Spearhead in Rural Germany 1945

Back in Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy No128 there were a series of scenarios by Joe Bilton based around the American Offensive in the Ruhr Region of Germany. The 3rd Armoured Division spearheaded the attack during March 1945. Facing up against them were a mix of units including the 3rd Panzer Grenadiers Division, elements of the Panzer Lehr and other divisions. 

The article is written for CoC and includes three separate scenarios but I wanted to fit the battles into a single day of gaming using Bolt Action and my 15mm collection so reduced it to two separate but linked games. The first sees the Americans attacking with the standard ‘break through’ scenario, the second scenario will be in the town itself. To give some ‘fog’ Both sides have a core force of Infantry with support weapons. Then for each scenario the  two forces will randomly select six units of support which come on as reserves.

The table from the town end

The first scenario will play in the countryside outside the town with the Americans are attacking from this end, their break through line is the edge of the town. So onto the action…

The Germans set up first along their defensive line including some units being dug in

After a pretty effective preliminary bombardment the American infantry come on in their transports heading for the small woods in the centre 

But the Germans get first blood as soon as their Tiger arrives on the table it knocks out an American tank destroyer at long range !

Once the reserves are play they won’t be available in the second scenario so the Germans need to get the value from their heavy tank

The Americans are gradually working their way forward so the Germans continue to hold their defensive line.

A second lucky long range hot also takes out one of the two Sherman Firefly’s the Americans need to get some momentum

So the start to lay down some smoke and drive their infantry forward out of the wood

Still the Germans hold the road

But the initial assault is turned back with some of the grenadiers who had been in the church charging out

Ouch the Tiger is hit and bursts into flames 😟

With time starting to run out the Americans start to move their tanks onto the road to make a rush for the breakthrough, but by now the Germans are well ahead on points having knocked out five or six American units

Finally the German antitank gun has a target but misses

The leading Sherman dashes for and breaks through into the town

But the second tank blunders and as it retreats it is hit in the rear adding to the German victory

So at the end of the first scenario the Germans have won a surprisingly decisive victory

So we reset for the second scenario which will be a hold until relieved scenario

The Germans must now hold the central square of the town where they have a unit dug in

German reinforcements advance from the left, and occupy a number of houses in the first couple of turns

The Americans also look to take cover in buildings overlooking the square 

With limited lines of sight there is some cat and mouse as both forces get into the best position, the Americans also start to bombard the square with their 105mmm Sherman

Americans building up their reserves

The 88mm would have been more useful in the first scenario it is fairly limited in the confines of the town

Germans armour converges on the square and American infantry charge the entrenchments

The square now becomes a fearful place with repeated hand to hand fighting around the entrenchments but the Germans are still clinging on

Eventually though the Americans are able to drive some paratroopers into the fray, and they succeed in taking the objective, but the battle isn’t over yet

The paratroopers come under heavy fire from all directions

The PzIV continues to stalk the side streets

But with time running out the Germans need to recapture the objective and the German Stug crashes across the square killing the last few paratroopers in the entrenchments

As the Stug trundles off it too is knocked out but it is too late and the Germans have captured and held the objective.

So a second win for the Germans although this was much closer than the first. Both games played in good spirits and a fun way to spend the day wargaming 👍 I’m pondering whether I need a bit more terrain for 15mm games ? Something for me to think about 

The weather has been pretty rubbish for a while but despite this I managed a walk out on Saturday, the hills look so green indicating how wet it has been for several months !

Some of the Northern Fells in Cumbria

I’ve also completed a few more figures, above some more Norman crossbowmen 

and a unit of dark age archers figures are all gripping beast, picked up secondhand a while ago

Finally I’ll share a couple of photos from the game I played down at George’s wargaming mansion. We are playing another CoC campaign this time set in 1945 and the break out from Konigsberg by the surrounded Germans.

In the first battle the Germans must get across the table

But there isn’t much cover and the Russians are digging into all the buildings at their end of the table

The Germans attempt to rush out and break through putting down a massive amount of fire but the Russians start to pick them off

The Panther gets knocked out by a team in ambush, but having committed to gaining victory the Germans despite starting to lose too many troops have to push on the try and get the win

In the end having knocked out a number of support teams the Russians morale finally breaks and the Germans get the win but it has cost a lot of Panzergrenadiers to achieve and some of these won’t now be available in the next battle 🤔 despite this it was a fun battle 

Well that’s it for now, no comment from me on American politics or on the state of English football.

This blog is about Wargaming after all, thanks for checking by 

Matt😀