Les Crabes Diaboliques

The French have sent 3 squads of Legionairres, 2 machineguns, and a gun with crew to hold a recently discovered village near the coastal plains. They are to hold the position as a way station and conduct local patrols only. It is a relatively boring assignment that allows for plenty of time to wonder - why this small collection of mud shacks has remained abandoned for so long?
Facing north: The French move into a deserted village near the edge of the ocean and a series of foothills inland. The fact that it was a recent ghost town did little to comfort the new occupants who immediately set to rienforcing the unstable buildings with defense works - the enemy could attack from any direction.
Facing north: Suddenly in the early morning light the sentries report vast movement! The southern wall opens fire on what it assumes is a large body of native attackers with rifle, machinegun and cannon fire! To their horror large black shadows with grasping claws of death reach out to them from the darkness! These are no mortal men!
Facing northwest: The men stand and stare in shock as the large creatures plod towards them unrelentlessly!
Facing southeast: With the crawling horros showing no intention to halt the French officers begin to scream and curse their men into action!
Facing north: As the first wave of monsters crest the initial defenses several men are crushed as their bullets deflect off of the hard shells of the attackers at top left. The machinegun at top right and a squad of riflemen begin to pour their fire into the advancing hordes! To the horror of the defenders a secondly, slightly smaller, wave of beasts emerges from the darkness!
Facing south: The survivors at the south wall gun position watch as their comrades are torn to schreds by the monsterous attackers who start to climb the wall. Cannister fire roars from the gun and wipes several beasts away in a giant hand of destruction!
Facing east: The machinegun shines red hot as the barrel over heats. Several of the beasts are blown piece meal into shreds but more monsters behind them advance over their carcasses and begin to attack the wall!
Facing north: More French rienforcements at top center run to the aid of their men at the southern walls where a large surge of monsters pushes themselves over the brittle walls and buildings. The machinegun at center right falls silent as the crew attempts to beat back the sharp claws of their attackers in melee combat! More defenders are attacked at left near the gun wall position. A third wave appears and continues to advance towards the overwhelmed defenders!
Facing north: At the central bunker the French Commander finds himself immersed in large claws and spiny legs! His men close in and begin to savage their attackers!
Facing north: It is a close contest but with several (very) close calls most of the beasts are dispatched with few casualties! "Bugler! Behind you!"
Facing north: A fourth much smaller wave follows in the tracks of their bretheren and advances towards the defenders. The south gun wall is rienforced with several soldiers as more beasts pull their bodies over the walls. The machinegun crew is wiped out and the beasts advance through the wreckage of the structures while the French commander organizes the troop placement at the central wall.
Facing east: As monsters pass by soldiers fire into their bodies disheartened as most of their shots bounce off the hard shells! At center a French Sergeant holds the narrow enterance by himself against the gapping maw of his attacker!
Facing northwest: The southern wall defenders are covered in foul monster entrails as they continue to bash and hack at their attackers! The gun fires round after round of canister sweeping away more and more monsters but missing most of those nearest the gun! Another soldier screams his final under the crush of a terrible claw!
Facing northeast: The wave of advance subsides at the sourthern wall as most of the beasts are again cleared away. Several loyal native troops attempt to hold the monsters back from the walls.
Facing northwest: As the French center forms a firing line several beasts continue to move through the ruins of the village past the now all too silent machinegun.
Facing northwest: The French fire furiously to keep back the dark horrors. Another large creature emerges from the building at right.
Facing northwest: The French abandon their gun as the monsters begin to overrun the wall again! More troops appear from the northern wall and fill in the gaping holes of the defenses!
Facing northwest: The defenders at top left hold again as the French at bottom right begins to take and give casualties!
Facing northwest: The French center position continues to hold but the French at bottom right have been destroyed after putting up a fierce defense. At top right another line of French attempt to form as the second machinegun is brought down from the north wall and setup.
Facing south: The machinegun is ready to deal death as a few straggler beasts are hacked to pieces by French sabers and bayonets!
Facing northwest: The attack at the southern gun wall is again almost broken with only two monsetrs left offering any serious threat. A squad of enraged natives at right willingly advances out into the killing field to do battle with another menacing creature!
Facing northwest: The French center advances onto the silent machinegun at bottom left. A few of the remaining beasts continue their mindless advance forward as they are hack and machinegunned into pieces of stenched gore!
Facing north: The French advance to give covering fire to their brave native troops.
Facing north: The last beast makes it all the way to the muzzle of the second machinegun before it is surrounded and hacked to pieces!
Facing north: One of four piles of slain beasts created outside of the town. The stench becomes so fierce that even the French cannot stay and the village is soon abandoned - again!
Facing north: The survivors!

French - Major Victory - WINNER!
Giant Crabs - Major Defeat