Parker Crossroads - The Matrix Games version of West Front

On this Tuesday, 19 December 1944, You (Major Arthur C. Parker), in command of a small Artillery column belonging to the 589th Field artillery Battalion (106th Infantry Division); a small unit of about one hundred men together, with three 105mm Howitzers, are ordered to set up a defensive perimeter on a crossroads, known as the "Baraque de Fraiture crossroads" between Mannay and Houffalize, a strategical position on the main road (Highway N15) to Liege and the Ourthe Valley. This crossroads use to be very busy with a trafic of various troops movements riding up to Bastogne, withdeawing from St-Vith and by the endless convoys of the 82nd Airborne Division coming from Houffalize and heading to Werbomont. Later this day, a few attachments of Cavalry Reconnaissance (87th Squadron) and anti-aircraft units (203rd Battalion) belonging to the 7th Armored Division, joined your defensive position. Under an overcast and foggy sky, with very limited visibility, the G.Is are digging a few foxholes, emplacing each gun in firing position towards several directions and are awaiting the events of this troubled period. A few platoons of Sherman tanks from Task-Force Kane, belonging to the 3rd Armored Division whose dispersed elements left Bomal early afternoon to move up to the villages of Manhay, reinforced your position. An artillery liaison is also secured with the rear (Battery "A" of 54th Field Artillery Battalion) and a thin contact is kept to the north but the continuous German infiltrations into the thick forests are interfering with the lines of communications that will soon be cut to Salmchateau and to Samree by enemy roadblocks; only the road to Manhay is somewhat free. Shortly before dawn of 20 December, enemy patrols of the 560th Volksgrenadiers Division, coming from the north of Great Duchy of Luxembourg and having crossed the Ourthe River at the Brisy bridge, are probing the defense of the crossroads. Your troops will be receiving reinforcements of Airborn Infantry during the morning of 22 (Company "F" under Captain R. Woodruff Junior belonging to the 82nd Airborne Division). The adversary brings up considerable strength as the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" just regrouped at Hoffalize. Therefore, the extent of skirmishes is growing in volume around your position during the day of 23 December to develop at dusk into a fierce battle. Hold your position at all cost.