Breakout from Bastogne, maybe my plans are a bit too ambitious - Allied

[miya]

Hallo,

time for an AAR with the new patch. "Bastogne Breakout" is the scenario, historical reinforcements and normal supply for both sides.
Now I shall explain my plan for the scenario.
As the commander of the III Corps, I will use two divisions, the 101 Airborne and the 6 Amoured.
First CCA (Lt.Col. Hines Jr.) will move towards Noville ( A ). Single companies of the 3.506 will support that attack and defend the road junction in Noville.
CCA will then turn right and with the dawn of Day 2 it will attack the three objectives Arloncourt, Michamps and Bourcy ( B ).
When the other elements of the 6 Amoured arrive, they will be immediately send towards the north and the northeast to set up defences ( C ). My superiors believe german reinforcements will arrive after 36 hours.
The 501 Para Regt (Lt.Col. Ewell) plus Team Ohara is tasked to advance along the highway to occupy Neffe and Mageret. Further Wardin and Benonchamps in the Valley.
The german forces in the woods east of Foy will be encircled, if the advance of all forces is successful.

[miya]

90 minutes into the game

[miya]

D1 11:35
It took quite long to defeat a single engineer company. Hines' troops will now move north quick. After taking Noville I want to rest them as much as possible in order to prepare them for Day 2.
East of Foy, 2.506 has problems. German mortars are the biggest obstacle in the woods. I intend to block the railway and the tracks leading through the wood with single companies of this battalion.

[BletchleyGeek]

Looking forward to the battle for Noville

Regarding 501st Rgt Bns, what were the orders you issued? You ordered 2/501 to assault Bizory I guess, but I'm doubting about what were your order for 1/501. Was it a regular Move order with an specific H Hour set and ignoring enemy presence? If so, very good assessment of the timing. I tend to overestimate [:(]

[miya]

ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek

Looking forward to the battle for Noville

Regarding 501st Rgt Bns, what were the orders you issued? You ordered 2/501 to assault Bizory I guess, but I'm doubting about what were your order for 1/501. Was it a regular Move order with an specific H Hour set and ignoring enemy presence? If so, very good assessment of the timing. I tend to overestimate [:(]

It is a simple defend order for the 1.501. Defend Mageret, aggro Min, route covered. Possibly it is a pure coincidence that both Bns enter Bizory at the same time. I did not assess the timings.

D1 13:00
CCA is delayed. They stop moving and open fire. Currently they have a simple move order with minimum aggro and bypass selected. I guess I have to intervene and give new orders.

[miya]

D1 16:15
I issued new orders for the two CCA battalions. Brown is attacking the Cobru/Noville area, Kennedy is attacking towards the open area southeast of Noville, beetween the woods.
In the south O'Hara advances towards Wardin and the third battalion of 501 Paras towards Benonchamps.

[BletchleyGeek]

ORIGINAL: miya

ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek

Looking forward to the battle for Noville

Regarding 501st Rgt Bns, what were the orders you issued? You ordered 2/501 to assault Bizory I guess, but I'm doubting about what were your order for 1/501. Was it a regular Move order with an specific H Hour set and ignoring enemy presence? If so, very good assessment of the timing. I tend to overestimate [:(]

It is a simple defend order for the 1.501. Defend Mageret, aggro Min, route covered. Possibly it is a pure coincidence that both Bns enter Bizory at the same time. I did not assess the timings.

Fair enough It was quite fortunate that 1/501 had already routed the Germans there, so 2/501 could just slip through.

[miya]

D1 19:30
My troops are in Noville, the 506 Para Regt is blocking the tracks leading through the woods and in the south I have troops in the villages of Benonchamps and Wardin. To summarize I'm pretty satisfied with the results of the first day.

[miya]

D2 4:35
End of the night, time to start Step B.

[miya]

D2 8:10
the attacks are on the way. Only light resistance so far. The only thing which is worrying me is, the corps artillery tubes are almost empty.

[miya]

Suddenly excitement is spreading in my headquarters. Rumours say some high ranking german generals are seen in the headquarter of TF Kennedy.
Soon it is clear our attack has overrun the I SSPzKorps HQ and forced them to surrender.
Has anybody some numbers what does that mean for the AIs order delay ?
I feel victory is within reach.

[wodin]

Enjoying it.

Not sure taking out the Korps HQ gives you a likely victory. STill early days. However like Is aid I haven't played this scenario so don't know who the top german coomand unti si or anything about replacements. I haven't played this scenario but I've taken out HQ's and still lost. Is a good feeling though to take out the 1st SS HQ I'm sure.

I will leave it upto a number cruncher to answer the delay question.

Just wondered did you have CCA6 in road column formation at the start of the scenario?

[miya]

ORIGINAL: wodin

Just wondered did you have CCA6 in road column formation at the start of the scenario?

They had a simple defend order. The intention was that the para companies will do the hard work with attacking the germans in Foy and Noville. CCA then would be able to roll in position unmolested. That didn't work quite well.

D2 15:30
Enemy reinforcements sighted. Tanks from the northwest. They are a bit early, it is still some time untill the 36 hours mark. And my artillery tubes are almost empty.

[miya]

D2 20:11
The men of CCB.6 (Col Read Jr.) have a sense of dramatic timing. They arrive just in time to secure my right flank.
I suspect this will be a long night.

[miya]

Empty artillery tubes are still a problem. This is especially true for the corps arty battalions. I had several resupply requests for the last couple of hours and no shells are delivered. The suspect is the III Corps supply depot. If I interpret the numbers correct, there are simply not enough trucks. They are all busy to supply the 6 Armoured Division depot and the 101 Airborne depot. Requests from the artillery will mostly suspended.

Give me more trucks Patton !

[BletchleyGeek]

Taking out the I SS PzKorps HQ won't help the AI one bit, but I don't think it is anything as lethal as a head shot. I also have to admit that I don't know if an HQ assists lower-level HQ's by lending them Staff Capacity.

Taking out instead the Korps Base... that would have been HUGE.

On the other hand, I see your forces have basically enveloped most of 78th Grenadier Rgt and 901st PzGr Rgt (or so it seems). Keep that pocket tight, poke those guys to make them run out of ammo, and you'll have a smashing victory in your pocket.

[miya]

The pocket is not as tight as it should be. During the night the AI was able to sneak several companies into Bizory and black unit icons appeared behind my lines.

D3 8:00
After 48 hours I have achieved the objectives of my plan. In a few hours CCR will arrive. The primary task will be to destroy the 78th Grenadier Regt and to clear woods around Foy.
The germans in Bizory are currently attacked by the glider battalion. I support this attack with direct fire from the 696 Arm FA Bn. The M7s and the Shermans will be a great help.

[miya]

D3 17:00
My line is holding despite the arrival of more german troops. The empty artillery tubes of III Corps will be a major problem during the next days.

[miya]

D4 5:30
Lucky, at least some shells are delivered. They are immediatly spend, to prevent opponent movement.

[miya]

D4 12:00
German attacks increase. My line holds. The focus is in the villages of Recogne and Noville on my western flank.