Under Cover of Darkness - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Bastogne, Belgium (best played Human vs Human). Elements of the German 5th Panzer Army had cut off the last roads leading into Bastogne on December 20th. During the two days that followed, the 26 VG Division, with attached elements of the Panzer Lehr Division, consolidated their positions around the American forces, and probed at the perimeter defenses. Plans were laid for the morning of December 23 for a large scale assault against the prepared positions of the 101st Airborne Division (which had the benefit of considerable attachments, such as elements of CCB/10, CCR/9, the 705th TD Battalion, and a total of some 130 artillery pieces ranging from 75mm to 155 mm). The German attack would come in three sectors: from the Northwest, near Flamierge; to the West, near Senonchamps; and from the South and Southeast, near Marvie. The attacks from the NW and W, conducted by elements of the 26 VG Division, jumped off as scheduled the morning of the 23rd. The attacks were turned back by the Americans, who had the benefit of a clear flying day for their air support. The clear skies also allowed for a massive resupply by air as the day progressed, easing what had been an increasingly bad supply situation during the past 24 hours. The attack at Marvie, to be conducted by the 901st Panzer Grenadier Regiment (reinforced by a mixed company of Panthers and Mark IV's), was delayed, presumably due to fear of the Jabos dominating the battlefield durng the daylight hours. Rather than launch the attack as scheduled, the Germans opted to launch a sustained artillery barrage against the defenders at Marvie during the day, in preparation for an assault on the town under cover of darkness. In the wake of a disappointing day to the west, the men of the 901st PG Regiment hoped to greet the sunrise from the streets of Bastogne.