For Bolt Action Doubles at AdeptiCon 2026, we wanted to push our hobby to the next level: a Club project uniting our four separate Doubles Teams into one unified collection of forces bound together within one theme. Each team of two picked a battle that took place in Northwestern France in May/June 1940. These battles were all connected by one overall campaign: The Road to Dunkirk. The event theme for Bolt Action Doubles this year was “Hit the beach!” and we wanted to push the definition a bit, while still remaining on theme. Although our individual armies were not strictly “on the beach”, each one played a crucial part in the events that led to Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of the BEF at Dunkirk. Our four forces were as follows:

Battle of Montcornet Joe & Jackson – French May 17, 1940

The Battle of Arras John & Andrew – BEF May 21, 1940

Siege of Calais Ben & Zach – BEF May 22-26, 1940

Defense of St. Valery-en-Caux Cole & Dexter – French & Scots June 10-11, 1940

Battle of Montcornet – Joe & Jackson (French)

The German army led by Heinz Guderian executed their “Blitzkrieg” upon the unprepared French forces through the Ardennes forest and northern France. Colonel Charles De Gaulle was given command of the newly formed 4^th Armored Division to mount a desperate defense of the country before the Germans could reach the British at Dunkirk, or God forbid… Paris.

French armor was the pinnacle of modern engineering and weapons design. The armor of the French Somua and Char B1 tanks was all but impregnable to what the Wehrmacht could field, and the 37mm cannons were sufficiently strong to pierce the likes of the Panzer I, II, and III.

Following the quick push into France by the German forces, the 4^th Armored Division, comprised of 85 tanks, 5,000 men, and a few hundred cavalry, was ordered to the village of Montcornet to buy time for the 6^th Army to redeploy from the Maginot Line. This counter-attack was expected to stop the Germans from executing their rush to the sea, bisecting the British and French forces and isolating the Allies. De Gaulle was an early advocate of armored warfare and the Battle of Montcornet would be an ideal proving ground for implementing his ideas. The village was the junction point of several roads to the towns of Reims, Laon and Saint-Quentin, and was a point of transit for the supply echelons of the 1^st Panzer Division.

On May 17, De Gaulle advanced on Montcornet. Though outnumbered and without air support, he attacked and destroyed a German convoy south of the village, losing 23 of his 90 vehicles to mines and to air attacks by Stukas. He then ordered infantry to neutralize defensvie pockets in Chivres and his tanks to secure Clermont-les-Fermes. Around 4:00 p.m., De Gaulle ordered a new attack on Montcornet but because the tank crews had not received detailed maps of the sector and came under fire from German 88mm flak guns, the attack failed. He pressed again on May 19 and his forces were once again devastated by German Stukas and artillery. He ignored orders to withdraw and in the early afternoon demanded two more divisions from Touchon but was refused. Although de Gaulle’s tanks forced the German infantry to retreat, the action brought only temporary relief and did little to slow the spearhead of the German advance.

Our force is mainly comprised of elements from the 46e and 47e bataillon de chars de combat. As with the rest of the hastily formed French 4th Armored Division, they were primarily reserve units, quickly brought up to to the front. Our French Infantry are made up of Wargames Atlantic French Infantry 1916-1940, with the support elements of Mortars, Spotters, Officers, and Anti-tank Rifle Teams coming from Warlord Games. The pair of Panhard Armored Cars are also from Warlord. The H35 Tanks and Citroen-Kegresse P19 half-track are from Wargame3d via My Mini Factory. The Berliet VUDB carrier is from XP Forge. – Joe & Jackson

The Battle of Arras – John & Andrew (BEF)

By mid-May, desperate to slow the German advance through France, the BEF launched an assault at Arras. The attack found initial success as the light German AT Guns were unable to penetrate the heavy armor of the Matilda II. The British tanks continued to close on the German lines and it was not until Rommel himself ordered direct fire from the 88mm guns that the BEF began to falter. At close range, the Matildas stood no chance and were ripped apart by the 88s. All across the battlefield, the same results repeated. Matilda tanks gained an initial edge from the German shock at seeing their shells bounce off of the British armor, but then determined 88mm gunfire tore them apart. Lacking tank support, the British infantry had to withdraw.

Although the BEF failed to achieve their objectives, and suffered irreplaceable losses, the audacity of the attack forced the OKW to consider further Anglo-French counterattacks and paused the Panzer advance. This pause made the evacuation of the BEF at Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo possible.

Our Doubles display captures the 50th Infantry Division and 1st Army Tank Brigade of the BEF mid-march on their way to battle at Arras. The stoic Tommies go forth in column on the road while the three Matilda II undergo maintenance and prep. The light artillery has already begun shelling German positions in the distance, and the Bofors are in position to protect against any Luftwaffe incursions. The Commander of the 1st Army Tank Brigade can be seen waving to his troops as they march past, while the officers gather outside an abandoned barn to further discuss the plan of attack.

Andrew’s BEF infantry are mostly Wargames Atlantic British Expeditionary Force with a few Warlord bits thrown in. Careful consideration was made to only use marching poses, and a few conversions were required to make sure the infantry are in motion. The Platoon Commanders are from Woodbine and Stoessis Heroes. The three Matilda II tanks are from Warlord Games with crew from Warlord, Perry, and Rubicon. All the crew are modeled “at ease” as they wait for orders to move out once the infantry is in position. The Dingo Scout Car carrying the Platoon Commander is from Rubicon. John’s BEF are entirely 3D printed from the Studio Historia For King & Country range; everything from the infantry to the Bofors AA and the 25-pdrs. The display board features a few Micro Art Studio Normandy buildings and about four full packs of Gamers Grass tufts and flowers. – John & Andrew

Siege of Calais – Ben & Zach (BEF)

After the Battle of Arras on the 21st of May, German forces were held back in the expectation that the British Expeditionary Force and French forces would continue their counterattack. Because of this delay, additional forces of the BEF including the 30th Infantry Brigade and the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment were able to reinforce French and British forces in and around Calais, a key stronghold and port on the French coast. The 10th Panzer Division began their assault on the town on May 22nd, and within the first day had reported a loss of nearly half of their vehicles and a third of their infantry forces. The initial defensive success was short lived, as on the 23rd and 24th the BEF were forced to steadily withdraw further, eventually establishing a defensive line around the Old Town and the Citadel. The French and British defenders refused several offers of surrender as they had been ordered to hold out as long as possible.

On May 26th, around 4pm, defensive lines began to collapse and an order of ‘every man for himself’ was given as French command within the city surrendered. About 400 men were evacuated from the harbor by small naval craft the next day, while between 3,000-4,000 BEF troops were captured within the city. The five day defense of Calais along with similar defense at Boulogne reportedly caused a diversion of three full Panzer divisions from other lines of attack, allowing BEF forces to close exposed gaps within the overall defensive line and delay the Germans long enough for 300,000 BEF soldiers to be evacuated from Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo between May 26th and June 4th.

Our Doubles force represents elements of the BEF in the form of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (part of the 30th Infantry Brigade) alongside armored units of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment during the battles of the Siege of Calais. These platoons are supported by heavy artillery intended to represent the defensive shelling being provided by British naval vessels out at sea assisting with the defense of the port, as well as a unit of the 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment utilizing a Bofors 40mm Anti-Aircraft gun. The artillery and fixed weaponry can be seen set up just outside the citadel walls, prepared to defend the approaches against advancing enemy forces, while the armor and infantry sally forth towards the outer defensive perimeters, hoping to hold German forces off before having to collapse into the Citadel itself. On the ramparts, we can see officers and spotters directing fire for the artillery and supporting naval assets.

Additionally, armored vehicles of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment can be seen mustering in the field outside the citadel, preparing to move out on patrol. This small force includes a pair of Light Tank Mk VIs and a pair of A9 Cruiser Tanks, alongside the wreck of another unfortunate cruiser tank taken out by the Luftwaffe, who have been bombing the city relentlessly during the course of the assault.

Like Andrew’s force, our BEF troops are primarily made with Wargames Atlantic’s BEF along with bits and pieces from Warlord’s Commonwealth Infantry that were used for some variation in poses as well as for building one of the Anti-Tank Rifle Teams used in Combat Patrol. The other AT Rifle, along with the Light Mortar, some of the Officers, and one of the MMG Teams are from Warlord’s British Expeditionary Force range, including the Weapons Team and the Support Group boxes. The Bofors 40mm is from Rubicon as is the Forward Artillery Observer and the other MMG team. The Heavy Howitzers are STL’s by Fylde Armouries, with crew from Studio Historia. The A9 Cruiser tanks are from Wargame3d, and the Vickers Mk VIs are from Arvernes Miniatures. And as always, we made good use of flock and water effects from Woodland Scenics, along with citadel walls that Zach ordered from Etsy (sadly the seller seems to be currently restricted, but it’s a great set!).  – Ben & Zach

The Defense of St. Valery-en-Caux – Cole & Dexter (French & Scots)

In June 1940, as the German Blitzkrieg tore through France, the remnants of the British Expeditionary Force’s 51st Highland Division found themselves cut off along the Normandy coast. At St Valery-en-Caux, a small French garrison joined forces with the Highlanders to mount a desperate defensive stand, holding the town and its cliffs against overwhelming German forces.

Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the combined Franco-British defenders used the town’s streets, harbor, and surrounding cliffs to slow the enemy advance, buying precious time for civilians and retreating units. Skirmishes erupted in every corner, from barricaded houses to the narrow docks, as French riflemen and British infantry coordinated to repel panzer-led assaults

Ultimately, the defense could not turn the tide, and the Highlanders, cut off from evacuation, were forced to surrender, but their valor delayed the German push and became a symbol of determination in the face of impossible odds.

Cole’s force is comprised of the remnants of a company from the 1st Light Mechanized Division with a core of Veteran Infantry from Wargames Atlantic mounted in Laffly S20TL Trucks which came courtesy of the Prince of Prints (John) and his 3D printer. The display board depicts the 1st Light Mechanized Div. and the 51st Highlanders on the outskirts of St. Valery en Caux attempting to blunt the German advance into the city. – Cole & Dex

The AdeptiCon Army Showcase

For the second year running, the AdeptiCon Army Showcase brought together the Doubles and Teams displays that met the highest hobby standard in their respective events. Of the thousands of participants at AdeptiCon, only about a hundred are selected for the Showcase. In a massive surprise, we all managed to make the cut and were nominated for the Army Showcase as a Club! We stood among titans and were more than a little intimidated. It was a highlight of my AdeptiCon – standing with the crew, chatting with folks as they walked through the Showcase to view all the incredible armies on display. In an even bigger surprise, Aaron and Oliver were not only nominated but won a Judge’s Choice Trophy for their S-tier Bolt Action Doubles display. They had a combined Free French and Italian Partisans force that is easily one of the best Doubles armies I have ever seen. Seeing Bolt Action recognized at this level was a truly special moment.

One personal highlight was when a viewer made the comment “[Christopher] Nolan would be proud.” in reference to our Dunkirk-themed display. Just about brought a tear to my eye.

The wheels are already in motion for next year. Bigger, better, more intricate, more swag. We were truly inspired by the other armies on display at the Showcase and have set our sights on a Showcase nomination at AdeptiCon 2027.

– Andrew and Team Chicago Dice, AdeptiCon 2026