Part 5 - Remote Commanders WWII D-Day Game

This report will be broken up into areas where the fighting is thickest. Fist up is the Village of Arret de Cheval.

The Village Turn 1-4

The Village of Arret de Cheval to the Northwest of Murs Blancs was initially held by a single German company. Commanded by Captain Prille this company had a good defensive position and could cover both roads to the North and Northwest. Prille's company was further supported by a Machinegun platoon. By mid-morning American mechanised formations under Captain Lemore started to push towards the village, having no dedicated anti-tank weapons other than short ranged panzerfausts the German garrison was forces to wait as the Americans moved in. Making matters worse for the Germans was a M10 tank destroyer company lead by Lt. Hall. This combination of Tanks and mechanised infantry was to make a potent threat to the garrison.

The fighting started quickly, with and overwhelming attack on the village. a combination of Half-tracks and M10s opened up causing havoc in the German positions. With very little effective resistance the Americans push on the outskirts of the village

German forces were pinned down and pushed back by the weight of fire

  The German commander immediately tried to redeploy is forces in the village and radioed to his superiors of his desperate position. Lt. Hall suffered a massive failure with his radio equipment and acting on his own initiative decided to move further south to attempt to flank the town and cut-off any retreating German forces. As the American tanks moved way the village was quickly reinforced from the German centre (south east) A mixed formation of German Heer soldiers and assault Pioneers slipped quietly and unseen into the town. With his armoured support moving off Capt. Lemone decided to push on. With enemy fire sporadic, he was confident his forces could capture the village little de he know it was being reinforced the entire time.

Lemore attacks the VIllage

Thanks to Lindermann's timely arrival The American assault would soon start to meet more stiff resistance. Forcing them back form the edge of town. The fresh German troops were difficult to deal with, they were fighting from a good defensive position and the Pioneers were equipped with more specialised close quarter fighting equipment. It was becoming obvious to Lemore that the village was more defended than he hoped, he was now facing two German companies.

Prille and Lindermann hold the village from repeated assaults.

 As night fell, the Village remained in German hands, both sides suffering losses but no ground was lost or taken.

Lt. Hall's attempt to flank the village was a disaster, with his command link lost he pushed round the fields and headed towards Murs Blancs. He was about to swing round and head north to encircle the village when he took fire from the south.

Hall moves round the village

Colonel Fressner had managed to deploy his forces to the west of Murs Blancs, his green troops were backed up by a veteran tank platoon of Panzer IVs. The veteran tankers made good use of cover, tactics and skills hard leaned on the eastern front. They spotted the M10 moving with their flanks and rears exposed. Even with the disparity of numbers the Panzer IVs caused havoc in the M10 company.

The Veteran Panzer crews pounce on the M10s

Soon Lt. Hall was taking shots from his flanks and rear, he tried to order his tanks to turn and engage. The best he could do now was to fall back to a nearby woods and attempt to rally his company. within half and hour his company was scattered an broken, not even sure of what had hit them all of his Tanks were knocked out or abandoned by their crews.

Hall moved back to the woods as they start to take losses.

Next time.

The Airfield.