Bulge 16.01s alt

[Plain Ian]

Turn 77 Allied - Mersch



I've decided to go down fighting here rather than withdraw off the map. I have ferried one unit (3-11th) back over the river but I've halted the unit just now. The 55th Engineers have started a bridge. Its in the wrong place and is probably too late but its the best I can do.

10th and 11th Tank Bn's managed to disrupt his 352nd Bn from 2 hexes then I moved up 1-11th and 735th Tank Bn for an assault. (losing 12 men) The assault went in and I pushed him back but it illustrates why you shouldn't use tanks in forests as I lost 2 tanks. 

I then made a general advance with most of the 5th Division. Casualties were moderate as I'm in Clear terrain. 

The 5th Division HQ was hit by counterbattery fire when an artillery unit stacked with it fired. 

The situation is still pretty dire. 9th Panzer will be here next turn and he has 2 Divisions of VGD to throw at me. In fact I think the VGD could win this battle on their own. He will be assaulting at every opportunity to push me back and inflict further casualties due to over stacking. Thats why I've pushed out. If he undisrupts this turn then there will be heavy battles. 

Looking at the map I realise I've made a mistake that Indragnir will exploit. I should have moved the D/753 TNK company a hex further rather than leave it in the Forest to begin digging next turn. Indragnire will disrupt the 2-11th and assault. If the 2-11th retreats the wrong way....which it will....then the 1-11th/735th Tank Bn are cut off and I will have big problems restoring a link. 

Of course the 2-11th might fall back to hex A.......yeah right.