Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Black SS #22

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Caught in the Flank Black SS #22
(Attacker) Germany	vs	United States (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		116th Panzer Division
Germany		130th "Lehr" Panzer Division
Germany		275th Infantry Division
Germany		2nd SS "Das Reich" Division
United States		134th "First Nebraska" Infantry Regiment
United States		737th Tank Battalion

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	1
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 5
Scenario Rank: --- of 958

Parent Game	Black SS
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-08-08
Start Time	17:15
Turn Count	15
Visibility	Day
Counters	136
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	2
Maps	2: 24, 9
Layout Dimensions	56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in
Play Bounty	157
AAR Bounty	166
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Battle of the Bulge	Maps
Black SS	Base Game
Cassino '44	Counters
Elsenborn Ridge	Maps + Counters
Sinister Forces	Counters

Introduction
The 35th Infantry Division had been advancing for two days to reach the Mortain-Barenton road and relieve pressure on the hard-pressed 30th Infantry Division. By midafternoon the 134th Infantry Regiment had advanced east far enough to expose their left flank. The Germans noticed.

Conclusion
Spotter airplanes had been seen the Germans advancing south from Mortain but were unsure of their identity. By the time they were positively identified they were too close to the Americans to engage with artillery. The attackers missed the American spearheads and instead hit the American support units. They quickly destroyed a Sherman tank platoon and regimental cannon company. After rampaging through some jeeps and trucks the German tanks contented themselves with occupying a road along which American supplies had to pass.

Conclusion

Spotter airplanes had been seen the Germans advancing south from Mortain but were unsure of their identity. By the time they were positively identified they were too close to the Americans to engage with artillery. The attackers missed the American spearheads and instead hit the American support units. They quickly destroyed a Sherman tank platoon and regimental cannon company. After rampaging through some jeeps and trucks the German tanks contented themselves with occupying a road along which American supplies had to pass.

Additional Notes
Playable without using the black SS counters.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Schutzstaffel
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized

Schutzstaffel

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

United States Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (7)

7 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The movement allowance on the counters in Airborne is misprinted. It should be "3." (rerathbun on 2012 Jan 30)
	The reduced direct fire value of the SS HMG is 5-5 in Beyond Normandy and Road to Berlin. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The Units in Beyond Normandy were misprinted with a movement factor of 5. The movement factor should be 8. (rerathbun on 2012 Mar 21)
	Liberation 1944's counters are mislabeled 'PzIVF2.' The counter's ratings are correct (Armor 5, Move 8, DF 11-6, AT 6-8). (rerathbun on 2014 Feb 14)

Display AARs (1)

Incredible scenario

Author	Poor Yorek
Method	Solo
Victor	Draw
Play Date	2012-03-12
Language	English
Scenario	BlSS022

No doubt the best of the forty that I have played to date.

The set-up is much more subtle than a superficial glance suggests. For example, the US force is on foot, but must enter either through several hexes of fields (terrain mod) or strung along a road (or another trick): they are pressed to enter the large town quickly however. Likewise, the Germans must advance either south along a road or on board edges - wheeled vehicles like armored cars move slowly through wooded hills and they too are pressed to move quickly both to seal off the eastern board edge and get near the town before the US can consolidate as the VC conditions require the Germans both to block the road/board to the east, yet also mount successful assaults against the town hexes (or at least keep control of the road).

I will not detail this action because I think this one requires "both" sides to think carefully about how both to hold and to advance and the trade-offs for each (and thus I don't want to spoil the story). I'll simply say that this one was really fun offering any number of possible options (both with the smaller on-board 24 forces and how to organize the larger on-the-move units.

My scenario quickly changed from how I supposed it would evolve as vagaries of die rolls have huge positional ramifications. The M10 did sacrifice itself well destroying a step of PzIV-H before succumbing to Panther counter-fire. Pumas (SK234/2)came out on top of the M5 Stewarts in a battle of better armor vs. better gun as the US went for an early dash to the edge, but not unscathed.

US got off four countable steps (one of the M5's) before the Germans shut the eastern edge. Germans held the road to the east with no difficulty per se, and led by having fewer step losses for the middle/early late stages, but in moving for a major victory, lost several steps in town assaults. Also, the Germans SPWs were savaged by the US 57mm's and 105mm until the Germans could get close enough to lay on some DF (they only had a single stack of 3x81mm mortars -- one on a half-track) for artillery support.

So scenario ended in a minor victory for each side and, thus, a draw. Definitely recommended.

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