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Maybe not finished but it's great scenario. Best I ever played. Good work von Erlmann :bow:

Front lines at the end of Turn 38

293rd VG Regiment:

An American tank platoon seen retreating from the hill top. Another tank platoon moves forward to overlook the valley and bridge below. The spotters were spotted and destroyed by Tigers.



Schoenburg:
Heavy indirect American artillery this turn scored some hits; especially hurtful was a hit on a loaded truck with field guns. Two 105 mm guns destroyed.

At least 4 platoons of American tanks retreating along the roads. Their retreat covered by infantry in the town. The Tiger tanks moved forward first into the hamlet and absorbed all infantry op fire. Instead of retreating they stay in the hamlet along with a Panther platoon. Even if the infantry scores some kills and the American armor returns to support at least they will remain in striking distance.

Kampfgruppe Telkamp has found the fight. Initially I was going to advance through Born and help take St. Vith from the north but a half track acting as recon discovered a heavy American infantry presence there. I set as a new objective the bridges at Vielsalm and was hoping the Americans would rush forces to Born while I hit to the west. Looks like Steve anticipated this move.

The screen shot below shows American armor revealing their positions as two Panther platoons attempt to take the high ground.



There were also three platoons of M10's and one other tank platoon that engaged my armor advancing along the road emerging from the woods. The 80mm glacis armor on the front of the Panthers repelled most shots from the M10s but in the rush forward the German gunners could only make a platoon of the enemy retire and disrupt another. Even the tank platoon below the German guns only suffered one casualty.

The Panthers retired back into the wood line. Unfortunately one platoon remains exposed and will probably be overran by American infantry next turn.

293rd VG REG - Nothing to report except a disrupted mortar platoon made advancing infantry fall back. More infantry moves forward. No sign of the other American tank platoon.

Schoenburg - Two American tanks decided to engage the vanguard Panthers in the hamlet and op fire from a Panther disrupted them. More American tanks engaged but could only disrupt a Panther platoon and destroy a tank. The American tanks retired and the disrupted American tanks were captured.

Two platoons of M-10s had better luck engaging Panthers and PZ-IV's. My op fire could not pierce their armor and they scored some kills.

Besides that my advance continues. The Americans show how much they value the life of their truck drivers again. One half track blocking the road behind the retreating M-10s was destroyed but four of the six truck drivers stationed in the same hex escaped (this turn).

Ford at Steinebruck - Here we go again. Lots of American infantry, howitzer platoons, AA half tracks, and those indestructible Quad .50 cal trucks. It was good to see during the replay that my indirect fire caused some smoke plumes to rise. This turn I scouted but left most of my infantry back to avoid the American artillery and preponderance of firepower.

Kampfgruppe Telkamp - The American armor counter attacks to devastating effect. An infantry platoon caused the disrupted Panther platoon on the hill top to retire and my op fire failed to damage any American tank that climbed the hill. One Panther platoon destroyed on the hill top and on other platoon destroyed and two retreated up the hill from the road. During my turn my artillery cleared the infantry off the open hill hex and after a M-10 was destroyed (finally) the rest of that platoon retreated.

I spotted at least 4 new tanks platoons along with the others that already stopped my advance last turn. My forces await any American counter attack.

The only good news is that two Greyhound platoons came out of the woods to the rear and came close to my Brigade HQ. Unfortunately for them a Panzergrenadier platoon destroyed three Greyhounds and a Panther platoon easily dispatched the other.

After Steve's turn the VP total was down to -79 but I managed to bring it close to 0 again. I have a long way to go. Even if I do capture St. Vith I will still be at a minor loss. Unfortunately I'm only making headway at Schoenburg.

Kampfgruppe Telkamp stopped in their tracks. Time for both sides to work the flanks.

Stopped on both fords south of Schoenburg. Good news here is the substantial American infantry and armor guarding the fords are not involved elsewhere.

293rd VG REG - Good progress but a long way from the action. Expect contact soon with the American infantry that was rushed to Born in reaction to Kampfgruppe Telkamp.

Schoenburg - Americans peer out of the tree line while my heavy armor and the vanguard of infantry press on. Suspect the Americans are building up a defensive line on the next ridge line.

My experience with Campaign Series is that once an AT gun or artillery piece is spotted unless quickly moved that unit's life span is very short.

Last turn my forces spotted a small howitzer battery located on my side of the Our River. I needed to keep in mind op fire for American tanks coming out of the woods but I hit that battery with some MG gun fire, at least three platoons of Panzers, even a shot from a Panther, AA guns, etc, etc. I think last turn I could only get a 1 SP loss and disruption.

This turn I threw the kitchen sink at this unit (the sink being that 88 and 75mm AT gun 750 meters east) and was starting to get worried about having to use my Panthers to eliminate the unit. I was really worried about that unit continuing to direct artillery fire. Fortunately the position was eliminated along with the assorted trucks and half tracks scattered in the woods.

I had to make a screen shot in honor of the brave American gunners.



The American infantry unit was forced to retreat. A M-10 platoon engaged and destroyed a PZ-IV but op fire from a Panther destroyed two M-10s. They also retreated into the woods.

Here's the current situation at the end of Turn 41 and my plans after I played Turn 42.

It would be suicidal for me to order Kampfgruppe Telkmap forward even with the fire advantage from the hill. The Americans would eventually retire, I think, but not before my combat power had been reduced so much that I would not have a chance to take the fords. I am repositioning to help the unopposed 293rd VG move against St. Vith from the north.

During the last two turns I took advantage of the fact that American artillery was only directed towards Kampfgruppe Telkamp (about 15 batteries) and also against my drive coming from Schoenburg (15-20 batteries) by launching assaults against both fords to the south. I am taking heavy losses but the Americans are also having a rough time of it and it seems that I'm keeping American tanks down here and not against my main thrust.



Here's the action just north of Burg Rueland. American op fire was accurate and deadly but reinforcements were able to score kills of their own and make two Engineer platoons retreat. I expect losses from artillery this next turn.




Great screen shot below of my initial advance up the ridge towards St. Vith. During the replay of the American turn I noticed that Steve had placed a tank platoon on either side of the road. Discretion was the better part of valor because any direct fire attack would of been met by op fire from three panzer units and Engineers. One tank unit and a loaded truck retreated to the hex just north of where my Tiger and other ttanks are now. If that tank opens up I'll take some losses.

Because I saw two tank units retreat I decided to take a risk and move my Tiger along the road to discover the expected ambush from the wooded hex overlooking the road. Sure enough there were two platoons of infantry and an AT gun but all op fire easily bounced off the Tiger's armor. Another panzer platoon moved up and caused another infantry platoon to retreat. I know had visions of overrunning the AT gun and trucks and spent valuable fire against the other platoon. The other platoon retreated but if there are other tank platoons nearby then I might be in trouble. Halftracks quickly overran the AT gun and caused the trucks to retreat but did not spot other tanks. Find out soon enough.

First screen shot is from the battle going on at the fords. I think I'm finally making progress, but at a high cost. The American mortar unit just to the west of my highlighted infantry unit has been a real pain. They have been constantly scoring 2sp losses against my infantry but are hard to hurt. The screen shot was at the beginning of my turn. At the end I managed to make the unit retreat up the hill, disrupted, but with only a 2 SP loss.



Here's a hard knock. Last turn I was aggressive with my panzers and launched them up the hill. Unfortunately the American infantry platoon that seems almost to be surrounded recovered from disruption and destroyed at least two panzers. American infantry and their bazookas destroyed many more. The American tank unit really had nothing left to fire at but made another two units retreat. The amazing thing is Col. Otto Remar's from the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade survival. After destroying or making retreat at least 9 panzer platoons (some with only one tank left) I guess the Americans had nothing left to shoot at the good Colonel desperately trying to maintain the German foothold.
The first question mark to the west of the Colonel contains two full strength infantry platoons and the other question marks contain at least one battery of field artillery.
Most of the American armor is positioned against Kampfgruppe Telkamp. The good news in this latest engagement is that Steve did not hit me with American armor, just infantry. It will be an infantry battle for St. Vith it seems.

Col. Otto Remar's adventure continues. At the end of my turn I decided to send a Tiger tank back up the hill, then other panzers and fight toe to toe against the American infantry and M-10 platoon. As soon as the Tiger rejoined the Colonel op fire from American tanks made them both quickly retreat down the hill and into the woods. Unfortunately they are in LOS and I think the good Colonel's will need his luck to survive the artillery that is coming and then the American response.

Screen shot shows the path taken by various infantry platoons that rushed through the woods in the hopes of flanking American positions. Last turn they climbed Wallerode's hill to be met by an AA gun position and half track platoons.

Three turns ago the troops that I had sent through the woods reported no contact from the wood line to the north of the American lines. I then decided to take advantage of the "road" of clear hexes that are only blocked by a couple of wood hexes and extend all the way past the American positions to Wallerode.