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"Operation Boddenplatte!"
| German 18 AM Comments |
Allied 18 AM Comments |
 I
think the easy attrition period is over; powerful US units are about to pour
onto the board and this is where I have to really think about the tough
decisions. Stavelot and Vielsam are prime targets this turn; I'm really going to
load up at those two spots to make sure I can get across in good order. The US
air units are put to good use on air interdiction, especially since Bodenplatte
would have otherwise taken them away!
I had some tough decisions to make - as the astute observer might
notice, I would prefer to maximize the odds on my critical attacks and,
this turn, I didn't have the factors left over to execute the broadly
attritional attacks I normally do. Not having the air support due to
Boddenplatte was also annoying but this will pay off later in the game
as the US is with minimal air for a while.
In the North, I continue to use maneuver to advance towards Eupen.
The US can afford to give ground here so I'd say that this front is
relatively 'stable'.
In the Center, the key is breaching the Ambleve this turn before the
US 18AM reinforcements make things difficult. I chose to NOT build the
bridge to Stavelot in order get one level higher odds in the attack on
Stavelot. My advances are relatively tentative as I am aware of hordes
of US units poised to strike any of my exposed mech spearheads.
In the South, the key objective is breaching the river near Vielsam.
The bridge was already down, which was quite unfortunate, but I can't
afford to let the US reinforce this river line in safety. Near Bastogne,
I gobble up the sacrificed unit and continue to push near Martelange. |
 Only
four German attacks certainly reduced the attrition significantly, though
I don't fault Tom's choices. My good luck last turn and the few attacks
this turn meant that only 1 US unit is added to the dead pile. With the
18AM reinforcements, I have the luxury of doubling up some positions to
reduce the attrition further. I just have to avoid making those positions
easy to surround on a D2 or better.
This turn is the last to decide what garrison should be in Bastogne,
not that I had all that much choice. If the roads to Bastogne can be kept
open until 19AM, the US can put some 101st 5-ER units into the town, which
is helpful in resisting the bombardments later. This is pretty rare,
however. This game I feel fortunate to have the fort, Middleton, and 3
units to garrison the place.
I am using a Tom Gregorio ahistorical but cheap and LEGAL game trick,
by holding one regiment of the 101st off the board. This division arrives
on the south edge (at G), and the withheld regiment can come on next turn
anywhere along that edge. This can pose a useful threat.
No air as a result of Bodenplatte, so no roads cut solely by air power
this time. Fortunately I now have the troops to cover the roads available
to the Germans, and block the exploitation possibilities. The continuing
effect of the German army boundary helps for 18PM.
In the north, Eupen continues a quiet front, so one unit blocks the
infiltration of the Volks Grenadiers through the forest. Tom's advance
against Stavelot could have trapped the 6-5-4 northwest of Malmedy, but as
he chose to be conservative, I pulled the unit out. The road north from
Stavelot is defended in light woods terrain, which makes a combined arms
attack possible, but the other possible positions either risked being
surrounded, required costly flank defenses (and still risked surrounding
on a D2 or better), or gave up too much space. As it is, I am giving up
space faster than I could in the tournament game, given the location of
the victory hexes.
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German Combat Notes:
The results were favorable; here were my attacks & results:
1. 1811. 2-2=0 D4. 1/16 to 2211.
2. 2016: 4-2=2. D2. 7CCR to 2215
3. 2126: 6-1=5. D3 elim
4. 2432: 1-1=0. D3. 10CCA to 2631
I had a little tactical misplay as I should have been able to pin the US Inf
Regiment NW of Malmedy but I guess I wasn't expecting the D3 or D4 result!
Moderator Comments:
Post German 18AM Comments - It appears that Tom and I have a different
philosophical approach. That is not to say either is right or wrong, just
different. With the Allied defense so skillfully offered by John, I would have
made several across the board lower odds attacks than fewer higher odds attacks
and leave "Lady Luck" to deal the hand. That might have included an
infantry/artillery attempt to drive directly up the Eupen road. For example,
John and I have started a side game. On the 16PM turn, I conducted 15 attacks,
to include two 1-2s and five 1-1s. I feel that a few firefights and engages
could be just as damaging as a few big advances. Again, this boils down to
"philosophy." Tom's attacks proved effective in freeing up Martelange
and breaking the Stavelot river line, so his approach certainly proved effective
but localized. |
