Christmas Fields


Champs, Belgium, December 25th, 1944: Despite of the risk Bastogne represented behind 5th Panzer
Army, their orders stood to push west. 47th Panzerkorp could only engage one kampfgruppe to
take the city. Two simultaneous attacks were envisaged. The first, carried out by 77th Panzer-
grenadier Regiment, of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, had to take the village of Champs held
by A Company of the 502nd Parachute Regiment. The second operation's goal, to open the front held
2km to the south by the 327th Glider Regiment, was assigned to kampfgruppe Maucke, made up of
115th Panzergrenadier Regiment and the armored tanks of 115th Panzer Battalion. After an artillery
barrage, the attack began.

Game Length: 9 Turns

For the Germans to win they must capture all stone buildings in the village of Champs.
For the Americans to win they must prevent the Germans from capturing the town.

Germans: Squads, HMG's, MMG's, LMG's, PSK's, Radio, AFV's
Americans: Squads, HMG, MMG's, MTR's, BAZ's, AFV's

Boards: #2, #3, #4

Aftermath: Quickly, the men of 77th Panzergrenadier Regiment attacked. As the positions of A Company
were threatened to be overrun, its commander, Captain Wallace A. Swanson, asked for help from HQ.
Companies B and C were sent in reinforcement toward Champs. The detachment was confronted by elements
of kampfgruppe Maucke, which was also moving towards Champs. 5 tanks of 115th Panzer Battalion were
soon destroyed by bazooka shots and soon two M18's of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion entered the
fight. A Panzer IV succeeded in spite of this and penetrated into Champs, where the Volksgrenadiers
had already been driven out. The Panzer was soon knocked out and Champs was firmly reoccupied by the
paratroops. A new attempt to take Bastogne had failed.
  

Source: Tactiques magazine scenario ASL TAC 19, Christmas Fields
 