3rd Fight for Hell on Wheels, 25 Aug 1944

[bigjackmac]

All,

It started the night of 24 August, when Ol' Blood and Guts himself visited the battalion area to congratulate the men on two days of hard fighting, and, more importantly, to beg the battalion for one more day's heavy lifting.  Gen Patton was convinced the Army had the Germans on the ropes, and he was convinced one more hammer blow would unhinge the German defenders and open a gaping hole for Allied tanks to pour through.

In this particular neck of the woods, 1st Bn would be leading the attack to split the German defense in two and grab at least one bridge over the Soiree River.  The operation would involve the entire battalion task force, nothing held in reserve, in one go-for break session.  But the General swore that if 1st Bn would 'break the damned door down' the other two battalions of the regiment would storm through, with 1st Bn earning a spot out of the line to rest, recupe, and indoc replacements.

What follows is their story


Overall view of the table.  The Soiree River (which I failed to annotate) is at far right (east).  Basic scheme of maneuver is A Co on the left, objective Hill 65, B Co on the right, objective Cordon Bleu, with Wpns Co in general support.  A fast task force led by the XO, consisting of Recon Plt, Engineer Plt, and Tank Destroyer Plt, will push up Hwy1 to Hwy 3 to secure a bridgehead over the Soiree River.  Once A and B Companies have opened a gap, C Co will push through and tank-ride north to take its objective, Cordon Rouge.


Things are progressing in the usual manner; assault platoon blundered and pinned (infantry at bottom right with yellow beads), tank platoon has one hit and bailed (red and black bead stacked) and one knocked out (white cotton).


The Charlie Company task force presses towards Cordon Rouge,  discovers some armored foes lurking in the treeline.

The battalion ultimately takes the bridges and forces Oberst Fritz's forces from Cordon Rouge.  The battalion's officers earn themselves a couple Bronze Stars and a couple Purple Hearts.  For the full write up and about fifty more pics, please visit my blog:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/02/3rd-fight-for-hell-on-wheels-25-aug-1944.html

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great report, can't believe a squad ran! Glad my cunning charge worked!

[Ithoriel]

I'm assured that the M10 wasn't abandoned, it was broken and the crew had gone to get spares 

[ronan]

" (...) and Capt Ronan both move and try to rally pinned troops, but fail."

Always !
( I had a game yesterday, 1870, in my friend LeManchou's home, and I also was unlucky !  )

Thank you Jack.

[nikharwood]

Damn...hit by arty, then mortars...no wonder we couldn't hit anything back 

[bigjackmac]

Hey guys, glad you enjoyed the batrep.  Another tough one with plenty of ups and downs.  The fight never really felt like I wouldn't win, just frustration (friction?) with not being able to aggressively get after the enemy.  The kicker to the whole thing was rolling the blunder that had Lemmey lead a squad down the hill into close assault to finish up!

V/R,
Jack