Background
The Battle of Arracourt was a major clash between U.S. and German armored forces near the town of Arracourt, Lorraine, France, between 18–29 September 1944, during World War II. As part of a counteroffensive against recent U.S. advances in France, the German 5th Panzer Army had as its objective the recapture of Lunéville and the elimination of the U.S. XII Corps bridgehead over the Moselle River at Dieulouard. With local superiority in troops and tanks, the Germans anticipated quick defeat of the defending Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 4th Armored Division. However, due in part to poor German tactics and the terrain, the 4th Armored Division’s CCA, in concert with U.S. tactical air forces, defeated two Panzer Brigades and elements of two Panzer divisions in a series of engagements over an eleven-day period.
The first German attack, mounted by the 111th Panzer Brigade, fell on the 2nd Mechanized Cavalry Group and the 4th Armored Division’s Reserve Command at Lunéville on 18 September 1944. In sharp fighting, the under strength U.S. forces, augmented by reinforcements from both the U.S. 4th and 6th Armored Divisions, managed to beat back the attack, destroying two dozen panzers. Generals Wood and Eddy, believing the Lunéville engagement to be only a local counter-attack, initially decided to proceed with a planned corps offensive; however, reports of increased German activity throughout the night of 18–19 September led to postponement of the attack. The Fifth Panzer Army, having failed to take Lunéville quickly, simply bypassed it, and began moving north to strike at CCA’s exposed position in and around Arracourt. The battle that resulted was one of the largest armored engagements ever fought on the Western Front.
Poor tactical deployment of the German tanks soon exposed their weaker side armor to Shermans which flanked and knocked out 11 panzers using the fog as cover. As 5th Panzer Army was not equipped with integral scouting units, the Germans were forced to advance blindly against the Americans, whose positions were shrouded in thick morning fog. Reinforced with additional tank, infantry, and cavalry elements, and aided by the Germans’ persistence in repeating the same plan of attack, CCA was able to locate and prepare for battle on ground of its own choosing. A combination of concealed defensive positions, command of local terrain elevations, and adroit fire-and-maneuver tactics allowed CCA to negate the superior armor and firepower of the German AFVs. While the advancing Germans were continually exposed to American fire, U.S. armor was able to maneuver into favorable defensive positions, staying hidden until the German armor had closed to within effective range then inflicting heavy casualties. The fog that had allowed German forces tactical surprise and protection from U.S. air attack also negated the superior range of their tank guns.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arracourt)
Situation:
Elements of the German 111th Panzer Brigade engage units of the American 4th Armored Division in order to stop the American advance towards the Rhine. The victory objectives for this game were very asymmetrical. Victory for the Germans was the physical capture and holding of the villages, whereas the American victory was based on the positive ratio of tank kills versus American tank losses.
The Germans were ordered to advance along the length of the table from the east, capturing the villages en route, with the ultimate objective being the village of Richecourt la Petite on the western end of the table. Two companies of Panthers deployed side by side, one company advancing along a northern axis, and the other company keeping pace to the south. German force was about 5,000 points.
The Americans started with a company of Shermans and a platoon of M-5 Stuarts in ambush in designated areas of the table. The Shermans could initiate ambushes near the northern edge of the table, and the Stuarts were in ambush to the south. Two platoons of M-18 Hellcat tank destroyers were in delayed reserve off table to the west, and once activated, could make hidden moves into ambush positions. Two off-table batteries of artillery were in support. This initial force totaled about 3,000 points. Two more companies of Shermans were approaching from the west, and would arrive late in the day, bringing the American total to 6,000 points. The Americans were ordered to conduct an active defense and kill as many German tanks as possible without losing too many of their own, and hold the village of Richecourt on the west end of the table.
Terrain:
The terrain is characterized by rolling hills, numerous villages and hamlets, a few roads and numerous roads and trails.
Scenario Special Rules:
- Play was lengthwise on the table.
- Both sides received set forces taken from the Blood, Guts and Glory Book.
- The American units started with one tank company in ambush, with two additional tank companies arriving on turn six. Reserves could appear at the end of the table.
- The German forces marched onto the table at the beginning of the game on the one of the four roads from the upper right side. Two Panther Kompanies to start with, with another entering on turn four.
- Thick fog restricted vision out to 4-12 inches (1D6 roll times 2 inches). The fog would later thin to allow vision out to D6 +2 times two inches.
- The Americans could not buy Jumbos or Easy Eight M4 Shermans.
- Due to the fog, neither side could purchase air power.
- German victory conditions was to control the most towns at the end of the game (control be being the last player to move through them).
Forces:
The Germans consisted of two 12 vehicle Panther Kompanies, with one platoon of PzGrenadiers along as tank riders. The Germans also received a third Panzer Company later consisting of Panthers and PZ IVHs. The German units were rated Reluctant Trained.
The Americans consisted of an on table Tank Company (two Hellcat platoons, a M5 platoon, two mixed Sherman platoons and off board 105 and 155 batteries) in ambush. Two additional Tank companies entered on turn six and consisted of mixed 75mm and 76mm armed Shermans. The Americans were rated as Confident Veterans.
Narrative:
Several turns passed with the Germans steadily advancing through the fog while trying to cover potential ambush positions, while the Americans delayed springing any ambushes. The Stuart platoon was the first to engage, taking flank shots into three Panthers of the southern column and killing one. The exposed Stuarts were then wiped out. A Sherman platoon found an ambush position to the rear of the northern column, killed two Panthers, and then pulled back into the fog. A Hellcat platoon ambushed the lead Panther platoon with limited effect, then retreated and was eventually overrun and destroyed. The leading units of the northern German company arrived in Richecourt, while the southern company covered its left. However, the rear areas of these two companies were unoccupied. The trailing German company was placed on the table but found itself opposed in front by another platoon of ambushing Shermans with artillery support, and lost several panzers while killing a few Shermans in exchange. The fate of this German company was sealed when the last platoon of Shermans appeared in its rear. At the front, the American counterattack commenced late in the day, with two companies of Shermans advancing from off table, while the second Hellcat platoon ambushed from the rear. This proved to be too much for the diminished German spearheads, and a few turns later we called the game as the Americans were swarming the surviving German panzers and on the verge of recapturing Richecourt.
At the end of the game, the Americans had eliminated 32 German tanks (from a starting force of 40) while losing 19 tanks of their own (from 50), for a net of 13 victory points. The Germans held only two villages near their starting end of the table, worth 11 victory points. Although the Germans in the game were shattered, in the actual battle, the Americans lost only a few tanks and tank destroyers while virtually wiping out 113th Panzer Brigade, so the Germans improved on their historical performance. Given the asymmetric victory conditions (the Germans had to gain ground in order to comply with Hitler’s demand for a counteroffensive, and Patton just wanted to kill Krauts) the game was judged a modest victory for both sides.
– Manteuffel
– Manteuffel