Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Liberation 1944 #40

Panzer Grenadier Battles on November 21st:
Desert Rats #16 - The Panzers Pull Back	Desert Rats #19 - The Panzers Return
Desert Rats #17 - The Tomb Of Sidi Rezegh	Jungle Fighting #7 - Line Of Departure
Desert Rats #18 - A Pibroch's Skirl	South Africa's War #5 - Irish Eyes

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Guards Armoured Division Liberation 1944 #40
(Defender) Germany	vs	Britain (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Britain		32nd Guards Infantry Brigade
Germany		218th Strumpanzer Company
Germany		9th SS "Hohenstaufen" Panzer Division

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	1

Overall Rating, 2 votes
5 4 3 2 1 4.5
Scenario Rank: --- of 940

Parent Game	Liberation 1944
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-08-11
Start Time	09:00
Turn Count	24
Visibility	Day
Counters	146
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	1
Maps	2: 56, 59
Layout Dimensions	56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in
Play Bounty	173
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Exit the Battle Area
Hill Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Entrenchments
Hidden Units
Minefields
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Smoke

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Liberation 1944	Base Game

Introduction
The Guards Armoured Division planned to advance north of the Vire-Flers railroad while the 3rd Infantry Division did the same to the south with the intention of reaching Flers. They encountered their first obstacle at Chenedolle which had changed hands several times in the past week. The Germans knew the British would soon resume their southward push and had strengthened their forces in the surrounding area in anticipation.

Introduction

The Guards Armoured Division planned to advance north of the Vire-Flers railroad while the 3rd Infantry Division did the same to the south with the intention of reaching Flers. They encountered their first obstacle at Chenedolle which had changed hands several times in the past week. The Germans knew the British would soon resume their southward push and had strengthened their forces in the surrounding area in anticipation.

Conclusion
The first British attack saw the two assault companies suffer 70 percent casualties while their supporting armor was decimated. This forced the British to commit some of the exploitation formations to clear Chenedolle, thus upsetting the operation's timetable. Eventually they cleared Chenedolle and, according to a British office, "We are fighting some of the best troops the Germans have; they seem to hang on till the end."

Conclusion

The first British attack saw the two assault companies suffer 70 percent casualties while their supporting armor was decimated. This forced the British to commit some of the exploitation formations to clear Chenedolle, thus upsetting the operation's timetable. Eventually they cleared Chenedolle and, according to a British office, "We are fighting some of the best troops the Germans have; they seem to hang on till the end."

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 Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) Self-Propelled Artillery: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) Anti-Aircraft Weapon Carrier: apply a -1 modifier to an air attack if within three hexes of the targeted hex (15.14). 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). Prime Movers: Transports which only transport towed units and/or leaders (May not carry personnel units). May or may not be armored (armored models are open-top). All are mechanized. (SB)

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
Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
Self-Propelled Artillery: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
Anti-Aircraft Weapon Carrier: apply a -1 modifier to an air attack if within three hexes of the targeted hex (15.14).
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).
Prime Movers: Transports which only transport towed units and/or leaders (May not carry personnel units). May or may not be armored (armored models are open-top). All are mechanized. (SB)

Display Order of Battle

Britain Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Germany Order of Battle

Schutzstaffel
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Schutzstaffel

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (7)

7 Errata Items
	The "Optional Values" for the 17-Pdr given in an Avalanche Press Daily Content piece on the 17-Pdr Anti-Tank gun (and printed on a replacement counter sheet Download) are now the Official Ratings, published in games like Cassino '44, Grossdeutschland 1946, and Indian Unity, as shown in one of the two counter images. These are: 5-5 / 8-8 MA 0 (Towed). (caryn on 2012 May 03)
	The "Optional Values" for the Achilles---and by extension the Archer---given in an Avalanche Press Daily Content piece on the 17-Pdr Anti-Tank gun (and printed on a replacement counter sheet Download) are now the Official Ratings, published in games like Cassino '44, Grossdeutschland 1946, and Indian Unity. These are: 8-5 / 8-8 Full Strength and 4-5 / 8-8 Reduced Strength. (caryn on 2012 May 03)
	All Bren carriers should have a movement value of 7. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The "Optional Values" for the Firefly given in an Avalanche Press Daily Content piece on the 17-Pdr Anti-Tank gun (and printed on a replacement counter sheet Download) are now the Official Ratings, published in games like Cassino '44, Grossdeutschland 1946, and Indian Unity. These are: 5-5 / 8-8 Full Strength and 3-5 / 8-8 Reduced Strength. (caryn on 2012 May 03)
	Ignore the direct fire values. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The reduced direct fire value of the SS HMG is 5-5 in Beyond Normandy and Road to Berlin. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	Liberation 1944's StuG IV armor and movement ratings are misprinted. They should be Armor 5 and Movement 8. (rerathbun on 2014 Feb 14)

Display AARs (1)

Meat grinder

Author	pwags
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2021-02-17
Language	English
Scenario	LIBE040

Tons of units in play for this scenario. The OB appeared to favor the British, but the Germans had several advantages on the high ground, with entrenchments, and lots of hedgerows behind which to hide their AT guns. The Germans inflicted horrible damage - through the roof. In retrospect the Brits would have been better served by allocating more resources to identifying and dismantling minefields instead of assaulting the high ground. Loved this scenario.

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LIBE041

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