Battle of the Bulge Campaign, Turn 1

[barca]

FIRESTORM: ARDENNES, Turn 1

Waiting in the pre-dawn darkness, Generalmajor Meinrad von Lauchert, Commander of the 2. Panzer Division, (in the XLVII Panzer Corps) could see in his mind’s eye the phantom landser of the Heer moving silently through the fog of this frigid December morning. They should be infiltrating the sleepy outposts of the ami’s of the US 28^th Infantry Division. It would still be some minutes before the screaming nebelwefers would wake up the rest of those scattered defenders. The sound of the barrage would cover the noise of his tanks and halftracks when they advanced. They had to attack swiftly and efficiently for their part of Herbstnebel. He hoped the surprise and barrage would speed his advance. There was little enough time for the panzers to reach the Maas.

• various sources, incl. Panzers to the Meuse, by Alexander Tripp and Wayne Turner

“The sector designated for the XLVII Panzer Corps breakthrough was held by the 1st and 3d Battalions of the 110th Infantry (28th Infantry Division), commanded by Col. Hurley E. Fuller. The massed guns and werfers of the XLVII Panzer Corps which roared ... gave the Americans their first warning. The telephone wires connecting the American-held villages were shot out in the first few minutes and Fuller could not reach any of his battalions…” The sounds of battle in his forward positions let Fuller know that something major was going on, but not until 0900 did he have a clear enough sense of the situation to report to the 28th Division command post that this was a major German offensive, and things were going badly in the 110th's sector...

• CHAPTER VIII, THE ARDENNES: BATTLE OF THE BULGE, by Hugh M. Cole

Turn 1
Turn 1 Start: WED, DEC 14
Turn 1 End: WED, JAN 4 DEC 23
Total battle arrows: seven
Allied battle Arrows: two (2, 6)
German Battle Arrows: five (1, 3, 4, 5 and 7)

 

Battle #1: reported 2016-12-20, by lazarus. GERMAN victory

Battle #2: >> No BatRep required. Allied FS battle arrow used for reinforcement

Battle #3: reported 2016-12-21, by Noland. American victory

Battle #4: reported 2016-12-20, by lazarus GERMAN victory

Battle #5: reported 2016-12-20, by Centurious. American victory

Battle #6: >> No BatRep required. Allied FS battle arrow used for reinforcement

Battle #7: reported 2016-12-17, by Bpoli7 GERMAN victory

#####################
>> reported 2016-12-20, by lazarus
FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE ORDER
POSTED BY: barca
POSTED ON: 2016-12-14
TURN NUMBER: 1
BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 1
ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: German
DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: Allies
ATTACKERS LOCATION: H5
DEFENDERS LOCATION: F7
ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 2. Pz Div, Pz Lehr Div
DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: None
SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: None
WEATHER: Heavy Fog, mist and low clouds

#####################
>> No BatRep required, reinforcements only
FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE ORDER
POSTED BY: barca
POSTED ON: 2016-12-14
TURN NUMBER: 1
BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 2
ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: NA
DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: Allies
ATTACKERS LOCATION: NA - Turn 1 Allies FS battle arrow used for reinforcement
DEFENDERS LOCATION: F5
ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS: NA
DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 7 AD (AIB)
SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: None
WEATHER: Heavy Fog, mist and low clouds

#####################
>> Claimed by Centurious & Noland on 2016-12-20
FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE ORDER
POSTED BY: barca
POSTED ON: 2016-12-14
TURN NUMBER: 1
BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 3
ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: German
DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: Allies
ATTACKERS LOCATION: H1
DEFENDERS LOCATION: G1
ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 3 FJ, 277 VG
DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: None
SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: None
WEATHER: Heavy Fog, mist and low clouds
#####################
>> reported 2016-12-20, by lazarus
FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE ORDER
POSTED BY: barca
POSTED ON: 2016-12-14
TURN NUMBER: 1
BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 4
ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: German
DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: Allies
ATTACKERS LOCATION: H6
DEFENDERS LOCATION: F9
ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 18 VW, 5 FJ
DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: None
SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: None
WEATHER: Heavy Fog, mist and low clouds
#####################
>> BatRep Posted 19 December 2016 - 02:09 AM by Centurious
FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE ORDER
POSTED BY: barca
POSTED ON: 2016-12-14
TURN NUMBER: 1
BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 5
ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: German
DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: Allies
ATTACKERS LOCATION: H2
DEFENDERS LOCATION: G5
ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 1^st SS – Peiper KG, 501^st SS sPzAbt
DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: None
SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: None
WEATHER: Heavy Fog, mist and low clouds
#####################

 

>> No BatRep required, reinforcements only
FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE ORDER
POSTED BY: barca
POSTED ON: 2016-12-14
TURN NUMBER: 1
BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 6
ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: NA
DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: Allies
ATTACKERS LOCATION: NA - Turn 1 Allies FS battle arrow used for reinforcement
DEFENDERS LOCATION: F8 <edited>
ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS:NA
DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 28 ID Arty, 108 FA
SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: None
WEATHER: Heavy Fog, mist and low clouds
 

#####################

 

>> Battle 7 claimed by Lord Hanaur & Bpoli7 on Thu, DEC 15

>> BatRep Posted 17 December 2016 - 09:35 AM by Bpoli7
FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE ORDER
POSTED BY: barca
POSTED ON: 2016-12-14
TURN NUMBER: 1
BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 7
ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: German
DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: Allies
ATTACKERS LOCATION: H2
DEFENDERS LOCATION: G4
ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 12 VG, 1^st SS Arty
DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 99 ID, Inf
SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: None
WEATHER: Heavy Fog, mist and low clouds

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Supply points carried over from turn 1 to turn 2:
Allies: 3
German: 14

Allied optional FS units that will be reinforcements in turn 2:

• 99 ID Artillery (372 FA)
• 644 TD

Core Combat Units & Commanders:

• GE 2. Pz Div: lazarus
• US 101st Abn Div: ZEKE

INSTRUCTIONS:
= = = = = = = = = =

• Detailed instructions are posted in the campaign booklet.
• Additional details below:
• Commanders have priority of claiming battles that involve their Core Combat Units, unless they relinquish that battle to attend to other duties.
• Any other battle can be claimed by any commander
• From the time that you claim a battle, you have 7 days to complete the battle and submit a battle report. If no report is received by the end of day 7, then the battle goes back into the queue, and any other commander can claim it.
• Any battle not reported by the end of turn is diced off in The Generals’ Battle.
• If all battles are completed before JAN 4, then the end date of turn 1 and start of turn 2 will be updated and posted to this forum.
• Any commander can claim a Core Combat Unit that is on the board, and not already claimed by another commander. Compete, win honor, bragging rights, watch the progress or steadfastness of you favorite Firestorm Unit.

Pictures and additional narratives will be posted on a new website.
Large collections of pictures not feasible on this forum with the narrative and organization we will have.
Link to be provided soon, NLT SUN, DEC 18.

<edited 2016-12-19>

Link provided below, a new blog:

Firestorm Ardennes: TURN 1 Start:

https://rosecitydukes.wordpress.com/2016/12/18/firestorm-ardennes-turn-1-start/

[barca]

Thanks to taran.shannara, we have a website to post pics and text.
If you have something to add, send me a PM and we can coordinate the stuff you want to post.
Will be working on this over the next several days. Emphasis is on getting it right over speed.

Don't expect immediate responses. I am at least as busy as u r.

[lazarus]

To all German comanders attack!  Drive hard and deep into the allied lines avoid getting bogged down by delaying actions speed is the key.  Folow on forces and the infantry will deal with pockets of resistance.  Priority of supply is to go to the Panzer .units.

[Bpoli7]

Josef and I are playing Arrow 7. 7AD is defending against a Panzer Lehr Grenadier attack...

[Lord Hanaur]

Josef and I are playing Arrow 7. 7AD is defending against a Panzer Lehr Grenadier attack...

The iniital attack went poorly as the fog obscured things so badly that our artillery and most of our force could not fire.  We continued to take casualties and our 88's were completely blown away by enemy fire before we could get them in position.  The men were quite concerned as they continued to move forward through the mist.  it was only as dawn began to break that Hans suddenly radioed in coordinates we could use and we immediately started the fire mission.  Perhaps there may yet be some hope...  We had to take risks and began mounting up troops on the roads hoping and praying not to be sprayed or gunned down by the seemingly uncanny fire of the enemy as the tranpsort teams attempted to use the fog that was killing us to rapidly redeploy further forward...

[Lord Hanaur]

Round 5...is about to begin for the beseiged defenders, as they desperately try to repel my Panzergrenadiers!  CAN THEY DO IT?

[Lord Hanaur]

NO THEY CAN'T!

 

After fierce fighting the last vestiges of the American tank forces were forced to withdraw, conceding the lone remaining objective, their Company Commander dead and their lone surviving tank left to carry the sad tale vack to command...and like Fury, most likely having to go once more unto the breach right afterwards.

[lazarus]

Smash the battle babies!  

[Bpoli7]

BATTLE REPORT

FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE REPORT

POSTED BY: Bpoli7/Ben

POSTED ON: 12/16

TURN NUMBER: 1

 

BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 7

ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: German

DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: American

ATTACKERS LOCATION: H2

DEFENDER LOCATION: G4

ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS:12 VG, 1^st SS Arty

DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 99 ID, Inf

SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: Fog

WEATHER:

FoW mission: Fighting Withdrawl

WINNER:

WINNER points VS LOSER points: 4:3

FS UNITS DESTROYED (filled out by the GENERALS):

FS UNITS EXPLOITATION MOVES

(filled out by the GENERALS)

:

WARRIORS USED:None

WARRIORS KILLED/CAPTURED:None

[Bpoli7]

0530, Dec 16

 

Sgt. Richard Wilcynski peered into the dark from atop the Sherman tank he had been assigned to the previous summer. He pulled the collar of his government issue overcoat up in a vain attempt to keep out the biting winter cold. The fog had rolled in the previous day and had obscured the dense forest that they had bivouacked in two days earlier.

 

Recon elements, including his friend Donaldson, another Illinois native, had crept into the outer defenses of the expansive bastion known as the Siegfried Line to reconoiter just the previous day. Richard had seen the bleach-white antitank obstacles preventing their long awaited push into the German heartland protruding like the grim rictus of some ancient and terrible beast. 'Dragon's teeth' Sgt. Lemon, his tank commander had called them. The whole thing gave him the jitters. He pulled back the charging handle of the .50 caliber self defense anti aircraft gun on top of the tank where he was huddled, feeling the cold steel through his glove.

[Bpoli7]

He had drawn the last sentry duty of the night, feeling lucky that his sleep at least was not interrupted by the midnight shift. He looked to his left and right and saw through the dark shapes five other Shermans idling in the night. It was so cold that if they shut the engines down, it would be a real pain to get them started again when the sun broke the next morning. He wished he was inside with the rest of the crew where at least the heat of the Sherman's engine would provide some warmth. He knew the rest of Baker Company was out there beyond the fog, with sentries in much the same position as his own. At least he wasn't suffering alone.

[Bpoli7]

He felt a rumble and then another, and then another, in quick succession. The fog lit up with a surreal glow as the trees ahead of him exploded. Branches and splintered wood rained down for several seconds as he opened the hatch to wake the others. "Artillery incoming!" he screamed as he fell into the tank headfirst, landing on the commander. "And big ones, too!"

 

The rest of the crew were in action so fast he wondered if they had been asleep at all. Cpt. Johnston was already on the SC508 radio screeching for the other tanks in Baker Company to disperse. The old M4's engine roared as Sgt. Watson eased her into gear, the tank lurching forward and away from the other tanks. Through his gunner's periscope he could see the rest of first platoon spreading out in all directions as they had been trained back in England, turrets covering all fields of fire. Again, flashes illuminated the night, bright against his adjusting pupils. A giant fir, with a trunk some two feet across, fell and rolled through the snow some 20 feet in front of the 2IC's tank, just afore and to their right. To their left, a pair of older M4s were covered by falling snow and dirt.

[Bpoli7]

(More to come)

[Bpoli7]

"...I've got Jerry infantry running through the vineyard! Engaging!..." That was a tank from the assault gun battery, to Richard's right, who had set up their camp on the other side of a copse of trees. "...Fire for effect!..." came the reply of Cpt. Johnston.

 

Richard's platoon advanced in combat spread slowly through the fog, the radio squeaking enemy contact up and down the line. At the center of the company, 1st Platoon protected the command post, with 2nd Platoon guarding the approach to the HQ from the left and the small contingent of ancient Stuarts guarding the approach from the right. The assault guns were there to provide the Stuarts with a little more firepower.

 

The assault guns had been brought up from battalion upon discovery of the German defenses the day before, with thought that their larger caliber and greater explosive effect would be just the thing needed to suppress and destroy the vast amounts of dug in infantry and concealed antitank guns that invariably were dug in on the other side of the dragon's teeth. His friend Donaldson had been coordinating with the tankers in the assault gun platoon to make sure there was understanding on the types of fire missions the recon platoon would be asking for. The battalion guys were a little green, and only Baker Company's own Sgt. Blake was very coordinated with laying the large gun exactly where it was requested. A baseball pitcher for his town's high school team back home, he had in training a preternatural ability to put the rounds on top of the 55 gallon drums filled with water that in England had been their training targets. He bragged jovially that it was just like throwing sliders on a Saturday morning.

 

"... Kraut convoy dead ahead!..." That was their 2IC, a tall Mississippian with a his slow drawl. Richard feared the man, as his quick temper had on more than one occasion put he or his friends on the dreaded "K-P" duty that left him with skinned knuckles from the vast quantity of potatoes he had peeled.

 

Through the fog, Richard could vaguely make out the road emerging from the fog immediately ahead. On the road, not 30 feet ahead was a convoy of trucks, some towing large guns. "...Open up on them!..." Cpt. Johnston bellowed as Richard brought the turret around to target the first truck. The flashes and thuds of the Shermans 75mm guns punctuated the staccato rattatat of the .30 caliber Brownings burning incandescent holes in the thin metal of the softskins doors and engine bays. Torn and twisted metal licked by flames was all that remained of the convoy minutes later.

 

"...Contact! Enemy armor! 0130! They're firing!..." That was Lt. Jessop, the platoon commander of the Stuarts, a man Richard didn't know very well. "... That was too close! This is some heavy enemy armor, requesting permission to fall back and work another angle..."

 

"...Do it! Get that flank, we'll take care of the armor! Jumbos, to the front!..." agreed Johnston.

 

The 2IC in his behemoth M4A3E2 trundled to the front with the other Jumbo. Their immense mass was concealed by the grace with which they slotted to the front of the platoon. Turning onto the road, the smaller, lighter M4A1's fell in behind, with Richard's tank behind the two Jumbos and two other M4's ahead and on either side of him.

[Bpoli7]

Guns flashed through the fog as the enemy armor opened up on the lead Shermans. The rounds skittered of the thick hides of the Jumbos, the high velocity rounds deflecting off into the lightening morning sky, streamers of white hot sparks following them.

 

"...Ha-ha!..." laughed the 2IC, "...It's gonna take more than that to take down ol' Leslie!..." The Shermans returned fire, gouging deep furrows in the front armor of the Stug assault guns.

 

Realizing the lack of effect of their weapons, the Stugs dived in the heavy forested region to Richard's right.

 

Over the radio came a new voice, Sgt. Roy of 2nd platoon. "...Enemy infantry in the woods, lots of 'em! Engaging!..." He was interrupted by the leader of the assault platoon, "...Careful guys, these infantry have bazookas!..."

 

"...Lt. Jessop, that armor is in the forest between your position and ours, can you flush them out?..." asked Cpt. Johnston.

 

"...You got it, boss!..." Jessop replied. "...Just like running hounds back home!..."

 

The Shermans gathered and began to approach the stand of trees.The ground rumbled in the same 1-2-3 that Richard had felt before. The ground exploded around his tank as fire blinded him through the gunner's periscope. Stones rattled down on the hatch above him, when the turret of the 2IC's tank landed not ten feet away.

[barca]

 

BATTLE REPORT

FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE REPORT

POSTED BY: Bpoli7/Ben

POSTED ON: 12/16

TURN NUMBER: 1

 

BATTLE ARROW IDENTIFIER: 7

ATTACKERS NATIONALITY: German

DEFENDERS NATIONALITY: American

ATTACKERS LOCATION: H2

DEFENDER LOCATION: G4

ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS:12 VG, 1^st SS Arty

DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 99 ID, Inf

SUPPLY CONDITION AND EFFECTS: Fog

WEATHER:

FoW mission: Fighting Withdrawl

WINNER:

WINNER points VS LOSER points: 4:3

FS UNITS DESTROYED (filled out by the GENERALS):

FS UNITS EXPLOITATION MOVES

(filled out by the GENERALS)

:

WARRIORS USED:None

WARRIORS KILLED/CAPTURED:None

 

BatRep incomplete

WINNER: entry missing

Radio operators don't guess, they just call back "Say again 'WINNER line' "

[Bpoli7]

Germans

[Lord Hanaur]

Woooooow. That was fantastic dude.

[Bpoli7]

More coming

[barca]

Roger.

Batrep for 7 received. Complete.

Out

[Bpoli7]

Richard winced at the thought of the behemoth turret smashing down on his tank. He was lucky. 

 

"...1st Platoon, Report!..." yelled Johnston.

 

"..London here, were okay..." That was the other Jumbo. "...Big Shot is up..." That was the assault Sherman that had replaced Sgt. Burt Whittemore's M4 when he had hit a mine in the Lorraine. Burt had come to appreciate the lob in the 105 for knocking out gun pits the higher velocity guns couldn't hit easily. "Lil' Joe still here. We're alright..." That was Richard's tank commander. Noticeably absent were the reports from not only the 2IC, but also the other 75mm Sherman, Marge.

 

He spun the gun around to search for the other M4. When he found it, he saw its entire side had been ripped apart by the blast of the German heavy artillery.

 

"...2nd Platoon reporting Kraut infantry crossing the road at Gridsquare 129. I count , 30... no... forty at least! We can't get a clean shot at them in this damn fog!"

 

Gridsquare 129 was right behind 1st Platoon. 

 

"...Burt, turn Big Shot around and protect our rear. I don't want any Kraut infantry getting the drop on us. We need to clear that armor before they get to the command post! London, Lil' Joe, on me, lets get these Jerry sonsofbitches..."

 

"...Assault platoon reporting heavy casualties, we've lost two tanks with a third on fire. They're trying to put it out. We've mauled them pretty good, but they're still comin'..."

 

"...Boss, 2nd Platoon here, we better start thinking about clearing the command post, it looks like this is a major push. I've withdrawn all non essential personnel over here, but this swarm of infantry is not stopping..."

 

Richard heard Jessop again, "...Boss, we have enemy anti tank guns unloading to cover the back way into that forest, we're gonna have to chew 'em up before we can hit those Stugs..." 

 

"...Roger that, Jessop, don't let them get set up. Assault platoon, clear your non-essentials ASAP and get back to Gridsquare 229. We'll regroup with you as soon as we can. Command post, destroy the maps and start pulling out, we'll try to buy you some time!..." The stress of so many commands was clear in Johnston's strained voice.

 

"...Lil'Joe here. That blast must have taken a track, were goin' in circles here..." Richard's tank let out a screech as the now bare road wheels contacted the snowy ground. The tank turned to face it's former track. "...Other than that, we're fine..."

 

"...Big Shot, cover Joe until we can get the command post out, I need your guns covering our flank..." Johnston swore. "...Battalion, Baker Company here, under attack by German heavy artillery and both mechanized and infantry forces. Requesting reinforcements..."

 

"...Mortar platoon reports they've pulled out. Recon is loading up right now...."

[Bpoli7]

Burt's machine guns opened fire at the treeline just ahead. "..I see that kraut infantry you were reporting, 2nd Platoon. You're not kidding there are a lot of them..." The big 105 shattered a tree just ahead sending the Germans emerging from the forest diving to the ground. Some didn't get up. Richard called for a high explosive round to be loaded as he added the coaxial .30 caliber to the swarm of tracers ripping through the brush. The 75 slammed into the ground near a particularly tight grouping of soldiers, sending them flying. He saw several Germans kneeling to aim panzerfausts and he prayed the extra sandbags the tank commander actual might stop them. Richard was skeptical.

 

He heard a new voice, one he didn't recognize. He realized it was over his own tanks intercom."...Thought you guys might need a little help! 3rd platoon 393 of 99ID here, we're assaulting this stand here..." Richard thanked the smart kid who had come up with tank telephones silently to himself.

 

"..We've got dough support!.." he heard his tank commander report.

 

"...Tell them we'll hit the line at the same time! We'll crush these Hun bastards!..." That was the platoon command of 2nd Platoon.

 

A rocket streamed from the lead panzerfaust. It struck the glacis of his tank with a thud and Richard could hear the sandbags sliding off. Maybe there was something to them, after all....

 

He saw the American troops advancing from his tanks left, firing as the ran.

 

"... We've got them on the run!..." 2nd Platoon again. "... Infantry's got the copse!..."

 

A second faust struck the ground just ahead of his tank.

[Centurious]

FIRESTORM ARDENNES BATTLE REPORT

POSTED BY:CENTURIOUS

POSTED ON:12/18/16

TURN #1

BATTLE ARROW:5

ATTACKERS NATIONALITY:GERMAN

DEFENDERS NATIONALITY:AMERICAN

ATTACKERS LOCATION:H2

DEFENDERS LOCATION:G5

ATTACKERS FIRESTORM UNITS: 1ST SS PANZER (3x PANTHER PLATOON), 501st SCHWERE PANZER ABT (2X KONIGSTIGER PLATOON)

DEFENDERS FIRESTORM UNITS:NONE

SUPPLY CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS:

WEATHER:HEAVY FOG

MISSION:SURROUNDED

WINNER:AMERICAN

WINNER PTS VS LOSER PTS:6-1

FIRESTORM UNITS DESTROYED:

FIRESTORM EXPLOTATION MOVES:

WARRIORS USED:NONE

WARRIORS KILLED:NONE

[barca]

"... We've got them on the run!..." 2nd Platoon again. "... Infantry's got the copse!..."

 

A second faust struck the ground just ahead of his tank.

L.H. & Bp,

Thx 4 gripping narrative.

Find yourself a pen-and-ink artist and you've got a start on a graphic novel.

[barca]

BATREP

BATTLE ARROW:5

 

Official: received. Complete.

Unofficial: [from radio operator (a.k.a. funker)] my advice (funker-bis-funker) is for you to disappear from the CP when Herr Oberst gets his call from the general, feld marshal, or higher.