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A Surprise for Patton's Best (v3.0) - The Matrix Games version of West Front

A Surprise for Patton's Best (v3.0) Image
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A Surprise for Patton's Best (v3.0)

By Don Fox
Allies 50 - 10 - 15 Axis
Rating: 7.13 (64)
Games Played: 75
SM: 5
Turns: 30
Type: Custom
First Side: Allies
Second Side: Axis
Downloads: 446
Chaumont, Belgium. (Best Played Human vs Human). When the call went out for the 4th Armored Division to lead the relief effort towards Bastogne, it was CCB that spearheaded the drive north. After a dazzling but trying 22 hour journey, CCB arrived southeast of Bastogne at about 2300 hours on December 19, and established a bivouac area near the town of Vaux les Rosieres. Temporarily findng themselves under the umbrella of VIII Corps, they were ordered to send a task force (TF Ezell) into Bastogne itself. The task force did not remain there for long, however. Before it could be committed to action at Bastogne, it was ordered back to rejoin CCB, whereupon the entire Combat Command was released from VIII Corps and reassigned to III Corps, and ordered to move further south to the town of Leglise. From this position, it prepared to commence a counterattack against the southern flank of the German "bulge". The lead elements of CCB set out at 0430 on the morning of the 22nd . They headed away from Bastogne, traveling to the southeast along the Neufshateau/Arlon highway, until they reached the village of Beheme. At 0600 hours, they started their advance to the north, with very limited intelligence about the disposition of enemy forces between them and Bastogne. Their advance took them through the tight confines of the Foret Dandier, and they emerged at the town of Fauvillers without encountering any resistance. But from that point forward, it was anyone's guess as to what they could expect. As CCB pressed northward, the German 5th Parachute Division and its attached elements were scrambling to set up defensive positions along the approaches to Bastogne. The 26th VG Division, which was charged with capturing Bastogne, was counting heavily upon the 5th FJ to watch its back as it continued to attack the 101st Airborne Division. Both the 4th Armored and the 5th FJ were in a race against time. HISTORICAL NOTE: When CCB arrived at the Sure River bridge south of Burnon, it was found to be destroyed. The Engineers rapidly constructed a bridge before nightfall, and the advance continued. For the purposes of this scenario, the bridge is intact, since construction cannot be performed in this game format. DEDICATION: This scenario is dedicated to (Ret) Brig. Gen. Albin F Irzyk, who commanded the 8th Tank Battalion of the Fourth Armored Division during the Second World War (he had assumed command of the battalion on December 3, two weeks before the start of the Battle of the Bulge). I had the distinct honor and privilege of getting to know Al Irzyk during my research, and our many conversations were invaluable for refining the order of battle for this engagement.
Player Voting Stats
Member Balance Enjoyment
Blitz Shadow Player's ProfileBlitz Shadow Player Well Balanced 7
Don Fox's ProfileDon Fox Well Balanced 8
Sgt. Rock's ProfileSgt. Rock Well Balanced 6
Don Fox's ProfileDon Fox Slightly Pro Axis 6
Don Fox's ProfileDon Fox Well Balanced 7
Askari19
Play balance favors the Allies; Axis needs both skill and luck to get a draw.
PawelM
The strength on both sides is farily balanced. However the victory conditions make it very difficult for Axis to get anything better than a draw for two comparable skill opponents.
Laza
Large Objective points , number of turns and Allied forces makes this a very difficult scenario for German player
244 games with legend that is Richie61
John Given
Surprise for Patton\'s Best 3.0 is a scenario that pits a large allied force against a smaller defending axis one. In my game with Otto von Blotto, I worked to create IP\'s and put my 88\'s in defensible positions. \r\n\r\nHowever, the sheer firepower available to the allies in this one work to make axis victories all but impossible, though I certainly gave as good as I got - just 26 points from a draw at the end of turn 30. \r\n\r\nBalancing factors would be reducing the obj. points per town from 1000 to 900, shortening the game from 30 to 25 turns, and perhaps replacing the Stug III\'s with JgPz V\'s. An unbalanced scenario that has great potential with a few revisions.
Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Sun Tzu
John Given
Surprise for Patton\'s Best 3.0 is a scenario that pits a large allied force against a smaller defending axis one. In my game with Otto von Blotto, I worked to create IP\'s and put my 88\'s in defensible positions. \r\n\r\nHowever, the sheer firepower available to the allies in this one work to make axis victories all but impossible, though I certainly gave as good as I got - just 26 points from a draw at the end of turn 30. \r\n\r\nBalancing factors would be reducing the obj. points per town from 1000 to 900, shortening the game from 30 to 25 turns, and perhaps replacing the Stug III\'s with JgPz V\'s. An unbalanced scenario that has great potential with a few revisions.
Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Sun Tzu
Big Ivan
Captain
Big Ivan Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:35 am
Good force mix. High VP hexes channelize attack decision.
Herr Straße Laufer
General of the Army
Herr Straße Laufer Sun Oct 15, 2023 12:27 pm
Played it years ago. Was surprised by the outcome.
“The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth.”― George Orwell (1984)