So it was to game number 6 in our chronological battles through the Westwall for Wayne and I. So far, it had employed 3 scenarios each from 'North of Elsenborn' and 'Westwall' taking us now to the last battle for the 15th Sept 1944 and they had all been typical hard-battled Siegfried Line encounters (just like the real-thing). I looked forward to this one as it gives the opportunity to use hidden forces and launch an ambush attack on the invading Amis.

That said, some care needs to be taken by the German defenders. The ambush location is VERY far from the road and towns that need to be invested and Rain squalls cut down visibility to 6-8 hexes. So your forces will not always be able to see the enemy. It can be an easy mistake to make to either fire to soon or indeed too late (even worse). Positioning and Timing Sir .. Its all down to positioning and timing !. Here is the report to this short 12 turn encounter

As reported in the Homeland Security report, the American Third Armored Division had been trying to pres s through the Schill line. As in that last played scenario, this pitted the 9th Panzer Division against them. Although it had been a tough battle further up the line, the Americans had breached part of the wall there and run up dominant winners. Here, some revenge and balancing of honours would be sought.

The Americans here were advancing cautiously up the main road investing towns as they went. The Germans deployed here had with them a platoon of Panthers, varied tank destroyers, PzIV’s and some AT guns, as well as their infantry troops. They deployed either side of the road hidden amongst the rising ground and foliage. This however left them some distance from the hamlets that they were protecting, but if timed well, could make for an effective ambush. One other problem was the weather. The rain squalls were reducing visibility. Would they be able to see far enough to affect the ambush planned ? This would be more difficult given that vision was variable.

At Midday, American troops were sighted. A tense wait for half hour followed whilst the Americans advanced. They committed some armour to a forward town and then began sending out some more M4’s that way. As the second section of M4’s came into sight, the Germans opened up against the second batch of tanks destroying 1 step. Meanwhile, German infantry, about two companies of them, positioned on a hill nearest the villages that had been occupied by the earlier American AFV’s streamed forward before the enemy could advance to the next hamlet. The immediate American reaction was to withdraw the reinforcing vehicles back out of sight and leaving the advanced forces up in the air somewhat. For the next 45 minutes, both sides jostled for positions as GI’s were deployed forward against the defending grenadiers. The American Hellcat platoon also maneuvered at speed threatening would be German attacking AFV’s. For a brief moment around 1.30pm, the gloom lifted a little. At this point, some German infantry ventured forward against the American vanguard and threatened to enter the built up area they were occupying. The US forces had no choice but to fire out at them and in doing so, cut many of them down. Before these AFV’s had time to contemplate any celebration, more German armour and 75mm AT guns, previously unsighted, revealed themselves by unleashing fire from 2000m from both sides of the town. The carnage from the crossfire was complete. All the M4’s, 1 step of Scotts and a number of M3’s were wiped out when hit by the fearsome German 75mm and 88mm shells.

This whipped the Americans into aggressiveness. Suddenly, what remained of their armour plus their infantry began attacking moves to which the Germans also responded. On the stroke of 2pm a fearsome exchange took place near the American entry point. The Panthers and Hetzers took out the Hellcats and some M4/76’s as well as the ubiquitous M3’s. But the US troops responded by also eliminating both the Panthers and Hetzers which was achieved by bravely closing down on the range. In all, the short sharp combat in this quarter cost 4 German tank steps and 5 US tank steps with 3 steps of M3’s smashed. However, it did give the Americans an outside chance of inflicting more damage on the now disorganized German troops involved, and for a while, they were able to pick off some remnants of these German forces. But the Germans still possessed the trump cards. They had zeroed in OBA, more heavy tanks available in the PzIVH's, and plenty of infantry holding the hamlets. The Americans would not possibly be able to advance further with what they had remaining. At 2.30pm, the Americans finally retired putting the melee down to experience. Things would have to be re-thought here rather than a proud straight advance up the road. 9th Panzer had redeemed itself on the same day as other of its elements and attached Landeschutzen had succumbed to American forces elsewhere, albeit with a stout struggle (see Homeland Security AAR). The Westwall battles would drag on.

Westwall step casualties over the six chronological battles to date amount to :

German : INF 84, OFF 16, AFV 10, APC 0, GUN 12

American: INF 49, OFF 4, AFV 41, APC 22, GUN 0

I think Wayne mentioned that if the Germans set up well then they should win. Possibly true, but after he left and I was cogitating the just played battle, it did occur to me that IF say, when the Germans opened up they had rolled low numbers and missed, and American return fire was successful, then the battle could have flowed far differently. Its certainly not beyond the realms of feasibility ? Anyway, I initially gavethis a 3, but considering all the nic-nacs attached and the chance of variable results, I'm going to bang it a 4. MB has written up two good scenarios out of the three that I have played from this pack and the other was a '3' result I think. So far, North of Elsenborn is all good !