homepage
  • Your recently viewed scenarios
    • Panther Cull
      grumblejones played the scenario
      Panther Cull
      Danno played the scenario
      Shielding Moscow
      Bongiovanni played the scenario
      The Gateway
      Bongiovanni played the scenario
      The 11th Hour
      Bongiovanni played the scenario
      Invisible Foes
      dmareske played the scenario
  • Not Logged In
  • Home
  • Shop for Scenarios
  • Article List
  • Reviews
  • Advanced Search
  • Game Search
  • Maps
  • Scenario Map
  • Games Wanted
  • Publications
  • Scenario Picker
  • Reports
    • Balance
    • Statistics
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Scenario Lists
  • Information
    • REST API
    • Privacy policy
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Login/Register
    • Login
    • Register
A Real Barn Burner ETO (id:#62909)
(ASL Journal #12 ID: J183)   [next]   [previous]
Bois-Du-Seuil Farm near Amagne, France 1940-05-31 (2 others)
CH131: Blood Brothers (Critical Hit # 6.2)
CH131: Blood Brothers (A Few Rare Men)
Designer: Lionel Colin
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
FrenchGerman
57.918552036199%

Overview:

In contrast to their comrades to the west, the French Aisne River front held firm against the German attacks in May. The 14éme division d’infanterie, one of the best French units, manned the front bear Rethel. On 30 May, a reconnaissance in force was launched by its 35th Regiment toward the village of Amagne held by the Germans. This attack was successful in pushing back the Germans, and afterwards the French retired to their starting positions south of the Aisne River except for a platoon commanded by Lieutenant Gehin, which remained concealed in an isolated farm. The goal was to lure the Germans into thinking the area was empty of French troops and catch them off-guard in an ambush. The plan worked well initially but the German were soon launching an attack on the farm with two infantry companies, supported by a light AT gun. The barn caught fire, and the fight lasted all night. The morning of 31 May found the encircled platoon still stubbornly repulsing German attacks. At noon, the French launched an attack by 3éme Compagnie to try to rescue the last elements of Gehin’s platoon.
Attacker: French (35ème Regiment d'Infanterie, 14ème Division d'Infanterie)
Defender: German (Infanterie-Regiment 184, Infanterie-Division 86)  
4.5 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:12.5 D:9.5
AFVs: A:0
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:0
Mortier de 60 mle 35
D:1
3.7cm PaK 35/36
PzB 39 ATR

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: Alternating setup. Board 72 Stream: River. A: some units Fanatic (A10.8)
Map Board(s):
43 72 Show/hide map dependencies
PublicationBoard
ASL 10a - Croix de Guerre43
ASL Action Pack # 3 Few Returned43
ASL Action Pack #11 29 Let's Go!72
ASL Action Pack # 143
Overlays: NONE
Errata (source)
Players wanting to play this game/Request a match:

Scenario info

  • Recent Playings
  • Latest Updates
  • User Files
  • Public Lists
  • Comments
  • Links/References
Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultTimeComments
2025-07-08(A) Eric Partizan Eric vs Douglas Leslie German win
2025-07-07(D) Douglas Leslie vs Partizan Eric German winAs the defending Germans, I decided against trying to clear the farm held by Lt Gehin’s platoon and, instead, to try to prevent any of the reinforcing units making it to their rescue. The game turned on the German turn 2 PFPh when my defensive line on the German left flank faced a line of mostly concealed French infantry emerging from the woods and opened fire. If they had gacked their shots, they would have been in trouble but they rolled low enough to force morale checks and two casualty MCs shattered the French attack. It would be fair to say that Eric must have offended the dice Gods before this game because they gave him a real kicking during it. This included his best leader going berserk and charging across open ground on his own to attack the German MMG in the stone building in front of the woods. Given the number of failed morale checks the French were experiencing, the last thing that they needed was for any of their leaders to go insane. Add in the fact that, unusually for me, my troops were winning their close combats and the French never got close to reaching the farm.
2025-04-15(D) James Rimmer vs Kyle Weltner German win1.75 hrs
2023-01-21(D) Ryan Dukeman vs David Garvin French win
2023-01-21(A) David Garvin vs Ryan Dukeman French winThis was a fun game. The French were able to reinforce the barn in force, securing the win.
2022-08-15(A) Niels Ludvigsen vs Leif Plith Lauritsen French win
2022-06-15(D) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Fedor Melnikov French winGermans lost 5 squads in 1:1 Melees, killing only one French HS trying to capture the barn. German delaying force didn't stood long under the "one shot - one break" fire. Good day for French.
2022-06-14(D) Asad Rustum vs Jacob Elmqvist French win
2022-04-10(A) Vic Lauterbach vs John Richert German winMy plan to move out of the woods to the east then north along the hexrow L hedge was foiled by John's firelanes and generally stout defense. Meanwhile, I overestimated the ability of Lt Gehin's platoon to hold out. They were quickly overwhelmed in CC. This is a challenging and fun scenario for both sides with a lot of replay value.
2022-01-17(A) pierre vasad vs Gruhl French winLe gun allemand positionné pour couvrir le flanc ouest, les francais essaient l'option est. Une opposition forcenée de deux squads allemand armés de l'ATR (1FP est utile parfois!) dans les bois et la maison I1 /J10 retardent suffisamment les français pour qu'ils soient obligés de se lancer tête baissée à travers le champs labourés pour rejoindre la ferme à temps et se fassent faucher un à un par les MG disposées le long des haies. Le MRT broken au premier tour n'a jamais été un facteur.
2021-08-19(A) Andy Bagley vs Matt Ellis German winReally exciting scenario - one of the best. Unusual situation with strategic decisions for both sides: the French attackers are trying to reach their comrades in the walled area (farm?) on board 43, the Germans have to prevent them - or capture the farm. I reckon Matt chose the right strategy as the Germans, not seriously attempting to take the farm but putting almost all his troops into stopping the French relief force. My strategy was based on trying to advance on the right, east of the hedge line between rows L and M on board 43. However, aided by a sniper who broke one of my fanatic squads, and my inability to rally even when not DM, Matt managed to get enough of his defenders across to this hedge line. This forced me to make a desperate dash across plowed fields for the farm on my last turn, and they didn't make it. No really freaky dice rolls but the game could easily have gone the other way.
2021-03-09(D) Matias Dahlbäck vs Matt Velazquez French win
2021-03-09(A) Gus Ingenluyff vs German winThe French leader and kill stack got knocked out by a sniper at the start of T1 It was all downhill for the French after that.

learned not to stack!

It looks like a good scenario worth a replay.
2021-03-07(A) Macari Samuel vs French win
2021-02-06(A) Jeff Wright vs Scott Romanowski German win
2021-01-12(D) Rob MacGinley vs James Short German winGermans barge from two direction into a village and hold off French trying to reinforce
I got lucky with my push and held the village in strength
2020-11-03(A) X von Marwitz vs David Wallace German winThis one appeared interesting and poplular as well, so I gave it a shot playing the French. The alternating setup makes it a bit fussy to get it started on VASL, but of course this is easily surmountable.

Basically, there are some French fanatics holding out in a farm surrounded by Germans who want to kick them out. The former hope for a French relief force to reach them, while the latter want to prevent exactly this from happening.

My opponent made a near perfect German setup for this one, so I knew I was in trouble when I had the first look at it. The French opening Prep Fire seemed to go quite well with me killing a German HS and breaking a concealed full squad with the French MTR.

But that's where the good news for the French came to an end. During the MPh, my French 8-1 & company got hit by a 3 on a (relatively) low risk shot. The German ATG got of 7 shots in the first turn, including two CHs. So all of what remained of my fanatics in the farm by the end of Turn 1 was the lone 9-1 leader with two abandoned LMGs.

You get the hunch - my French didn't bring this home. The Germans gleefully picked up the French LMGs and occupied the farm in force even before I could reduce the German speed-bumps halfway. It was basically over at the end of Turn 1.
2020-10-30(A) Thomas Lynch vs Zebulon Tingley French winA mild breeze on the first turn blew smoke to protect the French in the farm. A rapid advance by the 3éme Compagnie to the west of the hedge line saw them to the farm complex by turn 4. Ineffectual fire from the AT gun allowed Gehin's platoon to keep the German out of the farm til then. A last chance rush by the Germans died in a hail of mg fire giving the French the win.
2020-10-25(A) Maurizio Mai vs John Otrompke French winNice scenario with both players attacking and defending.
2020-09-30(A) rene cote vs mrosberg German win
2020-09-12(A) Vilis Pavulans vs Erik Grande French winA hard offensive by the french broke the initial, german speedbump in the woods. Tough german defence on the right side made advance that way nearly impossible. The left side was covered by the MMG and the 37mm gun. The german mistake was to put the MMG in a foxhole in woods and the airbursts did what they were designed to do. This made it possible for the french to press on into the central patch of woods and despite a german firelane which broke and pinned many, enough french soldiers reached the isolated heroes. Very fun scenario!
2020-07-18(D) John Smith vs Scott German winThe French just could not crack out of the woods just north of the rivers, having all kinds of problems with the German 9-1, MMG, and squads in the building and trenches. Meanwhile the Germans were almost able to take the farm away from the French on the north side, making it extremely difficult for the French to meet the VCs at the end. The only chance the French had at the end was to spring a few squads towards the farm and try to get one into the VC building held by a fanatic squad. They were all mowed down on the way. German victory.
2020-04-12(A) Peter Palmer vs John Knowles French win[Imported from ROAR]
2020-02-12(D) Simon Staniforth vs German win
2020-02-11(A) Doba Serge vs Pascal Boileau French win
2020-02-11(D) Pascal Boileau vs Doba Serge French winA very nice scenario. German troops hold the line against the French south offensive but were overwhelmed by the French units coming from the North. Many decisive dice rolls during a tremendous game.
2019-10-12(D) Pascal Boileau vs Ricou German win
2019-10-11(D) Jeff Waldon vs David Kocot French winFtF - ASLOK
2019-07-20(A) David Garvin vs Jeremy Maciejewski French win
2019-05-05(D) Andy Beaton vs Dirk Beijaard French winThe German line crumbled right from the start, but I managed to engineer a mass prison break which put a squad of conscripts and prisoners with an LMG in the way. A French win, but I made him work for it.
2018-12-29(A) Jonathan Kapleau vs Lewonski, Vince German win
2018-12-14(D) David Stoffey vs John Gorkowski French win
2018-09-29(A) Louis Langdeau vs Andrew S French winDon't remember much about this one. There was some hilarious berserk troops, with a wounded leader shambling after enemy troops shouting invective. Other than that, I remember having a good amount of troops left over for my final run into the end zone as the French. Andy had a few setup mistakes due to lack of familiarity with foxholes, so it wasn't a totally even playing.
2018-05-27(A) John Garlic vs Daniel Takai German win[Imported from ROAR]
2018-05-26(D) B S vs Jan French winTried to take buildings before French and was unsuccessful. My screening line fell too quickly.
2018-05-24(D) Pieter Van Innis vs Peter Hofland French winAmazing game. Came down to the last DR. As the Germans I decided to try and prevent the 3ème compagnie from reaching the farm. I was doing just fine and had the streets surrounding the farm pretty much covered. But then in the last turn we had a wind change DR of 2 and the smoke from the blazes started drifting and covered the approach with smoke. This allowed the French to reach the farm.
We had a blast playing this scenario. For both the attacker and the defender their are some different viable approaches. Highly recommended scenario.
2018-04-01(D) Rick Galli vs Eero Vihersaari German win
2018-03-25(D) Andy Beaton vs Jack Dempsey German winFrench got caught moving in stacks and took too many casualties to get past the German foxhole line. The German assault on the farm was a total failure but they did prevent the French from getting any reinforcements there.
2018-03-03(A) John Gorkowski vs David Stoffey French winHere’s a tense scenario about a tactical sandwich. At the center of the action – on the north edge of the playing area – a fanatic French platoon led by a 9-1 held the board 43 compound. In the south of the playing area, a full-strength French infantry company complete with MMG and 60 mm MTR straddled the board 72 bridge. In between, 9.5 German squads with a 37mm ATG, MMG, two LMGs, an ATR, and three mediocre NCOs had to capture the board 43 compound and hold back the reinforcing French company around the bridge.

The Germans had their best platoon with 9-1 leader and MMG just north of the compound in the building 43O10. Another started east of the compound in the woods at 43K9. Midway between the compound and the bridge, a few German squads clustered in and around building 43P1 with the 37mm ATG in the nearby wood at 43P2.

From the bridge, my entire French infantry company rolled right in the trees and on the double to outflank his German defense around 43P1. A blistering firefight ensued as opposing forces exchanged fire across about 150 yards of intervening open ground. The French mobile element, about five squads, moved north along the 43L1-L5 hedgerow to close on the compound while their 8-1, MMG, and squad parked in 72L10 to lay down a fire lane from 43L1 to L10 that barred progress by the German platoon east of the compound in 43K9. The French 60mm mortar around 72O9 made rate several times, I recall two separate snake eyes, while the German 37mm ATG broke!

A concealed German 2-4-8 half squad on the German left in 43J1 added real drama. Mistaking it for a dummy stack, one of my 4-5-7s gambled and ran by, but broke under its fire. Another French 4-5-7 with LMG outflanked the German 2-4-8, but failed to affect it with advancing fire. My French then advanced into close combat, but rolled boxcars so the 2-4-8 snuck away to fight another day. Lucky for me, that pesky Wermacht fire team went berserk during my next fire phase and ended up coming right back at me in close combat where the French finished the job.

Meanwhile, the German 9-1 with two squads, MMG and LMG, ground forward into the compound from 43O10 to 43O8. The French in building 43O8 rolled back to keep concealment while a squad and LMG in 43M7 engaged the advancing Germans in a cross-street firefight and lost.

But the early loss of that 37mm ATG and the dominance of the 43L1-L10 French fire lane, which crippled the eastern German platoon around 43K9, proved too much for the Germans. They couldn’t take the compound and the French reinforced it for the win.
2017-12-03(D) David Garvin vs Ron Duenskie French winHad fun, however as German I failed every single morale check. The final kicker was the sniper reducing my 9-1 MMG stack.
2017-11-18(D) Derek Rowe vs Steven O. German winFun scenario set up for both sides. Ordnance placement can be very important for the German side.
2017-10-06(D) Chuck Dye vs MarkK French winASLOK 2017
2017-10-06(A) Richard Jenulis vs Al Kirkpatrick French winASLOK 2017. Fun scenario. I alway enjoy playing Al at ASLOK. This scenario had a lot of back an forth action that kept it exciting to the end.
2017-10-05(A) Chuck Dye vs EarlS French winASLOK 2017
2017-10-04(D) patrick palma vs Paul Washington German win
2017-09-07(D) Lawrence Spangler vs Diane Spangler French win
2017-09-07(A) Diane Spangler vs Lawrence SpanglerA French win
2017-09-02(D) Dave Mareske vs Carl Nardin German win
2017-09-01(A) Paolo Cariolato vs Mario Nadalini French win
2017-08-11(A) Michael Rodgers vs Bill Hayward French winIn round two of the Tussle, I was matched with Bill Hayward of Ohio and ASLOK fame. I was happy to have the opportunity to play him for the second time in my ASL experience. We both chose J183 A REAL BAR BURNER as our first choice. We diced for sides; I received the French. I deployed one of the two squads in the chateau force. I set up an all-around defence, but favoured the middle of the board. Bill dedicated several units to try and take the chateau. He set up some of the rest in stone buildings near the second French area, and some in woods along the seam between the two boards. He had the 248 and MMG in the center woods able to fire down the road to the second French setup area. I decided to try to bully my way through the Germans with the second French force and set up accordingly. Two key events that helped me win were my light mortar vaporising the 248 in the first turn, and later on, winning a 1to1 CC. I was able to keep the broken Germans DM most of the time, but I too had a fair number of broken troops. On the fourth turn, however, I was able to get one of the French reinforcing units in reach of the chateau. Bill conceded then. He said it was a mistake for his Germans to try half-heartedly for the chateau, and I agree.
2017-07-22(D) Tom Abromaitis vs French win
2017-06-25(D) nathan wegener vs Dave Reinking German winStuffed the French Reinforcements with the help of 3 BH/Hero MC's. Quick/Simple/Good Fun. Tex2017
2017-06-25(D) Will Willow vs M. Denson French winTT
2017-05-22(A) Arno Femboeck vs Ron German win
2017-04-24(A) Andy Beaton vs Chuck Tewksbury German winWild game swinging back and forth all over the place.. French snipers kept the Germans out of the farm houses but French reinforcements just couldn't get past the German blocking force. One last French half squad ran the gauntlet, survived 2 4-2 shots, watched an AT gun malf and died 1 hex short of the farm to a long range 2-2 shot.
2017-04-18(D) David Garvin vs John Bock French win
2017-04-08(A) Dave Mareske vs Tony Pierson French winFrench ended up overwhelming the German delay force and were able to reinforce the compound.
2017-04-08(D) Gordon Jupp vs Keith Neary German winInteresting situation. I opted not to assault the farm but kept the occupants honest by threatening to do so. Harrassed the flanks of the relief company and took most out as they crossed the open ground. Highlight was the creation of two French heroes but it wasn't enough and the relief force didn't manage it.
2017-04-08(A) Stephen dedier vs Hunter, Jim French win
2017-03-17(D) Paul Works vs Dave Ginnard German win2017 March Madness ASL Tournament; round two. Dave is always a blast to play. In this one, my infantry held up his reinforcing troops and caught the latter in a crossfire with my AT gun. Balanced scenario.
2017-03-11(A) fabrizio da pra vs Alessandro Canevese French win
2017-03-10(D) patrick palma vs Kevin Killeen French win
2017-03-05(D) Tuomo Lukkari vs Mikko Lukkari French win[Imported from ROAR]
2017-03-04(A) Dan Best vs Kermit Mullins French win
2017-03-04(D) Kermit Mullins vs Dan Best French winI held off the French relief force until the very last turn...but one 4-5-7 made it into the compound and it was game over...French victory.
2017-02-20(D) Philippe Duchon vs Robin Reeve German winMy plan was to try and take the victory building, wiping out the defenders, before the French reinforcements could reach them. I worked much better than I had a right to - I overran the defense, and my delaying force did much better than expected (with some pretty good luck at some points). At the end of French turn 4, there were no remaining Good Order MMC on the French side, and I had complete control of the victory buildings.
2017-02-16(D) Michael Rodgers vs Jim Svette German winI focussed all the Germans on preventing the reinforcing French from reaching the victory buildings. It worked.
2017-01-14(A) Jason Wert vs Hugh McLindon French winWO 2017 Game. Really a great match with Hugh. Hugh tried to stuff the reinforcements with a group in the center woods, but wasnt able to break the core group in the victory hexes. Rout paths were hard to come by and the French swept over to a late victory.
2017-01-14(D) Andy Hershey vs Keith Spurlock German win[Imported from ROAR]
2017-01-14(A) keith Spurlock vs Andy Hershey German win[Imported from ROAR]
(D) Jim Thompson vs David Ford French win[Imported from ROAR]
View all or balance report
ActionDate
Bongiovanni Added a playing2025-07-08 16:32:52
Hutch Modified the unit counts2025-07-08 11:26:22
Dougban Added a playing2025-07-07 21:32:25
Hutch Modified the misc. rules2025-04-15 11:21:21
A_Lost_Canadian Added a playing2025-04-15 02:22:38
FileDescriptionUserViews
VASL Scenario Setup (J 183 a-real-barn-burner v667.vsav)VASL SetupTuruk360
(barn burning.png)Imagehoxson11669
(!frenchgerm.png)Imagehoxson11328
A Real Barn Burner J183 (A Real Barn Burner J183.png)Map Imagezcrater1428
Note: For aesthetic purposes, on the map the tream is shown as "flooded" to make it more appear like a river. Marsh remains Marsh i.e. remains unchanged for any rules purpose. (J183 A Real Barnburner Scenario Archive.jpg)Map Imagevon Marwitz1153
DescriptionUploaded by
TitleAuthorDate
DescriptionUploaded by

Quick Map View

Location

Not Logged in

Images

 
Statistics:
Avg Rating: 7.40Votes: 85
Views: 7931
To-Play list count: 12
Estimated Play time: 2.6 hours
Recorded Games: 67
Archive recorded plays:
French40
German27
Drawn:0

ROAR Data: (as of today)
A Real Barn Burner [Confirmed]
[A] French 88
[D] German 66
All Rights Reserved. (c)2022 Dave Ramsey.