Matrix Games Forums

Good evening all,

It has been hard finding time to play this summer. I'm lucky to have a cottage to go to most weekends, but it has no electricity and I leave my laptop at home - so I can enjoy the lake better. Thus, I have not had much time to play.

I'm heading back to the cottage in the morning, but I have started working on my plan for the Race to Bastogne scenario.

Over the next few posts, I will outline my planning thoughts.

I hope you enjoy them.

Mike

Here are the Objectives

Here are the Objective point totals in a table format

The next 3 slides look at the terrain from East to West and then there is a slide showing the big picture...

Middle

West

Big Picture

Enemy Forces

110th Inf Regt of 28th Inf Division is main foe – initially.
They are absorbing replacements after suffering staggering losses. This may be an opportunity – if I strike hard, units may shatter

Spread thin

No continuous line – series of fortified positions
Should be able to bypass US forces at outset

7 company strength US units deployed (visible) along ridge
Main defence is in the North along direct route to Cleraux bridge

Based on my historical knowledge and the name of the scenario, I expect to see lots of different US Forces trying to enter and push towards Bastogne.
Need to get there first with lots of firepower
So speed is important as is recce
US reinforcements are likely to arrive from South and South West
Need to get recce elements out front to observe approaches to Bastogne


Friendly Forces

Below is a picture of my forces - I am surprised that I do not have more tanks. Oh well...

Here is the reinforcement schedule

D1
1200-1400 1ST BN 78th Regt
1300-1400 902nd Regt
1400-1600 Remainder of 78th Regt
1500-1600 901st Regt

D4
1400-1500 1st Bn 14th FJ Regt
1500-1700 Remainder of 14th FJ Regt

Things I need to improve on - based on previous scenarios

Making sure I task someone to do flank protection
Where are US reinforcements coming from?
North - unlikely
West – most likely
South – very liklely

Make better use of Grouping options to ensure that all units are optimized
Look at tasking Inf guns to the Bns
Look at attaching a Tk Coy to Inf Bns

I need to do a better job of gathering Intelligence
I need to take time to look at what the US forces are doing?
How they are organized
When and where their reinforcements arrive and how they get deployed
Fixing enemy units – so that they remain where I want them and in contact

Mission Analysis

Superior Commander’s Intent
Capture Bastogne – key road junction – and push forces to the West.

Assigned Tasks
Building crossings at Dasburg and Ubereisenbach
Capture crossings at Clearaux and Drauffelt
Secure Hosingen, Urspelt and Consthum
Exit forces to West (Ourtheville and Neufchateau)
Secure Noville, Wiltz, Weidingen and Assenois
Capture Bastogne

Implied Tasks
Destroy enemy forces
Provide southern flank security
Secure clear supply routes

Main Effort
Exit forces to the West

US options

1. Defend forward
Try to hold onto the Clerf River
Reinforce to hold key bridges - Destroy bridges if required
Withdraw once pressure is too high

2. Delay between Our and Clerf River, then withdraw slowly to Bastogne
Trade space for time, trying to slow down the German forces
This will permit reinforcements to push into Bastogne

3. Delay then fall back to defence line East of Bastogne
Hold Clerf, destroying bridges as required
Defend along the line of Bourcy- Moinet-Allenbom-Oberwampach
Fall back to defend Bastogne


Thoughts

Speed is very important
Need to get over the two initial rivers quickly
Could try to bypass US Forces deployed East of the Clerf

Want to stay to the centre-north as much as possible
Speed and to avoid getting bogged down

I think the US will likely select Option 3
I seem to have a constant theme – speed will be important
Also, need to disrupt US Force support elements
Bypassing defences between Clerf and Bastogne will likely be very important.

Option 1 – Balanced push

Option 2 – Central push

Option 3 – Bypass South

Now, I will continue to think on this options by the lake this week and hope to start playing the scenario next Sunday (Aug 10th).

I hope everyone in the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying a wonderful summer. For those of you down under, I hope winter is not being too cold.

All the best,

Mike

It is taking me longer to get back at this than I would like. Life is too busy at times. However, I have made some progress - I have decided on which option to take...

Decision
I’m going with Option 3 – Bypass South

To make this work, I need to get across the Clerf fast and get the Pz Lehr Division moving quickly towards Bastogne.
Therefore, we will have a decision pt near Obj Cow
If Cow is too heavily defended, then Pz Lehr will bounce North – to maintain speed.

Also, the 26 VGD will need to relieve 2 Pz Div along both the Our and Clerf Rivers to free up forces for the push towards Bastogne

nice presentation...subscribed.... thx for taking the time, i know these are a lot of work.

**budd**

Thanks, I'm enjoying doing these. I have found that going through this process helps me with my plan. Without this forum, I would still do the slides to plan my operation.

Have a good day,

Mike

I've started planning the opening moves - here is a look at the plan in the North

The slide shows the initial moves of the forces already West of the Our River.

Here are the opening moves in the South.