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With daylight more and more troops are spotted approaching TF Loveladys position. Mc George is well rested. The TF will drive south and first will help TF Lovelady, once that is done they will move to a position west of Stavelot. Concerning the town itself, the recon company will have a look.

About one hour later I can see troops moving to Stavelot. Infantry, halftracks and StuGs will be a tough nut to crack. I can also see german supply depots in or near the town, I do not expect to much resistance from these.
Now for the worrying part. The germans approaching the bridgehead of the 505th very aggressively. The artillery support available is the 376th Para Fd Arty, which is attached to the 505th HQ. The artillery of the 30th Inf Div is out of range. I decide to withdraw behind the Salm.

D4 17:00
Now the third battalion of the 119th is crossing the river. The other two will rest a few more hours and then attack Stavelot during the night. This is not my plan from a few days ago but it is the only thing which I can undertake at current moment. I ordered some arty units to rest, they will support the attack during the night.
There is still heavy fighting north of Stavelot. Kampfgruppe Sandig is still in the lead but this time against the 117th.

Temperatures are falling, it begins to snow. Who will spend the next night with a roof over its own head, well kind of a roof, and who will freeze in the surrounding forests.
The attack on Stavelot is starting.
TF McGeorges is now in reserve. It will committed shortly before dawn.

D5 7:30
The day starts with a surprise in the Francorchamps sector. This may be an unpleasant one. Daylight reveals that most opponent units disappeared from there. I suspect they will support Stavelot. There are already more units than expected in the town.
The artillery bombardment over half an hour was not enough. Over the last hours constantly new threats appeared. Usually I react with ten minutes rapid fire, with this mass of units, this is hard work and not really successful.
Further south on the Salm river, I ordered withdraw. I see no chance to stop the germans at the bridges.

D5 17:30
The situation is developing from bad to worse. My companies start to rout and surrender. German tanks seem unimpressed by the Shermans 75 mm gun. I have no choice but to retreat. Stavelot will stay in german hands.
Where was the historical frontline ? I will have to look that up. But first I have to end the scenario, still nearly 26 hours to go.

I might be wrong, but I think the 117th re-took Stavelot on the 19th, historically - Day 2 of the scenario, I guess. There was fighting to kick them out - mainly KG Knittel - right up to Christmas Day, frustrated by TF Lovelady linking up with the defenders as early as 21st. By 25th the US had full control, I think. But in reality those armoured spearheads were all running out of support and supply. Not sure that happens in the scenario.

Also, you selected Favour axis for supply and reinforcements - so you're going to struggle a bit more than they did historically, no?

Thanks for the information. You are right "Favour Axis" will give the axis some advantages which will make me struggle more than historical.


D6 7:30
The 119th Infantry Reigment is digging in west of Stavelot. The 117th will block the road leading north, thus forcing the germans in a bridgehead with size about 2 x 2 km.
But allied supreme command will have to worry what is happening west of the Salm.

If the axis can do better than historical with "Favour Axis", then the scenario designer has done something right. But it's too early for praise, not until it's finished.

Speaking of the area west of the river Salm, it seems the AI has not given up to cross the Ambleve northward. TF Lovelady is send to the scene.
Further south the 505th reached its defence positions with the opponent forces on their heels. Especially the 1.505 was only able to hold its position with the help of the regiment HQ and the 376th Para Fd Arty.

D6 19:00

Monty ends the battle and calls it a marginal victory. Actually I do not feel like it. I am disapointed about my failure at Stavelot. I will try to summarize what, in my opinion, can be done better later.

Time to conclude the AAR. At the end of this post you will find a map with the final positions of all remaining troops. Thanks to the scenario designers, it was a lot fun and I have couple of idea what to try the next time.
When I think about playing the scenario, some mistakes come to my mind, which could have been preventable. I was too optimistic. The first defence lines for the 30th Infantry Div were set to far south. The chaotic developments over the next day are a direct result of that incorrect assessment.
The use of the 82nd Airborne was everything else than optimal. Looking at the 504th and the bridgehead at Habiemont Bridge. Once the regiment crossed the river it became clear that there is no chance to move along the road east. The better solution could have been to withdraw two of three battalions and move along tracks and trails. I tried that later in the game, but with too few troops envolved and too late.
I have to pay more attention for planning Phase II. Totally focused on how to stop the AI, I did not develop a good and waterproof plan for my own advance. Going south, retake Stavelot was all. Such an enterprise needs many little steps.
What about the following tactical things, which I might try to use more in the future. Using artillery units in a frontline duty for a short period of time. Those units equipped with M7s, Shermans and Halftracks (30cal and 50cal MG) should be a tough nut to crack for everyone who intends to attack their position.
Maneuver more with the infantry units and find a good defence position to fire on the enemy. But don't get static. I would rather fire a lot more tons of ammunition than lose a company in a attack. This means make an attack your last choice.
Sounds easy, but it isn't.