Scenario 27

THE DINANT BRIDGEHEAD

HOUX, BELGIUM, May 13, 1940: The Meuse River was the last major
obstacle preventing a major armored breakout from the Ardennes. It was im-
perative that the Germans establish a number of viable crossings before the
Allies could regroup. One of three such crossings on the 13th occurred just
below Dinant where Rommel's 7th Panzer Division breached the Meuse. Dur-
ing the night of the 12th, a German motorcycle patrol had crossed the river,
sans cycles, on an intact weir near the village. Once discovered, the weir was
destroyed behind them and bitter French counterattacks threatened to
eliminate their precarious foothold. Attempts to reinforce the bridgehead by
boat were repulsed by heavy artillery fire and flanking small arms fire . The
Germans were so shaken by their heavy casualties that Rommel himself had to
take over personal command of the 2nd Battalion and resume the crossing
attempt.
7
Board
Configuration
Rules Introduced: Sections 126 - 128
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Germans win if there are no unbroken French squads free of melee
within ten hexes and possessing a clear LOS to any portion of the German
crossing point (see Special Rule 27.2), and no unbroken French leader
with a functioning radio and a clear LOS to any portion of the crossing
point. Note that smoke blocks the clear LOS of artillery observers but
£
'
does not affect the ten hex ban on French squads. The French player wins
by avoiding the German Victory Conditions.
TURN RECORD CHART
- German sets up first
*
0 French moves first 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 END

Elements of the Motorcycle Reconnaissance Battalion of the 7th Rifle Regiment sets up first on any whole ground hex on the west bank

*
of board 7:
All of these units must be within eight hexes of each other.
r ~~ A
.1 LMG

~
N
a, a, -1 2-8
~

4-6-7 . 812

Q 5 2 ~4 ~ i ~ *
;
~ 7Ml ~*
*
l &Ml
Elements of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Rifle Regiment, and armor of the 25th Panzer Regiment
1S/3PP 2S/IOPP 1S/2PP
set up last on any whole hex of board 5. Tanks may not start in a building or woods hex .
j '
.__
- ~ !. ~~c
4-6-7
-
~ a, A~co ~~ ~MG
6-16
812
MMG
{ 4-12
812
-TLMG
2-8
, 812
1
7
f:l
(JI 812
4 4 6

~ 16 / ''.''.• 14 ,,~14
'{4:_':'•-1 ; ~~ I
-2
"' "\\ '<;.; ~

@>
® -3
24 3 3 2 8 3 20Li4J -12
f4J
37L 4/ 4/4 75"HS- /2

2 2 2

Elements of the French 18th Infantry Division set up second on any full hex of board 3 not adjacent to a German unit:

i i .. i = . .
.... ....
.
7
~4-5-7~ ~ ~ !l:~
~
:\Mir MMG LMG

2-3-7
en
I I
co
1-8-8 ~ #2-2.\
{4-11 -T 2-7
fl
812
?
60 5PP 812 811 +

16 2 2 2 4 2 8 2

SPECIAL RULES
27.1 There are no island hexes. Consider such hexes open river instead .
27.2 The German crossing point can be any contiguous 5 letter rows of
river bank hexes on both sides of the Meuse and all river hexes in between.
There must be an unbroken German squad within each of these two river-
bank areas at scenario end . An example of a possible crossing point would
be the water and riverbank hexes of rows H, I, J, K, and L. The German
player must secretly record his crossing point before the game and reveal it
at game end. He may cross outside this area-the crossing point is used for
victory purposes only.
27.3 The river is deep, running at normal level, and with a moderate cur-
rent flowing north. The weather is clear with a mild breeze blowing due
east.
27.4 The German player has one pontoon ferry (no counter provided)
with which he may attempt to move his tanks across the river. This ferry is
treated the same as a combined Grosse Flossack ( 128.32) in all respects ex-
cept that it may carry any one vehicle regardless of weight plus the man-
datory crew of two squads. Use any convenient counter to represent the
ferry .
27.5 The German 10-3 leader represents Rommel. All German units
(broken or otherwise) within 4 hexes of an unbroken Rommel gain one
level of morale while in that radius. If eliminated by means of a KIA (not
wounded; 122.4) the French automatically win.
27 .6 The offboard artillery allowance for the German is one module of
SOmm and two modules of 105mm. French offboard artillery is limited to
one module each of 75 and 105mm.
AFfERMATH: Rommel ordered his panzers to the east bank of the river to provide
covering fire for his troops while the crossing resumed and personally directed fire on
French positions. He even went so far as to cross the Meuse with his shaken assault
troops and was largely responsible for their repulse of a timid French armor
counterattack without benefit of anti-tank weapons. The situation in the bridgehead
remained critical throughout the day and by the 14th only 15 tanks had been ferried
across while work progressed on the construction of a tank bridge. The French !st
DCR Armoured Division under General Bruneau was closeby and conceivably could
have crushed the bridgehead, but for a lack of fuel which hobbled his heavy tanks.
By the 15th he was refuelled but Rommel was already across the Meuse in st rength.
RR Breakdown number of mortar becomes 12 and ROF 3 if dismounted. Some vehicles were WW Equipped with gyrostabilizer (see 146) and "2 smoke mortars (134.4).
equipped with smoke dischargers instead of the mortar. XX 1760 produced; the main difference between a Scout car and Light Recon Car was the addi·
SS Breakdown number becomes 12 and ROF 2 if mortar is dismounted. Indirect Fire is resolved tion of a one man turret to house the armament. Armament variations included a 20mm can·
on the 8 firepower column while mounted. non replacing the ATR (BPV: 121; RF: 1.4) and twin Browning MGs in the turret (BPV: 75;
IT Used primarily by the Canadians-first action in August at Falais. Some vehicles (BPV: 123; RF: 1.5) (Firepower 8). Note that the ATR was bow mounted and not housed in the turret.
RF: 1.3) had the 5lmm mortar instead of 1he AAMG. YY Amphibious Truck. ·
UU American design and manufacture used and modified exclusively by the British for use in ZZ Many obsolete or underground tanks were modified for special purpose tasks. The modifica- .
NW Europe. Over 2800 produced. Additional 1,000 produced of AA variant, whose coaxial tion of the Centaur into an armored bulldozer was typical of British variants. Rules pertain-
MGs may be used in an AA role. ing to this counter and the clearing of rubble will be presented in the next gamette.
VV These trucks are only representatiH samples oft he wide range of transport vehicles actually
available. Scenarios may freely designate truck types of other nationalities for Allied use
without any penalty incurred due 10 nationality.

SCENARIO ADDENDA
Scenario 27 the dice. A dice roll of' 12' results in the tank running out of fuel and be-
Elements of the 1st OCR Armored Division enter from west edge as per ing immobilized for the balance of the scenario. If the dice roll is a ' 10' or
Special Rule 27.8: '11' the tank must withdraw off the board by the shortest available route

... (in MPs).

~4-5-7~ i i= ~ en
I I
CIO
9 matter of minutes. The armoured reserves to the south were kept at bay by German
27.8 OPTIONAL-Utilize this rule and 27 .9 only after having read rule
sections 129-131: The French player may roll for armor reinforcement
once per French Rally Phase. A dice roll of " 2" is necessary for entry. If
French armor appears the German player may roll for random Stuka sup-
port (101.1) in each of the following German Rally Phases (if any).
27_9 The French armor is critically short of fuel. At the start of every
Movement Phase in which a French tank moves to a new hex it must roll
•
1
75
Scenario 32
AFTERMATH: The paratroops dropped from 400 feet while glider troops, in-
cluding assault engineers, landed at both ends of the bridge which was taken in a
3 air cover while the defenders were broken up into isolated groups by the force of the
German assault. In the middle of the fighting the bridge, which was the focal point
of the battle, blew up supposedly when a marksman's bullet set off the charges still
connected to the bridge. Despite the spectacular tactical results (Sturm had taken a
thousand British at a cost of 237 casualties), the airborne landing had accomplished
remarkably little since the bridge was lost to the Germans and they consequently did
not press their advantage against the Allied units remaining near Marathon, allowing
the 4th Brigade to successfully withdraw over the beaches at Porto Rafti the next
night.

In keeping with the Design Your Own aspects

POINT VALUE ADDIDONS
of the SQUAD LEADER game system, the
following point values will enable you to add the
men and equipment of CRESCENDO OF DOOM
to your spectrum of possible scenario designs.
Note that the Air Support Possibility Chart
replaces the earlier values listed for Stukas and
Sturmoviks on Page 60.
BRITISH
INFANTRY
4-5-8 .. .. . . . .... ... . . . .... ..... ... . . .. . 25
4-5-7 ... ... .. ... ..... .. . .. .. ... .... . . . . 22
6-3-8 ...... ..... . . . .. .. . ..... . .... . . . .. 28
2-3-7 .... ........... ......... . .... ..... 13
2-3-8 ... - . .. ....... .. ... .. .. . .... . . . ... 19
4-3-6 . . . ... . . .. .. ..... . .. . . ... . ... .. . . . 11
4-4-7 ...... . . . . .. . .. . ... . ....... . . . . ... 24
1-8-8(-1) .. ..... . . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. . . ... ... 19
1-8-8 (-2) . .. . ........ . . .. . . .. .... . .. . .. . 29
1-8-8 (-3) . . . ....... ... . . .. ... ... . . . . .. .. 39
1-8-8 (-4) .... . .. . .... . ..... . . . ... . . ... . . 49
6 + 1 . .... .. ... . .. .... . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . .. 12
7-0 . . . .... ... . .... . . .. ............. . .. . 25
8-0 ... . . . ........ . .. .... .... . .. ... . . . . . 40
8-1 . ... . .. . ... .. . . .... ..... . ...... . . . . . 60
9-1 . . .... .. ..... . . . . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . . .. . 75
9-2 . . ......... . ..... . . ...... . . .... . .. . . 90
I0-2 . ...... . .. .. . . .. . . . .. ... . . . . .... ... I IO
10-3 .. ... . . . .. . . . .. . .. .. . .. . .. . . .. .. ... 130
Armor Leaders . . . .... .. . . . . .. ... . ... . ... + 0
6- 14HMG . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. . ........ . . .. . 28
4-llMMG . ......... . .. . ... . . . ...... . . . 19
2-7LMG . . . ... . .. . ... ... .... . . .. ... . . .. 12
ATR . . . . .......... . . .. . ... ... . ..... . .. 14
PIAT .. .. .... ... . . .... . ... .. . . . .. . .... . 35
Demo Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Radio .. .. ............ . ... . ......... ... 200
Flamethrower ... . ..... . ... . .. .... .. . ... 1 IO
FINNISH
INFANTRY
8-3-8 . .......... . .. . . . ' .. .. ......... .. . 47
6-4-8 . . .... ... . . .. . . . .... . . ... . .. . . .... 34
5-4-8 . . . . . .. .. .. .. ... . . . ... ... . ...... . . 30
2-4-8 . . . . ... ... . . .. ... . .. . ... .. .. . .. . . . 22
8-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
9-0 ... .. . ..... . .... . . . . . ... .. .. . . . .. . . . 70
9-1 ..... . . .. . ... ..... ... ..... . . . . ..... . 85
I0-0 . .. .. . . . . . . . . .... ... .. . . .. . .. . ... .. I05
10-1 .... . .. . ... .. . ........ .. .. .. . ... .. . 125
Snipers (German values) ....... . . . . . .. .. . .. -3
pulkka ........................... . . . .. . 23
ATR20mm . .. ... .. . .. . ... . . . . . . . . .. .. .. 20
Klorihartsi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ALLIED MINORS
INFANTRY
4-5-8 .. ... . . . ... . . . ..... .. . . . . . ...... .. 18
4-4-7 . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . .... . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. 12
3-4-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2-2-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1-8-8 (-1) .. . ....... . ........... . . . . . .. . . 20
1-8-8 (-2) .... . . .. ............ . . . .. . . .. . . 30
1-8-8 (-3) . . . ...... . ...... ....... . . .. . .. . 40
1-8-8 (-4) ... . .... .. . . . . .. . .. . .. ... . . . . .. 50
6+ I .......... . . .. . ........ . .. . .. ... . . . 15
7-0 . . . .... .. . . . . .. . . .. . ... . .. . . .. .. .. . . 35
8-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
8-1 .. ......... . .. . . . ...... ... . . . ... . . . . 75
9-1 .. . .. ... .... ... . .. ... . .. ...... . . . ... 90
9-2 .... .. . . .. . . .. ... ..... .. . . ... . . . .... I05
I0-2 .. . .. . .. . . .... . .... . . .. . . .. .. . . . .. . 125
I0-3 ......... . .. .. . . ..... . . .. . .. . . . . . . . 145
Armor Leaders . . . . ..... . . . . . . . ... . .. . .. + IO
6-12HMG . . . . . . . . . .. ....... . . .. . . . . ... 31
4-11 MMG . . . . .. . ..... . . .... .. ... . . . ... 22
2-6LMG .. . . .. . . ... . ... .. . . . . .. . .... . .. 16
A TR (Polish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Demo Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Field Phone . ..... . .. ... . ....... .. . .. . . . 200
FRENCH
INFANTRY
4-5-7 .... . . . . . .. .. . . ...... .. . . .. . . . .. ..
4-5-8 . . . . . ... . . .. .. . . . .... . . ..... .. . .. .
3-5-7 .. ...... . .. .. ............. . . . .. . . .
2-3-7 . . ... . . . .. . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . ..... . . . .
1-8-8 (-1) . ... . . . ... ... . . . ... .. .. ... .. . . .
1-8-8 (-2) . .. . .... . .. . .. ... . . ... . ..... .. .
1-8-8 (-3) ..... . .. ... ... . ... . . .. .. .. .. . . .
1-8-8 (-4) . . . .... ... . . .. . .. . .. ..... .. ... .
6+ I .. . ....... .. .. ... .. . . . .. .... .. . ... .
7-0 ......... . . ... . . .. .. . .. . .... .. ... ...
8-0 . . .. . ... .. . .. .. . . .. . . . .... . ..... . .. .
8-1 .... . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . ... ... . .....
9-1 .. . .. ........... . . .. . . ..... .... .... . 85
9-2 . .. . . . . .. . . . .... . . . . . . .. . ... . . ... ... 100
I0-2 .. .. . ... .. . ....... . . ....... . . . . .. .. 120
10-3 . .. . . .. . . . . . .. ....... . . . . . .. . ... ... 140
Armor Leaders .. ....... . .... . . . . .. .. .. .. + 5
6-14HMG ... . . ...... .. . ... .. ..... .. ... 28
4-11 MMG . . ... . . .... . . . . . .. ... . . . ... .. 19
2-7LMG .. . .. . . . .... . . . . . . .. . ... . . . .... 12
Demo Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Radio . . . .. . . ... . . . . . .. . . ..... . . . .... . . 200
MISCELLANEOUS
Sappers (squads only) ... . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . + IO
Paratroops (per unit) .... .. . . .... . . . ..... . + 5
Ski capable• . ... .. .... .. . . . . .. . ... ... ... + 5
?. . .. .. . .. ... . .. .. . . .. .. . ... .... .. .. . .. 4
Trench . . . . . . . . . ..... . . . .. . . .... . . . .... 25
AT Trench/ Obstacle . . . . ....... ... . .. ... . 45
Unplaced Mines (per factor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
AT Mines (unplaced: 15) . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . 25
Booby Traps (unplaced: 6) per factor . . . . . . . IO
Smoke grenades•• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Field Phones••• ... . . . . . . ... .. . . ... .. . ... -50
Radio (on board artillery only)t . ... ... . . .. J/ 6x
Motorcycles••••(single: 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Sidecars•••• (single: 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Bicycles (single: 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Wagons . . . .. . . ..... ..... .. . .. . ... .. . . . . 20
Sturmboat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Grosse Flossack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Kleine Flossack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
•Not applicable to Sissi
.. Per designated squad-unlimited usage; German 8-3-8s
already have such capability-if purchased without smoke capaci-
ty cost is only 29.
•••for use in static defense only. Cost refers to points less than
n...Q.!_mal radio counter for that nationality.
17 ••••Includes motorcycle experienCe rof. any designated user.
20 t Cost refers to fraction of normal radio cost for that nationality.
13
10 AIR SUPPORT POSSIBILITY
19 Date German* Allies Russians
29
39
49
17
35
50
70 *Deduct 20% vs Russians

103