Just to find something for my foot infantry to do (I probably won't get them into play for while if I only attack up the Marnach highway), I attack the US bridgehead between the Our and Prum Rivers. Bleialf is cleared, and I can probably capture the Our bridge intact today. Auw is out of supply.
US (map) - The US decide to play it risky by committing 3 armor steps to hold Schoenburg. The Germans, if they attack, will only be able to muster 8 steps. If they don't get artillery support (36% probability), tanks defending at DM -2 will give a big hurt to German armor. And the Germans need every tank step.
The Gemund-Holzhum bridge is repaired, but the Dasburg-Marnach bridge is not.
US (map) - There are no exploitable holes, so everyone just sits tight.
The Dasburg-Marnach bridge is finally fixed, though too late to do anything today.
US (map) - Reinforcements: 1 armor step from the south.
Entrenched engineers backed by tanks invest the western bank of the Clerf River. Some motorize infantry occupy Winterspelt, east of the Our, to make sure the unit from 9th Armored doesn't get cut-off. There are no reserves, though the armor unit in Lullange isn't necessary (yet). The stranded defenders of Auw leave their foxholes and wander west.
An attempt is made to take Lutzkampen-Burg Reuland bridge, which is blown. Instead, the regiment of 116 Pz is directed to Marnach and clears the area.
Further south, the 5FJ armor detachment attempts to cross into Goesdorf, but is also turned away by a blown bridge. Instead, it spearheads an attack into Ettlebruck, capturing the bridge intact and dispersing the meager defenders.
The LVIII Flak moves into Prum in case the out of supply US unit gets any funny ideas.
US (map) - Reinforcements:
However, up by Marnach, 8 tank steps slam into the leading elements of 7th Armored at Weiswampach to no avail. For once, the US gave more than it took.
US (map) - The armor step in Goesdorf, no longer needed there, blocks off Martelange. Otherwise there are no threats to respond to.
Perhaps tired waiting for a breach to exploit in the south, the units along the upper Our throw themselves into the US positions. At Winterspelt, the defenders are overwhelmed without serious German casualties. At Burg Reuland, it is more like the Wiltz battle of that afternoon: infantry suffer heavy losses while assaulting a river, though the area is cleared in the end. Coincidentally, Schoenburg also parallels the earlier engagement at Weiswampach. A whole regiment of 116th Pz evaporates in exchange for a tank step.
No bridges were repaired today (though many were blown) because either engineers or assaulting infantry weren't in place. The engineers set up shop in Hosheid, Holzhum, and Lutzkampen. Infantry are already across for the latter two.
Finally, a regiment of 2nd Pz reinforces the attack up the left boundary and gets as far as Rambrouch.
US (map) - Reinforcements: 5 armor, 2 mechanized steps from the south.
It is decided that Goesdorf is untenable since it may be cut off by an attack at Duncols. Parts of the 7th and 10th Armored form a ragged line from Duncols to St. Vith. The goal is to destroy a couple tank steps for each area the Germans attack. Eventually their offense will bleed to a halt.
Three units are assembled into a reserve at Baraque de Fraiture. The engineers, displaced from the Clerf River, are now wire the bridges at Champion and Trois Points.
In a Hail Mary attack, the German foot infantry at Ettelbruck try through Duncols and possibly allow the Germans to capture Bastogne. The fighting was bloody, and when the dust settled, one regiment of the 5th FJ and the combat group of 7th Armored had vanished.
The fighting is also vigorous at the other end of the front. One regiment of Pz Lehr is traded for a combat group of 10th Armored.
The Lutzkampen-Burg Reuland bridge is fixed, though it is no longer vital since supplies can come through St. Vith now. The Holzum-Wiltz bridge, however, is not repaired.
US (map) - Reinforcements:
One unit of the reserve is committed to block off Recht.
Germans (map) - The attack at Bastogne runs into trouble, lacking artillery support and losing 3 armor steps for one step of US casualties. However, the attack got some units out of the way along the southern boundary and allows a scratch group of units to attack Martelange. This attack is more successful, clearing the area without casualties. An engineer is also handy to bridge the Sure River, if need be.
The battles at Weiswampach continues. Two more tank steps are lost, but the area is cleared. Perhaps now Lullange can be turned.
The 182nd Flak takes up Wiltz to guard the southern supply lines and help the 207th Pioneers to fix the bridge. However, the Holzhum-Wiltz bridge repair continues to suffer delays.
US (map) - The hole at Martelange cannot be exploited, so no reaction is needed in that sector. One more unit from the reserve is used to plug Trois Vierges.
Germans - All backed up reinforcements enter through Zone B and enter Holzhum.
After deciding it wasn't worth it to slog through the US units between Weiswampach and Bastogne, all available units round Ettelbruck and cram themselves as close to Bastogne as possible.
The Holzhum-Wiltz bridge still refuses to support vehicles.
US (zoomed-out map, zoomed-in map) - Reinforcements: 1 armor step from the north.
For the most part, the line north of Bastogne has held. One brigade of 101st Airborn blocks Fauvilliers, backed up by 1 step of armor further back. The rest of the 101st and 82nd spread themselves along the upper Ourthe. This should be enough reserves, though they now fast running out of tanks.
Germans (map) - Reinforcements: 4 armor, 3 mechanized steps (delayed)
Bastogne falls! Possibly tired by yesterday's exertion, the defence collapses soon after the fresh attack began. Having full artillery also helped the Germans.
To the north, the Germans decide it's a waste to not use the relatively fresh infantry regiments and launch them at Beho. One supporting regiment of Pz Lehr is shattered, but the Americans have another hole to worry about. Can the Germans possibly release 2nd SS Pz today? Doubtful.
To round out a good morning, the engineers at Holzhum finally fix the bridge.
US (map) - Now that Bastogne has fallen, there doesn't seem much point in extending the line several more areas just to block the highway between Bastogne and Weiswampach. Theses units pull back to line stretching from Sprimont to Vielsam, a sort of extra barrier between the Germans and the Ourthe line. The unit in Fauvilliers is pulled back into reserve rather than be cut-off by an attack into Neuf Chateau.
Germans (map) - Time is fast running out to use special forces. An attack, composed of engineers and infantry in case some bridging needs to be done tomorrow, is made against Sprimont. The area is cleared, but across the Ourthe are 9 US infantry steps. The alternative of attacking Bertogne was rejected because there were only two units which could exploit a victory there. Bitter, bitter.
As an afterthought, an attack is launched against Neuf Chateau. The defenders give their all, but are vanquished in the end.
US (map) - Weaken Champion to buttress the flank? I think not! The brigade of 101st Airborn is pulled out of La Roche instead.
Germans (map) - The Germans have a few options here:
It is decided that Libramont will be more likely to succeed and more damaging to the Americans. The Germans special forces are wasted on this puny battle and have no effect in any case.
All other units crowd towards Bastogne. The exceptions are a screen of weakened foot infantry units, which move north to relieve other units from holding the line along the Salm.
US (map) - Reinforcements: 1 armor step from the north.
Moircy and its bridge is abandoned, but the flank has been turned anyway. The Americans stubbornly refuse to move the "reserve" out of Champion, even though they are now on the front. The engineers from Trois Points displace the engineers in Champion, who now move to Wellin to protect that panzer release area.
Germans score 2 VPs. Assuming, with good accuracy, that the Germans hold Bastogne for the rest of the game, that is 8 VPs, or an Allied Tactical Victory.
Germans (map) - Reinforcements: 10 tank, 7 mechanized steps (delayed). Herr Hitler finally releases 2nd SS Pz. In an attempt to bypass Lubin and Champion, an attack is launched against St. Hubert, but the tenacious defenders hang on. A secondary attack at Bertogne, possibly allowing an exploitation into La Roche and also bypassing Champion, also fails to come off by a narrow margin. This sort of thing has to stop or the offensive will grind to a halt. The only consolation is that no armor steps were lost.
US (map) - Reinforcements: 1 tank step from the west (delayed)
There are no holes to plug, so everyone just sits tight.
Germans - The there's not much else to do except try to breakthrough again. An attack is launched at Libin. The area is cleared with minor casualties.
Hoffalize is also stormed by waves of foot infantry. The infantry take almost 40% casualties, but a large hole has been opened in the US line.
US (map) - The hole at Hoffalize causes a bit of a panic. Two units move into La Roche and Baraque de Fraiture while the unit in Bertogne pulls back to Champion. A unit is also pushed into Transinne.
Germans - The offensive is starting to run out of gas. The Germans cannot muster enough units to even make one 9 step attack, so they settle for two 6+ step "attrition" attacks. Attrition is mot juste. The defenders at Transinne bleed the mechanized infantry white. At La Roche, the Germans fare better, at least giving as much they took. As an added bonus, they have a foothold across the Ourthe.
2nd SS Pz gets as far as Trois Vierges. It seems like 10th SS Pz and 11th Pz, if they are ever released at all, won't be of much use.
US (map) - Reinforcements: 1 engineering step from the west.
St. Hubert and Champion are declared untenable, and speed-bump, 1 step rear guards are left to hold the line while the engineers and armor fall back to a line running from Wellin to Marche.
The Germans score two more VPs, bringing the tally up to 4.
Germans (map) - With the (relatively) weak front the US now has, the Germans decide to destroy as many as possible, forcing the US to commit most of its latest reserves. Attacks at Champion (attacked from St. Hubert instead of over the bridge), La Roche, and Baraque de Fraiture succeed with light casualties. Half the US front has disappeared.
US (map) - Reinforcements:
The desperately needed reinforcements could not have come at a better time. Newly arrived units of the 84th Infantry anchor the new line running from Bande to Ville. The unit and Vielsam and a reserve unit complete the line.
Germans (map) - Time is running out, and it looks like at best the Germans can manage is a draw. The exit zones can be easily defended. Even still, the offensive doggedly pushes on. The St. Hubert-Grupont bridge is captured after a faulty demolition attempt. Its defenders inflict maximum casualties before succombing. German engineers are already in position.
Leading elements of 2nd SS Pz are waved ahead to strike at Bande. The tanks of 84th Infantry, which the US hoped would hold the Germans away from Marche until tomorrow, dissolves beneath the withering fire of the fanatical tankers. The secondary attack at Ligneires to clear another approach to Marche is no longer needed, but it fulfills its objective anyway.
US (map) - All backed up reinforcements enter.
Marche's garrison is bulked up to 7 steps by disengaging the 101st Airborn in Transinne and using the last of the 84th Infantry reinforcement. One step of reinforcements is also used to plug Petit Han.
Germans (map) - With no hope of capturing Marche today (and unlikely tomorrow, for that matter) the Germans concede their position. The Germans only achieved 8 VPs for holding Bastogne for four days. Allied Tactical Victory.
Germans - The Germans started out well enough, though it would have been nice to have captured a bridge over the Clerf or upper (northern) Our. A series of successful bridge demolitions backed-up the offensive for a while, but the turning point must be on the 18th with the failed attack on Bastogne. Not only were no VPs gained, but the drive up the southern boundary - the most successful axis of advance - was deprived of support, which was funneled instead to Bastogne.
One wonders what would have happened if 2nd SS Pz were released on the 19th. Of all the words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: it might have been. It should be noted that to release them on the 19th, Trois Points and Grandmenil must be contested by the afternoon of the 19th. A summary of my thoughts on aiming for Trois Points/Grandmenil:
US - Really, this is not US play at its best. When possible, the US should form a line just out of reach of the follow-up German attack. On the one hand, it does give up space for "free." On the other hand, it conserves man-power and stops the attack cold for the day.
Then there's the school that says the US should use their weaker units as fodder first, saving the armor and big units for when you need them. "Your early stop-gap units will die," they say, "so might as well save your important units for when then can do some good." My counterarguement would be that using the big units, especially the armor, immediately start to attrition the German attack. The Germans need all the 3 step units it has to constantly make those 9 step attacks; 1 step units are only good for holding stagnant lines. Also, there is the off chance that a big unit halts the German advance.
Comments? Problems? Questions? jgf169@mail.utexas.edu
