H2H-Spearhead into the Ruhr - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Kirchellen, Germany: [H2H]:[HIS] With Operation Plunder, the American 9th Army crossed the Rhine at Wesel. The 30th Infantry Division saw an opportunity to breakthrough into the Ruhr, but its hopes were dashed in dense forests east of Dinslaken when the 116. Panzer Division arrived on March 25 and halted the drive. After three days fighting, the 30th pushed through, almost to Kirchellen. Now on 28 March, the CCR 8th Armored Division was ordered to move from its assembly area in Bruckhausen at 0600 hours. Three columns advanced east and passed through the 30th Division. TF Walker spearheaded the advance, followed by TF Artman and TF Umanoff. The weakened German 60th Panzergrenadier Regiment defended a line from Im Loh to Kirchellen and along the rail line south. Supporting them were the I./16 Panzer Battalion, and 228 Panzerjager Battalion. In a rare appearance, Sturmmorser Company 1002 joined the fight. As the rumbling of tanks is heard in the woods, ersatztruppen anxiously clutch their Karabiner 98s and panzerfausts. Panzer crews scamper around their machines, making last minute checks as other troops race to their battle stations. And then, a deafening blast erupts from a trigger-happy Panther as the first Sherman tank emerges from the forest . . . The Allied attack is underway! Can the spearhead breakthrough at Kirchellen and push into the Ruhr?