La Riposte Vaine ETO (id:#63118)
(Rally Point #14 ID: RP 136)   [next]   [previous]
Saint-Pierremont, France 1940-05-17 ()
Designer: Evan E. Sherry
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
FrenchGerman
64.285714285714%

Overview:

Kirchner's 1st Panzer Division was advancing west from Moncoronet when Generaloberst von Runstedt established a temporary halt line for all German units. Von Runstedt was concerned that the overextended southern flank was an invitation for an enemy counterattack. Colonel Charles de Gaulle saw this as well and quickly improvised the French riposte with his 4eme Division Cuirassée. He sent elements of two tank battalions to counterattack Saint-Pierremont. Here, the 37th Pioneer Battalion occupied hasty defensive positions at the Serre River bridge and a smaller bridge to the north.
Attacker: French (345e Compagnie Autonome de Chars and 36e Bataillon de Chars de Combat, 4e Divisino Cuirassee and 4e Bataillon de Chasseurs Portes, 4e Division Cuirassee)
Defender: German (Pioneer Bataillon 37, Panzer-Division 1 and Schützenregiment 1, Schützen Brigade 1, Panzer Division 1)  
5.5 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:11.0 D:12.5
AFVs: A:4
B1-bis x 2
D2(L)
D2

AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:0
Mortier de 60 mle 35
D:0
PzB 39 ATR

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: Stream X1-U10: Deep, Stream St1: Shallow. D: AE (H1.22)
Overlays: St1 Wd4 X7
Errata (source)
Players wanting to play this game/Request a match:

Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultTimeComments
2024-11-15(D) nathan wegener vs Rick Reinesch German winFrench tanks took out both speed bumps in prep fire. Opponent misread VC and did not move aggressively in Turns 2 and 3 which let my reinforcements into the village where I took out 3 tanks in CC. Those rolls allowed me to hold (barely) 3 buildings despite a way of Frenchmen in the last movement phase. NorthTexTourney24
2024-10-26(A) Tuomo Lukkari vs Kirby Vincent French win
2020-11-24(A) Eric Partizan Eric vs French win
2020-04-16(D) Gordon Jupp vs Derek Cox French winThis is tough for the German! Only lasted until the last turn due to a HOB result on a brokie which rallied him and created a hero...the French gained the 2nd building on the last CC but in reality they probably should have got their earlier.

As another reporter has mentioned the German reinforcements are very prone to bad interdiction before they can get seriously involved BUT it is an interesting scenario :)
2018-01-19(D) X von Marwitz vs Michael Koch French winAn early war action pitting a tough French force of well led infantry and almost impenetrable tanks against a German pure infantry force. The onboard German force consists mostly of 468 Assault Engineers, but their setup position might be potentially precarious with regard to the French onslaught. One asset the German position does have is that the French MUST cross a single bridge across an (SSR'ed) deep river. They are massively outnumbered and outgunned, though. The Germans do receive reinforcements that enter during German turn 1, but these will only be able to affect the game during turn 3. It is of the utmost importance, that these reinforcements don't waste any time (even against risks) to get forward.
I played the Germans in this one and set my onboard force north of the river hoping to slow the French at the bottleneck of the bridge more than by setting up south of the bridge and threatening their approach. The early turns might be a bit frustrating for the Germans, as they will be without doubt on the receiving end.
If the French manage to batter the original onboard force before the German reinforcements can effectively support them, then it will be very hard to push the French back to regain control of lost Buildings. At the same time, if the French don't make it across the river by in turn 3 or turn 4 at the latest to meet their objective, then they will be in dire straights.
While this scnenario presents an interesting tactical situation, it might be more fun to play as the French. The small German onboard force will be pummeled and it just takes time for the German reinforcements to (possibly) become effective.
In my game, the FT did not manage to get off a single shot. The German reinforcements were sorely battered when emerging from the Stream (to which there appears to be little alternative).
Towards the end of the MPh of German turn 4, it became obvious, that the Germans would have no chance to make it, so I conceded.
View all or balance report
ActionDate
von Marwitz Uploaded a VASL file2026-03-06 21:35:47
Hutch Modified the misc. rules2026-03-06 17:49:49
Hutch Modified the Unit Elements2026-03-06 17:37:32
Hutch Modified the location2026-03-06 16:50:53
Hutch Modified the overview2026-03-06 16:50:28
DescriptionUploaded by
TitleAuthorDate

Quick Map View

Location

Not Logged in

Images

The D2, a medium tank with decent armor and a 47mm gun, was designed for a role previously filled by cavalry, carrying out extended reconnaissance and avoiding pitched battles. The reality of war showed that this was not what tanks were needed for.
 
Statistics:
Avg Rating: 6.43Votes: 7
Views: 5472
To-Play list count: 0
Estimated Play time: 3.8 hours
Recorded Games: 7
Archive recorded plays:
French5
German2
Drawn:0

ROAR Data: (as of today)
La Riposte Vaine [Confirmed]
[A] French 4
[D] German 3
All Rights Reserved. (c)2022 Dave Ramsey.