Bulge 16.01s alt

[Plain Ian]

Hoes Venn



2nd last map showing the Hoes Venn and the Volks Grenadier Divisions fighting here. Most of them have lost their supporting assault guns but have been stiffened with Corps and Army level armour. I'll give a more detailed map of them in my last map.

12th VGD (B quality)
This Division starts the campaign as the best equipped and strongest VGD unit in the north.  It had a Fusileer Bn as well as a Pioneer Bn to support the 6 standard Volks Grenadier Bn's. 
It took part in the battle of Honsfeld and forded the R. Warche just south of Robertville and dug in. It was then involved in the push on Sourbrodt. It was also involved in the attack up the Sourbrodt-Verviers road supported by heavy armour of s.Pz Bn 506. (Tigers/King Tigers). Since then it has dug in and occupied defensive terrain west and north of the town.  

Casualties have been moderate. 1400 men to date. The Pioneer Bn is still at 90% with 492 men but most of the regular Grenadier Bn’s and the Fusileer Bn are down to about 350 men each. (They started at 560)

277th VGD (C quality)
After the quick victory at Rocherath/Krinkelt the Division supported the attack on Elsenborn and then pushed deeper into the Hoes Venn. The Division has also lost ground and has been pushed back during my attacks on the 24th. Its losses are in the same region as the 12th VGD at 1,500 men. However it started the campaign with a lower unit strength than the 12th with its Grenadier Bn’s having 430 men each. (66%) Unlike the 12th it did not have a Fusileer Bn. So the average of its 7 battalions is roughly 260 men with the lowest being 125 men and the best 350 men.  

326th VGD (D quality)
Has fought from Hofen to Monschau both of which I allowed to fall without much of a fight. It then pushed into the Hoes Venn but like the 277th has had to give ground in the last few days and is now in danger of being pushed back into clear terrain. Army level armoured units have stiffened its defenses and it looks like the 246th VGD will be used to support it. Its casualties have been fairly light at just under 1,200 men but it is a poor quality unit. Its Battalions on the 16th were at 83% or 642 men and it still has 1-2 units at 500 men but most are 400 or well below.

272nd VGD (D quality)
Only has 3 Battalions on the map and these were 450 men Battalions on the 16th. The HQ unit is 90 men so that gives us its starting strength of 1,440 men. It has not been involved in combat much and has moved forward as the front line has moved forward. The Division however now has 1,621 men so has recovered 181 men during the campaign with each Battalion over 500 men. The I/GR 981 has moved to support the 326th VGD.

426th VGD (D quality)
A late arriving reserve for the 6th SS Panzer Army. Its scheduled to arrive piecemeal in three groups on the 24th December starting at 6am then 8am then 12 am. But has only a 60% chance of arrival. After that it faces a long walk to the front line. Its green fatigue so I think Cesar has halted them during the night to conserve fatigue and since I had not made any major attacks on the 24th.