I've been reading up on the battle of the Bulge as part of my fivecore games featuring the US 2nd division and it's defence of the twin towns. Further West however another veteran US Division, the 1st Infantry, or Big Red One, was also fighting to hold the line on the Morschheck road.
12 SS are just down that road, and they mean business.
Using maps from the official history I've singled out E company's battle, and focused in on the platoon holding the vital road to Morschheck. Only a tiny part of the centre of the map shown will appear as a tabletop
This looks very much like a pint sized Chain of Command campaign for my 20mm Italeri figures in Durham! Moose and Otis of E Company 26th Inf Regt, 1st Inf Division "The Big Red One" have survived D-Day, Normandy and Aachen. They now find themselves deployed on the critical ridge in front of Dom Burtgenbach right in the path of 12th SS advance. Can our heroes survive against the Hitler Jugend?
An alternate name for this pint sized cam could be "what's that coming over the hill, it's a jagdtiger...!
Game One. The Kubelwagen on the Morschheck road.
Game One:
The first morning. Recce elements probe the newly constructed E company defences. Light German Infantry forces support this.
Big Red One:
1st Platoon E Company 26th Inf Regt
2 bazooka teams attached
12 SS Reconnaissance.
2 Kubelwagen,
2 Sdkfz 234/2 Armoured Cars
One section 8 Infantry.
Game 2. The Reich strikes back, the Jagdpanzer attack.
Game 2:
Next day, and the Germans are moving main elements against E Company. 1sr Platoon still hold the centre between the other platoons in the Company and E Company 18th Regt on their left.
The Germans have sent another Puma Armoured car, but this time a Jagdpanzer and an Infantry Company are in support. E Company must take the brunt of it.
Big Red One:
Survivors: 1st Platoon E Company 26th Inf Regt
2 bazooka teams attached
1 30 CAL MMG team.
12 SS
1 Sdkfz 234/2 Armoured Car
1 Sdkfz 186 Jagdtiger
One platoon, two sections 8 Infantry,
Support one MMG Team
Game 3. When I nod my head you hit it... 9 Kompanie attacks
Game 3.
Day three. E Company 18th Regt have been destroyed on our right. Our company has had to extend across to fill the line. G company 26th have move to support our left.
Support has come up with some 57 mm A/T guns, butt the Sherman tanks supporting us are just to the rear.
Big Red One:
Survivors: 1st Platoon E Company 26th Inf Regt
2 bazooka teams attached
2 57 mm A/T guns Sgt Warner
1 30 CAL MMG team.
12 SS 9th Kompanie
1 Sdkfz 186 Jagdtiger
One platoon, two sections 8 Infantry,
Support one MMG Team
 |
| A photo from the action as the 57 mm guns move up through the mud. My reading suggests that this is actually Warner and his team, and the Bűtgenbuecher Heck treeline can be seen in the background. |
Game 4: What the Heck? 26th Pz Grenadier Attack
We survived another day! The Bűtgenbuecher Heck is a forested area to our right front. So far the Germans have been using the road, but E Company's defense has made them reconsider. An SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment is moving through those woods with the sole intention of destroying E Company. German Infantry, how tough can they be?
Big Red One:
Survivors: 1st Platoon E Company 26th Inf Regt
2 bazooka teams attached
1 57 mm AT gun
1 30 CAL MMG team.
12 SS, 26th Pz Grenadier
Hauptmann Mueller
1st platoon, two sections 8 Infantry,
Support one MMG Team
2nd platoon, two sections 8 Infantry
Support Mortar team
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