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Go for Broke 3 #6 - Ciorland Leyte '44 #9 - Drive for Carigara
Go for Broke #6 - Ciorland
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People's Grenadiers
Elsenborn Ridge #30
(Attacker) Germany vs United States (Defender)
Formations Involved
Germany 12th Infantry Division
United States 99th "Battle Babies" Infantry Division
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for ElsR030
Total
Side 1 1
Draw 0
Side 2 3
Overall Rating, 4 votes
5
4
3
2
1
3
Scenario Rank: --- of 939
Parent Game Elsenborn Ridge
Historicity Historical
Date 1944-12-28
Start Time 05:30
Turn Count 20
Visibility Day
Counters 61
Net Morale 1
Net Initiative 0
Maps 4: 22, 23, 24, 25
Layout Dimensions 86 x 56 cm
34 x 22 in
Play Bounty 96
AAR Bounty 166
Total Plays 4
Total AARs 1
Battle Types
Road Control
Rural Assault
Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Terrain Mods
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Elsenborn Ridge Base Game
Introduction

On the northern flank of the German Ardennes offensive, the stout American defense of the twin villages and other locations totally disrupted German plans. The German command removed all panzer and panzer grenadier divisions from this flank, but the American salient at Wirtzfeld jutting into the German lines remained a danger due to the heavy American artillery concentration on the Elsenborn Ridge. After a delay of several days, Gen. Otto Hirtzfeld sent the remains of his 67th Corps forward.

Conclusion

The American artillery on Elsenborn Ridge was not packed wheel-to-wheel as junior officers told their men, but it came close. Without the proximity fuse it had been deadly to Germans in the open, but now the clear fields between the twin villages and the Elsenborn Ridge became a killing ground. The Volksgrenadier lost hundreds of men and did not come close to the American positions.


Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle
Heer
United States Order of Battle
Army
  • Towed

Display Errata (1)

1 Errata Item
Overall balance chart for 20

The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France.

(plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)

Display AARs (1)

VT fuses rule the day
Author campsawyer
Method Solo
Victor United States
Play Date 2012-01-07
Language English
Scenario ElsR030

A solo effort for this scenario and probably good that it was. This is one of the good historical scenarios but tough for one side and could make for a disappointing game for German player. In this the Germans have to attack a small groups of American infantry with HMGs and mortars with a Volksgrenadier reinforced battalion with support weapons. But the big difference is the American VT fuses that are devastating to infantry in the open and the Germans have plenty of open terrain to cover to win.

In this large map scenario, the Americans setup two companies on board 25 to cover the wooded approaches from the west and one company on board 23 to cover the open fields to the south. The Germans try a two pronged approach by placing three companies of GRENs and HMGs to advance up the road on board 22 and try to get close to the Americans to make them think twice about firing OBA that close, while the bulk of the VG's move up the road on board 24 and through the woods. Given the low visibility at the start this just might work for the Germans.

The advance start with the German on board 22, quickly moving up the road they encounter the Americans and the OBA starts bursting over the Germans. Causalities among the Germans start at the very beginning with step losses and demoralization's as a result of the low German morale. After four turns the German force is fleeing back to the towns that they started from without getting close to the Americans and losing one step of initiative in the process. To the north the Germans are more successful as the American OBA concentrated to the south. The American slowly move back from the edge of boards 25/23 to the high ground and inflict disruptions and demoralization's. The Germans mount attacks on the hill but the American OBA switches to the north and the even without the VT bonus kill the advancing Germans who soon retire back to the starting line with zero initiative left. After 22 steps lost the Germans will have to rethink how they advance on the Americans.

The VT fuses are devastating to units in the open, an American 24 OBA shifts up to a 55 factor for the attack guaranteeing a hit on the Germans. Low morale did the rest.

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