The 113th Cavalry Group, which started its military career as the Iowa National Guard Cavalry in 1915 and known from its coat of arms as the "Red Horse," was put into combat 7 July in the Saint-Jean-de-Daye region of Normandy. Intended and trained for long-distance mounted reconnaissance, the Red Horse saw action all over Normandy, northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany-usually in the forefront of the battle. In its first engagement, the men of the Red Horse were forced to put aside their mounted tactics to battle elements of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 17 in the hedgerows outside of Goucherie.
Attacker: American (Troop A, 125th Cavalry Regiment, 113th Cavalry Group)
Defender: German (SS) (SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 17 "Götz von Berlichingen")
Poor choices for vehicle movement cost the Americans 2 AFVs early on. When the German AT crew broke, there was a brief opportunity for the Americans to make up lost time. But the Germans failed to break while the Americans failed to rally. On Turn 6, the Americans attempted a final push on the north side, but the German 6.4 average IFT roll ended all hope.
2024-03-07
(A) Andy Bagley
vs
Rick Domovic
American win
Second playing of this scenario - although I only realised this once we'd set up! This time I concentrated my attack on the south side, supported by my M5 tank crashing (successfully) through the bocage. The Germans fell back skilfully and mostly in good order, forcing me to charge his positions on the penultimate turn. At this point, the dice - which had been indifferent early on - suddenly turned favourable, with some very lucky results allowing me to exit just enough VPs to win.
2024-02-22
(D) Paolo Cariolato
vs
Federico Corso
German (SS) win
This is a very balanced scenario with bocage dominating gameplay. You really need to know your bocage if you are going to win this one.
Our game went to the last turn when the americans were not able to exit enough men to win. But it was close. Very close.
2024-02-01
(A) Andy Bagley
vs
American win
Bocage dominates here more than any other scenario I've played. The Germans started with an up-front defence but then dropped back hedgerow by hedgerow to avoid the huge American firepower. I concentrated my initial attack in the north, although this was probably a mistake as the very obvious AT Gun placement allowed it to shoot straight down the road, retaining concealment with multiple rate shots and causing havoc. However, the Germans lost a couple of squads early on when they couldn't rout across open ground to reach the next bocage line, and so surrendered.
Even so, by the end of American turn 4, things looked heavily in the Germans' favour, with the Americans making slow progress and the AT Gun still firing away. Things changed dramatically on turn 5 though, when a hero and fanatic HS managed to take out the AT Gun crew in CC, and a further German retreat to the woods line allowed the Americans to shift their attack quickly to the south via the main north-south road, with the bocage as cover. The tank and surviving armoured car also got behind the German defences, and they found themselves unable to shift enough defending squads south to stop the Americans streaming off via the southern road. Dramatic stuff!
2024-01-26
(D) Jonathan Plott
vs
Bill Ryder
German (SS) win
A tough slog for the Yanks through the bocage. After losing one of his ACs and bogging his Stuart, the defending SS troops were able to hold off enough of the attacking infantry to notch the win in a close fought game. Great match, Bill!
2024-01-11
(D) David Garvin
vs
Jack Daniels
American win
As part of Winter Offensive 2024
2023-05-25
(D) Indy Lagu
vs
Rob Oler
German (SS) win
The US have a tough slog through bocage defended
by ML 8 SS troops.
Rob's Americans attacked on a broad front and were
met by stiff resistance. As Simon said, there is a lot
for the US to do but they do have time. In our playing,
Rob simply ran out of time.
We think that his broad front was a decent idea.
Unfortunately for the US, their leaders were often
out of position and the US could therefore not
rally their broken units as efficiently as they might
have.
Well worth a replay.
2023-04-07
(D) Camille Garek
vs
Philippe BRIAUX
American win
2023-03-26
(A) Simon Staniforth
vs
American win
Looks a lot to do for the Americans pushing through slow Bocage against an Elite SS German infantry force backed up by a Pak40. However you have time with 7 turns, plenty of squads and some armour support. Risked the M5 taking a Bog check several times to avoid the roads where the ATG would no doubt be lurking and got lucky, keeping it in the game until the final turn. Then it was able to OVR / freeze a final defending squad allowing the US to exit the required 10 VP. Close game, feels well balanced and worth another play as either side
2023-02-02
(A) Eric Partizan Eric
vs
American win
2023-01-07
(D) Dan Best
vs
Kermit Mullins
German (SS) win
First to play and post.
2023-01-07
(A) Kermit Mullins
vs
Dan Best
German (SS) win
My Americans made good progress up until Turn 3. I successfully guessed where the AT Gun was and a critical hit from mortar took it out. But them two M8's ran up to a pinned final fired German 6-5-8 and couldn't break him. In PREP, that 6-5-8 fausted both of my M8's and my attack on that flank was completely broken as the German MMG KIA's a squad and my 9-1 and destroyed my 50 CAL. I tried to press forward, but the Germans broken me again. So at the end of three, I conceded. The Germans had lost only a 2-2-8 and I had lost my 9-1, 50 CAL, 2 x M8's, 4 x squads KIA'd and three broken. It was clearly game over. Dan's defense did its job.