Operation Lion de Mer
"This morning the British Ambassador in Paris handed to the French
Government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock
that they were prepared at once to withdraw from Spain a state of war would
exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been
received and that consequently this country is at war with France."
Neville Chamberlain, Radio Broadcast, 4th September 1939.
Opération Lion de Mer - The French Invasion of England
"...this is the BBC News. Early this morning French forces landed on English
soil between Ramsgate and Brighton.
They are failing to establish a foothold and should be pushed
back into the sea by tonight. Their action has been condemned by Prime Minister
Chamberlain..."
George Mainwaring switched the radio off, recognising the propaganda for
what it was. He had called the platoon together last night and a good job too.
They were all ready and in position by the time the Frogs
appeared out of the dawn mist.
Already his platoon had struck a blow for Britain.
The burning tanks on the beach, the dead Garlic Eaters littering
the streets and the wrecked landing craft by the now ruined Novelty Rock
Emporium stood as witness.
The second wave was expected at any time as the increased shelling
and bombing showed,
But now the Regular Highlanders and tanks were on their way.
We’ll show the Damned French what we are made of…
On the hillside overlooking Walmington-on-Sea Charles “Chalkie” Whyte put
his binoculars down.
He remembered how just before the war broke out Winston Churchill, as the
First Lord of the Admiralty, made contingency plans for the creation of
Auxiliary Units for the defence of Britain against a French invasion.
Secretly, men and women were identified, recruited and trained
for an important role against the invaders. They were organised into small
groups as observers, watching, reporting and assessing the progress of the
invaders. Others, mainly French speakers would be gathering intelligence and
passing it on to the British Army. And a few, like Chalkie’s group would be at
the sharp end, they would be fighting.
Nine months ago, a well-dressed stranger in a black car had come to his
cottage and talked about recruitment into the British Resistance. He was to stay
under cover until the French had passed inland and then, with the others in his
group, take weapons and explosives from the cache in the wooded downs behind
Walmington-on-Sea and disrupt the French supply lines.
Now he was watching the battle develop.
The French First Wave was stalled on the promenade but forces
were already visible moving inland to the east.
A force of Scottish infantry and some tanks was moving down from
the northwest. The
British Resistance would be ready to strike a blow for freedom. It was Tuesday,
September 17th, 1940.
Introduction
I have a confession. I am addicted
to the Dad’s Army TV series and I have had for many years a 20mm version of this
elite fighting force. It has taken
the field once or twice in public participation games at wargames shows.
To oppose them I have a few German Paratroops, a U-boat crew and a shot
down Luftwaffe crew. But I have
never quite got around to building any German Army models for Operation Sea
Lion.
My latest project was to be building a French force for Syria or our fictional
East African campaign. But what to
do with those Char B-1bis that came with the Matchbox FTs?
Some are already in my late war WW2 German army.
But what about the rest?
A friend found out that a Parliamentary or Cabinet paper had been prepared in
the 1930's outlining how the British Forces might defend against a French
Invasion and what should be done to prevent this from happening. The document
included the building of the airfields that would later be used by the RAF in
the Battle of Britain. Going back
before the First World War it was considered that any European War would see
Britain and Germany fighting France. The French were considered our natural
enemies, whilst the Germans with our related royal families were our brothers.
The French occupied the Ruhr in the 1920s when Germany defaulted on the
reparation payments. They were
forced to pull out under international pressure.
But what if they had stayed?
So a bit of lateral thinking took place.
The Alternative History
The French occupation of demilitarised zone and the Ruhr in this alternative
history continues into the 1930s and Hitler and the Nazi Party rise to power but
the rearmament is seriously hampered by the French control of the industrial
heartland. France relaxes its hold
during the 1930s reducing the garrisons on the occupied zone as it watches the
rise of fascist Spain, Italy and Austria.
It feels surrounded by potentially hostile nations.
A landslide victory in the elections
places a strongly socialist government in power and support for the Nationalists
in Spain soon follows as does support and closer relations with the Soviet
Union.
France now takes up a much more aggressive stance against fascism and increases
its involvement in Spain which is matched by the Italians under Mussolini.
This diversion of French effort into Spain and North Africa where
Hispano-Italian expansion into French colonies was anticipated encouraged Hitler
to march into the Ruhr. When this
was virtually unopposed he, against the advice of his generals, ordered the
troops to march into the French held Rhineland.
This thrust met strong resistance and a French armoured counter thrust
cut off and captured a huge proportion of the German Army and the led to the
French reoccupation of the Ruhr.
This humiliation of the German forces and the loss once again of the industrial
Ruhr virtually ends Adolf Hitler’s career and he is deposed, arrested and tried
for treason. This time he is
sentenced to death but while awaiting execution his mental state rapidly
deteriorated into insanity and he was committed to a lunatic asylum.
At about this time the Austrian fascists fail to win a majority even so
many German Nazis find a new home there.
France and Russia become ever closer, co-operating in the Spanish Civil War
against the fascists which devolves into a stalemate.
Britain continues its policy of seeking a diplomatic solution in Europe
as the fascist factions look to Italy for leadership and the socialist movements
look to France. However, France is
now the only real power in Western Europe.
The expansion of French influence greatly worries the British government.
It became apparent that if France established territorial or political control
over a substantial area of Spain it would become a superpower.
Thus it was that the British Government reluctantly started rearming and
placed the Empire on alert for possible French aggression in the colonies and
mandated territories. Meanwhile,
Italy launched an invasion of France which was repulsed with heavy losses and
the terms included that the Italians withdraw support from Spain effectively
ending the Spanish Civil War as Franco withdrew into the south and North Africa.
The new northern Spanish government now feared domination by France and
sought allies. The British
Government decided to offer a guarantee of securing Spanish neutrality and
freedom.
Two weeks later on 1 September 1939 the French army crossed into Spain after a
contrived border incident.
The British Ambassador in Paris delivered an ultimatum to the French Government
on 4 September 1939. Almost
immediately the RAF started a leaflet dropping campaign against French cities.
Convoys were attacked on both sides of the Channel and the Royal and
French Navies clashed in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean with losses on
both sides. Overseas there was
fighting the Middle East and North Africa and skirmishing in the Far East.
The air forces fought some spectacular battles over the Channel but both
sides refrained from actually attacking each other’s homelands.
In Spain the new Spanish government came to terms with France as a
virtual puppet state and the war went quiet except on the high seas.
All this changed on 4 June 1
940
when the Armée de l’Air launched a massive surprise attack on RAF airfields
across southern England. The Battle
of Britain had begun. The highly
experienced and much larger French forces gradually gained the upper hand.
The RAF preserved its Bomber, Coastal and Army Co-operation Command
strength against the invasion fleet massing on the French coast.
In mid-September the RAF was forced to retire north as is airfields were
being destroyed.
It was the evening of Tuesday, 24th September, when the French
invasion fleet left the Channel ports bound for England.
Operation Sea Lion becomes Opération Lion de Mer!
The French
The French had the second largest army in the world in 1940 supported by some of
the best armoured tanks then in service.
They had the powerful Char B-1bis and the Somua S-35 both formidable
opponents and superior to most contemporaries.
Many of these French tanks were slow, having been designed for infantry
support and though well armoured they mounted relatively light weaponry.
In this alternate timeline, they also have access to some German equipment and
just as Germany used Czech equipment in the battle for France and may well have
used French equipment in Operation Sealion. The French in this scenario
may well use some German equipment maybe SdKfz 251. Repainted in French
colours, this is an interesting alternative unit to muster.
However, I have decided that the early panzers did not offer a great
enough leap forward to lead to wide employment.
Though I could see the numerous Panzers 1 and 2 being used in the French
Cavalry units.
The British
This time the British army would have remained on British soil retaining its
heavy equipment intact. They have
their tanks and heavy guns that would have been missing in a German Operation
Sealion assault. However, only
those units in the colonies would acquire battle experience.
Aided by the Auxiliary Forces and the
Home Guard units, the regular army would be ready and waiting for the French
attack. The invasion would be much more difficult for the French than it would
have been for the Germans.
The British armoured regiments would have Matilda I and II, and some of the new
Valentine Infantry tanks and A9, A10 and A13 Cruiser tanks. There would also be
Mark VI light tanks in the cavalry regiments.
These latter tanks would be outmatched by the French tanks but a match,
especially those with the 15mm BESA, for any impressed Pz1 and II deployed. The
infantry would no doubt have higher morale, without the defeat at Dunkirk and
the fact they were defending their home country, would lead to a highly
motivated force. The Empire,
probably Canada, would be able to send troops.
Another aspect would be the use of Auxiliary Units, or British Resistance in
opposing a successful invasion. They would be used behind the lines to hinder
the French advance.
I have given an alternative history that can be used to loosely "justify" a
French invasion of the South Coast of England wargame. One of the benefits of
using alternative timelines is that you can change history even more to suit
what you see to be the "correct" timeline. So
what about aid from Italy's Mussolini, could there be a mutual alliance between
Britain and Italy, sharing a common enemy? This gives the option of using
Italian equipment. That said, the
Soviet Union may support France against the fascist capitalists.
Then there are other alternatives that feature Oswald Moseley and his fascists
gaining considerable power if not a majority in Parliament.
Also what of America? Would
they support the UK? And then when
would Japan’s expansion take place against a background of the Anglo-French war?
The Wargame
All the background for Operation Lion de Mer is really fluff for an alternate
Operation Sealion, which allows me to use my existing Op Sealion British, early
WW2 French with my very few early war Germans. It also lets me look at the nice
Sergeants Mess figures and any Very British Civil War models in a different way.
I do not need to buy German tanks to paint grey (unless I want to later).
The game is facilitated by the availability of period buildings from the
railway modelling ranges that I already own.
So what about some scenarios?
Really any WW2 (and many other) scenarios can be used by adjusting the forces.
We can fight the actual invasion, with an amphibious assault on a heavily
defended beach and/or port, aided by aircraft, parachutists and glider troops.
You would have to create these forces for the French as they had only a couple
of companies of paratroopers – or would this be the Soviet contribution?
This would make a very large game, but you could just isolate a small
action between a few troops and tanks on one part of the beach at Walmington-on-sea,
for example.
Going further along the coast we do some street and harbour fighting in Dover or
other ports as the invaders try to secure port facilities to land
reinforcements. Maybe the French could convert some of their heavier tanks for
use in these operations? How about
Char B1bis equipped with a dozer blade and the 75mm hull gun deleted and a new
superstructure mounting a 105mm or 150mm howitzer others might mount
flamethrowers or even carry bridges.
Maybe some of the acquired German vehicles might be converted to carry
mountain or anti-tank guns or be armed mortars or flamethrowers.
The Germans tried submarine and amphibious tank, so would the French do
likewise with their Somua S-35s or the little Hotchkiss and Renault tanks?
Another scenario would be the first push inland to expand the bridgehead against
a retreating enemy that must be caught and prevented from regrouping. This could
be followed by the inevitable British counter attack from their immediate
armoured reserves to push the invaders back into the sea before they consolidate
their position. This would see tank versus tank actions leading, perhaps to a
major land battle, supported by naval artillery, and aircraft on both sides.
What about a French commando assault on a British supply depot with a relief
force in an armoured train? With a
bit of a stretch of the imagination the French may have glider borne troops
(captured DFS-230s?) or parachutists.
Arriving by air, the commandos must destroy the depot, and make their way
to the coast, to meet up with their transport back home.
Then we could have the British Auxiliary Units in action against French convoys
on the country lanes of Kent. Or they might have a go at rail or road bridges,
blowing up cranes in a dockyard, attacking a forward airfield, fuel or ammo
depot or any other target.
The Models
I am a dedicated 20mm wargamer and other scales are well catered for in this
period, 1/300, 1/200, 15mm, 20mm and maybe even 54mm.
My own Operation Sealion collection is very one sided and dates back many years.
It was based entirely on Dad’s Army TV series with a few Despicable Hun
Paras, a nasty Jerry bomber crew and an evil Nazi U-Boat crew.
Now there are several ranges of the tanks for the British and French
(Germans too if you go historical) in plastic, metal and resin.
You can even find a few Belgian and Dutch tanks as well (Frontline
Wargaming amongst others). Frontline Wargaming and Sergeants Mess also have Home
Guard equipment, armoured cars and tractors.
Armoured trucks can be easily converted and may equip recce units or
carry infantry in armoured thrusts. The French might have armoured half-tracks
of their own or maybe German origin.
Depending on how much “what iffery” you want you might add a WW1British
tank, for use by a Home Guard unit (no doubt borrowed from a local museum).
There may even be a Kings German Legion of ex-patriate volunteers who may be
equipped from British (likely) or German (less likely) sources.
For aircraft, there are ample models in 1/72 of virtually everything needed.
You might add a few German aircraft flown by the reformed King’s German
Legion.
The Rules
I actually use a set of rules written by my friend John Mumford in the 1960s and
slightly revised for these games. These are simple, yet fast rules for infantry,
tanks and aircraft. Other Second World War rules sets would, no doubt, work
equally well. So use your own
favourite set for your collection.
The Conclusions
I do not claim that the idea of a French invasion of the south coast is my own.
The inspiration for this wargame idea came from an old picture of
Napoleon’s plans in the early 19th Century and also the paper
discovered by my friend. Of course
my “Dad’s Army” collection languishing in their boxes and an interest in
Operation Sea Lion helped. Then
there is the Sergeants Mess Home Guard range with Blacker Bombards, Smith Guns
and much more.
Okay, this is a fictional situation - fantasy if you like - and it never
happened. But that is true of many
wargames I have seen. I have
exercised my imagination, tacked on a few liberties and clichés to come up with
a framework for some different looking games.
I have deliberately used a time line that is very similar to what
actually happened because it suited what I wanted and I really did not want to
spend a lot of time researching and rewriting. My objective was to use my models
in some different games. As a side
issue I realised that I could have a modelling project on some of the “what if”
vehicles that the French might have made.
End Note
Chalkie wiped the sweat from his eyes and checked the connections were
secure. The moon
was not much help as the clouds flitting across its face alternately letting him
see the bridge clearly or obscuring it.
The glow from the French soldiers’ cigarettes was just enough to
show that they were moving along the river bank.
He waited, he could hear the tanks coming.
He offered up a prayer that they would not see the cable.
Had he hidden it well enough?
The glow from the tanks’ blackout lights increased as they approached the
bridge. He held
his breath. They paused and rumbled forward increasing speed.
They were not stopping.
What was it the Major had said about French tactics in training?
Ah yes … “L’attaque, toujours l’attaque!”
Chalkie pushed the handle down hard and a brief spark flashed.
And the bridge seemed to fold inwards.
One of the big tanks rose in the air and fell sideways into the
river, two more slid into the thrashing water as the spans collapsed.
Another reversing almost made the safe bank but tilted, hung for
a moment and the plunged into the river.
Then the noise of the explosion reached him.
By the time the French infantry reached his position, Chalkie
was in “The Swan” downing a well-deserved pint.
Down at the coast, Captain Mainwaring sat with his
surviving Home Guardsmen in the back of Hodge’s truck heading for captivity
guarded by a Frog soldier on the tailgate.
Half his platoon was missing or killed.
Lance Corporal Jones was gone – last seen lobbing Molotov’s at a
giant tank outside his butcher shop.
Godfrey had stayed with the wounded.
Pike was sitting opposite, perched on a box of cabbages and
kicking one back and forward monotonously, a vacant look in his eye.
“Stupid boy” he thought but was too tired to say it out loud.
The truck slowed on the hill out of town.
The Froggie on the tailgate looked around the canopy.
He disappeared as a cabbage hit the back of his head and Pike
leapt after him. “Come on!” he called jumping on top of the stunned sentry.
The Frenchman’s bayonet flashed in Pike’s hand.
Sergeant Wilson picked up the fallen rifle.
The survivors hid in the darkness as the truck picked up speed
again. The driver
had not noticed that their prisoners were gone.