Bulge 16.01s alt

[Plain Ian]

Not really an AAR just ad hoc posting of my game. Start off with overview of north end of Turn 35 19th Dec 22:00 hrs.

Elsenborn:
99th Div has spent 3 days being pummeled and is now wrecked. 33% of units Broken rest are Max fat.
2nd Div is also Max Fat mostly and I'm trying to withdraw north.
9th Div has two Rgts deployed with one Rgt heavily fatigued and the second one reaching medium fatigue.
1st Div has one Rgt deployed and in reasonable condition with a second just arriving fresh to replace a Rgt from 30th Div at Robertville. A third Div is at Spa withdrawn heavily fatigued after trying to stop Peiiper at Malmedy.

Trois Ponts - Franchorchamps:
30th Div has saved the day and has taken over from 4th Armoured. Division is reasonably fatigued and withdrawing NW to Spa and west to Staumont under heavy enemy pressure.
4th Armoured has been deployed at Liernieux (didn't contest Vielsalm but blew bridges) and Trois Ponts. Rgt from 30th has moved to support Trois Ponts. 116th has infiltrated through woods south of Trois Ponts.

3rd Armoured (elements 2 Tank Batts + 1 Armd Inf Batt) has just arrived a few hours ago and has moved south. Still deciding what to do with it. My opponent has been playing very cautiously so no need to rush south. Not much tank support at Trois Pont so will either deploy here or hold sw of Staumont.

[Plain Ian]

Heres the position in the south.

4th ID despite being reinforced by 10th AD withdrew behind the Alzette R. Germans pulled Panzer Lehr south to reinforce their drive. Diekirch and Ettelbruch could not be held. This plus unbelievable artillery meant that I couldn't hold. Germans have threatened isolation so Rgt of 101st had to be diverted south to prevent this.

Bastogne: battered 28th plus two CC's of 4th AD fell back here but had no chance of holding when 2nd Panzer finally massed. 101st arrived but too late. 101st will slide south.
82nd now on stream and has been sent south as well. Will take up position north of Bastogne and relieve remnants of 106th. This will open a corridor to Marche but without armour I cannot see the sense in using infantry to stop panzers. (2nd Panzer has 60+ tanks and 30+ assault guns)

Arrival of 4th Armoured on 20th? will allow 501st Para to move north however situation at Alzette is critical. 4ID/4AD are heavily fatigued. Enemy have bridgehead at Mersch and in the north and Panzer Lehr is in strength and rampant. Further withdrawls west are planned.

[Plain Ian]

Just received turn back. Turn 36. Net losses for turn were - US lost 467 men and 22 tanks. Germans lost 74 men and 3 vehicles. (Defensive Fire does not work folks)

Situation at Bastogne and south of Bastogne shown.

2nd Pz and FBB have gained 1 more hex west and sw of Bastogne. Some of 2nd Pz has swung north and is driving down Houffalize road. 74th TD Batt and 14th Tank Batt cut off north of Bastogne.

No real change at Alzette although he has moved in a few more Batts.

[Plain Ian]

Close up of Alzette Kessel.

501st Para holding their positions and survived the midnight test with no Low Fuels.(Rgt HQ well outwith Div HQ radius)
Pz Lehr recce unit at Bekerich and another one also Redanges. (not visible) 2 more Batts from 352nd joined the Batt from 5 FJD and yet MORE A/T units.....in north against my 11th Tank Batt (37 tnks fat 46 Mor C). (37/46/C)

Opposite Mersch my 3 tank Batts 70th/3rd/10th have 7/24/32 tnks but average fat is 120 and morale D.

609th TD batt south of Boevange (24/70/C) and 19th Tank Batt 3 hexes west of this. (36/48/D)

Most of my infantry is Medium fat and needs another days rest. I intend to start withdrawing west from Mersch when he attacks from north. 4th Armoured due 06:00 (2 turns)

[Plain Ian]

Close up of Bastogne.

101st was rushed in to save 28th/10th Armoured and allow them fall back. No chance of saving Bastogne. 82nd was diverted south as there was no real pressure in north.
Rough plans shown on map but 82nd could be left high and dry so I may revise this'

Only 3 tank units available (707th is of no real value apart from target practice for his PzGr's) and 2 just cut off!

I will have to try and save now. Will have to use 27th Arm and lone support of 2-504th which is just above it and pull down more of this Rgt from Bertogne.

26th VGD is also in Bastogne area.

[Plain Ian]

Turn 36 20th December 0200 hours after Axis turn and I'm still to move. Have listed a few front line units with strength/fat/morale.

Axis hit 4 hexes with sustained artillery fire. (usually its just 1-2) 2 hexes must have lost 50 plus to Nebel fire alone plus 20+ to normal artillery on top of that. The other two probably averaged 35+. All but the 3/39th/741st were in Clear admittedly.
644th lost 7 tanks to German tank fire. 1 by 'drive by' ie unit rolls up fires and rolls away. 0 Defensive Fire kicked in.
741st lost a tank and again no return fire. Only effective fire from US was against 12th VGD unit when it moved in. (6 men)
US artillery did kick in slightly. Best results against 12th SS stack when my Rckt Artillery took 10 men.
US patrols from Robertville show enemy may be about to roll in his 'PAK attack' where he moves up AT guns unlimbers and my troops sit and watch.
He is also persisting in trying to force an opening up to Hofen. 741st and 3-39th are current blockers.....2-39th will switch soon.

US forces in reasonable condition. 2nd US has 2 unit in front line both needing replaced and 99th has one unit 3-395th which has been pressed into rearguard service. Rest is a rabble spread out by Hofen.

Best tank unit at moment is 613th but this belongs to 30th Div and shouldn't be there!

I may have to give some more ground but it will mean the loss of some artillery as they cannot bug out easily. Wood plus being heavy means it takes 2 turns.

[BigDuke66]

Mh is it just me or do the screenshots don't show up?

[Ricky B]

I see them just fine?

Rick

[Plain Ian]

Mh is it just me or do the screenshots don't show up?

I'm using Screenpresso for editing and Photobucket to host. Pictures are .png's. I'm still trying out things. Will try to reduce map size and also declutter the map with info. Taking too long although I will get quicker when I find the right style to use.

I tried to use Virginmedia Cloud but couldn't get it to work?

Last picture in a few hours. Staumont, Peiper, King Tigers.....then I start turn.

[BigDuke66]

Well I would recommend to change the hoster, I can't even get these pictures manually load using 2 browser, maybe one of those hosters were you need to log-in or whatever crap they use to make money.
I use http://imgur.com/ for my images.