Emergency Miniature Work - 15mm USMC Super Cobra
Live Stream - 5PM UK Time - Panzer Leader (Battle of Hannut)
Good morning, everyone.
Yesterday we featured a live stream recreating part of history’s first “true” tank battle. This was the Battle of Hannut, starting on May 12, 1940, part of the shattering German Blitzkrieg of the West.
As General Hoepner’s XVI Motorized Corps spearheaded German 6th Army’s drive into northern Belgium, Belgian resistance was hopelessly outmatched and crumbled before them. Following mobilization and response plans, French mechanized units entered western Belgium, intending to meet up with the retreating Belgians and combine to form a unified line of resistance against the Germans.
But the Belgians in this sector weren’t falling back. They’d been overrun. So the French, having not met the Belgians falling back, had no idea their Cavalry Corps (2nd and 3rd Division Légère Mécanique) was about to collide with Hopener’s XVI Motorized Corps, namely 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions.
In a wild melee that largely surprised both sides, Prioux’s French Cavalry Corps and Hoepner’s XVI Motorized Corps rammed full speed into each other in what would become the Battle of Hannut, running from May 12-13, 1940. In all, almost 1,000 AFVs (tanks, armored cars, halftracks) would be engaged between the four opposing divisions, making this the first time actual tank formations would square off in open combat.
The overall map, showing the corridor running east to west between the southern outskirts of Hannut and the Mehaigne river. Hexes are 200 meters. 
French and German forces. Yes, the Germans seem to have a lot of tanks. The Germans DO have a lot of tanks. This nearly full OOB for two German Panzer Regiments, back in the days when Panzer Divisions were still built around a full brigade.
Close look at some of the French Armor. In short, we have two-three companies of the 13th Dragoons (here is where I was a little generous with the French). Then the 2nd Cuirassiers Regiment (four battalions, two of Somua-35s and two of Hotchkiss-39s). First Battalion of the 11th Motorized Dragoons will be deployed forward in holding positions in Thisnes and Crehen, while the armor and motorized artillery (76th Rgt) comes in from the west.
Here is a closeup of the German armor. While it may look formidable, notice that 18 out of the 48 (over a THIRD) of the German panzer platoons are the practically useless PzKpfw I. ANOTHER 18 platoons are the PzKpfw II, which was fast and decently armored for the time but again, largely useless against heavier French armor. Again, that's the history.
Part of the situation at the end of Turn 3. Air strikes! Overruns! COUNTER-overruns! God, how I love early-war Panzer Leader! You could never get away with these kinds of maneuvers in 1944 ... Now granted, this was supposed to be a live game and with some internet issues with my player, we weren’t able to have an opponent-vs-opponent live game, but as long as the Excel file is saved, the board is always set up and we can always take another swing at this later!
I’ll definitely try and sneak in some screen time, but it’s going to 24c today! We’ve been trapped in a polar vortex for the better part of May (very unusual) so need some Vitamin D!
No worries, @ceppie . I hope to see you there. If not, enjoy the spring day! 😀 😀 😀