1940 and the battle of Stonne

With Christmas fast approaching in 2021, our hardy reporter reported for duty back in May 1940, still tired from his exertions in the Levant several weeks before. The 15th of May 1940 saw the Germans breaking out of their Meuse bridgehead and starting to swing northwest to encircle the Allied armies. The small village of Stonne stood in the path of the 10th Panzer Division. Facing them were the French 3rd DCR (Armoured Division). The Germans swept forward with two Panzer Mk IIIs and a Panzer Mk II in the South, and a Panzer Mk IV and Mk III in the North.

The French were more cagey, and their small, slow H39s crawled into defensive positions with the mighty Char B seemingly in reserve. Or was it...??

First blood went to the Germans as they reduced one of Phil’s H39s by several command dice, and it wisely took cover to try and repair itself. One of Rob’s H39s lurking in a cornfield likewise suffered damage but was kept running. The first actual kill went to the French as one of the Mk IIIs advancing along the southern axis took a catastrophic shot.

This reduced the odds to 1:1 in numbers, but arguably the Germans had some advantage due to the damage inflicted on the H39s.

Gradually the H39s got themselves back into action but then disaster. Although pretty much pinned by Dave’s armour Greg advanced into the open and fired a side shot into a H39. Result one “brewed up” French vehicle.

But with Greg’s remaining Mk III sitting in the open he was attacked by Rob’s H39 and Char B which rumbled into action.

Despite a valiant attempt to destroy the Char B the “heavy armour” proved its worth and another Mk III became a fireball.

In the North Dave’s Mk IV showed what a truly poor tank it was in 1940. Thin armour and a low velocity 75mm gun made him very wary, and Phil decided to send his now repaired H39 on the offensive. How un-French! Dave’s Mk III soon joined the list of wrecks...

and the with 3 French tanks still running including the Char B and only the weedy Mk II and Mk IV being left for the Germans the umpire called it as a French victory.

I have seen since that Rob apparently thought he had a Char D1. How wrong he was. Quite how he mistook the 14 ton D1 for the 28 ton B1Bis is quite beyond me. I think he needs to go on a 1939-40 tank recognition course! Rob, never mistake a Matilda I for a Matilda II. I guess your knowledge of Tigers and Panthers is a tad better...

Simon