In Issue Number 12 of The HERALD, I presented a scenario for SPEARHEAD, based on a scenario from Avalon Hill's boardgame, PANZERBLITZ. That scenario worked so well for SPEARHEAD, I decided to try a western front scenario from PANZER LEADER. I chose scenario number 15, Elsenbom Ridge (Dec. 18, 1944). This scenario represents a German attack during the Battle of the Bulge by elements of the 12SS Panzer Division and the 276th Volksgrenadier Division against remnants of the American 2nd Infantry Division. As with the earlier scenario, I adjusted the map to fit a 4' x 6' GeoHex mat, and made some changes to the order of battle to accommodate my figure collection.

GERMAN FORCES

Elements, 12SS Panzer Division:

12SS Panzer Regiment (Reinforced) (Veteran):
1 x Btn HQ (Pz III)
3 Panthers
3 Tigers
5xPzIVH
2 x JgdPz V
1 x Wirbelwind

1st Btn, 25SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment (Veteran):

1 x Btn HQ 6 x Rifle
3 x SMG
1x HMG
1x Engineer (Flame)
1 x 20mm AA (SP)
1I x 75mm IG (SP)
1 x 81 turn Mortar (SP)
1 x 120mm Mortar

Elements, 276th VolksGrenadier Division:

1st Btn, 986 VG Regt (Green):
1 x Bm HQ
6 x Rifle
3 x SMG
1 x HMG
1 x 81mm Mortar
1 x 120mm Mortar
1 x 75mm IG
1 x Eng
1 x Regt HQ (Attached)

2nd Bt., 986 VG Regt (Green):

1xBtnHQ
6 x Rifle
3xSMG
1 x HMG
1 x 81mm Mortar
1x 120mm Mortar
1x 75mm IG

US FORCES

Elements, 2nd Infantry Division:
1st Btn, 9th Regiment (Reinforced) (Veteran):
1 x Btn HQ
6 x Rifle
1x HMG
1x 81mm Mortar
1x 57mm AT
1x Regt HQ (Attached)
1x Eng
2 x M8 (Attached)
1x M16 MGMC (Attached)
1x Forward Observer (12th Artillery Regt)

2nd Btn, 9th Regiment (Reinforced) (Veteran):

1x But HQ
6 x Rifle
1xHMG
1x81mm Mortar
1x 57mm AT
2 x M4/75 (Attached)
1x Jeep (.50 Cal)

3rd Btn, 9th Regiment (Reinforced) (Veteran):

1x Btn HQ
6 x Rifle
1x HMG
1x 81mm Mortar
1x 57mm AT
3 x M 10 (Attached)
1x Jeep (.50 Cal)

12th Artillery Regt (Of Board)

3 x 105mm Howitzer Bty, 5 Fire Missions: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Tested

I playtested the scenario at the Soldiery's East store on May 3. (1 had originally scheduled the game for Sunday, May 4, but about three weeks before the game, I learned that I would have to leave town on business that day, so I had to reschedule for Saturday. My apologies to anyone who missed the game as a result). There were two players on each side; all but one had played the rules previously.

The Americans could deploy anywhere on the western half of the table, while the Germans set up within 1' of the eastern edge. For this scenario, no flanking was permitted by either side. Although the Germans significantly outnumbered the US forces (especially in armor), their victory conditions were tough. To win, the Germans had only 10 tuns to occupy both towns on the western half of the map, and exit at least 10 platoons off the western map edge within 1' of the main road. All the Americans bad to do was hang on long enough to prevent the Germans from fulfilling both victory conditions. 

The Americans deployed to guard the 2 Btn concentrated in the woods on the center ridge. The 3rd Btn deployed in the northern town and in the woods to the west. Hidden (map) deployment was used.

The Germans decided to mass both powerful SS battalions against the southern town. The 1st Bin of the 986 VG Regiment was sent along the northern edge of the map in a wide sweeping movement against the northern town, while the 2nd/986 VG was to attack in the center. From the start, the American players were plagued by poor die rolling; they failed their first three attempts to call in their off board artillery. The action started quickly in the southern area, with the SS troops applying almost overwhelming pressure against the US 1st Btn. As it happened, what little armor that the Americans possessed was deployed elsewhere, so the German tanks' main worry was American infantry platoons' intrinsic AT weapons. Several US infantry platoons hid in the woods until the German tanks rolled past, and then emerged to attack the AFVs in the flank and rear. Unfortunately, their luck wasn't very good, and the only armor the Germans lost was one Jadgpanther. The SS infantry, on the other hand, suffered significant casualties, which would impair the Germans' ability to clear the southern town. In the center, the 2nd/986 VG also suffered light losses (again, the US die rolls were bad), and they pushed into the woods in the center. The 1 Sr/986 VG remained out of sight of the Americans until turn 5; this kept the Americans from shifting troops about since they didn't know where these Germans were.

The fighting continued to rage, with the German tanks reaching the outskirts of the southern town. American losses continued to mount, until their 2nd Bin failed morale and routed. After playing 8 of the 10 scheduled turns, we called the game. US losses were heavy, and the Germans were massing to assault the southern town. Whether the Germans could have exited 10 platoons off the western edge was an open question, and the Americans still held the northern town in strength. In retrospect, I think that 10 tam is a bit too short. Had the US die rolls been a bit closer to average, German losses would have been heavier. I would suggest extending the game length to 11 (or perhaps even 12) turns. As it was, the scenario did seem to portray a "typical" Bulge fight pretty well, with strong German forces pitted against a thin US line in difficult terrain, but with the Germans fighting the clock as much as the Americans.