hoping to reach the western buildings before his reinforcements appeared. This I managed to do, but took some heavy casualties in the process, so that by the end of German Turn 5 I had captured building N5 but had only a few scattered units in the buildings west of there, so thought I was probably losing.
Fortune changed from Belgian Turn 5 on though, as his reinforcements did not get as far as I had feared, and with an outstanding piece of luck, my sniper broke the lone Belgian squad defending building Z6 as others headed west to aid their colleagues. I had just a couple of HSs hanging around Z6, but they were enough to capture that building, and I even managed a truck overrun to interfere with Belgian attempts to take it back! The game still went down to the last player-turn, when my few survivors just held on to three buildings (Z6, N5, J6) for the win.
2024-02-11(D) Shane Pask vs German winA delicate balancing act between protecting Z6 against the instant win and having enough remaining to defend the village. Once the Germans get into the village in strength, they will be hard to dislodge with the reinforcements.
I placed too many forward. They held up the initial Germans for 4 turns but the optional turn 3 flanking force got into the village before my reinforcements arrived.
2021-03-16(D) Rob MacGinley vs James Short German winThe Germans slipped quickly into the village and were impossible to dislodge
2020-08-23(A) Vilis Pavulans vs Erik Grande German winProbably difficult to win for the Belgians. Had a CC roll in turn two which would have brought the germans the win if an 8 was rolled. Of course, a 9 was rolled and the belgians countered with snakes and infiltrated away in the building. Managed to inflict heavy losses in the next turn and the belgians gave up.
2020-04-05(A) S. Slunt vs Stephen Stewart German winWe gave the Belgians the balance (Germans lose a 8-1 ldr. ) Germans took the south route with 4 squads and a leader that came in on turn 3
2020-04-05(D) Stephen Stewart vs Steve Slunt German win
2020-04-05(D) Peter Palmer vs John Knowles Belgian win[Imported from ROAR]
2020-02-10(D) Rick Troha vs James Johnson German winBelgian right flank collapsed on turn 5 allowing Germans to scoot around right flank, By end of German turn six, they held three buildings and it was obvious the Belgian reinforcements could not reclaim two buildings, so conceded.
2019-02-09(A) Richard Jenulis vs David Wolfe German winNWASL Championship 2019
2018-06-21(D) Paul Works vs Scott Martin German winHe slipped his ACs past my screen. I had a chance in the end-game, but could not get a hit with my LMG for a To Kill attempt. Good game by Scott.
2017-08-29(D) Martí Cabré vs Francisco Belmonte German winThe Belgians held the stronghold but the German reinforcements bypassed them neatly. Key Belgian defenders broke under precise fire and the Germans quickly gained 3 buildings before the Belgian reinforcements could even enter, so I conceded. I think that if the Germans don't fumble it it's quite impossible to stop them.
2017-08-26(D) Stephen dedier vs Crawford, Brent German winI made it through the 2nd turn this time but didn't have the firepower to resist the Germans. My tanks made it into the battle but couldn't help get the Germans back out of the buildings they took from the infantry earlier.
2017-08-19(D) David Garvin vs Logan Stallings Belgian win
2017-08-04(D) Jeremy Busby vs Dave Reenstra German win
2017-08-04(D) Stephen dedier vs Maciejewski, Jeremy German winMy first play I didn't have enough to hold the initial building. My last unit was broken in the last German phase and routed upstairs but I forget I had to get through another phase and my unit surrendered in my phase.
2017-07-28(A) Dan Best vs Mark DeVries Belgian winSt. Louis ASL Tournament 2017.
2017-07-22(D) David Ramsey vs Martin Barker Belgian winWhat a great scenario! Options galore for both players, tactics and meaningful decisions required for both players throughout the game. My Belgians managed to hold on to the first building despite the German onslaught but there was play in the game until the end with a token force managing to get behind the Belgians to wreak havoc. The cycles played their part and saved the building but the Germans were only a good CC roll away from winning a great game.
2017-06-15(A) Jason Wert vs Mike Augustine Belgian winVery epic game with lots going on. Played with the Belgian balance based on some reviews and it seemed well needed. Germans didnt go for Turn 2 rush and bypassed to top of board and played for Village while reducing the forward stronghold. Belgians did very fine withdrawal and managed to create a stiff fight in final house. Last CC phase spelled it out, with the Germans coming one location short. Great scenario and match
2017-06-15(D) Michael Augustine vs Jason Wert Belgian winIt didn't feel like a Belgian Blitzkrieg. I had to artfully fallback starting on turn 1 and continue throughout the scenario. The Belgian tin cans arrived late to provide a little bit a of backbone to help eek out a win.
2017-05-27(D) Christian Knudsen vs Neil Andrews Belgian winIn this playing, Neil, worried that I would attempt to repeat his turn 2 victory, set up quite heavily in the forward VC building. Recognizing this, I threw only just enough at that building to stop him from leaving it, then ran everything else around the flanks toward the village, which I got into in strength on turn 5. Neil didn't figure he would have enough strength to retake it, and so conceded in his turn 5 RPh.
2017-05-19(D) Tuomo Lukkari vs Tommi Kangasmaa German win[Imported from ROAR]
2017-04-29(D) Christian Knudsen vs Neil Andrews German winI set up too lightly in the forward VC building, and Neil made me pay for it by capturing it for the quick victory in turn 2. A fun little scenario.
2017-04-27(A) Simon Staniforth vs German win
2017-04-23(D) Rich Weiley vs Dave Wilson Belgian winHeld on for a win as the Belgians. Held the Z6 building throughout the game with the help of the AT gun and the 9-1 directed MMG.

The German turn 3 reinforcements bypassed Z6 and headed for the main village where I had only two and a half squads anxiously waiting on the reinforcements. The attackers drove out the garrison of the N5 building and contested the G4 and J6 buildings but the counter attacking force eliminated the Germans in the former and reinforced the garrison of the latter, putting victory out of reach for my opponent.

An excellent scenario with high replay value.

2017-04-22(D) Jeff B vs Steve Etzelmueller German winI must be missing something because I don't see the Belgians standing much of a chance in this one. They are forced to heavily defend the forward building to prevent a quick German victory, but if the Germans send a token force to clear it and the rest press forward the Belgians won't be able to extract the forward defenders in time and they will be caught between a rock (the pressing Germans) and a hard place (German reinforcements). Reinforcements will probably end up being a turn too late to prevent a toppling of the next building, and then they will never get it back.
2017-03-29(D) Paolo Cariolato vs Federico Corso Belgian winThis is a highly replayable scenario, with many options for both players. In my opinion is going to become a tournament classic.
I put enough forces in Z6 to keep germans out, and slip back some during the second turn. Some good shot on my part and bad morale rolls for the Germans, meant that they were not able to really threaten the second building.
2017-03-29(D) Andy Beaton vs Jeff Wasserman German winHeld on to Z6 without a dice pip to spare, came close to pulling it out but lost a building in a last German turn CC and didn't have the forces to get it back in time.
Excellent scenario.
2017-03-11(D) Richard Jenulis vs David Wolfe Belgian win
2017-03-07(D) Eric Partizan Eric vs German win
2017-02-19(D) Kermit Mullins vs Dan Best Belgian winFantastic scenario. As the Belgians I put a max effort in defending the Z6 building and my opponent put a max effort into taking in for the quick win. In a bloody toe to toe fight, my Belgians held onto the building for 4 turns and the Germans had suffered just enough losses to keep them gaining a second building for the win. So in the final turn, my Belgians managed to hang on and get the win.
2017-02-19(D) Lawrence Spangler vs Diane Spangler German win
2017-02-19(A) Diane Spangler vs Lawrence SpanglerD German win
2017-02-18(A) Dan Best vs Kermit Mullins Belgian win
2017-02-16(A) Andy Hershey vs Keith Spurlock German win[Imported from ROAR]
2017-02-16(D) keith Spurlock vs Andy Hershey German win[Imported from ROAR]
View all or balance report
ActionDate
comdotski Uploaded an AAR2025-06-09 11:42:30
Paul Legg Added a playing2025-03-28 16:18:46
Richard Webb Added a playing2025-02-25 19:54:38
comdotski Added a playing2025-01-30 23:13:40
comdotski Rated the scenario2025-01-30 23:12:02
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M27 FRC 47 mm gun
 
Statistics:
Avg Rating: 7.28Votes: 47
Views: 6264
To-Play list count: 6
Estimated Play time: 4.8 hours
Recorded Games: 37
Archive recorded plays:
German24
Belgian 13
Drawn:0

ROAR Data: (as of today)
Belgian Blitzkrieg [Confirmed]
[A] German 51
[D] Belgian 30
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