#23_01s: The Relief of Bastogne - Modified Setup - PzC 05 Bulge '44

Bastogne, Dec 23rd, 1944: The advance by the 4th Armored Division began on December 22nd, the Division moved out on the left flank of III Corps with virtually no contact with US forces to the west. To the east, the 26th and 80th Infantry Divisions were set to advance in a broad front to the north, passing through a picket of battle weary troops of the 28th Infantry Division. There were two main routes to Bastogne from the south; the Arlon-Bastogne road on the east, and the Neufchateau-Bastogne road on the west. Patton and III Corps preferred the Arlon route, at whose entrance the 4th Armored was already poised. On this route, a Sherman tank could make it from Martelange to Bastogne in a half hour - if the road was passable and enemy opposition was light. But the actual task was much harder and, in the end, relief to the encircled paratroops, didn't come until Dec 26th, and only then, after the 4th Armored Division shifted CCR west to take advantage of the route from Neufchateau. [Size, medium]. Initial setup is modified so that units of the 352nd VG ID, Pz.Abt.101 and Flak Abt.124 are not in the "T" mode. The 180th Fld Art Bn 26th ID is no longer fixed.