XIX Corps had penetrated the West Wall and was attempting to close the circle around Aachen. The 30th Infantry Division had attacked south toward Wuerselen and beaten off numerous counterattacks. General Corlett could get no additional outside help and was forced to use troops internal to the Corps to get the attack resumed.
Attacker: American (Reinforced elements I/116th Infantry Regt, 29th Infantry Division)
Defender: German (Reinforced elements 60th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 116th Panzer Division)
7 turns
Players: 2 OBA: Both Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:23.0 D:17.0
AFVs: A:5
M5A1 x 5
AFVs: D:3
PzKpfw IVJ x 2 PzKpfw VG
Guns: A:0 D:1
7.5cm PaK 40
Misc Rules:
Rubble is rally / rout terrain. A: Elite w D: AC1 can set up HIP
r 17, 2017
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#1
Tom Kearney and I sat down for some ITRII crack last Sunday. I've always enjoyed the BFP offerings and so far ITRII is no exception.
We played at festungMac so I had the defending Germans. The most difficult about organizing a defense in this scenario was deciding where to defend, the US has several avenues of advance, and where to make the final stand. I felt the flanks could be easily isolated by Tom and I was correct as the US firepower, specifically the 2x50cal w/ 10-2 death-star can pretty much rule the field from a level 2 orbit so I focused on a strong central defense with the central victory building being the alamo . Whether this was a faulty premise or Tom simply out maneuvered me I failed in a fight that was very entertaining until the end.
Tom's death-star started the bloodletting with a vengeance on his firs PFPh when he held RoF for like 6 shots and stripped and revealed every dummy and real squad along the entire left flank. He then pushed 4 or five hex rows deep along the board edge and I was helpless to do anything.
I got some good counter punching in when he brought his armor down the long straight road and my Pak 40 barked and held ROF to leave two stuarts burning, then on Turn 2 held ROF on a CA change to face smash the charging engineer platoon. The 75L crew valiantly held up the US right for 4 or 5 good turns before falling, but if it hadn't this thing would have been over in 5.
My artillery was the other saving grace. Tom's pursuit following his turn 1 smashing was excellent the German left and center never recovered and only got a break because the 80mm was finally able get down and cover their withdrawal. But what was left was not going to hold out in the center VC building very long.
My last chance for victory came in holding Tom's left flank and my artillery had his assembly areas in its sight but simply could not get down in time to significantly impeded him from getting good jump off points into the final building. The Germans fought valiantly here, but this building is NOT a good choice for the final stand as it is mostly rubbled and can be infiladed from darn near every level 1 and level 2 hex in the US set up area.
The issues in shifting my artillery gave Tom time to shift his left flank supporting fire sources and observer into position and even valiant charges by my reinforcing Pnzr IV's on death rides to his rear to try and break them failed and US chalked up the victory.
We choose this scenario because there is a lot going on for both sides but in the end the US firepower dominated the battlefield. Good scenario and I would play it again as either side.