Bulge 16.01s alt

[Plain Ian]

Turn 51 Allied/German 4pm Dusk Stoumont – Grandmenil




33rd Armoured Engineers come under fire from armour over the river plus receive moderate artillery. The engineers do not have many A/T weapons but do their best. The enemy reinforce the armour with Grenadiers from the 116th. (full Bn?)
 
The 116th armour group (B) continues to follow the withdrawal, but surprises the Americans by changing direct to sw rather than west.
 
Engineers and Volks Greandiers from the 18th VGD (group C) follow up the retreating 48th and 17th Tank Bn. 8 Pioneers are caught in an ambush as they advance. Retribution from the enemy follows and the 48th is heavily shelled and mortared.
 
At Grandmenil the stalemate continues and the Germans bring up Army Pioneers to strengthen things. 8 men are killed as they take up position. Despite this his position looks weak. The 9th SS Recon unit was disrupted from last turns artillery fire and the 560th VGD is still shaken. (Disrupted)
 
 

US command wakes up and decides that the 33rd Armoured Engineers need armour support. The 740th Tank Bn (Army support unit) moves off but comes under fire from German infantry over the river. (A) They stop to deal with this. Enemy threat looks to be minimal as its clear that this is a company sized unit.

US units continue to withdraw from the 116th but the BRITS are here!!  The 3rd Royal Tank Regiment moves into position and reveals that the 116th have put a weak flank guard at the river crossing. (group B) The rest of 23rd Armoured Bde is not far behind with the 8th Rifles and 2nd FFY. Excuse me if I cheer on the FFY as this is my local unit as I live in Dundee which is right in the middle of this area!!
There is no reaction from the Germans over the river........
 
At Grandmenil there is only one option. Assault! 84th Divisional artillery greet the new visitors (XLVII PzK Pioneers) to a small barrage. (-7) The 1-335th provides devastating fire and (-25) and this Breaks the unit. With all units in the hex Disrupted or Broken, the 3-335th launches an assault. Casualties for 3-335th are not light and I guess in game terms the enemy makes a reasonable withdrawal leaving behind 3 dead and a few guns. The 560 A/T unit is Broken however and this KG is more or less finished.        

Time for the 335th to advance? Which way?