Somewhere in Italy - Spring 1944

In order to escape a bit of this bitterly cold Canadian winter, we played a non-historical scenario placed in sunny Italy in the spring of '44 over the weekend. It was basically a retread of the Somewhere in Normandy scenario that I posted last year, moved to Italy, using the Battlefront WWII ruleset. It was played in 20mm on a 4'X 4' table.

With the Allied breakthrough at the Gustav Line, the 5. Gerbirgsdivision is conducting a fighting withdrawal to the Gothic Line while the Allies stay in hot pursuit, attempting to maintain contact.

The last river crossing was only partially destroyed and a reconnaissance troop successfully made it across, but in crossing the bridge was further degraded. The fight begins with elements of 5. Gerbirgsdivision, a reduced company of mountain troops, dug in around the bridge. They anxiously await the arrival of their engineers to finish wiring the bridge for demolition before they will be authorized to withdraw. Bolstering their defence is a Marder III and an Sdkfz. 10 AA halftrack.

As the Staghounds approach the ridge above the bridge, the recce troop receives word that the last bridge has been almost stabilized to the point where brigade might be able to push a motor company across. Orders to recce are to determine whether the bridge is still intact, what, if any resistance seems to be present, and to radio back for help once the situation has been determined. They are also to aid in any subsequent attempt to seize the bridge if it is still intact.

The Battlefield

As seen from the German perspective. They begin dug in in and around the small village by the bridge. The land slopes steeply down from the ridge above to the river, which is lined by steep cliffs to the right. The Allied units enter on the far (upper side) of the table via the road. The ruins of a medieval tower dominate the village halfway up the slope to the left.

The objective, a bridge crossing over the river.

The Defenders

A reduced Gerbirgsjager company, bolstered by a Marder III and an Sdkfz. 10 AA halftrack. A platoon of engineers will arrive in trucks at some point in the game (left).

The Attackers

First to arrive are a platoon of Staghounds (back), followed up a few turns later by a motor company, augmented by a Vickers platoon, all mounted.

Germans in position

The defenders are dug in around the village that is on the south side of the river.

Two sections are dug in in the fields to the left of the village.

Another platoon, bolstered by a heavy machine gun, are dug in forward of this in a vineyard, while the Marder III and halftrack are in hull down positions by a farmhouse above the village.

Sdkfz. 10 waits in enfilade on the road down to the village.

Other defenders are positioned in the village itself with a heavy machine gun guarding the road that enters to the right of the village.

The company mortar digs in in a vineyard on the north side of the river, with a good view of the road down to the village.

The company commander sets up his command post in the church tower while the guy with the panzerfaust is put in charge of the pig.

1. The recce arrive
The Staghound troop approaches the ridge from either side of the road, with their crews dismounting and cautiously moving up to a low hedge that traverses the ridge in order to view below. They quickly spot the bridge still intact and a Marder III lurking behind a farmhouse halfway down the slope. They radio back to brigade for support, but learn that the motor company is still only partially across the damaged bridge behind and will be delayed (arrives in three turns).

2. Activity by the bridge

While recce waits for the arrival of the motor company they continue to keep the bridge under observation. They spot a couple of German trucks arrive from north of the river and troops dismount, carrying equipment. Some disappear out of view while others can clearly be seen in activity by the bridge. The immediate assumption is that the bridge is being wired for demolition, which proves correct.

3. German positions marked
We used a mechanic where every turn of observation had a chance of revealing more of the hidden defence. As the arrival of the motor company was delayed the recce had lots of chances to search out the German defenders, who were moving about their positions unaware they were under observation. More units were spotted dug in in the vineyard below the farmhouse and several dummy locations identified as such and removed from the board.

4. Motor company arrives
The motor company arrives, spreading out to either side of the road as they approach the ridge. By the time it arrives, the Recce troop commander is able to give their commander a pretty good sit rep on the German defence confronting them.

5. Bridge comes under attack
The Germans' first inkling of the enemy's presence comes when mortar shells begin erupting around the bridge.

6. The attack begins
The carriers and halftracks of the motor company breach the hedge along either side of the ridge. Those on the left come under enemy mortar fire.

7. Pushing towards the village
The recce units scramble back to their vehicles and support the infantry attack down the hill. The German AA gun in enfilade fails to do little more than suppress the enemy as they barrel past down the slope.

8. German right flank pulled back to town
With the Allies pushing rapidly towards the bridge on their right flank the German commander pulls some of his troops off the left flank and hustles them back towards the village.

9. A second engineer section is KO'd
The Allies manage to bring the engineers at work on the bridge under direct fire from a Vickers that makes it down to the river edge, knocking out a stand. Although successful in laying three of the four demolitions needed to blow the bridge, a second engineer platoon is KO'd by mortar fire. it becomes a race against time for both sides.

10. Marder KO'd
Meanwhile by the farmhouse the attacking Allies are held up by the German defence. The Marder III blasts one of the carriers before coming under fire by the Staghounds. It attempts to withdraw along with the AA halftrack, but waits too long and is knocked out.

11. More troops withdrawn
With the situation less pressing on the German's left flank, some of the troops from the vineyard are withdrawn to take up positions in the village.

12. Some defenders panic
Some of the mountain troops panic, racing across the bridge past the engineers who are desperately trying to get the last demolition wired and in place.

13. Staghound advances on German left flank
The Allied infantry takes a pounding on both sides of the village, forcing one of the Staghounds to advance without infantry support around the far side of the vineyard.

14. Sdkfz. 10 AA halftrack knocked out
As the enemy presses in on the south side of the village, the Sdkfz. 10 is put out of action by the second Staghound before it can fully withdraw into the safety of the village.

15. Overrun!
An Allied halftrack takes advantage of the enemy's disarray to run through the village, overrunning the engineer and infantry stands on the bridge. On the left, the Staghound encounters German mountain infantry retreating through the orchard next to the church while on the right, the Vickers is smoked by the German mortar in an attempt to give some cover to the engineers so they can finish their work.

16. Allies press in on other flank
To the right of the village the other Staghound supports infantry in their attempt to break through the German defence. A German heavy machine gun in a house on the edge of town cuts up the attacking infantry, who have dismounted from their transport while other Gerbirgsjager drive back theVickers carrier that has been firing on the engineers.

17. Staghound eliminated in close combat
The Staghound flanking on the left is trapped by infantry in the orchard and falls to close combat.

18. Panic by the bridge
However, the unexpected arrival of Allied armour sends the engineers working on the bridge into panic and they break and flee to the north side of the river, while the halftrack engages the recovered mountain troops.

19. View from the ridge
From his position on the ridge the motor company commander watches the battle below unfold, directing his mortar fire on targets around the bridge.

20. Germans withdraw
With the engineers having abandoned their attempt to destroy the bridge and Allied forces pressing in from all sides, the German defenders begin to withdraw across the river, leaving a couple of units to hold up the attackers.

21. Cautious approach to the village
The much depleted motor company infantry, accompanied by armour cautiously approaches the now almost abandoned village.

22. Game end
The game ends with neither side achieving its objective, although the Allied forces are likely to do so in the near future. The German engineers never recover from their panic and leave the bridge only three quarters prepared for demolition. The motor company took a pounding, ending the fight with only about a quarter of its forces, but the Germans took many casualties as well. In the end the Allies score a minor victory on the basis of casualties alone, slimly out-performing the defenders who needed to inflict damage at a rate of 2:1.

Kampfgruppe Peiper – The Sanatorium Dec. 20, 1944

We replayed one of our favourite Battlefront WWII learning scenarios the other day – a quick play game set during the Battle of the Bulge, Kampfgruppe Peiper – The Sanatorium by Richard de Ferrars.

It was played in 20mm using the Battlefront WWII rule set. The game went badly for the Americans, almost entirely because of some formidable die rolling on the part of the Germans. But the game photographed nicely and gave me a chance to set up a Christmassy table.  

Interestingly enough I replayed it with another player a week later, exact same German set up, and the result was the the absolute opposite!

The Battlefield

The objective was the group of buildings in the centre, the Sanatorium, held by a German pioneer company. More Germans were positioned behind the red line, along with support weapons and a Pz. IV, but were unable to move form the area until Turn 7. The Americans entered from the left side of the map.

The battlefield as seen from the American board edge. The approach is covered by woods, with the objective, the Sanatorium, in centre of photogrpah. More enemy wait to counterattack from Stoumont (upper right) and Rouat (centre top).

The Attackers

Two companies of American infantry (B and C Companies of  1/1119 IR) and a company of Shermans with a Jackson TD (C Company, 740th Tank Battalion) make up the assault force. The only IDF support is a pair of on board 81mm mortars and the company 60mm mortars.

The Defenders

The defenders of the Sanatorium are a company of German pioneers (3 Kp., SS Panzer Pioneer Battalion 1) at right, with 9 Kp., SS Panzer Panzer Grenadier Regiment 2 (left) in place for a later counterattack. Armour support is initially only one Pz. IV with the second arriving later. A support company(12 Kp., SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 2, (upper right) is also confined to start positions, but can support the pioneers with their fire.

1. The Americans advance through the woods
B and C Companies of the I/119 Infantry Regiment, supported by a company of Shermans advance unseen through the woods west of their objective, the Sanatorium north of Stoumont.

2. Germans open fire
As the American armour and infantry emerge from the woods the Germans open fire. An Sdkfz. 251/9 shells the advancing infantry of B Co. while a Pak 40 at the north end of Stoumont along with a Pz. IV on the high ground to the east fire on the armour.

3. C Co. moves along north flank through woods
Meanwhile C Company makes its way through the woods to the north of the Sanatorium unobserved.

4. German MG's spotted
German machinegun fire comes from the west end of the Sanatorium, cutting up B Co.s' attack. The guns' positions are marked and suppressed by return mortar and tank fire.

5. Pak attack!
The German PaK 40 is silenced by mortar fire before it can cause any serious damage, opening the way for the American armour to advance.

6. First assault goes in against Sanatorium
The Shermans of C Co., 740^th Tank Battalion struggle up the sloppy slopes, some bogging down as they move to support B Co's attack. The German small arms fire is deadly accurate and American casualties start to mount.

7. Sdkfz. 251/9 KO'd
With the antitank gun knocked out, the armoured halftrack turns its 75mm gun on the approaching armour, slowing them down. But it is no match for the tanks and is quickly set aflame.

8. View from the high ground east of the Sanatorium
The lone Pz. IV continues to shell the American armour from a distance, but both sides are too far apart to do more than harrass.

9. Sherman KO'd as attack breaks down
Some of the Shermans move in in close support of the battered B Co., but the Germans drop back deep, drawing the tanks into panzerfaust range. The first American tank is knocked out as most of the remainder of B Co. lose nerve and flee. C Company has more success north of the Sanatorium, moving in from behind to knock out a German mortar position before executing a failed close assault on the northeast corner of the objective.

10. Overview
One Sherman is in flames as much of B and C Co. retreat back to the woods. Those infantry who hold tight manage to secure a hard fought foothold in the west end of the Sanatorium, as the remaining German pioneers garrisoning the buildings drop back, trying to hold on to the east end of the complex until help arrives.

11. Second Sherman KO'd
A second Sherman is KO'd by the Pz. IV as the tank attempts to move around the north side of the Sanatorium. In the background can be seen surviving elements of B and C Co. rallying and advancing back towards the fight.

12. Reinforcements arrive
Things are looking bleak for the Americans as German reinforcements from Stoumont and armour from the direction of Rouat arrive to support the units still fighting it out in the Sanatorium.

13. Sprinting to the Sanatorium
Under cover of a low hedgerow, infantry from 9 Kp., SS-Pz-Gren Regt. 2, make a dash towards the east end of the Sanatorium.

14. Tank-hunting party
A second group of infantry breaks off to the west, to engage the American armour that has gone hull down on the paved road south of the Sanatorium.

15. Counterattack overview
In the lower centre one group of the reinforcing infantry moves past the burning Sdkfz. 251/9 towards the armour south of the Sanatorium while a second group (centre right) moves to support the pioneers in the Sanatorium. Under cover of smoke laid down by the German mortars, the German armour (far right) moves forward to take up more advantageous positions closer to the action.

16. B Co. rejoins the attack
Stragglers from B Co. re-emerge from the woods to bolster the failing attack on the Sanatorium. But bad luck continues to plague the Americans as a third tank (upper right) fails a maneuver roll and turns to flee, getting knocked out by the waiting panzers.

17. A fourth tank down
An American tank on the south road falls to close assault from the German infantry after being disordered by Pz. IV fire.

18. And Jackson goes up in smoke
As does the Jackson, close assaulted by the same group of tank hunters on the next turn.

19. American command tank KO'd
The sole remaining Sherman is put out of action by a Pz. IV as it tries to make its way around the north side of the Sanatorium to lend support to the infantry desperately trying to retain a foothold in the complex.

20. End game
With no American armour support left the German reinforcements pour in and around the Sanatorium, dispatching the battered Americans and seizing the building complex in its entirety.

21. Battle's conclusion
Surrounded by burning Shermans one of the Pz. IV's advances on the objective, but its help isn't needed. A seen from above, the last of the American attackers succumb to close assault and the Sanatorium returns to German control. A tough game for the American player as luck abandoned him at every turn and sat firmly on the German player's shoulder through out.