Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Spearhead Division #21

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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Harste Spearhead Division #21
(Defender) Germany	vs	United States (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		116th Panzer Division
Germany		9th Panzer Division
United States		3rd "Spearhead" Armored Division
United States		414th Infantry Regiment

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	2

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

Parent Game	Spearhead Division
Historicity	Historical
Date	1945-04-09
Start Time	12:30
Turn Count	18
Visibility	Day
Counters	119
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	0
Maps	2: 22, 24
Layout Dimensions	56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in
Play Bounty	174
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Delaying Action
Exit the Battle Area
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Reinforcements
Smoke

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Elsenborn Ridge	Maps + Counters
Spearhead Division	Base Game

Introduction
It was obvious to all involved that the Third Reich had entered its death throes and that the war in Europe would be over soon. The only fly in the ointment was a rumor that the Nazis planned to continue the fight out of a redoubt in the Harz Mountains. The Allied command was not in a mood to take chances and ordered troops to occupy the passes leading out of the southern edge of the mountains. On April 5th Spearhead moved out and early on the 9th Task Force Richardson encountered a large number of tanks around Harste. This certainly didn’t quell the rumors of a last stand.

Introduction

It was obvious to all involved that the Third Reich had entered its death throes and that the war in Europe would be over soon. The only fly in the ointment was a rumor that the Nazis planned to continue the fight out of a redoubt in the Harz Mountains. The Allied command was not in a mood to take chances and ordered troops to occupy the passes leading out of the southern edge of the mountains. On April 5th Spearhead moved out and early on the 9th Task Force Richardson encountered a large number of tanks around Harste. This certainly didn’t quell the rumors of a last stand.

Conclusion
Task Force Richardson fought the Germans for a couple of hours, then slipped by them and continued their advance. Combat Command B had been following Task Force Richardson to eliminate the strongpoints that Richardson bypassed. They had already started to engage the numerous bypassed panzers when their old antagonists from Heavy Panzer Battalion 507 showed up. Together with plentiful close air support Combat Command B was able to drive the Germans from Harste. The Germans admitted losing four of their six King Tigers to the new American trend of using white phosphorous against them – the powerful fans providing air to the engines sucked in the deadly chemical fumes as well, making the tank’s interior uninhabitable.

Conclusion

Task Force Richardson fought the Germans for a couple of hours, then slipped by them and continued their advance. Combat Command B had been following Task Force Richardson to eliminate the strongpoints that Richardson bypassed. They had already started to engage the numerous bypassed panzers when their old antagonists from Heavy Panzer Battalion 507 showed up. Together with plentiful close air support Combat Command B was able to drive the Germans from Harste. The Germans admitted losing four of their six King Tigers to the new American trend of using white phosphorous against them – the powerful fans providing air to the engines sucked in the deadly chemical fumes as well, making the tank’s interior uninhabitable.

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) Anti-Tank Gun Carrier: half-track with anti-tank gun, NOT a Tank Destroyer 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).

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)
Anti-Tank Gun Carrier: half-track with anti-tank gun, NOT a Tank Destroyer
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).

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Schutzstaffel
Foot Leader Mechanized

Schutzstaffel

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

United States Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Mechanized

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Display Errata (4)

4 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	All SS PzIVH tanks should have a movement of 8. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	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)

Display AARs (1)

Spearhead Division: scenario #21: Harste

Author	JayTownsend
Method	Solo
Victor	United States
Play Date	2019-09-01
Language	English
Scenario	SpDv021

Spearhead Division: scenario #21: Harste

I wanted some late WWII heavy armor action, so I turned to the Spearhead Division. I won’t go into great detail but this was slugfest! Of course the Germans will try to knockout the Best American armor first, the: Jumbos, M4/76s, M36s and the M26s, so I tried to mix them in with normal stacks of Sherman tanks. By turn 14 I thought I had pretty much won as the Americans but then the SS Tiger IIs tanks and Infantry appeared and the battle was back one. What was left of my American armor could only takeout one step of Tiger IIs but a large Infantry mixed stack assaulted and took out two more Tiger IIs, as that is the safest way to do it.

The Americans won a major victory 83 points to 68 German points. If the Germans reinforcements had come on turn 7 or earlier, I believe the Germans would have won but fortunately they didn’t show up until game turn 14 on this 18 turn scenario, a very bloody one at that.

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