Skorzeny's Bid for Glory

[RangerX3X]

Skorzeny's Bid for Glory

[RangerX3X]

Malmedy, Belgium: This scenario pits the Axis I SS Panzer Korps represented by Panzer Brigade 150 against the Allies 30th Infantry Division represented by the 120th Infantry Regiment. This is a fairly straight forward attack/defend type mission to capture bridges over a river.

The objectives are as follows: Destroy the Enemy for 50 VP’s (for killing 50% of the enemy), West Bridge (D1 03:00-D2 14:59 for 100 VP’s [50/50]), Malmedy Bridge (D1 03:00-D2 14:59 for 100 VP’s [50/50]) and Malmedy (D1 03:00-D2 14:59 for 25 VP’s [all on completion]).

D1 03:00: I start the mission with a total force of 1,306 men, 27 armored fighting vehicles, 135 non-armored fighting vehicles, 24 gun units and zero bridging units. This provides an Anti-Personnel firepower rating of 1,429, an Anti-Armor rating of 624, a Bombardment rating of 66, an Armor rating of 136, an Infantry rating of 881, and an Engineer rating of 10.

Orders

Kampgruppe X are ordered to attack the West Bridge objective worth 100 VP’s
Kampgruppe Y are ordered to move to a staging area at Sauveniere (Bypass option selected)
Panzer Brigade 150 HQ are ordered to defend just south of Floriheid


D1 12:00: My initial order to Kampgruppe X was incorrect (I should have used a move order with the Attacks option selected) and the entire effort is in jeopardy as a result. No units have broken through the entrenched Allied forces defending the West Bridge objective.


D1 15:30: Kampgruppe X & Y are struggling with the Allied forces on both sides of the bridge and are undergoing a withering artillery barrage which is causing a significant loss of cohesion among the Axis forces attacking and moving through this sector.

Reinforcements

Kampgruppe Z

This force consists of 534 men, 6 armored fighting vehicles, 31 non-armored fighting vehicles, 12 gun units and zero bridging units. This provides an Anti-Personnel firepower rating of 577, an Anti-Armor rating of 177, a Bombardment rating of 33, an Armor rating of 9, an Infantry rating of 452, an Engineer rating of 5 and a movement rating of 70.

Orders

Kampgruppe Z are ordered to move to a staging area at Sauveniere (Bypass option selected)


D1 17:21: The West Bridge objective has been achieved but the combined forces of Kampgruppe X, Y and Z have yet to make a significant breakthrough across the bridge. The initial error in the orders given to Kampgruppe X has put the entire operation behind schedule by some three hours.

Reinforcements

Kampgruppe Kuhlmann

This force consists of 1,050 men, 115 armored fighting vehicles, 182 non-armored fighting vehicles, 34 gun units and zero bridging units. This provides an Anti-Personnel firepower rating of 1,341, an Anti-Armor rating of 758, a Bombardment rating of 126, an Armor rating of 684, an Infantry rating of 212, an Engineer rating of zero and a movement rating of 58.

Orders

Kampgruppe Kuhlmann are ordered to a staging area at Sauveniere (Bypass option selected)


D2 00:00: A significant breakthrough has occurred through the West Bridge objective and Kampgruppe Y, Z and Kuhlmann have any opening to move along the outlined waypoints through Burnenville to the staging area in the town of Sauveniere.


D2 06:00: Under the concealment of darkness (pitch black does not stop a bullet so it is not cover of darkness); my forces are almost in place to setup the attack on the Malmedy and Malmedy Bridge objectives. Due to the delay in getting here, I cannot afford to allow for any rest.


D2 07:15: Although there is a mortar platoon lagging way behind back on the ridge outside of Falize, I cannot wait to mount the attack against the Malmedy sector objectives. With the sunrise upon the battlefield my staging area is coming under artillery barrage.

Orders

Kampgruppe Y are ordered to attack the Malmedy Bridge objective (maximum Aggro/ROF/Losses)
Kampgruppe Z are ordered to attack the Malmedy objective (maximum Aggro/ROF/Losses)
Kampgruppe Kuhlmann are ordered to attack the Malmedy objective (maximum Aggro/ROF/Losses)


D2 12:00: The attacking forces have formed up and transitioned into the assault phase where they are immediately smashed in the face of relentless Allied artillery barrages. A good amount of cohesion is lost with several units routing, however they are slipping through the wooded section to the west which will give them some cover as they approach the Malmedy Bridge objective.


Review Final Situation Screen

D2 15:00: What a difference three hours makes; The lead elements of Kampgruppe Z have pushed through the Malmedy Bridge objective and have achieved the Malmedy objective, with Kampgruppe Y and Kuhlmann stacking up behind them.


After Action Report

[*] A Decisive Victory was achieved with a final score of 100-40.
[*]Axis Losses: 571 men, 13 armored fighting vehicles and 12 gun units
[*]Allies Losses: 340 men, 15 armored fighting vehicles and 21 gun units[/ul]The primary cause of personnel casualties were the Allied artillery barrages, of which I could do nothing to prevent.

[simovitch]

Nice approach to winning this one. I always thought it was a tough scenario to beat, probably because I kept trying at Malmedy from the southeast.

[Remmes]

I tried the same approach as you RangerX3X, a left hook, because if you try to take the eastern approach to Malmedy, you get plastered with arty. The western bridge objective was taken quickly but I was unable to get further north because my advance was blocked. Tried to attack Malmedy directly from the southwest, but a hail ob artillery fire smothered everything I threw at them. Eventually some units did get to Malmedy, but not enought to dislodge them from the objective. My men died like flies out there.
Got a decisive victory because occupation and completion of the western bridge objective only. (98.4 out of a possible 100). Looks like you had to achieve a lot more to get the decisive victory! Look at the casualties from artillery fire....pure madness

[RangerX3X]

I agree - the AI artillery employment against your forces in this scenario is pure murder.