Across The Seine DAR

[Cole]

Sounds of German artillery bark out from Troyes and soon explosions burst in the midst of the American advance. Some close calls but no damage done so far.
1st LT Lyons reported that German recon raced back up the hill out of hiding and were able to destroy a loaded Willy MB carrier behind his position. Lyon's Shermans couldn't get a clear shot. Two of Capt. Miller's tanks had the road covered and the recon unit had a nasty surprise when they tried to race back into hiding. The two Shermans fired almost simultaneously and wrecks now litter the road.
While Miller was telling Lyons that his platoon destroyed the armored cars Lyons went on to say that they were closely engaged with German infantry.



After a few minutes Lyons reported that his tanks and accompanying infantry made two SS infantry platoons retreat and were now advancing to engage German machine gunners.
With artillery fire starting to fall Capt. Miller didn't worry about the seven foot wide anti-tank ditch in front of his tanks. He ordered his Shermans to gun their engines and they were soon across. Miller ordered his tanks further down the slop but were surprised by German infantry hiding in a wheat field. Bullets were zipping by his head and Miller lost focus for the next few minutes as he tried to reorganize his disrupted tanks and alert LT Baum.



LT Baum raced forward with his Shermans and forced the infantry platoon to retreat. American infantry then came on the scene and then caused another platoon to flee.

Capt. Miller was too busy to notice the bullets that still were ricocheting off his tank. He was too busy directing his platoon, and calling in artillery and air strikes on both the German infantry close at hand and the positions on the outskirts of Troyes. Historically Capt. Miller never buttoned up during the battle so he could keep better situational awareness.