Arras 1940

 Arras is one of the iconic battles of the 1940 campaign, and one of the great what-ifs, particularly the fate of one Erwin Rommel. I ran it fairly early in lockdown as a One Hour WW2 game and much fun was had, although I've actually got enough kit to do the Command Decision version (!). Far too many Matilda Is.

Anyway, a brief summary: after the Germans broke through at Sedan they rapidly isolated all the Allies units in northern France and Belgium. The counterattack at Arras was an attempt to cut off the Panzer spearheads, or at least to allow some units to escape back into the rest of France. Originally conceived as a four division attack, it was repeatedly watered down until it ended up being executed by barely a brigade. Wiki summary here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arras_(1940)

Here we are, Arras itself is in the northeast with the river Scarpe running through it. The terrain in the area is generally fairly flat and dotted with small woods and villages. The isolated Allied units are attacking from the north and various German motorised units are to the south - the Panzer Regiments being busy motoring westwards to the sea.

The Allied forces, 4th and 7th RTR comprising 1st Army Tank Brigade and mainly equipped with Matilda Is and a handful (16) Matilda IIs. These are represented as two (heavy armour) tank units. There are also 6 Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and 8 DLI from 151 Brigade, both leg infantry. 6 DLI are on the right and 8 DLI in reserve. Finally there are elements of 3 DLM, our old pals from the Battle of Gembloux. This is actually a composite unit as many of the surviving tanks of the DLMs had been distributed as infantry support. This is a powerful elite and heavily armoured unit (Somuas were pretty good in 1940), but is also flagged as unreliable - irl 3 DLM was first accidentally shot up by British anti tanks who misidentified them, and then became embroiled with 7th Panzer Regiment who motored back east to the sound of battle. 

The Allies don't have any significant artillery or aircraft, which may be an issue.

Closer view of my Matildas. These are all Zvezda models although I have some Peter Pig Matilda Is as well. Some of them have gas detection patches on. I've been generous and given both Regiments a model Matilda II although irl they were mostly in 7 RTR.

The Germans are a right rag bag. SS Regiment Totenkopf was the first unit to encounter the heavy British tanks, and panicked badly. SSTK was drawn from concentration camp guards, but unlike camp inmates, the British shot back. These are represented as three unreliable infantry units in trucks.

In reserve we have Schutzen Regiments (SR) 6 and 7 from 7th Panzer Division who were made of sterner stuff. They were reinforced with the divisional anti tank battalion, plus field guns and heavy AA guns firing over open sights. These guys are all in reserve, we have I/6 SR with AT guns, II/6 SR with heavy 88mm (elite) AT guns, I/7 SR also with AT guns and II/7 SR who are just a regular infantry unit. Both the units with AT guns are 'unreliable' as the Germans rapidly discovered that their 37mm shells just bounced off the Matildas and Somuas. The 88s and regular infantry are reliable though. 

Finally the Luftwaffe is present in the form of a regular bomber unit. There aren't any German tanks so no German blitzkrieg options and strangely German air superiority doesn't impede Allied reserve movement. German reserve movement will be impeded by the Allied tanks though.

With so many unreliable units, particularly the otherwise devastating Somuas, this is going to be a wild ride. 

The 7th RTR attacked in the centre and II/3SS ran away. German reserves failed to move up (rolled a 1) and the centre was open! The Germans bombed 6 DLI.

6 DLI collapsed under the bombing and 3rd DLM moved up to fill the gap (I made a mistake and made it roll for arrival even though the Germans have no tanks).

4 RTR attacked on left and easily routed I/3 SS. The 88s moved up into the line.

On the right III/SSTK decided to stand while 3rd DLM didn't turn up after all (failed its reliability test) and 8 DLI took their place. irl 3rd DLM became embroiled in a tank battle with 7th Panzer Regiment so didn't manage to intervene decisively.

7th RTR tried to outflank the 88s through the centre but failed. The lull allowed more German anti-tank guns (I/6 SR) to move up. The Luftwaffe busily bombed 8 DLI and missed.

Both 4 and 7 RTR attacked the German gun line and bounced. II/6 Schutzen decided to stand and fight.

7th RTR attacked the centre again while the Luftwaffe bombed the right.

The Matildas overran the 37mm Pak 36s and their place was taken by the last German infantry reserve, II/7 SR. The DLI had also had enough of the bombing and withdrew.

7th RTR tried once more in the centre and bounced. III/SSTK attacked on the right however....

And sent 7th RTR packing, at which point with only one unit left in the field, the Allied attack collapsed. That was a fairly historical outcome, 3rd DLM failed to arrive, the British infantry were pinned down and separated from the tanks and the Matildas were unable to break through the gun line. 

Having the 3 DLM as an unreliable unit is quite a clever way of modelling its travails on the day, but it adds a real wildcard as it is the best unit in the game with a 50% chance of arrival. The unrelieble German units are great fun as you just don't know who is going to stand or not, and with no less than five of them, I guess the luck on those evens out a bit.

As such an important battle and such a random scenario, it deserved another go.

In a catastrophic opening, 4 RTR assault I/SSTK. The SS stand and fight and rout 4 RTR on a 6! 3 DLM manages to move up and take their place, and this time decides to stand and fight under Luftwaffe bombing. Maybe not such a bad result after all as now the elite heavily armoured French are in action.

7th RTR attacks the centre but II/SSTK decide to stand as well and the attack fails. The Luftwaffe bomb 6 DLI with no result. The German luck on reliability somewhat balances out 3 DLM.

Heavy fighting in the centre again has no result (both sides rolled 'attack centre').

7 RTR tries yet again and bounces off the SS. The Luftwaffe finally see off 6 DLI however, and their place is taken by 8 DLI.

The British infantry immediately get stuck in and assault III/SSTK, who also decide to stand and fight.

But the DLI rout them anyway, and II/6 SR move up to fill the gap. I'm saving the Pak 36s for the tanks, as the AT guns still get a bonus despite their heavy armour.

3rd DLM goes into action on the left and demolishes I/SSTK.

The Luftwaffe bomb them, even though this is a low odds attack. It allows the Germans to make a reinforcement roll in this sector and I/7 SR moves up. Still untried of course. The Germans have to make reinforcement rolls as they are facing armour in the sector.

3 DLM attack I/6 SR who promptly run away. 7 RTR have another go in the centre and II/SSTK runs for it, its place is taken by II/6 SR with its 88s.

3 DLM try to outflank the 88s and fails (very unlucky! Needed a 3+). This allows I/7 SR to fill the gap. The Luftwaffe bomb the Somuas ineffectively again.

Heavy fighting in the centre once more as 7 RTR and II/6 SR duel repeatedly but with little effect. Both sides need 5+ to hit.

3 DLM attacks the gun line and the Pak 36s stand. The attack fails. The Luftwaffe see off 8 DLI though. Only two allied units left now!

3rd DLM overruns I/7 SR, forcing the Luftwaffe to hold the line once more. II/7 SR make an unsuccessful flank attack on 7 RTR.

 

7 RTR try again the the centre and II/7 SR on the right, all to no effect.

3 DLM are held by the Luftwaffe while 7 RTR sees off another attack by II/7 SR.

3 DLM fights its way through the Luftwaffe, and 7 RTR concentrates on the 88s but is held off.

More attacks on the flanks by both sides which are ineffective.

But finally a double combat on the left flank sees 3 DLM overrun the 88s. With just one German unit left in action, it is a very hard fought Allied victory! Once that Somua is in action, things can go south very quickly for the Germans.

General view at the end. You don't often see that many dead units in Dominion.

That was perhaps a more random scenario than some of the others due to the profusion of unreliable units, but it was great fun nonetheless. It was interesting how much of a slog the Allied tanks found it without air superiority, as without artillery or bombs to blast the way ahead, armour struggles a bit unless it has a serious quality advantage.

I really enjoyed that and it captured the flavour of the battle very well. Now I've got my head around them more, I understand how the rules work and they are another excellent addition to the Dominion series. That is probably enough Dominion of the Blitzkrieg for now, so on to other things for a bit.