Arras 1940 Re-fight (Part 4 of 4) Closing Time

Despite the destruction of the 7th RTR as a fighting formation, some of the surviving individual elements took on 'local initiatives' and pressed forwards. This had mixed results as a Recon Bren Carrier "finds" a hidden Pak 37mm troop an incongruously succumbs to a less than heroic fate (see below, the corpse British 7th RTR is now being nibbled away):

The Allies now opt to sacrifice a VP by committing a "reserve" (historically not used on the day), the flanking composite French Char Battalion (Germans 3 VPs,  Allies 5 VPs). This allows a French Char Company to overrun the last company of routing German Motorised Infantry from the SS Totenkoft Battalion - no additional VPs claimed but a case of 'clearing' the board of troublemakers):

The grim path of destruction is plain to see for all, although it is a brave Frenchman that ignores a Panzer Jaeger troop on his flank (see below, in the far off distance you can see a de-bussed company of British 2pdr Anti-Tank guns, supported by a Infantry Company of the 8th DLI):

This unexpected threat sends uncontrollable fits and convulsions through the 7th Panzer Division's chain of command, Rommel would later write that he was being attacked by no less than five enemy divisions. The result being at Rommel commits the 25th Panzer regiment into the fray. It had already been well off table and "halted" then "reversed" back to Arras (the tanks not literally in reverse though), now by committing it the Germans lose an additional 2 VPs. Though as the Germans see it, if the French tanks are not stopped they could easily roll through the flank of the whole German artillery set up, which would be another 7 VPs, so 2 VPs is a worthwhile investment. The first German Light Panzer Company mops up the remaining troublesome British Bren Carrier troop and stops the threat to the German backfield (see below (Germans 3 VPs while the Allies have surged ahead to 7 VPs):

The last remaining stands of British armour (two troops, a Matilda I and Matilda II, approximately ten tanks all told) attempt a valiant do or die, slow charge of the heavy brigade in the face of the massed deployed artillery of the SS Totenkoft and 7th Panzer Division. The results were predictable but it was a close run thing (see below, a billowing column of smoke marks the final resting place of the 7th RTR Regimental HQ troop):

"Crump!" goes one H-35 as the "forgotten about" Panzer Jaeger I reminds the French tankers about its existence. It then shoots and scoots away as the last surviving non-routed SS Totenkoft stand. The French armour although it could go 'toe-to-toe' or better with the panzers  in a stand up fair fight, is in the unenviable position or being surrounded and attacked in the flank so rather than "lose it" and hand the Germans some VPs, teh French commander decides to 'fall back' and defend the baseline (see below, inadvertently this French attack marks the deepest Allied penetration of the day):

The final state of affairs .. yes, we ran out of time, another half to an hour and it would have all been cleared up nicely .. but we had to call it here. Another (the second from the 25th Panzer Regiment) has appeared threatening the French baseline. This caused the French Char Battalion to face right and join up with the DLI's 2pdr Anti-Tank line forming a solid "PAK wall". It would be a foolish German Panzer Battalion that tried to charge through that! Meanwhile the tragic crescent of smoke shows the baleful advance of the 7th RTR and its subsequent demise, but i has extracted a huge price in VPs. To the far right of the "British Bulge" dismounted infantry of the DLI are peeling back. Thankfully out of line of sight to the mass of German artillery. As a final insult to injury a German motorcycle company has infiltrated behind the DLI's lines and is threatening Allied baseline VP and 'safe-exit' hexes (see below, although the Allied position seems dire, they have won a VP victory as they have shocked the Germans by the ferocity of their attack, panicked Rommel and caused flutters in the German High Command):

So end'eth the game! A good concept test of mapping Panzer Blitz/Panzer Leader rules to hex based miniature games, trying to simulate the theme of actual battles. I think it 'worked' but I would like to review some of the game mechanics. The addition of a withdraw and rout states were a very good improvement. No automatic rallies was a good change although I think that target prioritisation from Spearhead could also be easily included, as could Command Decision "Company Command" orders. The key thing is speed of play and reducing unnecessary dice roles to a bare minimum. Thought should also be given to 1940 "clanky tank" or "tank fright" rules and features of combined arms attacks getting bonuses in the likes of close assaults.