Brigade A of Arkforce, June 1940

Started by MengJiao, January 19, 2022, 06:04:24 PM

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MengJiao

   Arkforce was among the many BEF formations that at least partially escaped after Dunkirk.  Arkforce (named for Arques-la-Bataille) had one Brigade (the 154) of the Highland Division and one Brigade called "A" built out of the adhoc Beauman Division.  Historically they mostly got out via Le Havre and Cherbourg, but with some minor shifts they might have tried to get out via Port-en-Bessin near Bayeaux.

   Anyway, here's an image of a Beauman Division vehicle (named Jean) in May or June 1940...scenario to follow:


MengJiao

#1
Quote from: MengJiao on January 19, 2022, 06:04:24 PM
   Arkforce was among the many BEF formations that at least partially escaped after Dunkirk.  Arkforce (named for Arques-la-Bataille) had one Brigade (the 154) of the Highland Division and one Brigade called "A" built out of the adhoc Beauman Division.  Historically they mostly got out via Le Havre and Cherbourg, but with some minor shifts they might have tried to get out via Port-en-Bessin near Bayeux.

   Anyway, here's an image of a Beauman Division vehicle (named Jean) in May or June 1940...scenario to follow:

  So supposing Rommel went after another target (he saw to it that these British Army formations were overrun historically), leaving the way open for the largest bicycle force ever seen in Normandy in 1940 to pursue and destroy Arkforce.  This could have been due to Hitler's direct interference in the matter of acquiring the Bayeux Tapestry (in 1940 it was in the basement of the Bishop's Palace in Bayeux) witha minimum chance of damage to the treasured artifact.  We know Hitler sent an special mission to get the Tapestry when it was in Paris in August 1944.  Why not go after it with bicycles in June 1940?  Goering was dismayed in any case and, looking at the bicycles, sighed "This is my Luftwaffe?"  Anyway, we will see if a recon force on motorcycles, paratroops and bicycle troops can:
a) destroy Arkforce (before it can be evacuated by Operation Cycle -- yep that was the operation name for getting Arkforce out)
b) capture and remove the Tapestry (marked Date in the image)

A Brigade and Arkforce have a few tricks of their own: some tanks (even French Tanks) and the Germans can't use aircraft and Arkforce gets naval gunfire support:


MengJiao

#2
Quote from: MengJiao on January 19, 2022, 07:44:07 PM
  Anyway, we will see if a recon force on motorcycles, paratroops and bicycle troops can:
a) destroy Arkforce (before it can be evacuated by Operation Cycle -- yep that was the operation name for getting Arkforce out)
b) capture and remove the Tapestry (marked Date in the image)

A Brigade and Arkforce have a few tricks of their own: some tanks (even French Tanks) and the Germans can't use aircraft and Arkforce gets naval gunfire support:

9am June 13, 1940: 
You can see the corner of the Tapestry in Bayeux, the parachutists having trouble finding their weapons, and 2  out of three of the Bicycle forces closing in.   Cameo of Bishop Odo of Bayeux from the tapestry.

MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on January 20, 2022, 02:16:05 PM


  11am...or so...things start getting rough in Bayeux.  Those German Panzers are French Souma tanks and in this scenario they are working for A Brigade.  The Germans are loading the tapestry.  Once it is loaded, A Brigade knows what they are up to and can try to intercept.  154 Bde is evacuating, but as you can see, the paratroopers nabbing the tapestry are holding up the withdrawal of A Brigade via Bayeux.