Hi all,
Today we played the August game in the HAWKs retiree game series. This was our third go at Breakthrough and our first historical scenario.
The Game, Intro
I've done a simplified version of Mortain (Operation Luttich). I left out the 116th Panzer and 39 US Infantry Regiment north of the River See. Geoff Graff, Chuck Frascatti and Kurt Schlegel played the Germans. Eric Schlegel and Bruce Kohrn played the Americans. This time I was GM and photographer.
Game Play
The table set up. The full table looking east. River See on the left, Selune on the right. Both rivers are only crossable at bridges.
Close up of the Mortain area. Mortain at lower right, 2/120th infantry on hill 314 to the east. At lower left a battalion of the 117th has dug in at St Barthelemy. 2nd Panzer (left) and 2nd SS Panzer (right) are massed beyond.
In Game Pictures
Note: red markers indicate disruption; blue markers indicate artillery that has fired since it last moved.
German Morning Turn – Aug 7, 1944
2nd SS panzer attacks 2/120 Infantry on Hill 314.
862
2nd Panzer is repulsed at St Barthelemy.
863
American Morning Turn
2/120 has been eliminated in the fire fight on Hill 314.
864
Fire fight at St Barthelemy results in losses on both sides.
865
German Afternoon Turn
2nd SS Panzer swarms around Mortain.
866
2nd Panzer renews the attack on St Barthelemy and beyond (after movement).
867
Both battalions of 117th Infantry have been eliminated at St Barthelemy (after combat).
868
American Afternoon TurnTyphoons strike 2nd SS Panzer's spearhead at Romagny, but without result.
869
CCB/3rd AD moves up to relieve 120 Infantry.
870
119th Infantry moves up to support 117th Infantry along the Cherence – Juvingny line.
871
Night Turns
German Morning Turn – Aug 8, 1944
2nd SS Panzer surges past Romagny to attack CCB/3rd.
872
2nd Panzer prepares to resume the attack along the See River after reorganizing.
873
American Morning Turn
CCB/3rd AD has relieved the battered line with fresh units. Reserves are getting thin, though.
874
Reinforcements arrive; 8th Infantry Regiment (top left) and CCA/2nd Armored Division.
875
German Afternoon Turn
2nd SS Panzer attacks the CCB/3rd AD line. There were losses on both sides and the Americans lost more ground.
878
2nd Panzer, reinforced by 1st SS Panzer Regiment, continues to mass on the American left.
879
American Afternoon Turn
[Sorry, No Photos]
On the American right they pulled all the artillery back out of harm's way and the battered 120th Infantry and CCB/3rd AD fell back. These moves cleared out congestion and allowed CCA/2nd AD to move across the American rear area and relieve the hard pressed CCB/3rd AD.
Observations
This game had results pretty close to the historical events. 2/120 on hill 314 was the notable exception, but their stand is near impossible to recreate in a wargame. Each side played five turns in about 4 hours, so it seems that the guys are getting the hang of the new rules.
I'm contemplating Poland in September.
Duncan