Background
The future of Panzer-Brigade 107 was more promising than of any other Panzer-Brigade assigned to the Western Front. It was raised around the remnants from Panzer-Grenadier-Division 25. Although the brigade only received 33 Panther tanks and 12 StuG IV assault guns the unit got 9 to 12 weeks for training and organization! The urgency of troops at the front thwarted this schedule and on the 15th of September the troops were loaded on trains heading for the West. Panzer-Brigade 107 was destined for operations in Lorraine but the major Allied airborne operation in the Netherlands required tank forces in this sector.
Undetected by Allied fighter-bombers Panzer-Brigade 107 on the 18th of September unloaded at Venlo en Roermond just over the border with Germany. A general strike at the Dutch railways prevented detraining deep into Dutch territory, which eventually would cost Panzer-Brigade 107 a lot of fuel the reach battlefield. The commanding officer, Major von Maltzahn, managed to get extra stocks of fuel from LXXXVI Corps under which he resorted. He also managed to persuade his superiors to let the Panzer-Brigade act as one unit and not waste the troops by sending them piecemeal to the front. It took the brigade two days to unload…
On the 19th of September the tank battalion was fully operational and set out on his mission: the destruction of the bridge at Son over the Wilhemina Canal, just above Eindhoven. This would cut of all airborne troops and the supply of the Guards Armoured Division, who was moving towards Arnhem. In Helmond, a town just east of Eindhoven, the Panzer-Brigade took a break, which they used to mount the German airborne troops as supporting infantry to their destination. After leaving from Helmond the Germans soon were close to their objective.
Major von Malthzahn conferred with his commanders just before the attack and decided that the tanks would take the lead. They had to move over a narrow dike, which left no space for other vehicles in the case of an ambush. The Panther tanks made good progress over the dike and in the end of the afternoon they reached the bridge at Son. They opened fire on everything that moved and soon the town of Son was full of burning trucks and confused troops. The Divisional commander of the 101th U.S. Airborne Division took swift action and put a 57 mm antitank gun into position just as the Germans approached the bridge. Within a short time two German tanks were hit, their advance was blocked and they were forced to return.
The next day the Germans tested their luck just south of Son. German infantry skirmished but was beaten off by American paratroopers and German tanks were brought in to support the infantry. The tanks managed to spread destruction on the narrow route on which the Allies were bringing troops and supplies north towards their besieged troops in Arnhem. Soon the German tanks were engaged by British tanks of the 15th/19th Hussars battalion coming from the north, who were called in for support. Soon four German tanks were burning in the face of the British overwhelming numbers in tanks and this marked the turning point of the battle. The German tanks retreated and at the end of the battle they lost at least 150 men.
Meanwhile from the south the 44th Royal Tanks Battalion of the 11th Armoured Division was coming from Eindhoven to deal with the menace of Panzer-Brigade 107. They advanced on a broad front towards the southern flank of the attacking German forces, which were in danger of being caught into encirclement from the north and south. The southern attack ended in a tanks clash, which took heavy losses both sides. Panzer-Brigade 107 managed to escape to the east but lost almost one third of its tanks in the process, some of them due to lack of fuel.
Von Malthzahn realized that the British were keen to drive his forces away from the vital bridge at Son. He also knew that the British had assembled superior tank forces for this job, which would smash his brigade if he stayed where he was. On the 21st of September he withdrew his forces towards Helmond, where he started his advance on September 19th. The British caught up the tail of the Panzer-Brigade and a fire fight between the British vanguard and the German rearguard developed in which the Germans lost three more precious tanks.
Panzer-Brigade 107 escaped the pursuit of the British 11th Armoured Division, but it paid dearly for its first encounter with both the American paratroopers and the British tankers. Within two days it lost at least one third of its tank force and also the losses among the infantry amounted a few hundred men lost dead, wounded or as prisoners. The Panzer-Brigade managed to achieve complete surprise, but was unable to exploit it. Once located the Germans were the hunted instead of the hunters. Confronted with organized and determined resistance and a growing threat of enemy counterattacks further operations were useless. Panzer-Brigade 107 managed to scare the Allies but never dominated the battlefield…”
(http://www.panzerworld.com/panzer-brigades-in-the-west-1944#panzer-brigade-107)
Situation:
Elements of the German 107th Panzer Brigade attempt to destroy the Son Bridge by engaging units of the American 101st Airborne Division defending the Son Bridge while holding off elements of the British 11th Armoured Division and the American 7th Armored Division. Victory for the Germans was taking the Son Bridge while protecting the Overloon Bridge. The American victory objectives were the reverse. Additional victory points could be gained by destroying British truck convoys up the Hell’s Highway and by a positive ratio of destroyed versus lost tanks.
The Game
Terrain:
The battlefield was a compression of the areas north of Eindhoven and south of Kleve and about two weeks of fighting. The terrain is characterized by low swampy polder fields (very difficult going), raised roads and with the Wilhemina Canal cutting through the northeastern section of the table. Several small villages dotted the table.
Scenario Special Rules:
- Play was lengthwise on the table, with the Germans entering on the center and the allies on both ends.
- The US armor from Blood, Guts and Glory or the Ardennes books. British and US Airborne from Market Garden book. Germans from Bridge by Bridge book
- The American started with a platoon of Airborne Infantry dug in around the Son Bridge.
- The German forces march onto the table at the beginning of the game on the road from the upper right side of the table.
- The British relief force arrive as Delayed Reserves starting on Turn Three on the road north of the Son Bridge.
- The American 7th Armored units arrive as really delayed reserves on Turn Six on the road to the south of the bridge at Overloon.
- The British may purchase Priority Air Power.
- All terrain on the board is very difficult going (requires skill test). All roads and towns are considered raised and follow the normal rules. The canal is impassible to all vehicles. Infantry may cross, but must stop movement at each edge of the canal.
Forces:
The Germans consisted of a Panther company (11 Panthers) with infantry (2 x PzGren Platoons, 1 x Infantry platoon and one off board 105mm artillery battery. The German tanks and PzGrens were rated as Confident Trained, while the Infantry and Artillery were rated Confident Veteran. This total German force amounted to about 2400 points.
The Allies consisted of a British M4 Sherman Tank Company (8 x M4 75s and 3 x Firefly), with an Achilles tank destroyer platoon in support. British were rated Confident Veteran. The American M4 Company (8 x M4-76s and 9 x M4-75s). The US armor was rated Confident Trained. One US Airborne platoon with an attached 57mm ATG deployed on the table. The Airborne was rated Fearless Veteran. All total, the Allies had 3000 points.
Narrative:
Entering on Turn One, the Germans steadily advanced on the Son Bridge. The Panthers remained road bound while the German infantry surged across the open Polder towards the American Paratroopers.
By Turn Three, the Paratroopers had been routed off the table, when the initial British reserve appeared racing down the road towards the Son Bridge. Over the next few turns, the Germans were able to stymie the British advance, causing several casualties to the British Fireflies. The German infantry crept up to the bridge and secured the far side. However, they were unable to cross, due to the British armor on the other side. This is when the lack of British infantry and/or artillery really began to tell. The only positive result achieved by the British was that three of the six defending Panthers were knocked out by the RAF!
By Turn Six, the American 7th Armored arrived, only to come under fire from long range Panther fire, knocking out several and bailing a couple more. The Americans attempted to bring their 76mm equipped tanks to the forefront, but ended up losing them by the Germans gun tanking them. With only the 75mm equipped tanks left, the Americans were also stopped cold in their tracks.
With the Americans on the verge of collapse, it was only a matter of time before the Germans finished them off. The British were firmly in position of one end of the bridge, but unable to advance any farther. The Germans had secured the town of Helmond, shot up convoy, cut hells highway, but could not fully take the Son bridge. However, they had reached their high water mark. As the Germans gained points for the destruction of a British truck convoy and having overwhelming number of tank kills (15 to 5). The game was declared a counterfactual tactical German victory.
– Manteuffel