Autumn Fog - Allied

[MikeJ19]

Some thoughts

The ground suggests that it would be best to keep the Germans South of Liege and in the forested areas for as long as possible.

Bridges are very important. I’m thinking that I will not initially destroy them. I would like the Germans to get some forces across and between rivers and then take out the bridge behind them.

Additionally, I would like to target and destroy German bridging equipment when ever possible. This could be key to victory. With all the rivers in the AO, I could severely limit the German ability to manoeuvre by destroying their bridging units.
Part of me wants to draw the Germans as far West as I can. This will extend their supply lines. It will also make it harder for them to react to my counter moves.

If I can keep their pincers narrow and not let them join up, this will even be better. It will make it easier to cut them off.

I should have air superiority, once the weather improves and my Air Force checks out of their 5 star hotels to fly and fight again. I want to use the air units to strike at German bridging units (see above) and their tanks. The more I engage the German tank formations, the more supplies they use up and the harder time, overall, they will have to remain supplied.

I’m not sure if I want to go after the German air units directly. I will have to think about this.

Tenets to think about:

Disrupt

I want to keep frustrating the Germans plans – let them cross a river and then drop the bridge behind them.

Keep them in the forested areas as much as possible, having to deal with few roads, congestion and river to cross.

Take out their bridging units, which may cause them issues with supply and mobility.

Think about launching a bunch of attacks along the flanks of their pincers – using up their supply and reducing their combat strength.

Dislocate

Keep them moving West and then attack in the South East. This will make it very hard for them to react.

I’m sounding like a broken record, but taking out their bridges will make it harder for them to respond to attacks.

Prempt

This is going to be harder, as they have the initiative and are pushing me at the moment. But I think I can achieve this by trying to draw them into areas I want them to go.

Once I start to get them fully engaged, then I can strike.


Other thoughts

In other battles, I have use the find, fix and strike approach. I want to do the same sort of thing here. I want to find their main effort and then look at fixing it in place and then striking it.

Make use of time. I think that it is in my favour. So use it well. I can afford to let the Germans run out of steam before I strike back. I do not need to rush a counter move. Unless the Germans start withdrawing East, I should be able to withstand their attack and then really hurt them in mid to late January. In this, I also have the advantage of no public pressure if I give up ground to draw the Germans West.

[larryfulkerson]

Good analysis and excellent plans. Two thumbs up.

[MikeJ19]

Larry,

Thanks!

Here is a look at my first option.

[sPzAbt653]

Hi Mike - You mentioned that you don't know when units get released. There is a 'Releases' document in the zip, if you really want the full intel.

You also mention that time is in your favor, and that makes me want to mention to maybe look at the Victory Conditions again. They are tailored to offset the Allies time advantage.

[MikeJ19]

Steve,

Thanks for the info. I will check the releases document. I will also take a better look (first look really) at the victory conditions.

This is going to be fun!

[larryfulkerson]

Brian and I played this scenario for a couple of weeks and I was the Axis and it's my observation that my biggest problem was trying to get across the river crossings when they were stoutly defended. I had a problem getting the engineers into the broken bridge hex without them getting pummeled by the Allied defenders, so I'd put an LCU in the hex with the engineer unit [ which would have to be a foot-movement unit to enter the broken bridge hex ] which would make the hex yellow with combat unit density and Allied attacks would be all that much more effective on my units and my arty didn't seem to be able to stop any of that. Intact bridge crossings were golden. After a while it dawned on me to use the units that have already crossed the river to open up the other river crossings from the western side of the river, those crosssings further north and south of the successful crossing. I found the Axis paratroops almost useless because they were surrounded almost immediately upon landing. I found it important to get the more important German gains done ASAP because of the threat that Allied Air Power represented. I have a vague memory of the hurricane it was when the Allied INT missions started up. Almost the entire map was struck in one hex out of twenty everywhere always on Axis units. And that happened every turn the Allied planes could fly. The effect was diminished at night but they still flew. The game went downhill after that...I went on the defensive and got pushed back to the original locations and I don't remember what happened after that so perhaps the scenario ended then.

[MikeJ19]

Steve,

Thanks again for your input.

As for the release conditions, thanks for the reminder. I have reviewed them and discovered that

1. The US 9th Army is released by the Germans approaching Aachen - or a decision to release them is made by the German player

2. If I take Trier, the German 1st Army and some of my units are released.

3. If I cross the Saar river in the south, the German XC Army Korp and some of the US 7th Army units are released.

4. The British 2nd Army will withdraw if I get within 5 hexes of Monchen-Gladbach.


Victory conditions

I looked at the victory conditions and do not see any permanent VPs or time based VPs for the Germans. Here is what I found.

[MikeJ19]

Larry,

Thanks for the info, it sounds like that will make my job a little easier.

[MikeJ19]

Here is a look at Option 2

[MikeJ19]

And Option 3

[Szilard]

A book recommendation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0078XFLJC/

John Nelson Rickard's Patton as Commander in the Bulge.

A lot of detail from both the US and German sides, including the January slog, not just the December piece.

A focus on what commanding an army really involved at the operational level, to a level I've not see before. Things like a fascinating discussion of what considerations really went into deciding between pinching off the salient at the base versus the less-risky Houffalize option.

[MikeJ19]

Szilard,

Thanks for the recommendation, it sounds very interesting. I will see if my library has it.

All the best,

[MikeJ19]

The German advance continues...

[MikeJ19]

A look at little farther South - at a more dangerous situation

[MikeJ19]

After looking at the situation and the ground, here are my plans for this area.

[MikeJ19]

Here is a look after my moves around St. Vith

[MikeJ19]

And a look a little farther South.

[MikeJ19]

Here is the situation after the German attacks in the morning. Today, I will decide on a course of action and hope that it is not overcome by events as the Germans push.

[MikeJ19]

My plans North of St. Vith

[MikeJ19]

And South of St. Vith