Bulge 16.01s alt

[Plain Ian]

Turn 57 German – south
 


The 4th Combat Engineers (fatigue 213), who I said I would withdraw a few turns ago hmmm ....were surprised to find Panthers in their midst. These were identified as Pz Lehr. At the end of the turn the 4th Combats patrols showed major activity on the Grevils-Bresil road. Heavy artillery (Corps?) also spotted. 
It looks like Cesar peeled off the Panther unit for flank protection, or possibly knew I was there. Its a safe bet to assume that other parts of Pz Lehr have reached the FBB A/T unit south of Bigonville?

As usual I’m out of place to defend in Clear terrain and nothing has been prepared. Run away run away....
 
The 2-22nd did indeed suffer as I predicted. Severe Werfer fire. (one blast of 30 and a second of 25) ensured that he didn’t even have to fire with adjacent 5th FJD units. (he brought up a second unit to support the first which was disrupted) The 5th FJD is a wonder utility unit as its stretched from Pratz to Hompre it seems.
 
The other news, well old news really, was that he used counterbattery fireto  decimate the 177th FA Bn. A XII Corps unit it lost 5 155mm pieces. I know that terrain aids defense but I really can’t see what difference it makes with artillery and counterbattery fire. I lost artillery in the north in Forest/TRENCH just as easily as the artillery here in Clear? Of course I don’t know what artillery types he was using but the results were not much different? Hey ho I’ll probably move the 177th anyway.

My moves? Not sure yet. Not happy with Pz Lehr moves BUT happy that they are on the Grevil-Brevit axis and not further south. Time to reorganise 80th Div and put them on a proper defensive posture?
 
I’ll post a big map of the south so everyone can have a look.