Armor fans, the gang here in St. Louis got together this weekend to play through my First Fighting at Arracourt scenario. The action initially involved an M5A1 light tank platoon that was outposting Moncourt on the morning of 19 Sept., and M18s from C Company, 704th TD Bn. which had been rushed to the heights above Rechicourt.
Advancing along the road towards Moncourt and Rechicourt that morning, were elements of KGs Brose and Feis of the 113 Panzer Brigade, charged with breaking through the right flank of the US 4th Armored Division that was spread out in a horseshoe around Arracourt, and arrayed to continue its own offensive action to the NE.
As the game started, the American light tank platoon was caught off guard by good German scouting around Moncourt, and was swifty dealt with by the lead platoon of Panthers from KG Brose. Somewhat in reaction to this turn of events, the American players began to aggressively advance off the hills around Rechicourt with their TDs, in an early attempt to blunt the forward momentum of the Geramn attack.
The American TD platoons now in the open ground in front of the heights, would lose out in their stand-up fight with the German Panthers, and the arriving Mk. IVs of KG Feis, that entered the battlefield from the north. This 2nd panzer punch would successfully envelop Rechicourt, and seize the town with tank-borne Panzergrenadiers.
As a scenario contingency, I had prepared for the later intervention of Company C, US 37th Tank Battalion into the area, to be involved in this action if needed – and they were needed now!
Using their numbers and mobility, "C" was able to turn back the remaining Panthers above Rechicourt, and then attempted to take back the town.
The German PzGrens. would hold fast in Rechicourt under heavy pressure, with the American tankers finally pulling back from the town, and surmising they would need their own armored infantry to realistically take and hold the place.
This then ended the scenario, with the advance guard of the 113th Panzer Brigade having gained a valuable piece of terrain, to be used further this day, as the Brigade continued its attack into 4th Armored's positions leading towards Arracourt.
The minis used were a mix of 1/144th scale brands I've collected over the years, and with 10mm Pendraken infantry figs.
Fun game, and a good time!
criticized a recent Workbench entry, I challenged him to show that he could do better... 
