Panzer Grenadier Battles on March 28th:
Spearhead Division #15 - Dillenberg
More of a small diversionary Feint
Author GeneSteeler
Method Solo
Victor Germany
Play Date 2010-07-19
Language English
Scenario BeNo010

Casualty count is noted as (x-y), where x=German step losses, y=British step losses

THE BATTLE

0930: Panzers advance and the British Bren APCs flee. The Grenadiers advance and are hit hard by artillery and mortars. One platoon is lost (2-0). The British call in an tactical air strike and a direct hit by a B-25 Mitchell Bomber eliminates a second Grenadier platoon! (4-0)

First Turn and the Germans are already suffered more than half their allowable losses. German Command is Demoralized

0945: German PzV attacks in the southwest le haute du Bosq. British are demoralized and lose a step. (4-1) PzIVH move into a firing line with the British Churchills of the 7th RTR. The remaining Grenadiers and HMG platoons move west to assist the PzVs.

1000-1015: Churchills fire uphill as the PzIVH fire down into the town. Both sides miss. PzV platoons eliminate the RIF in the SW and German foot enter le haute du Bosq! (4-3)

1030: PzIVH move west out of firing lane with the Churchills. Long range armour battle is just too risky. Fearfull of the PzVs, the Churchills do not pursue. The 10th Highland Light Infantry takes further casualties. (4-4)

1045: PzVs disrupt the RIF in du Bosq and the Grenadiers assist by armour assaults. RIF loses 2 steps, but the Grenadiers are also reduced (1 in 6 chance!) (5-6)

Germans have turned this attack around and suddenly it is looking very tense!

1100: British HMG enters the assault as the PzVs advance on the town outskirts.

1115: PzV continue up the street aided by the SS PzIVH. British in SW end of le haute du Bosq are isolated and hit hard (assault 30 to 18). Grenadiers are demoralised. (5-7)

1130: PzIVH exit assault as the HMG advances. The Germans are shaken, but the British AT Gun is eliminated. (5-8) British infantry reinforces the assault.

Half an hour to go.

1145: Two assaults are underway. The first assault sees the Germans on the attack (30 to 13) and the Br WPN is eliminated (panzer disrupted)! (10-5)

The Germans have achieved their objective!

British initiate the second assault (13 to 18) as they need to inflict further casualties, resulting in morale checks. The Germans fail to recover.

British Churchills advance, but the PzIVH pull back.

1200: Germans win initiative and recover. The British retreat their disrupted men and the Churchills are sent into the assault!

Churchill, RIF and 1/2 WPN vs. 2 PzV and HMG! (18 to 30). Desperate the British attack and the SS HMG is reduced! (10-6)! (British suffer a M2).

British mortars have no effect and the battle is over.

GERMAN VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

If I planned a counter-attack, I’d hope to have more units than the enemy. Marching a single company against 2 battalions seems crazy! Thankfully the “cause casualties” objective allowed the Germans to avoid taking on the whole British force in a massive Urban assault!

This battle went down to the wire, the Germans were just cautious enough to deliver their 10 step losses required for victory but only receiving 6 step losses (1 away from British victory).

As historical, the Germans caused significant damage to the British flank. If the scenario was longer, I’m certain the historical outcome would have been reached of the PzVs slamming into the 5th DCLI Battalion and being slowly overcome.

Scenario Rating: 3/5 – Big set-up for the British where a number of units saw no action in this short scenario (fairly typical of these historical scenarios). This battle took nearly as long to set-up as it did to play through! Balanced victory conditions saw this one going down to the wire earning a 3/5.

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