St.Vith - There and Back Again

[johnasl]

St.Vith Medium Scenario v1.04
Challenging difficulty, normal speed, uncertainty on

12-16 0600

Plan at start:
Primary objectives: Stoumont, La Gleize, and Trois Ponts
Secondary: St.Vith, Vielsalm

I’m not sure those objectives are enough to win, but that’s ok. I’ve played so many Bulge games that at this point the goal is to have fun. Why the primary objectives? I played Advanced Squad Leader many years ago and one of the historical modules was KG Peiper. We played the Stoumont campaign, and it was a blast, so looking to recreate that situation at an operational level.

The map shows the rough advance path planned. The only real call out is that the 12th VG Division is moving southwest to keep the 1st SS and Peiper free to move on the northern most roads. Day 1 objectives circled.

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[johnasl]

12-16 1200
7 VP = 6 Occupied + 1 Cas

At start of turn:

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Several American units were cut off last turn.

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Goal is to open the major road to Bullingen and continue on the north road(s) to Malmedy. KG Peiper is on left flank supporting 1st SS PzD. Progress is good in the north as we look to encircle several units. Losheimer and Honsfeld fell (5pts). Always a question on whether the advance is moving fast enough.

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[johnasl]

12-17 1200 [cont.]

FJ units are closing in on Manderfeld, but slower progress than the mech units in the north.

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18th VG. Aum fell (1pt). Have isolated several units but they are still too strong to attack.

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LXVI Corp AT Flak takes Rodscheid (1pt) and secures the right flank so 62nd VG can push west.

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Very little ground gained by the 62nd VG. Trying to isolate Eigelscheid. Did a probe attack into town and lost 6 Stug’s. Did manage to destroy an enemy unit, but not enough men to exploit it.

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End of turn. AI next.

[johnasl]

AI Turn
AI attempting to break out of isolation and head west. Otherwise mostly just repositioning.

Successful attack

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Moving west

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[johnasl]

12-16 1800
14vp Occupied + 5 Cas = 19vp

Situation at start of turn. Several cities captured.

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12 VG Eliminated the a surrounded unit behind the lines.

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Hunningen captured by 1SS PzD (2pts), then Bullingen (3pts) with supply base which is set to “deplete”

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[johnasl]

12-16 1800 [cont.]

Pieper advancing on left flank south of Bullingen without any resistance.

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5th FJ captured Manderfeld (5pts), Lanzerath (2pts), and Andler (2pts)

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Grief troops dropped south of Schonberg for some intelligence before upcoming attack. Several units spotted.

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18th VG – Isolated 422nd continues to hold out after 5-1 attack failed.

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[johnasl]

12-16 1800 [cont.]

62nd VG has a change of plans and will focus only the north highway while holding in the furthest south. Reason is that 18th VG is delayed with the isolated unit and 62nd VG is not strong enough to advance on both highways.

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This turn 62nd encircles, again, several units and eliminate another one.

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End of Turn AI next.

[johnasl]

12-16 1800 [cont.] AI Turn
Williams trying to breakout in the south but failed.

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This time breakout was successful. 100+ casualties to knock out 1 M4-75.

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Greif squad near Schonberg eliminated. Probably should have moved them north.

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[johnasl]

12-17 00:00
28vp + 10vp Cas = 38vp

First full day complete and night is here. Don't anticipate much attacking. Here's the start of the turn.
A slight change in plans, the 18th VG will assist with the capture of Schonberg.

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Played Replacements card

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Set Bullingen Supply Base back to “Regular” mode.

In the North 1st SS PzD moves further west and runs into ambush in Butgenbach. Peiper moves along the road to the south without any resistance. Enemy units left behind continue to cause issues. 12th VG begins southward advance to capture Holzheim and Wereth.

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In the center 3rd FJ positions outside of Schonberg. Hold outs behind the lines continue to cause problems.

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[johnasl]

12-17 00:00 [cont.]

And in the South, 62nd VG again isolates the enemy by pushing back the 591st Artillery destroying 8 105mm howitzers. 1 isolated unit is destroyed the others are hit with artillery and assaulted taking great casualties.

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End of turn
*****************************
AI

The commando unit behind the lines up north attacks a rocket launcher and pushes them back without any casualties.

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Another isolated unit in the south makes a break and disappears into the night. Maybe he’s headed all the way to Berlin.

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Another painful attack by an armor unit on my infantry.

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And last impulse of AI's turn, a bridge is blown. Not sure where.

End of turn.

[johnasl]

12-17 0600
28+11=39vps

Progress is greatest in the north as expected. Slow in middle and south, isolated units continue to cause issues. Target Schonberg for the day but that might be difficult.

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Butgenbach defended with a roadblock, falls.
However, 1st SS drives on Waimes. Roadblock stops Peiper at Faymonville. I was not expecting that outcome. 1,100+ men vs. 50. Ouch.

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12th VG driving on Wereth

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[johnasl]

12-17 0600 [cont.]

And found where the bridge was blown. Going to make Schonberg that much tougher. Spent the 20PP to fix the bridge, but not sure it was worth it. Still 1-11 odds to attack from north and east combined, even after significant artillery hits.

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Decide to try and encircle but hit an ambush. So, now have a tougher job to swing past and isolate. Starting to think I may just ignore this town for now as it does not impact the supply lines toward St. Vith. 18th VG finally eliminates several units in the most eastern encirclement (not pictured).

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*********************
AI TURN

Another escape attempt for the 422nd, this time blocking my supply lines.

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Noticed that the AI had a significant build up around Schonberg. Bypassing may be more likely.

End of Turn

[nikdav]

Very detailed AAR.
Thanks !
Davide

[johnasl]

Thanks for the feedback Davide.

12-17 1200
31+14=45vp

Not a particularly good last turn. Only 1 city taken. I was ambushed several times and stopped short of cities in at least 3 occasions. Although a couple of isolated units were destroyed several others continue to cause issues.
In the north, even a roadblock was enough to halt Pieper’s column.

In the middle the 3FJ is stopped at Schonberg and it does not look likely to take it.

In the south 62VG is tired and slowed.

Supply looks good. Fuel is down to 41.1k in stock with about 20k avg usage per turn and 5k new supply. Not good.

Map at start.
Here we go.

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Played fuel card – 10,000
Captured Waimes but ran into ambush two hexes later.

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Engineers attack Roadblock but 10 men left so still causing trouble. Give those guys a medal, even though they were destroyed with a follow up attack a second later. Faymonville taken.

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KG Knittel attacks the partially hidden enemy after rocket bombardment but is repulsed. 300+ engineers were too much.

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[johnasl]

12-17 1200 [cont.]

Final situation in north, driving toward Malmedy and Stavelot. Will include a few 1SS units to support Peiper.

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2 ambushes as 12VG and the 3FJ AA unit attempt to move into town. I’m still learning the game and it does appear the AI defends the towns and roads.

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Wow took Schonberg. The AI only left 1 to defend, the rest are SW of the town. Maybe he was concerned about my units pushing around his left flank, but not sure that was a good move, because now we’re across!

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Finally eliminated the isolated enemy units northeast of the 62nd VG.

62VG with help from LXVI have rolled over some artillery units to take Elcherath with just a StuG Unit. Most of my units down south are tired and disorganized, so anticipating the AI does not have much strength to counterattack.

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Over to AI
**********************
AI

Isolated units up north try to break out but are not successful.

North had zero change, no units moved or spotted.

The AI pulled back in the middle and south sections, giving more space to advance next turn. They did not attack the StuG unit in the vanguard.


Turn done

[johnasl]

12-17 1800
45+18=63vp

Played New Unit card, the FBB (Fuhrer Begleit Brigade), which must be placed in the south. Also played another Fuel card (+10k).

Map at start of turn:

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Tough battle to take Ligneuville. 3 Panthers and 2 Tiger II’s knocked out.

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Wereth falls in the center.

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[johnasl]

12-17 1800 [cont.]

Also in the center, part of 3FJ takes a small village knocking out some artillery and pushing toward St.Vith.

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In the south 62VG drives to the Our river preparing to take Steinebruk.

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End turn.
**************************
AI

The AI appeared to retreat in the center and south. No attacks. It’s night so hard to tell exactly where he went.

End of Turn

[johnasl]

12-18 0000
52+21=73VP

Map at start:

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Finally eliminated the last of the isolated units in the north.

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The rest was a quiet night with a few ambushes as I moved many units from behind the line forward.

AI was also mostly quiet, moving units around. Appeared to pull back his line, but hard to tell at night.

End of Turn

[johnasl]

12-18 0600
54+24=78VP

Very little change in the map overnight. Fuel is down to 25k in stock. Situation at start of turn:

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In the north stopped at Malmedy for now and it looks like a tough battle. Peiper’s southern route looks more promising. Directing KG Sandig from 1SS to help. Large American tank unit that may cause trouble as we pass and extend our line.

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In the center we continue to close in on St.Vith. The AI lets us cross the Our at Steinebruk. Not sure he should have given it up as we just start to pour everyone across:

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AI Turn

Counter attack stopped, but could have been an issue possibly cutting off supply to Peiper’s advance.

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AI moved more units to block advances in the north and center. Lots of movement in the south, possibly moving around my flanks. We’ll have to watch out.

Turn done

[johnasl]

12-18 1200
56+26=82vp (minor Axis victory)

Just moved into minor Axis victory territory. Not sure if the pace I'm on is quick enough and what type of counterattack to expect. Fuel down to 9k but will have enough PP to play Fuel Card (10k) next turn. Temperature is above freezing and raining so mud this turn. Map at start:

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Malmedy falls to 1SS. Peiper within sight of Stavelot. A bit concerned about the units on the left flank further back. A strong attack there could cause real supply issues.

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In the center pushing 12VG toward Recht to support Peiper’s left flank. Very slow going though.

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Closing in on St.Vith:

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AI
Movement and placement of blocking units, otherwise nothing of note.

Turn done.