"Stemming the Black Tide"

German 17 PM Comments

John has left me some interesting choices. 150 Brigade can attempt to surround a unit but is it better to save the threat for later? [Skorzeny tried & failed.] At least one Angriff attack will be tried to get mech units adjacent to Bastogne but there is a real risk of failure. Having both US Air units tied up doing interdiction is a nice plus for this turn but clearly his northern front is starting to stiffen with the arrival of some veteran infantry from the "Big Red One".

Allied 17 PM Comments

Tom set up a series of well-planned attacks, which had good odds of killing at least one or two more Yanks, plus trapping my artillery north of Houffalize, not to mention the 1/3 shot at advancing next to Bastogne and preventing the fort build. I was then remarkably lucky, starting with the failure of Skorzeny to pass a baseball trivia test. And the luck continued into the end of Tom's turn, when my fuel dump blew. This one was in 1709, which had one of the 1st Division regiments present. Tom advanced into an adjacent hex, so I tried lighting the fuse. Fortunately it went off. Only one fuel dump left.

In my 17PM turn, I suddenly found myself with more units than I had expected. I've set up a defense trying to minimize further losses without giving up too much space. This again called for double air units to interdict the road past Noville to the west. Otherwise I would have to weaken Bastogne's fort and defend in light woods terrain.

Turn Navigator: [ December 16 AM ] [ December 16 PM ] [ December 17 AM ] [ December 17 PM ] [ December 18 AM ] [ December 18 PM ] [ December 19 AM ] [ December 19 PM ] [ December 20 AM ] [ December 20 PM ] [ December 21 AM ] [ December 21 PM ] [ December 22 AM ] [ December 22 PM ] [ December 23 AM ] [ December 23 PM ] [ December 24 AM ] [ December 26 AM ]

Combat Notes:

2126: 3-1(-2) ANGRIFF Result = 5-2 = 3 = ADV1

2018: 6-1(-1) Result = 6-1 = 5 = FF

1713: SS Panzer Scare Result = 3 = Minimal Trepidation.

1713: 6-1(-2) Result = 5-2 = 3 = 1D1!

1511: SS Panzer Scare Result = 4 = Run for the hills!

1511: 6-1(-2) Result = 3-2 = 1 = 1D3

1814: 1-1(-1) = 6-1 = 5 = SU

Moderator Comments:

John had some tough decisions to make this turn. By allowing the Germans to cut the Martelange/Bastogne road and garrisoning Bastogne with an onmap unit, he economized with what he had and still gave himself an opportunity to build the important fortification. German mechanized exploitation has been minimized by the judicious placement of air interdiction and artillery. If Tom wants a flanking attack on 9/CCB he will have to move next to Malmedy and release the Allied unit in Herve. Note that the Germans cannot Angriff attack 28/112 and expect to advance after combat from hex 1612 to hex 1611 because a German mechanized unit did not start the turn next to the river hexside. John has it right in that two units from 7th Armor must immediately move toward the center of the Allied defense. The loss of 4/12 last turn may give the Germans more opportunities in the South than normally expected at this time.

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