5 CG Dates -- In early January 1945, German High Command launched an ambitious offensive on the Western Front aimed at encircling the U.S. 7th Army in the French province of Alsace. After an initial rebuff in the northern sector, German Panzer-Korps XXXIX, consisting of Panzer-Division 21 and Panzergrenadier-Division 25, sought to break through American lines in the vicinity of the twin villages of Hatten-Rittershoffen. Victory would allow the Germans access to the open plains in the heart of Alsace. Mixed units from 42nd and 79th Infantry Divisions and 14th Armored Division were deployed to defend the villages. Between 9-13 January, a crucial battle was fought in the village of Hatten.
Attacker: German (Elements of Kompanie 3, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 35, Panzergrenadier-Division 25)
Defender: American (Elements of 1st Battalion, 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division and elements of B Company, 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion)
The US gave up a lot of ground on day one but were able to preserve some tanks and got a couple of surprise kills with BZKs and a HIP GMC. MTRs consistently were unable to get WP and the German advance was unhindered in the north. By day 3 the US lost all their tanks and the Infantry were holding their own in the town, but elsewhere were crumbling and getting pushed into the SW corner. The game was called in favor of the Germans at the end of Day 3.
2023-10-16
(D) M T
vs
V.K.
American win
2022-04-11
(D) Paul Works
vs
Dave Mareske
American win
2022-04-04
(A) Dave Mareske
vs
Paul Works
American win
The Germans made steady progress the first three days, but on day three suffered some major losses and were deeply wounded for the number of troops. While they had the six victory locations their defense bent and broke under the weight of overwhelming American forces on day four. The Germans conceded at the end of day four as their troops had dwindled even further. Even so, Hatten is a tough fight for the Americans as they need to conserve their strengths for the end of the campaign. Paul made great use of SMOKE/WP and the American bombardments were much more effective than the German ones. One of the highlights (and there were many) was an American hero stealing a PSK and taking out a Panther, needing a "3" to hit, rolling a "2", taking the back blast and killing a leader, breaking another squad and wounding himself!
2022-04-03
(D) James Quinn
vs
Dave Nicholas
American win
Nic attacked on both the left and right flanks. Southern flank was PG Kompanie strength with Panther support, while the main effort on the Northern flank was led by an understrength battalion with Stug and MkIV support. Nic's initial 120mm barrage on the US Coy HQ was successful with the MMG and SMC in the steeple broken, along with sundry other MMC. He also initially took the cemetery with no opposition. D Fire was eventful. My 80mm Bn mtr barrage broke the majority of his Kompanie in the Cemetiere de Hatten (including killing his 9-2 ldr). In addition, a TD ambush knocked out two of his 3-strong StuG plt. The platoon was finished off my Turn 1 Prep in addition to 3/4 of the Kompanie occupying the Cemetiere with my Fire For Effect 2.
Nic's Turn 2 saw him push the survivors from the Eglise St Michel when he couldn't get authorization for continuation of his 120mm barrage. His advance with the remainder of his battalion (-) through the covered approaches to the town also made significant progress with only three US squads fighting a delaying action. The remains of Nic's northern flank (infantry) tried to deal with the M24 and his wingman. After losing a loaded ht as a burning wreck, a surviving veh crew did end up immobilizing a Hellcat in CC but just couldn't close the deal with his remaining infantry.
Turn 3 saw German survivors of the Cemetiere debacle advance into CC with a squad of mine guarding the southernmost edge of town near the Synagogue. His Panthers shifted to the northern front, I tried a bazooka ambush side shot with a HIP HS but destroyed the baz. Further north and with the help of a MkIV platoon, Nic pushed the remains of my HQ Coy out of the church. All told, I got away with a 9-1 leader and a squad who joined the Hvy Wpns plt in and around the Temple Neuf. A German platoon (+) made the most significant advance this far and ended up 80 meters northeast of the Temple Neuf. Nics northernmost group formed a platoon sized MMG stack in an effort to suppress or eliminate the crew of my Tank Destroyer bushwackers with small arms. All fire there was ineffective (on both sides). I eliminated one of the squads I was in Melee with near the Synagogue in the CC phase.
US Turn 3: Two platoons of US armor arrived with four Sherman's moving towards the Gare de Hatten and four down the Rue Principal towards the Temple Neuf.
Onboard forces suffered casualties with the Amis giving better that they got. Both OBA modules were inactive. The US squad finished off the remaining kraut squad in Melee.
German turn 4 saw them stymied on all fronts. During my D Fire, my immobilized TD's wingman got a couple of great shots on the mmg platoon (courtesy of a rate tear). I broke and/or reduced the entire stack. At the end of this turn Nic decided to throw in the towel. He didn't have many troops left. The beating he received was due mostly to my great rolls, made at the right time, with the opening OBA FFE and M24 ambush specifically bearing mention. We are going to play this one again immediately now that we've both seen the elephant.
2021-04-16
(A) Ian Morris
vs
Martin Mayers
American win
Conceded at end of fourth scenario, when it became evident that I would not be able to hold the minimum six VP locations for a win.
2021-01-31
(A) Doba Serge
vs
Pascal Boileau
German win
2021-01-31
(D) Pascal Boileau
vs
Serge Doba
German win
The five days were required to end the CG. During the first 3 days, German troops were able to progress swiftly and controlled 6 locations at this date. The fourth day was a stalemate and the German progression was halted. On the fifth day, American troops pushed very hard on 2 locations and the German defense was near to collapse on the Northern one but the defense finally stands with the 2 Flammpanzers that come to the rescue.. In the last turn, I was short of 1-2 hexes to gain control of at least one location. Congrats to Serge for his German victory after a fierce fight !
2020-09-08
(A) Vilis Pavulans
vs
Matt Velazquez
German win
Tried the other side against Matt in his first campaign game. The americans weren´t prepared for a blitz and got completely overrun day 1. Had trouble getting back in day two and after losing almost all of their armour the american high command decided Hatten wasn´t worth fighting over and withdrew.
2020-05-17
(D) Vilis Pavulans
vs
Matias Dahlbäck
American win
2020-05-17
(A) Matias Dahlbäck
vs
Vilis Pavulans
American win
American win after German player conceded at the end of Day 2.
German side had a slow advance on Day 1, losing quite a bit of material for little gains. At the end of Day 2 the Americans had amassed a material advantage of tanks, mortars and trigger happy infantry, knocking the wind out of any further German advances.
It was a fun game, our first stab at the campaign scene, and lot of action, mishaps and unlikely outcomes.
2020-04-10
(D) Tom Kearney
vs
Alan Saltzman
American win
The CG ended at the end of the 3rd day. The Germans had dominated the three eastern objectives and finally managed to dominate the D13, but at a heavy cost. US forces were ready to mount a counter offensive on 12 Jan but the German decided to resign as he saw no hope of dominating another two objective areas.
2019-05-01
(D) David Yllanes
vs
juanjo
American win
Juanjo has a good first day but he makes the mistake of not selecting an attack chit on the second. My having the first turn allowed me to push him out of the northernmost objective and consolidate my position. Little advances in days 3 and 4. On day 5, Juanjo needs to take 2 victory points and he makes a big push from the northern area, taking that objective and trying to get to the town centre. But this allows me to recapture the station in the south.