Panzer Grenadier Battles on March 28th:
Spearhead Division #15 - Dillenberg
Watching British armour getting destroyed.
Author GeneSteeler
Method Solo
Victor Draw
Play Date 2010-07-30
Language English
Scenario BeNo011

British thought: British need to take the town preferably before the German reinforcements arrive. When the reinforcements (panzers) arrive it will be very hard to assault the combined Panzers and Grenadier defenders

Comment: There is a lot of time to only receive a maximum of 6 step losses. The German objective, particularly in the face of potential heavy artillery strikes and air attacks appears highly improbable.

The heavy rain is over, but the ground has turned into a soggy quagmire. Vehicular movement is impeded.

THE BATTLE

1230-1300: British armour advances on the 12th SS artillery regiment. The 9th Cameronians may not advance for the first 2 hours. German anti-tank fire begins and 3 Sherman platoons are reduced before return fire eliminates the Wespe. (2 German steps lost).

Shermans continue to push forward but are hit by a 75mm AT Gun battery. They stay out of sight of the German 88mm and Tiger tanks. British artillery scores an accurate strike eliminating an SPW251 and 105mm artillery. (4 German steps already eliminated!)

1300-1315: Shermans move against the 75mm AT Gun. Two Shermans are reduced but the AT Gun is demoralized by British mortar fire.

1330-1400: British armour advances but among the hedgerows, the Germans hold their ground. This battery is taking a long time to overcome! Eventually the 75mm is eliminated by close range Sherman fire! The nearby Grenadiers are reduced. (6 German steps lost)

1415-1430: Soon the reduced Grenadiers and the 20mm AA Battery are overrun. (according to the victory conditions, the Germans can no longer “win”)

The Tigers move to the east to line up the British armour. A long range anti-tank battle begins and the Archers are eliminated by the PzIVH.

The 9th Cameronians begin their advance. As they are on the move, the German foot falls back into Grainville.

1445-1515: British foot advances and CHARGES!!!

The Fireflies and Stuarts are eliminated as a few Shermans are reduced! Maybe this was a really bad idea?

1530: The British armour is shattered! The RIF are under fire but this diversion allows the British AT Guns to advance.

1545-1600: 17-pdr gets a flank shot into some PzIVH eliminating them! 88 and Tigers continue to pick off Shermans who have a slow time making it through the quagmire. This soft ground is killing the British armour, who really need to get flanking fire if they intend on taking out those Tigers! British infantry enters Grainville!

1615: German artillery demoralize the 17-pdr crew who flee. The Shermans are further reduced and only two half platoons remain of the 2nd Fife and Yeomanry! The 9th Cameronians manage to tank two-thirds of Grainville but their cohesion (and morale!) takes a hit. (down to 7/7 morale)

1630-1645: British continue to assault the Germans and AT fire from the infantry eliminates the German SPWs. But the PzIVH move into the township.

1700-1715: The assault in Grainville continues to rage and the British lose further cohesion (7/6 morale).

1730-1800: The British are pounded as the Tiger, after eliminating the last of the Shermans advances. More bad news for the British when elements of the 2nd Battalion, 12th SS Panzer Regiment arrive!

1815-1830: The German armour closes in. An advancing PzIVH is reduced but the British 6-pdr. In the assault the British lose another RIF and Captain.

1845 onwards: British are ready to call it a day as they continue to get pummelled. The 9th Cameronians lose further cohesion and are at a minimum 6/6 morale!

Soon afterwards they are completely demoralized and flee to the north. They are routing everywhere as the German panzers roll into Grainville. With only a few reduced platoons remaining the British admit defeat.

DRAW!

Aftermath

Technically a draw, but the British were completely trounced. Perhaps to avoid casualties, the Germans would have had to perform more of a fighting withdrawal back to Grainville and abandon their starting positions very early on.

Once the German reinforcements arrive, the British armour looks completely out-matched (if any of it was remaining!). The winning strategy here is unclear to me.

Scenario Rating: 2/5 – This was one of the poorer scenarios to date. I suspect most battles will end up in a draw.

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