XX Corps Drive for the Moselle - The Matrix Games version of West Front

September 6, 1994 (Best played against human opponent) During the last days of August, the only formations that stood in the way of the American XX Corps' advance toward the Meuse River were the battered remnants of the 17th SS PG Division and 48th Division. On September 1, 1944, the US 7th Armored Division, spearhead of XX Corps, seized a bridge at Verdun, and stood poised to adavnce to the line of the Moselle; there was little the Germans could do to stop them. But a critical shortage of gasoline severely limited the employment of the American mobile forces, and, when the Americans failed to immediately press out of their bridgehead in force, the Germans used the next several days to their advantage. By September 4th, the US 3rd Cavalry Recon Squadron had pressed toward the Moselle, with leading patrols advancing as far as Arnaville and Gravelotte. The cavalry met increasingly strong resistance, and in a masterful ambush by German forces near Gravelotte, the 3rd Cavalry's commanding officer, Colonel Drury, was captured. On the night of September 5, General Walker (XX Corps) issued his orders for an advance to the Moselle, with the objective of securing a crossing. The Americans met strong resistance at several points, and by midday, consolidated some of their attacking forces to enable a stronger push toward the river. This scenario depicts the action for the balance of the day.