Hugh Is Coming - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Warnach, Belgium (Best Played Human vs Human): The 4th Armored was on a mission: break through the southern flank of the German penetration in the Ardennes, and relieve the American defenders of Bastogne, who had been encircled since December 20. In an amazing feat of logistics, General Patton wheeled three divisions 90 degrees, and marched them over 160 miles to assume positions facing north against the Bulge. It would be up to the veteran 4th Armored Division to open the road to Bastogne. But which road? After much debate, Patton decided to push the 4th Armored up the Arlon-Bastogne highway, which was the most direct route. As the 4th Armored jockeyed into position to start its offensive in earnest on the morning of December 22, Patton instructed the new commanding general of the 4th, Maj. General Hugh Gaffey, to "drive like hell". In Patton's view, the veteran Fourth Armored should arrive in Bastogne within one day; two at the very most. CCA and CCB began their drive with light resistance from the Germans. But the advance began to slow as the lead elements of the division came upon road and bridge demolition (the work of American Engineers as they retreated in the wake of the German advance). By nightfall, CCB had captured Burnon, and probed toward the villiage of Chaumont. CCA, advancing to the right of CCB along the Arlon-Bastogne highway, ran into a company of Germans from the 5 FJ division at the Sure River town of Martelange. It took all night to clear out the opposition, and longer still for the Engineers to replace the blown bridge spanning the Sure. That afternoon, CCB received a significant setback at the village of Chaumont. A major counterattack forced them out of the village and inflicted heavy losses in both tanks and armored infantry. It was clear that CCB would not make it to Bastogne by nightfall. So now, with the bridge at Martelange finally completed, there were only three hours of daylight left for CCA to fulfill Patton's promise.