"Dec. 18, 1944, Rocherath, Bulge, 12th SS, units present" Topic

Hi all: playing a scenario. morning of December 18th, 1944, 25th Panzergrenadier Regt (part of 12th SS Hitlerjugend Div.). vs. Company C of 1st battalion, 9th US Infantry Regt (part of 2nd Division, Indian Head).

Location: woods east of Rocherath

OOB for scenario says three Stug III-H also present
a) could that be referring to Sturmhaubitze 42s?
b) was there a separate Stug battalion attached to 12th SS
c) most references to SPs for 12th SS just mention Jagdpanthers….thoughts
d) 12th SS Jagdpanthers definitely fought at Dom Butgenbach……did they fight in woods east of Rocherath?

thanks, Dan

My guess, given the nomenclature used, is that they were the StuG IIIH, 105mm howitzer variants.

Perhaps attached, and used to support the attack.

Can't really say though, since I don't recall seeing them mentioned previously.

There were some StuGs providing support for the various Volkgrenadier units, which were used early on in the attacks.

Jagdpanthers were used in the Bulge, but I suspect they'd refer to them by name, if they meant those.

My research indicates that 12SS had no StuGs of its own. The only non-12SS unit that was attached to it was Pz.Jg.Abt.560 which had Pz IV/70s and Jagdpanthers.

StuG IIIH indicates to me the 10.5cm version.

IIIH could refer to 75L48 armed StuG. Otherwise, I agree with deephorse. Scenario design may have just added them for "play balance"

There was no ausf. H of the StuG, so the scenario must surely mean the 10.5cm StuH 42.

Flames of War supplements for battle of the bulge list StuG III G and there are a few photos of a winter camo StuH III H with the shorter Howitzer? Not that this is an academic historical supplement. ;)

I suspect they have just been added to the scenario (277 VGD which operated with 12th SS had Hetzer, not Stugs).

You might as well use some Pz IVh's from 12th SS Panzer Regiment instead, or some Jagdpanzer IV (always a fun vehicle to see on the tabletop)