My goal when I started this project was to use my available figures to build the 4th armored division of the the U.S. and a Panzergrenadier division of Germany. I completed the 4th, and got most of the Panzergrenadier division completed - minus its recon battalion and a company of Panzers. My interest has been mostly focused on the Encirclement of Nancy and Arracourt around September 1944. Within that context I'm allowing myself some leeway for terrain, and stuff I've already painted to add to the mix. This After Action Report (AAR) is a hypothetical clash between elements of the U.S. 80th infantry division, and Combat Command A of the 4th Armored division, versus the 3rd Panzergrenadier division bolstered by a battalion of Tiger I's and Panthers.
The victory conditions were simple, take or hold the two villages. The Americans had them, the Germans wanted them and were attacking. Only two American battalions started on the board, one for each village, both with a single company of M10 tank destroyers. The Americans had some air support and a full division worth of artillery (three medium batteries, and one heavy), while the Germans had only two medium batteries of artillery for support. German troops were mostly rated as trained, and their leadership skilled. The American troops were experienced and leadership rated as average. The Tiger's were rated as veterans, and the Panthers green.
I will try to let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
Below we see the initial assault of Panthers and Panzergrenadier infantry versus an American Battalion in the village of Avant. You only see a single company of the American Battalion. They used opportunity fire to disorder the Panther with a "D". If you know the rules, this is the same as suppressed.
From the Southeast Stugs with more infantry support attack. The Germans have also placed a spotting round for artillery in this image.
Over in Le Pont the Tigers attack with two battalions of infantry support.
Combat Command A crosses the Moselle.
The German Tiger commander concerned that all of the American reinforcements are concentrating on his side of the battlefield, presses his attack.
An American Tank battalion views the now German occupied Avant in the distance.
The Americans had a slow start, only drawing a move one command card initially and rolling a leadership roll of 1 for that! By the time the move cards started appearing, the Germans had already secured the more southern village where the bulk of their forces were located, and had advanced up to the southern bridge. The Americans wisely choose to use the Northern bridge to attempt and overwhelm the three German Battalions attacking the larger more northern town of La Pont. Above you can see the Panthers turning to travel back the road that connects the two urban areas in an effort to help capture the last town.
An American Battalion succeeds in its engineering roll to cross the Moselle and promptly sits there to go fishing. You can see the aforementioned armored battalion (part of the same command group) and an attached Greyhound M8 - the only recon company on the board.
The Germans have taken about half of La Pont, including the Church. Here a company of Germans close assaults the flank of the American reinforcements trying to enter an orchard. The Americans were also trying to retake the Church, but the Tigers said no!
Then American artillery answered.
Here we see part of the "American Pocket" over the north Moselle. You can also see the rest of the German forces finally making their way over to attempt and help secure La Pont. The Panzer battalion approaching the American battalion on the hill would be wiped out. Notice the American infantry still "fishing."
Part of the pocket, and a well placed German spotting round that would hammer the Americans that were clustered there.
The last American company in the town (above) was soon wiped out after this shot, along with the lone German company in the Church.
Arrival of American air power.
One Tiger company was lost. Both sides ran out of Morale chips. The Americans passed their first Morale test, but not the second. The battle ended with the Germans occupying one town, and the other town unoccupied, a tactical German victory.
