3MiF Boff vs The Purist - German View

The Purist

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The Defense of Pont la Moon

Someone once said that “a line cannot be strong everywhere” and this was the case in the defense of Pont la Moon. Taking into account that the US already had a bridgehead in the town it seemed the likely place for the main US assault. The defense was designed to screen the town and then retreat to the bridge and hold for as long as possible. With some luck ‘M’ and ‘N’ platoons could reinforce the outskirts before the defenses collapsed. It was not to be.

‘O’ dashed forward and ran into the main US assault while ‘P’ platoon retreated to la Moon to reinforce ‘I’ Platoon. ‘O’ platoon was quickly overrun but managed to inflict some decent casualties on the US forces as well as knock out one of the US halftracks. The forward observer for the supporting 81mm battery was lost just as the first shells began to fall. ‘I’ and ‘P’ platoons put up a stiff fight against the US infantry that assaulted through the forest in front of the town but were unable to delay the US armour. Greyhound armoured cars, Stuart and Sherman tanks and mechanized infantry, despite numerous panzershreck and panzerfaust shots, simply rolled up the road into the German rear areas with the loss of only a single armoured car.

The remnants of the Pont la Moon defenders, 5 men in two squads, hid in the woods and with a battered squad from each of ‘H’ and ‘J’ platoon, made a late game attempt to retake Pont la Planche. While it was hoped the US would suffer more losses in armour in the crossing of the Elle River at this point the defense did as well as could be expected considering the forces thrown against it. The spotter from the 105mm battery spent the entire battle at the crossroads in an upper level directing the shelling of the US forces who had penetrated the defenses and, later, at the force attacking Pont de la Pierre. He survived the battle and reported in the next morning.
 
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The Purist

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Chapter2 - La Planche

Walking La Planche

The defense of Pont La Planche was tied in to the same defense structure as Pont La Moon. Directly north of the bridge was the entire strength of ‘H’ platoon reinforced by a machine gun team and forward observer for a battery of 81mm mortars. South of the river was the company headquarters (A-3) and a 105mm howitzer set to cover the bridge approaches, the nearby woods and a narrow field of view into La Pomme D’or to the north. South of the ‘River Valley Road’ was the company reserve, ‘J’ platoon, placed so that it could quickly reach the nearby river ford or Pont La Planche as required.

Not surprisingly, the US assault numbered something close to an entire company in what can only be described as a full out charge. Beginning in the town of La Pomme D’or they charged forward and suffered the expected casualties until they reached the safety of the woods immediately north of the river Elle. ‘H’ platoon, finding itself badly outnumbered shifted its rifle squads down into the river bank and prepared for either a last stand or relief from ‘J’ platoon. The heavy weapons section in and around the large multi-story building were driven out of the building by mortar and machine gun fire and fell back into the low ground by the bridge. As had happened at La Moon bridge the forward observer was killed before he could bring effective fire against the US assault and only a few rounds actually fell before access to the battery was lost.

The 105mm artillery piece lent excellent support and inflicted damage on the US infantry in the nearby woods before finally being knocked out by mortar and area fire from multiple machine guns. The US attempt to cross the ford was, to all appearances, a total disaster. The assaulting infantry were badly shot up and the few who made it across were picked off by ‘J’ platoon as it came up in support. It looked for a moment as if the positions at la Planche would hold but the collapse at la Loon bridge spelt disaster for the rest of the company further east.

US infantry and armour, exploiting their success at la Moon wheeled left into the now open flank of the rest of the company position. The sheer numbers of tanks and infantry eventually overwhelmed the last defenders. Of the 5 platoons and supporting troops committed to defend the left flank only four squads (fewer than 15 men) survived to go to ground and reform for a late attempt to recapture la Planche. An anti-tank team from ‘J’ platoon also made good their escape and they moved back to join the late defense of the “Pont la Lande”. The left flank was now wide open but events elsewhere were to make this somewhat of a hollow victory for the US forces on this day.
 
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Ch 3 La Pont de la Pierre

Le Pont de la Pierre and the Lower St Claire Bridge

The defense of the Pont de la Pierre and the nearby ‘Lower St Claire Bridge’ were important features in overall German offensive strategy. As such it was held by platoons ‘B’ and ‘C’ backed up by A-1 Coy HQ, a machine gun team, two 75mm infantry howitzer, a 75mm recoilless rifle, two 81mm mortar observers and, in reserve, two SPW 251/1 halftracks with 75mm anti-tank guns. The plan was for this position to form the hinge in the left wheel assault up and over ‘Battle Hill’ and then westward along the ridge and the ‘High’ and ‘Low’ roads. Once the offensive arm reached the Pont de la Pierre, the two platoons would withdraw south of the river and form a west facing anchor and flank guard of the assault units. ‘D’ platoon from this company was detached to Pont de la Marie and would rejoin the company after the link up. The reunited company would push west along the ‘River Valley Road’.

The first moves made by the Americans against ‘Pierre’ came from a force of mounted infantry and light tanks that moved into the large woods north of the river crossing. This move was quickly spotted by the artillery observers and the machine gun team. Fire was brought to bear on the western end of the woods and against a gun being set up on the ridge farther back. At the same time as many a three US machine gun teams in the large farm house below the ridge to the northeast also opened fire on the large building overlooking the two bridges and another gun was seen setting up behind the hedgerow along the ‘Low Road’. The sudden concentration of two full batteries of mortars seemed to prove too much for the US forces to the west of the woods and the halftracks and light tanks quickly withdrew. Infantry losses were unknown but two halftracks and a gun of unknown caliber were knocked out or abandoned.

Not easily deterred the American infantry tried again, this time approaching through the eastern side of the woods. Simultaneously two light tanks tried to rush the bridge but were quickly knocked out by anti tank teams and gun fire. Thinking the Germans pinned a platoon of US infantry tried to charge the German position east of the road but they were cut down as they reached the German foxholes. In some cases German and American corpses fell on each other. Meanwhile, German artillery continued to pound the woods and the infantry guns blasted the approaching infantry at point blank range. Still the Americans pressed the assault and, with the aid of two halftracks, ‘C’ Platoon broke under the pressure and withdrew through the brush and escaped to the east along the river bank.

‘B’ platoon, not yet ready to give up, dashed across the road and joined the surviving gunners in the woods and continued the fight. With the defenses weakening the American renewed their efforts and committed machine gun teams, assault guns and medium tanks to the assault. The large building, holding the regimental and battalion headquarters as well as a machine gun team and both forward observers, was reduced to rubble. Casualties were relatively light as the occupants were in the process of evacuating the building when it collapsed. The forward observers withdrew to the rear as their batteries expended all their ammunition.

With the German artillery spent the Americans pressed forward and German casualties mounted as one gun after another was silenced. The headquarter elements withdrew through the fields south of the river while ‘B’ platoon and the recoilless rifle fought to buy time for their escape. Finally, as tanks, infantry and halftracks ground their way right up to the German positions the defense finally gave way and Pont de la Pierre fell. The cost to American was high as two Stuart light tanks, three halftracks, at least one gun were knocked out and an estimated three or more platoons of infantry destroyed or badly shot up. The story of Pont de la Pierre and the ‘Lower St Claire Bridge’ does not end here. This bridge would see more action before this battle was over.
 
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Ch 4 - Behind the Lines

A Drive in the Country
Behind the German Lines – Sapper’s Corner

Before moving on to the critical battles for Pont de la Marie and the heights to the north we must return to the US forces that broke through the German defenses to the west and penetrated into the German rear areas. As the reader will recall the German command planned on reinforcing the relatively weak forces on the left with the two sapper platoons, ‘M’ and ‘N’, as well as three machine gun teams, two additional 50mm anti-tank guns and a 37mm anti-aircraft gun. The sudden audacious dash of light tanks and armoured cars, followed by mechanized infantry and medium armour up the main ‘highway’ forced a sudden change in plans.

The Germans did not possess the strength to carry out both their counteroffensive and plug the gap torn in the left flank. Rather than abandon a solid plan, Oberst Baron Karl Eugen von Apfelstrudel und Lowenbrau decided, in the end, to simply ignore the forces that penetrated the front. He earmarked some light reconnaissance vehicles and a single platoon from the parachute infantry reserves (‘X’ Platoon) to harass and annoy these troops as much as possible. They would be mopped up later. To a great extent this proved to be the wisest decision as the battle for ‘Sapper Corner’ and ‘Ambush Alley’ were to show. This skirmish could only be called a victory of guile and bluff over superior firepower. After this we will deal with the events along the ‘River Valley Road’ in the next chapter.

Sapper’s Corner is located up the main highway at the first Y in the road. Early in the battle, as ‘M’ and ‘N’ platoons, with a machine gun team in support, began their march north, they quickly were warned about the sudden dash of light US forces through the lines. With a 50mm anti-tank gun covering the actual road junction the two platoons dashed into a hedgerow surrounded field just short of the large chateau on the crest of the rising ground to their front. Two other anti-tank guns and two machine gun teams from the regimental reserves were also dispatched to join the sappers.

The initial wave of American vehicles darted up the road and took position around the chateau just as the sappers made it into the cover of the wheat fields. Rather than push on immediately the light recon vehicles stopped for a rather long pause to await the arrival of the infantry and heavier armour. In the meantime, the reserve guns and weapons teams arrived and were placed in the light woods to the southeast of the junction at the end of a lane that bent away to the east (Ambush Alley). Soon after, the lead elements of Panzer Lehr arrived and while the Mk IVs, Mk Vs and panzer grenadiers were sent off to the northeast to reinforce the counteroffensive, the three SPW 250/9s and the SPW 251/9 dashed off on their harassment mission.

The first US move was made by a light tank that probed the hedgerow to its front only to discover that ‘M’ platoon was waiting for it. After a brief firefight and the use of a well placed satchel charge the tank was knocked out. As the heavier armour rumbled up the road both sapper platoons thought discretion would be the better part of valour and began to withdraw through the fields headed back to the gun positions. With the arrival of the medium tanks the other US armoured cars and light tanks struck out to the south and east, screening their heavier comrades. As the armoured cars deployed they were immediately taken under fire by all three anti-tank guns and quickly dispatched. Of the two Stuart tanks that moved out to the east, one was quickly knocked out by a passing panzershreck team from ‘S’ platoon (see the Chapter: ‘The River Valley Road’), the other then hid in the wheat fields until the danger had passed and then withdrew to the north in the direction of the battles near the Pont de la Pierre.

Soon after the battle at the corner began a line of halftracks appeared, approaching from the north along the ‘highway’. Their arrival coincided with the arrival of a barrage of 105mm shells directed by the German observer by-passed back in La Moon. The newly arrived Sherman tanks took the anti tank gun positioned on the highway under fire and it soon fell silent but both sapper platoons made good their escape.

In the midst of this mayhem the light German halftracks flanked the American armour to the east and west and did their best to delay and discomfit the advance. While two of the SPW 250/9s were fairly ineffectual against the heavy armour of the Americans the third halftrack and the SPW 251/9 each scored well before being knocked out. It has been admitted that these light vehicles could have been handled better but their effect was not inconsequential to the overall battle. The loss of the two Sherman tanks at the end of ‘Ambush Alley’ seemed to convince the American commander that this position was too strong and the surviving armour withdrew. A further probe by US infantry was badly mauled when the remnants of ‘M’ Platoon, supported by the last surviving SPW 250/9 launched a short, sharp attack. Even though the attack resulted in the SPWs loss the American infantry was broken at this point and the Germans began to shift forces back towards La Pont de la Lande. ‘Sapper’s Corner’ and ‘Ambush Alley’ were held by the Germans until the battle's end.

Before we leave the western flank and its wild melee amongst the hedgerows there are two other events that should be noted. Further to the south a diminutive 37mm anti-aircraft gun added to the troubles of the American raiders as it scored the kills of not only two halftracks, a gun, and a badly shot up machine gun team but it was able to knock out a Sherman with well placed shots into the rear of its engine compartment. Sadly, this brave gun crew had no support and other Sherman tanks made quick work of it once it had given away its position. The last event of note was the overrunning and destruction of ‘X’ Platoon. This platoon made its attempt to delay an entire platoon of Sherman tanks about half way between ‘Cote 58’ and the upper bridge in St Clair sur l’Elle. Despite catching a Sherman plowing through a hedgerow all attempts to stop the advance came to naught and the platoon was effectively destroyed. The delay on the American tanks was minor and they pushed on towards the town.
 
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Chapter 5 - Peace in the Valley

The River Valley Road
The High Price of Miscalculation

South of the Elle River, along the flood plain between Pont la Planche and Pont de la Pierre, there runs a paved road with a stone bridge over Riviere St Claire just south of the rivers junction. It is a fairly long stretch of exposed swampy ground with little defensible terrain of any value. The road itself did not offer any real benefit to the German defense since it is everywhere overlooked by the higher ground to north. Only a light tripwire defense was deployed on this road and it was also the scene of the largest tactical error on the part of the German defense.

The initial forces assigned to the screen the road to the west of the river junction were very ad hoc in nature and simply designed to impose a delay on any US advance eastward from La Planche. As such a single machine gun team, a company HQ section (A-4) and the platoon HQ section (L-0) were initially deployed. This screen was later reinforced by a gun crew from a knocked out anti-tank gun and a dismounted halftrack crew. This meager force was deployed in the light trees some 200meters west over the lower St. Claire River bridge.

Just as the defense of Pont la Planche was beginning to collapse it was decided to commit a platoon from the mounted reserve back in St Claire. In fact,‘S’ Platoon had already moved forward to La Lande Farm so that it could assist the sapper's if required. The company headquarters (A-6) as well as the forward observers (75mm and 81mm) assigned to the reserve company had also moved forward to Pont de la Lande. Both these forces and the six halftracks assigned to carry them set out across the wheat fields with the intent to reach the ‘River Road’ and move to screen Pont Pierre from the west. ‘S’ platoon’s commander misjudged the ground and chose a rout too close to the US forces exploiting from La Planche and the platoon was intercepted and badly shot up along the road. Only one section (S-1) actually made it to the lower St Claire bridge but it managed to delay and harass the light American forces to the very end of the battle before it was final destroyed.

The company headquarter and forward observers had better luck and reached Pont de la Pierre just before it was about to fall. While they could add little strength to the defense the halftracks machine guns helped delay the collapse of the defense for little longer and assisted the regimental HQ and some machine gunners escape. The 81mm battery observer directed his barrages from behind the hedgerows until the battery’s ammunition was expended and then withdrew. The halftrack carriers were lost as was a 75mm anti-tank gun but all troops south of the river at Pierre made good their escape eastward to join the defense of Marie.

Just as the defenses of Pierre were collapsing the screening force to the west was struck by infantry and light armour from the direction of La Planche. Two assault guns and a Sherman tank added their firepower to the assault and the light screen was driven back and eventually overwhelmed in the general collapse of the Pierre positions. A second 75mm anti-tank gun engaged the heavy allied armour to the north of the river and destroyed the Sherman tank but the unfortunate gunners were quickly set upon by the Priest assault guns and the gun was silenced.

Pont la Moon, la Planche, as well those of de la Pierre and the lower St Claire had fallen. American forces, albeit relatively small in number had penetrated as far as Cote 58 and others were fighting hard in the vicinity of the la Lande Farm. It would appear that the Germans were about to collapse. The fact was, however, that as intense as all these other battles had been, the fiercest fighting and the most critical to success of either side was taking place to the north of the Elle River above Pont de la Marie. We will deal with those events, in detail, in the next chapters.
 
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Chapter 6a High Stakes Poker

High Stakes Poker
Pont de la Marie and the German Counterattack

The German decision to meet the upcoming American attack with a full scale counterattack could only be called a calculated risk, yet that is exactly what Baron von Apfelstrudel und Lowenbrau, a consummate gambler who loved poker, ordered his staff to prepare. To complicate the calculation of the risk even further the German command did not have good intelligence on what the Americans were about to through at them nor did they know the exact composition of the reserves that would be made available to their own side or even when they would be released. They did know that they had a mounted reserve of halftracks with towed guns and an armoured car. The also knew that the parachute infantry regiment could call on additional infantry resources and that Panzer Lehr would commit a small kampfgruppe to the fight. Exactly what these additional forces would be was an unknown factor but the fact that they were available allowed the plan to be developed.

The plan, simply put, was to rest the initiative away from the allied command and force them to react to German moves rather than the other way around. This meant that the Americans may very well break the left flank and penetrate deeply into the rear areas. So be it. If the Americans ignored the German strike on the right and drove the bulk of their forces south, the Germans would simply wheel left along the high ridge north of the river and cut them off from their supplies, re-capturing the weakly guarded bridges from behind. If the Americans reacted to the German attack by redirecting their assault troops or committing their own reserves to stop the attack then they would weakening their exploitation and the smaller raiding forces could be mopped up later by larger reserves once the main body had been destroyed or crippled. Herein lay the biggest risk with plan. If the allies were too strong they would stop the counterattack and exploit any breakthrough. If the Germans did not commit enough of their own troops to the counterattack they could be defeated in detail. Thus, the baron decided the attack would be an all or nothing affair.

The Opening Bid: Pont de la Marie.
As has been seen in the preceding chapters the strength of the German defensive line was weakest on its left (west) but got progressively stronger as it moved east. Of the four forward bridges Pont de la Marie had, by far, the strongest defenses as well as having the bulk of the mounted reserve earmarked to reinforce the attack. The attack was to be initiated by company A-2 (‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ platoons) supported by ‘D’ platoon (A-1 company) detailed to actually defend the bridge until the heights to the north had been secured. Three machine gun teams, two 50mm anti-tank guns and four SPW 251/1 halftracks and an observer team for a battery of 81mm mortars would support the attack.

The initial US attack was little more than a probe and was quickly destroyed in detail by the mass of troops crammed into the small bridgehead. As soon as the last vehicles were knocked out and the enemy infantry driven off, A-2 company launched the attack to the north with the objective being the popular ‘Maison de Femmes’ to the north and securing the junction with the ‘Low Road’ below the heights. The light armour, guns and mounted infantry from St Claire were already en route to reinforce the attack as were four flamethrower teams. A-2 pushed north and easily overran an infantry platoon which quickly broke and routed away through the hedges and fields. The first hand went to the Germans.
 
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Chapter 6b - Upping the Ante

Upping the Ante
The Americans React

The Germans knew full well that the Americans would react to their attack but what was not known was how soon and with what force they would respond with. Taking no risks the German command immediately ordered two platoons (‘Q’ and ‘R’) of the mounted parachute infantry reserve, all four flamethrower teams and their two carriers, the sole available Puma armoured car and a towed 75mm anti-tank gun to join the attack with all speed. Even before the initial American reconnaissance probe was destroyed these troops were racing towards Pont de la Marie. It turned out to be a wise decision.

No sooner had the foot element of the initial attack force (platoons ‘D’ thru ‘G’) reached the bordello and began the wheel to the west than they heard the approach of multiple engines coming from the northwest. Careening down the ‘Low Road’ came six US halftracks loaded with infantry while two Mortar Carriers approached along the ‘High Road’. The Americans arrived just before the arrival of the German reserves and immediately began to engage the German infantry crossing the open fields below the road. The heavy firepower of the US infantry and their attending halftracks began to scatter the exposed enemy troops when the tables were suddenly turned.

The US mechanized infantry would have executed a great slaughter but for the timely arrival of the Puma and the first few German halftracks. Rolling around the corner onto the ‘Low Road’, the Puma proceeded to shoot the American column to pieces while a trio of SPW 251/1s shot up the infantry and supporting anti-tank and mortar teams. More German halftracks were seen arriving on the battlefield as ‘Q’ and ‘R’ platoons arrived from St Claire. They caught the American Mortar Carriers on the hill and knocked them out along the ‘High Road’ before wheeling down the slope into the Americans exposed flank. At the same time the US infantry suffered under a renewed assault by A-2 company and the Americans broke and ran. In less than three minutes the American reaction force had been destroyed and those not killed or taken prisoner bolted off to the west with the Germans in pursuit.

Though a second American force had now been destroyed by the sudden German attack the American command was not yet ready to concede the ground to their opponents. This battle was only just beginning.
 
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Chapter 6c - Raising the Stakes

Raising the Stakes
American Tanks Join the Fight

When planning for this spoiling offensive Baron von Apfelstrudel und Lowenbrau knew full well that the great weakness of the forces involved was the complete lack of anything even closely resembling a tank. The best that he could do for the assault troops was to give them his only Puma armoured car and a trio of towed anti-tank guns. He knew full well that, properly used, an anti-tank gun can play more than just a defensive ambush role. He had used anti-tank guns aggressively in his years in the North African desert and he would do so again today.

As Q’ and ‘R’ platoons rattled up to the top of the hill on the ‘High Road’, the order was given to deploy the 50mm anti-tank guns. One was set up on the ‘Low Road’ behind the nearby hedgerow covering the road to the west. The other was ordered to follow the two parachute infantry platoons up the hill and cover the ‘High Road’, which was currently empty, but was unlikely to remain so for long. It was up on the hill that the pendulum of battle was to swing, once again, away from the side with the apparent advantage.

As mentioned above, the ‘High Road’ was completely empty of enemy vehicles as the halftracks of ‘Q’ platoon ground over the summit and then wheeled down slope to join in the destruction of the American mechanized column. ‘R’ Platoon, following closely behind, made a quick sweep further down the road before they also began to move down the hill in support of the main attack. It was just after the last halftrack of ‘R’ platoon dropped down off the crest that disaster struck.

Unknown to the Germans at the time, a force of three Stuart light tanks was charging, hell bent, along the ‘High Road’ intent on rescuing their infantry comrades. That the German sweep along the road just missed them was a stroke of luck that they were about to capitalize on. Just as the halftrack towing the 50mm gun crested the hill, so did the three American light tanks. As the gun crew scrambled to unhook their gun the carrier towing it was knocked out and the vehicle sprayed with machine guns fire. A second shot knocked out the gun and a lone surviving gunner ran for his life down the eastern slope of the hill. As the three Stuarts continued to clank up onto the crest they were met by a sight that made their gunners mouths water.

Spread out below them was a force of some twelve German halftracks and a single armoured car. The light tanks set to their job with a purpose and quickly killed the Puma. Slowly advancing over the crest they began to pick off one halftrack after another as the German infantry scrambled for cover and the drivers tried desperately to get out of the line of fire. Behind the Stuart tanks more American halftracks were seen arriving and behind them the first of three Sherman tanks came rolling into view. As if all this were not enough, artillery shells began landing amongst the German infantry seeking cover in the woods and wheat fields south of the ‘Low Road’. If the baron’s plan was to attract US reserves to this part of the front instead of having them drive into the rear of his lines it was succeeding beyond all expectations.

As good as things looked for the Americans events did not favour them entirely. German machine gunners quickly forced the tank commanders to button up and other smalls arms quickly pinned the US infantry down in the light trees and woods on the hill. German artillery observers, some with line of site and others firing by map, were soon directing their own artillery on the hill top. The American tankers, advancing slowly while they sprayed bullets and high explosives liberally about the German positions did not notice the second 50mm anti-tank gun. As the Stuarts advanced, two were knocked out by this gun and the third fell victim to a panzerschreck. The Sherman tanks, advancing behind a hedgerow opposite the 50mm gun, also failed to back away in time and two of these quickly fell victim to the gunner’s skill. The third Sherman, in a position the gun could not reach continued to pound the German positions while the US infantry added their firepower to that of the artillery walking up and down the ‘Low Road’. As the shells got closer to the anti-tank guns position the crew was ordered to hook up and pull back. Just moments before the gun was limbered up a mortar bomb struck the gun, knocking it out.

Things indeed looked grim for the German assault for the American riposte had badly disorganized the attack force. But again fate intervened and the pendulum swung once more away from the side with the upper hand. Quite unexpectedly the last Sherman was struck, as if from nowhere, and knocked out. A German soldier pinned in the woods at the bottom of the hill pointed off to the south and cried loudly: Achtung! Panzer!

Panzer Lehr had arrived
 
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Chapter 6d - Calling the Bluff

Calling the Bluff
The Clash of Armour on Battle Hill

As the last of the third wave of US attackers was driven away or destroyed on Battle Hill the first tanks of the armoured column from Panzer Lehr came rumbling up from the south. In the lead were the two Pz IVs followed by three Pz Vs and then by two platoons of panzer grenadiers (‘U’ and ‘W’ platoons). Also approaching the battle from the south and southeast were the units of Company A-7 (‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ platoons) with two truck-borne 50mm guns attached. The baron knew exactly where he would commit these troops and issued his orders.

‘X’ platoon was too far away to reach impending fight for Battle Hill and the north bank of the river. Thus they were dispatched to the west to try and delay the American tank platoon and supporting infantry on Cote 58. The 50mm anti-tank gun however, was ordered to follow the armoured column and reinforce ‘Z’ Platoon. ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ platoons were to assemble in the woods west of Pont Marie with the two 50mm guns an observer for an 81mm battery, a machine gun team and the remnants of the Pierre defenders who had formed a roadblock just east of the bend in the road to the west.

All elements of Panzer Lehr were to push quickly over the bridge and join the forces already north of the river. ‘U’ platoon would dismount near the bridge and release ‘D’ platoon to move north to the hill. ‘W’ platoon with its halftracks would move with the armour to reinforce the other five infantry platoons who were, even now, reforming and pushing to the west. These moves brought the total forces committed to the counterattack to some ten infantry platoons, 22 halftracks, 1 armoured car, and five tanks, all supported by 5 anti tank guns and four batteries of artillery.

It is a truism of warfare that no plan survives first contact with the enemy and the battle for the Elle river bridges was no exception. The German troops could well see the moves of the Americans as they overwhelmed the last defenders of Pont de la Pierre. A Sherman tank and two M7 Priest self-propelled guns formed up south of Pierre with infantry near by. A light M5 Stuart tank launched itself down the road and despite being fired on by panzerschrecks and a 50mm anti-tank gun raced through the positions established by ‘Z’ platoon catching the second gun still in tow behind its truck. The truck and gun were knocked out and the audacious tank barreled on to and over Pont de la Marie and directly into the rear of Panzer Lehr’s column. Here the tank managed to knock out three of ‘U’ Platoons halftracks before a panzerfaust blew the tank apart.

North of the river, just as the American light tank was charging off to meet its destiny, scouts reported the approach of two more American tanks from the direction of Battle Hill. The lead Mk IVs were ordered to take station at the base of the hill and wait for the heavier Mk Vs and infantry support. Unfortunately for the two Mk IVs there were not two Sherman tanks coming up the back side of the hill, there were six, and two of them mounted the more powerful 76mm guns. In support of this tank force was a mounted force of infantry in nine halftracks. The arrival of these two powerful armoured columns triggered the final massive engagement that would decide possession of Pont de la Marie and Battle Hill.

The two lead Mk IVs were quickly destroyed as they moved up the road in exchange for a single Sherman. As the Panther tanks arrived the lead vehicle was struck on the gun mantlet and the shot deflected down into the hull knocking it out. Its other two partners quickly knocked out a second Sherman and the remainder backed off the crest behind a hastily laid smoke screen. As the Panthers advanced towards the hill they knocked out two halftracks and gunned downed their passengers. German artillery from at least two batteries began to pound the hill and the Germans could see US infantry taking losses and scattering for cover.

The two remaining Panther tanks continued to grind up the slope, engaging the Sherman tanks through gaps in the smoke. Shot after shot from the American tanks struck but failed to penetrate the heavier German armour and one after another the Sherman tanks fell victim to the German guns until all six were wrecked. While the German tanks were engaged in shooting up their American counterparts, seven US halftracks, in two groups, dashed down the road to Pont de la Pierre. The first group of three dashed over the bridge using their speed to avoid all sorts of hand held anti-tank weapons and disappeared into the German rear. A force from Y platoon jumped aboard two German halftracks and set off after them. The second group was not so lucky and all four were knocked out before they could race over the bridge. Their infantry passenger were all killed, wounded or taken prisoner.

The destruction of the Sherman tanks and the halftrack column spelled the end of organized American resistance on the hill and near Pont de la Marie. Both tanks turned to the west and moved off to help the final infantry assault that had just jumped off in its bid to retake Pont de la Pierre and points further west.
 
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The Purist

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Chapter 7 - The Final Battle

A Battle to Exhaustion
Stalemate above Pont de la Pierre

The American force that had taken Pont de la Pierre had not been totally idle while the Germans launched their final assaults that cleared Battle Hill. Just prior to the final attempt by the US mechanized infantry to gain a foothold on Pont de la Marie a force of one Sherman and two Priest assault guns probed the German roadblock defenses west of Castelerie. One Priest managed to destroy an infantry squad belonging to ‘Z’ platoon before it was knocked out by the remaining 50mm anti-tank gun. Just as the Germans were about to zero in a battery of mortars on the remaining two vehicles the reversed away around the bend.

At almost this same moment the order was given for the German infantry to continue their attack to the west. Despite the initial armoured assault and heavy shelling that had struck them earlier the heaviest casualties were suffered by the halftracks, flamethrower and machine gun teams. ‘Q’ and ‘R’ platoons also suffered moderate casualties but the addition of one of the panzer grenadier platoons (‘W’ platoon) and the remnants of ‘C’ platoon brought the force north of the ‘Low Road’ up to slightly more than company strength. This ad hoc company’s (A-6) mission was to continue clearing the ‘Low Road’ to the west and reach the high ridge above Pont de la Pierre.

At the same time, A-2 company was to support the attack by advancing through the scrub brush below the ‘Low Road’. The Americans had established three machine gun teams and an anti-tank gun near the road above Pierre and these positions had to be knocked out or the troops driven away. ‘E’ platoon would advance a short distance and anchor the right flank of ‘F’ platoon while engaging the gun position and supporting ‘F’ platoon’s assault. ‘F’ platoon was to overrun the machine positions and then wheel left and establish a blocking position above Pont de la Pierre and hold that position until the tanks arrived from the rear. Meanwhile, ‘G’ platoon would send two squads forward into the light trees above the stream and suppress any American positions south of the River Elle. The third squad would lay down suppressing fire to the north in support of ‘F’ platoon. The three remaining halftracks from the initial advance would lend their support to the whole of A-2 company and cross the bridge. All remaining artillery, three batteries (75mm, 81mm and 105mm), were to be directed on suspected American position south of the bridge.

A-2 stepped off first and all three platoons were engaged by all the available American forces in the area, far more than had been expected. Still the company advanced and the machine gun nests were quickly destroyed or driven away. The halftracks advanced smartly to the bridge and over it, where they then established a picket position to screen the advancing infantry. ‘E’ platoon had just established its blocking position when an American rifle company launched a counterattack from north of the road. ‘E’ platoon was driven back with moderate losses and the loss of its headquarters sections but two squads retreated to their start point and were rallied by the company commander.

‘F’ platoon, after wheeling left had reached the woods above the bridge but were met by increasingly heavy fire and more machine guns. The platoon suffered terribly under the withering fire and was forced to give up the position even though the tanks had arrived. The badly mauled platoon managed to extricate two reduced squads and rejoin the company on the start line. Meanwhile, ‘G’ platoon also reached their assigned objectives but had to contend with the return of the two remaining US tanks from their probe towards Pont de la Marie. This platoon managed to withdraw with moderate losses but it too had lost a squad and its headquarters section. The arrival of the Panthers destroyed the last Sherman in the area and the other self-propelled gun withdrew from the action. The three supporting halftracks were knocked out one after the other. A-2 Company, now reduced to slightly more than 50% was reforming on their start line when the order came down to halt the assault. The Panthers were also ordered to withdraw from the vicinity of the bridge and rejoin the main body along the ‘Low Road’. A-2 had done all it could for the day.

While A-2s attacked marked the high water point of the German attack for the day, A-6 was not idle during the final assault. Just as the American rifle company struck the flank of A-2, the German force along the road launched their own attack westward along the road and directly into the flank of the Americans. While the Americans concentrated on breaking the advance of A-2, A-6 ground into their flanks destroying entire squads then platoons and then the entire company as a whole. The remanants of this force finally fled but only a lucky few escaped. A-6 suffered relatively light casualties but the ground gained was far less than anticipated. Nonetheless A-6 pushed out a platoon to the north to expand the territory it controlled.

There were to be no further ripostes from the Americans and the Germans limited themselves to pushing ‘D’ and ‘U’ platoons over the hill and further west along the ‘High Road’. Remnants of American infantry were found just west of the hill and a brief firefight ensued before ‘D’ Platoon killed some and drove others away. ‘U’ platoon continued the advance across the fields between the two roads until ordered to halt for the night. South of the river, just as A-6 was destroying the last American squads on the ‘Low Road’, ‘Z’ platoon, with attached anti-tank teams, machine guns and the sole remaining anti-tank guns pushed off to the west along the ‘River Valley Road’ and drove past the first bend in the road before being ordered to halt.

The battle was winding down as both sides agreed to halt the fighting for the day. To the rear some 5 American tanks with a few squads of infantry in support were being stalked by ‘M’, ‘N’ and ‘Y’ platoons and their supporting troops and the remnants of ‘X’ platoon kept a watchful eye on the US troops near the outskirts of St Clair. Far to the west near Pont la Planche, the battered survivors of A-3 company withdrew from the bridge area after their failed attempt to recapture the crossing. Nine men from ‘I’ and ‘J’ platoon slipped away into the darkness to rejoin the regiment further south.

As the sun sank below the horizon the sentries of both sides peered into the gathering gloom knowing with the certainty of death itself that the fighting…and the dieing would continue when the sun rose again.
 
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The Purist

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Debriefing

In plain English, and without the literary license taken above, I looked at the position of the German defense and figured I had two choices. One, pick a piece of ground to defend and build the defense to protect it. If I guess right I will be able to hand the Americans some heavy casualties but will eventually be on the receiving end of an attack at a point of his time and choosing once the defense is 'mapped out'. Choose wrong and I will be chewing Norman dirt for a long 35 turns.

On the other hand the Germans possessed a fairly powerful reserve force to begin with and the starting forces were not all that much weaker than the American. What I suspected was that the US strength would grow quickly and that German reinforcements would merely 'round out' the initial defenses. With this in mind I decided to try and take the initiative away from Boff by launching as much strength as I could over the river. My hope was to create a big enough threat to force him to throw in his reserves to contain/destroy my attack and thus remove those forces from the equation.

In my (German) view, I have no other since my US game is lagging far, far behind, the risk seemed to pay off in spades. Boff could confirm or deny the effectiveness of my startegy if he likes but I was very happy with the result of the attack. I was not aware of just how powerful the US forces were until I saw the end game screen and realized that even though I had inflicted some 800+ casualties, the Americans still had over 600 effectives. On my own side, after suyffering over 700 casualties I had less than 300 effectives left.

The battle was mainly fought on the right side of the battlefield north of the Elle River between the Pont de la Marie in the east and the Pont de la Pierre in the west. The river road marked the southern end of the battlefield and the long east-west ridge beginning above Pierre and terminating above Marie defined the northern boundary. A quick count placed some 67 wrecks within these boundary not counting guns and infantry 'stands' eliminated. Boff could fill us in on his view if he likes, I'm sure his view from 'the other side of the hill' would be quite informative.
 
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The Purist said:
Boff could fill us in on his view if he likes, I'm sure his view from 'the other side of the hill' would be quite informative.
I will treat you to a few choice insights, when I've had a couple of days to think of them... :laugh:
 

The Purist

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Boff said:
I will treat you to a few choice insights, when I've had a couple of days to think of them... :laugh:
Excellent,....should cure me of a misconception or two. I am very curious on how this played out from the other side. :D
 

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An excellent AAR Purist! :thumup:

I hope there was enough action for you in this game, it certainly raged over most of the map. :devil:

There were a lot of wild firefights going on in "unexpected" places. :surprise:
The action on "Battlehill" was not expected or I would have named that area. :laugh: :laugh:

You mentioned some action further south up the ridge closer to St Clair, what was involved?

I hope Boff supplies us with the flip side to this game and his insights. A tough fight all around. ;)
 

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Palantir said:
I hope there was enough action for you in this game, it certainly raged over most of the map
It was edge-of-the-seat for my part simply because of the huge risk in sending every armoured vehicle all but 5 guns and a full 10 platoons into the attack. I half expected a disaster but was thrilled with the draw, especially once I got and idea just how big the US force was.


Palantir said:
You mentioned some action further south up the ridge closer to St Clair, what was involved?
One small fight was the destruction of X platoon as told in the AAR. The other was when Boff sent three halftracks with squads (?) up to Elle ridge. I countered by sending the bulk of 'Y' Platoon but only the first squad and 251/1 reached the flag by game end. I knocked out a US halftrack (I suspect the gunners were all wounded) but his infantry had hidden in the nearby church and I did not have the time to dig them out.

The flag split was something like:

US - 3 large, 2 small
German - 1 large, 1 small
Neutral - 1 small

One downfall of the games is the points given for flag control. This tends to lead to players doing gamey things towards the end for the points. For example, I do not think Boff would have tried a few 'bridge rushes' with the halftracks if there were no points to be gained at the end. In the real world, his five tanks and two(?) platoons of infantry would have been in deep trouble if they did not withdraw back to their own lines. They were in far too deep, unsupported and further Panzer Lehr reserves would have easily torn them up. Nor would my Pz Vs have tried to retake Perre on the last turn, especially since A2s infantry had been so badly shot up.
 
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The Purist said:
One downfall of the games is the points given for flag control. This tends to lead to players doing gamey things towards the end for the points.
Just the nature of the beast: especially in a tourney setting where points are the deciding factor.

It's really to be expected and part of a "fair" game to fight to the last possibile minute, realistic / casualties or not.
I can't really find fault in the tactic in these situations since the goal is to get "points" to refelect the level of victory.

I have found that in normal "fun" games between players who know one another and have played a lot this is not usually the case. To make a suicidal last turn rush for a "flag" that can not be "held" (or makes sense) is gamey and not very gentlemen like.

My feeling is that I've had 30+ turns to get that flag anyway and I'll get another shot in a later game against this opponent (friend) to win. Why tarnish what has otherwise been a fun, fair and enjoyable game by doing something "gamey" just to get more points? Why tick-off a good friend for a flag made of pixels?
 

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Palantir said:
Just the nature of the beast: especially in a tourney setting where points are the deciding factor.
Oh, I understand why the flags are there, I just think the same objectives can be named and the flags done away with entirely. A glance at the map would easily determine who would gain 'credit' for a disputed objective and players would have no excuse for 'diving' after those last few points (myself included).

In this scenario, for example, you could have 'named' the bridges, the peak of Elle Ridge and Cote 56(?) as objectives to be gained/held but not used flags. At game end a look at the front lines would determine who was more successful with no need for either side to resort to 'the dash'.

Maybe if the value of the flags could be reduced to , say, 1 point, the temptation could be removed.

Just a thought.
 

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That idea would be interesting to test out and I have thought of it before actually.

But it also leaves much to the opinion of how much credit a particular "action" is worth. On this scale I don't think I'd want to have to sort out all the possibilities.

It also opens up the game to "then what" speculation. Such as how much "credit" was it worth gamewise to the Germans to destroy all those Shermans on Battlehill then rumble freely on. Or how much credit was it worth to the Americans to hold "Cote 56" and delay the advance of Panzer Lehr?
The: What would have happened then sort of deals?

I like your idea but I think a fair implimentation of it would be problematic.

But maybe something more on the lines of:

1. You (Americans) must complete "X" number of map missions- in this case you'd have to capture X number of bridges and X number of key locations. The Germans would not know exactly where the key locations are or how many bridges are needed.

2. Germans must hold X number of bridges and X number of key locations.

3. Then at the end of the game each sides "misisons" would have to be revealed and victory established based on who best completed their mission.

You might need a moderator at the end just to have an impartial look at the "best completed" part.

It might be worth trying out.
Anyone else have an idea or comment?
 
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