29, Let's Go! Campaign! - Mission 2, Second Attempt

Having been ambushed and forced to withdraw with heavy casualties in his first attempt to take Arthenay, and following on from the accidental USAAF attack on his column, the US regimental commander, Colonel "Pop" Goode, was inclined to halt and prepare a full set-piece attack on the village.  However, sensing that the initiative was being lost at a moment when speed and aggression were called for, assistant Divisional Commander Cota has moved forward, given the good Colonel a stiff word, and demanded immediate action!  The US therefore send forward another infantry platoon with tank support...

Having failed in their first attempt in mission two of the Too Fat Lardies' 29, Let's Go campaign, the US will have to give it another go.  The only advantage is that the Germans did suffer the loss of an MG team in the last mission.  To maintain strength, the Platoon HQ Panzerschrek team has taken over an LMG instead...

United States:
Pl HQ:1 x Rifle group (Pl HQ); 1 x Bazooka team
3 x Squads: 3 x Rifle groups
 2 x Shermans
1 x FOO with a battery of 4 x 81mm mortars on call
1 x additional Bazooka team

n.b. As discussed in the previous mission, the organization of US infantry in these rules will very much depend upon how the player feels about the BAR.  For this mission, I have assumed that the BAR is more rifle than machine gun and is classified accordingly.

Germany:
1 x Rifle group (Pl HQ); 1 x Panzerschrek team
2 x Sections: 2 x Rifle groups; 1 x LMG team
1 x Sniper
1 x FOO with a battery of 4 x 8cm mortars on call
1 x MG42 (tripod-mounted) team
1 x IG18 and crew
1 x Pak38 and crew
1 x Pak40 and crew

2 x off-table Marders (at a nominal range of 500m.  The scenario notes in the book show their LOS.  They are assumed to be too well hidden for the Americans to spot and engage them).

The Germans are generated randomly from this list.

A slightl different deployment for the US this time: one squad and a Sherman are in a flanking overwatch position on the far side of the road

Another view

And immediately up pops a German section, and a Panzerfaust is fired towards the tank...

Missed!

The MG42 cuts down some of the supporting GIs though

However, massed firepower and good shooting lays low 6 Germans within a few moments...

And the remainder surrender

The German Platoon commander watches on, aghast

The US begin to gingerly cross the field; the firing support has driven back the German Platoon command group back from the hedgerow (left)

However, a German FOO attempts to call in a mortar strike!

The flanking US squad cross the hedge and see the FOO team - it is quickly neutralized and the Germans are not able to call in an effective strike

The German Platoon command team is pinned (top) and flanked...

And eliminated! Advancing by rushes, the US platoon moves forward

German resistance is weak: a single sniper in the buildings is identified and dealt with

The next stage is clear!

 Losses:
US: 1 KIA, 3 WIA
Germans: 6 KIA, 7 WIA (prisoners), 4 POW

Game Notes: That was much more like it from the US troops, with a slower but smoother advance paying dividends.  The US were lucky too - it would have been much more tricky if the same German troops had exchanged their positions.  In particular, if the FOO had appeared where the German Pl Comd had been. the German mortars would have caught the US infantry crossing the open field.  Whereas, as it was, the US infantry accidentally outflanked and killed the FOO quite easily.  And of course this time, the US were aware of the possibility of flanking 88mm fire, so their tanks just sat back and gave very effective support.  Some days it just goes your way!
The Threat Generation System also have the US a nice run of blank cards towards the end of the combat, which helped. Obviously the German Company Commander had no intention of holding the place...

Rules WRG 1925-50, figures and tanks by Baccus 6mm, buildings by Leven.