MEGA - Game log Jan

MEGA Game Log

Game List - January to June, 2002

Jan 5 - Battle of Bermuda Pt.1 Apr 6 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign -
Stavelot

Jan 12 - Battle of Bermuda Pt.2 Apr 13 - No Game

Jan 19 - No Game Apr 20 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign -
Stavelot Continued and Stavelot Revisted.

Jan 26 - Battle at Twin Pass ACW Apr 27 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign
Stavelot Revisted

Feb 2 - Eastern Front 1943, near Kursk May 4 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign
Stavelot Revisted

Feb 9- Attack in the French Countryside May 11 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign
Stavelot Revisted

Feb 16 - We played Johnny Reb Tonight May 18 - Retreat from Russia

Feb 23 - On The Elbe May 25 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign
Stavelot Revisted

Mar 2 - No Game it snowed Jun 1 - DiCon2

Mar 9 - Commando Raid Jun 8 - Board Games Tonight

Mar 16 - American Civil War - Jun 15 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign
Stavelot Revisted

Mar 23 - To Relieve Bastogne Jun 22 - No Game

Mar 30 - Battle of Shiloh Jun 29 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign
Stavelot Revisted

January 5, 2002 - Battle of Bermuda Pt. 1

We played JR2.5 tonight, a set piece battle at the junction of several roads. The forces were evenly matched with 3 divisions on either side though the Confederate slightly out numbered the Yankees in total numbers. The Union objective was to control two small hills on either flank with infantry and three batteries of artillery on each. Two brigades would attack the center. An impassable river protected the Union Right flank. The left flank was open fields providing clear fields of fire for the three batteries, including a 24# Howitzer, to be placed there.

The commanders pushed their troops forward. The inexperienced Union commanders on the flanks pushed their artillery out front of the infantry in an effort to occupy the hills. This was the pivotal mistake of the battle. The Confederate right flank commander charged the hill and though he took severe casualties drove off the gunners. From that point on, the Union Left had no artillery and a series of charges and counter charges ensued between the opposing armies for control of the hill.

In the Center the Rebels charged the Union line holding a stone wall. Two Reb regiments hit a green US regiment throwing it and its supporting regiment back in a rout. The Rebels ended their charge deep in the Union rear. On the Union Right the battle developed slowly. The US commander, like his counterpart on the left sent his artillery ahead of the infantry to occupy the hill on the right. The Confederate commander did not immediately charge so the batteries were able to inflict some long-range damage on the Confederates. Several charges ordered by the Union Commander pushed into the rebel lines routing two CS regiments and disrupting the Confederate lines.

We suspended the battle at this point until next week.

Union

Terry Callahan
Cliff Martin
Kavin Watson

Confederate

Warren Peterson
Matt Sherman

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January 12, 2002 Battle of Bermuda Pt.2

We are playing JR2.5 Civil War. It is a continuation of the game begun last week. Matt Sherman commanding the CSA left flank could not make was replaced by Joe Shaffer.

The Confederates seeing opportunities on the flanks pushed forward on the Union right and left. The Union Center was left alone to deal with two enemy regiments in it rear.

The Union Left was in good shape with the exception loss of all its artillery support. Seeing the CSA right was over extended the Union commander on the US Left had been given orders to swing his force to the right and flank the Confederate line in the center. He was to cover a small dismounted CS cavalry flanking move with a regiment of infantry. The rest of a brigade to swing around the small hill and flank the Confederates. He was also instructed to re take his guns on the hill with his other brigade. The Union center filled in the gap along the wall and rallied the routed regiments in the rear. The problem was going to be the Union Right.

The USA forces were over extended and unable to follow up it earlier successful charges into the Confederate line. The more experienced Rebel Commander began to push his two divisions forward. The Union right line was broken by a supported charge the ended far in the Union rear too. A charge by three confederate regiments captured two US regiments on the Union Right. Things looked bad for the Union on the right.

A re crewed battery of 12# howitzers opened up on the flank of the remaining unrouted CS regiment in the Union Rear Center. The loss of two complete stands routed the unit. The CS general in command of the two regiments also fell. On the Union Right Rear The Confederate general also fell and rifle fire by Union units routed the remaining Confederate units in the Union Rear.

At this point the battle was ended. Though the Union had ended the enemy threat in its rear the Union right was devastated. Out of two brigades with a total of nine regiments and three batteries only two batteries and two full and a partial regiment remained. The opposing Confederates had almost two full divisions prepared to assault the hill and its remaining defenders. Victory Confederate, no moderator.

I will add pictures later.

Union

Terry Callahan
Cliff Martin
Kavin Watson

Confederate

Warren Peterson
Joe Shaffer

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January 19, 2002 No Game
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January 26, 2002 - Battle at Twin Pass ACW

Battle at Twin Pass

We played Johnny Reb tonight. The Confederate First Corps with four brigades was to delay the advance of the Union Army. The Union force consisted of two divisions, the 1st and 3rd, with four brigades each. The CS set up first positioning its defense in depth. Cheatham's Div. had one brigade on the ridge blocking the Western Pass Road the second brigade was placed behind the river south of the ridge defending the bridge. Clarks Div. was placed similarly on the right. Three cavalry regiments were place behind the ridge between the two divisions to react to any Union breakthrough. The US deployed across the map advancing against both positions.

The ridge was covered with woods except a narrow opening on the Eastern Pass Road. The wooded slopes were considered rough while the open was considered broken. This would slow the US considerably. The Union objective was to move off the table in twenty turns.

The Union advance developed slowly as the US Divisions were deployed into lines when they set up. The land they had to cross was broken up by fields, fences, a small village and some woods. The Rebels on the left drew first blood with accurate artillery fire from a 6# smoothbore at 2' getting one casualty a turn for four turns before missing.

On the Confederate Right a regiment, placed at the bottom of the East Pass, exchanged some gun fire with approaching Union regiments until a cavalry charge on its rear sent it up the hill to the rest of the brigade. The Union began to shift the 3rd Division to the Union Left bringing seven brigades against one on the East Pass. On the Western Pass Rd. a charge by a US regiment was repulsed and another was routed when it failed a morale roll due to a loss of stand.

The battle on the Eastern Pass was becoming a brawl, charges by the Union routed three regiments down the south side of the ridge across the river into Russel's Brigade covering the east river bridge. A 6# smoothbore was also lost in the pass. The US 1St Div. began moving through the pass as Confederate cavalry dismounted at the base of the ridge to slow the advancing Federals. After losing a stand Brewer's Cav. Regiment pulled back behind Lindsey's MS cavalry. Johnson's Brigade in the West Pass was ordered to pull back leaving one regiment covering the pass. Moving back down the hill it was ordered to flank the Union Brigades that were coming down the East Pass road towards the river crossing. Three regiments of Johnson's Brigade recovering their morale moved across the bridge to engage the forward elements of the Union 1st Division. Two Confederate batteries, a three gun 12# Napoleon and a 12# howitzer opened up on the front and flanks of the advancing Union brigades causing casualties and several shaken units. These fell back into the woods to escape the shelling.

The game was called at this point, the beginning of turn 11. The Union would be unable to make it off the table in the time allotted. The Union wasted too much time advancing in line and extended line when it should have advanced in march column with skirmishers covering the front. In reality, except for their artillery batteries, the two supporting CS brigades never got involved in the engagement, thus the CS had held two US divisions off with two brigades and three cavalry regiments and four batteries of artillery. Victor Confederate. No moderator

Pictures and map to follow

Union

Pat McGarrity
Kavin Watson

Confederate

Cliff Martin
Terry Callahan

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February 2 2002

Bridgehead Action
Eastern Front 1943, near Kursk

Our first attempt at a new rules system, Kampfgruppe Commander, gave us some valuable lessons in command quality and in the general concept of equipment quantity versus quality. We adopted a scenario from the rule book. In this action a German spearhead attempts to exploit from a river crossing, only to be met by elements of two Soviet tank brigades. The forces were a company of Panthers (3 platoons Pz V) and a battalion of infantry against five tank companies (15 platoons, T-34a, T-34c, T-70, and SU-85) and a battalion of infantry. Fifteen to three: easy pickings ,eh?

The Soviet thought so and he rushed his two lead companies and an SMG company into the village between the meeting forces. The Germans were positioned on the key hill beyond the village and they began firing as the Russian tanks appeared amongst the buildings. In short order the company of T-70's and a company of T-34c's were broken and retreated with over 60% losses. The Panthers were not scratched. The SMG company took cover in the village and the two remaining T-34 companies swung left and right in an attempt to envelope the flanks, with the remaining infantry on the right. While the vehicles struggled through the wooded terrain on either flank, there was more action in the center.

A reinforcing company of SU-85 assault guns rushed to the village to exchange fire with the Panther company which had advanced a short distance. The exchange was not favorable: all three SU-85 platoons were knocked out. This action was not totally in vain, though, because it offered the other German units an opportunity attack. The SMG company sortied from the village and engaged the Panthers, which cost the German one tank, but the attacking infantry was badly depleted. Simultaneously the two T-34 companies on either flank rushed from cover. On the Russian right, once again the Panthers inflicted severe casualties. The T-34a's on the left were able to enfilade the Germans and that action resulted in the loss of a German platoon. The tally now stood at one German platoon lost for eight Soviet platoons. Two T-34 a platoons stood in good order on the flanks of the objective, and on the opposite side of the field, the 2 remaining Soviet rifle companies had reached the cover of trees at the base of the hill.

This had taken about 9 or 10 turns (by game scale, about 6 hours and in playing time under 3 hours). The Russian was poised to assault the objective, but he faced a full strength infantry battalion emplaced in industrial buildings on the hill, as well as two very intact and capable Panther platoons. The Soviets decided further action was futile and they withdrew to regroup.]

The key to German success was its ability to operate more flexibly and effectively. Kampfgruppe Commander does this via command an control rules using activation points assigned to command stands. The rules are a good alternative for grand-tactical wargaming. They are printed by Sovereign Press, Lake Geneva, WI. The author is David Reynolds.

Next week: Western Front action.

German

Warren Peterson
Terry Callahan

Russian

Cliff Martin
Joe Shaffer

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February 9, 2002 - Attack in the French Countryside

Not much to say about this game. The Americans were advancing on a French village held by Germans. The Americans got about halfway into the town and then backed out to wait for re-enforcements. The rules were KampfGruppe Commander in 15mm scale no moderator. Victory German. I think these were the players.

Overhead shot of the American objective, American force entering from the left.

Americans moving up.

US moving through the town, searching for German held buildings.

US and German infantry in house to house fighting, a destroyed M10 burning in the foreground.

A US squad holding out in bombed out church.

US casualties of the battle.

American

Cliff Martin
Warren Peterson
Terry Callahan

German

Kavin Watson
Pat McGarrity
Joe Shaffer

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February 16, 2002 - We played Johnny Reb Tonight

We replayed the delaying action scenario, a Confederate Corps delaying two Union Divisions. The ridge was there, a little different and the river too. The CS Corps commander put two brigades along each road atop the ridge. A cavalry brigade of four regiments was held in reserve on the other side of the river. A modified strategy of defense in depth was adopted.

The US commander had six brigades and an artillery battalion, it was the artillery battalion that was to be the deciding factor of the battle. The Union strategywas to fix the Confederate Left with two brigades and attack the right with four brigades and the artillery battalion. This would put the Confederates at a two to one disadvantage in infantry and three to one disadvantage in artillery.

The Union artillery had four rifled cannon ranging from two 10# parrott and a 12# James to a 20# parrott. They also had two small smoothbore guns. The Confederates had two six pound smoothbores, a 12# howitzer and a 12# Napoleon.

The Union immediately set up it's artillery and began counter battery fire costing the defending Confederates two 6# SB. At first the Union advanced evenly across the whole line against the ridge with its left engaging the enemy first. The Union right slowed by terrain began to advance up the road to the Gap engaging the Confederates with rifle fire. A flurry of charges and countercharges developed on the CS right leaving a two Union brigades retreating in disorder. Two Union regiments were captured but several CS regiments were destroyed or routed that Southern commander could ill afford to lose.

On the Rebel Left a game of maneuver ensued with the Union trying and ultimately out flanking the Rebel position. Two Confederate regiments routed and another dissolved to negligible US loses. The Union pushed both flanks and was succeeded pushing the Rebels off the ridge. Cavalry was called up to fill in the gaps in the Confederate line. It was too little help and the Confederate commander issued orders for a withdrawal across the river in hopes of putting up another defensive line against the Union troops advancing across the ridge.

A quick look at the situation showed the folly of that order in that the overwhelming Union advantage in artillery would only delay the Union advance across the river. Union Victory, No moderator, No Pictures

Union

Warren Peterson
Pat McGarrity
Kavin Watson
Cliff Martin

Confederate

Terry Callahan
Joe Shaffer

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February 23, 2002 - On the Elbe

We played WWII micro armor using Mein Panzer Rules. The rule set is designed for 1/285 -1/300 micro armor at a 1 to 1 vehicle ratio and 1 to 1 squad ratio. I have been working on accumulating enough figures to play several different scenarios and an upcoming mini campaign.

The scenario we played tonight is from "Battlezone WWII" by Mark Bevis. This is a small book with thirty-six World War Two scenarios from Europe and North Africa. Our upcoming mini campaign will be based on several scenarios from this book. Tonight's scenario "On the Elbe" is a fictional late war action. A mixed German force is attempting to delay an American Combat Command until the German's can retreat across and blow a bridge. The Germans had a company of infantry, a platoon each of PZIVH, PZVG, SdKfz234/4, a pair of PAK40's a pair of 81MM mortars in support and an engineer platoon. The American CCB consisted of two companies of armored infantry, a platoon of M4A3 Shermans, M5A1 Stuarts, two platoons of M26 Pershings, an 3" anti-tank gun platoon and battery of 105mm SPG Priest's with a forward observer in support.

The battle started of very slowly with the Americans taking six turns to com on to the battlefield. The first to arrive were the M4A3 Shermans followed closely by the M26 Pershings. A tank duel ensued between the Panzers and the American tanks. The US tanks caught the bad end of the engagement losing all five Shermans and six M26's while the Germans lost two Panthers and three PZIV's. Several smoke rounds fired by the American 105's helped cover the US tanks as they attempted to finish off the remaining panzers. One company of Armored Infantry moved around the right flank in an attempt to get behind the German tanks and supporting infantry. A platoon dismounted and fired on the Germans. The enemy return fire resulted in the loss a HMG and a squad. The Americans began to drop 60mm mortar rounds on the enemy. On the American left the M5A1 Stuarts and 3"ATG were having success against Germans knocking out two SdKfz234/4's and destroying a truck. Two Stuarts were lost from return fire by the PAK40's.

We called the game at the end of turn 8. The Germans had to turn 15 to wire the bridge and then had to withdraw its force across the bridge before blowing it up.

We have only played this rule set three times before now so we are still learning. We will have a couple more games before we begin the campaign game. No Moderator.

Germans

Warren Peterson
Eddy Folk

Americans

Terry Callahan
Pat Folk
Pat McGarrity
Joe Shaffer

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March 2, 2002 - No Game It Snowed

It snowed tonight and no one wanted to go out so the game was canceled

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March 9, 2002 - Commando Raid

Rules G.I. British Command raid on a German occupied seaport. No one has written and after action report for this game. Here are some pictures of the game and the assault on the casino. We all had fun and as usual Pat McGarrity added several unexpected twists to the games to both sides.

Commando assault on the Casino.
The subsequent British assault on the right side of the Casino.
Brits advancing on German Harbor Supply Depot.
The British capture a German 20mm AA gun emplacement.
Commando infiltrating the vehicles parked in front of the Casino Before the attack.
A commando checking the damage to the Casino's bunker and PAK40 75mm.

Moderator Pat McGarrity, Victor undecided.

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March 16, 2002 - American Civil War

Played a game of Johnny Reb, we added initial volley rules to the game in preparation for the Battle of Shiloh game coming up in a couple weeks. It was the usual roll a die and that'S where you come in at mess. Th Confederates came in on either side of the table opposite each other. The Union had two small brigades cut off from the rest of their army by the Confederate Army entering the table. The Confederates where being pressed from several sides and were out numbered. In the end they were forced to retired from the field. The cut off Union brigades did their best to hold out but were reduced to three regiments and two batteries of artillery. Union Victory, no moderator.

Union

Warren Peterson
Cliff Martin
Matt Sherman

Confederate

Kavin Watson
Terry Callahan

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March 23, 2002 - To Relieve Bastogne

Played a practice game of Mein Panzer WWII micro armor. This is a battle depicting the attack by a US Combat Command on a German held position near Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. The German force was a company reinforced with three PAK38 50mm ATG. The American had a company of tanks, two companies of armored infantry and a troop of armored recon. The American deployed and found out that all ground off road was soft and all vehicles would bog. This greatly slowed his advance and he advanced only to the edge of the town the German's held.

The American advanced down the roads and attempted a flanking attack. The German ATG's damaged a couple M8 armored cars and an infantry fired panzerfaust wrecked another as it and another armored car tried to enter the town. The American infantry flanked the town on the left and cleared three houses of Germans.

The game was called at this point and the outcome was left as undecided.

American

Cliff Martin

German

Terry Callahan

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March 30, 2002 - Shiloh

I recently completed the order of battle for the First day of Shiloh for the Union Army of the Tennessee and the Confederate Army of Mississippi. The basing is 1 figure equals 25 men so the 80,000 men involved works out to be around 3200 figures in 6 mm. With all this in mind and an upcoming anniversary of the battle in a week we decided to play out the battle on the table. We started at 2:00 p.m. and ended around 11:00 p.m. with a break for dinner.

The game was set up historically with Union troops in camp, the Confederate players did not know the disposition of the Union troops until after they had decided their battle plan and deployed their forces 6 inches in from the south edge of the table. At this point the a cover was lifted off the rest of the table and the US disposition was revealed. The Confederate commanders had orders to push the US forces away from Pittsburg Landing and also to advance on the Landing itself by exiting the north edge of the table. Union forces were strategically surprised the first five turns of the game which put the Yankees at a distinct disadvantage. That being their Basic Morale Point (BMP)added to any morale checks they needed to take and loss of opening volley benefits. The US commanders had to roll better than the units BMP to be released.

The Confederates pushed along the whole line with first contact on the west end between Hardee's Corps and Sherman's 5th Division. A series of charges and routes left the Union right flank being turned and only a valiant stand by two regiments and a battery of guns held the flank.

The Union Centerheld Polk's First Corps back with a withering hail of artillery fire. Polk was going to advance and a timely charge by a regiment of Prentiss' Division slammed into the Corps 1st Division's right and plowed halfway down the line before losing steam. This turned the Confederate First Corps back and won the battle of the Center for the Union. On the Confederate right the advanced position of the Union camps for Prentiss' Division meant the Rebels had early success and advanced the furthest into the Union lines. A seesaw battle of charge and counter-charge waged back and forth between Cheatham's Second Division of Polk's Corps and Prentiss' 6th Division. Prentiss was pretty well beaten when an Iowa regiment charged into the 1st Division leaving a gaping hole in the Rebel line.

The larger 2nd Corps of Gen. Bragg moved both divisions forward. The First Division under BG Ruggles pushed through the woods in front of Stuart's Brigade on the far Union Left. Its 2nd Division under BG Withers made a slow approach towards Hurlbut's 4th Division. Wither's 2nd Division eventually ran into withering fire along the Union line and lost several regiments to rifle fire from the front and flank. A bulge, parts of Prentiss' and Hurlbut's Divisions, had formed in the US line around the Sunken Road. This bulge left Southern regiments open to full and partial flanking fire. This fire devastated another regiment.

As Bragg closed with the US 4th and 6th Divisions the remainder of Polk's 1st Corps was moving to push Prentiss' 6th out of the Sunken Road. The arrival on the battlefield of US Grant and the US 2nd Division under W.H.L. Wallace provided timely reinforcement of the Union Left. It was at this point the game was called. The battle started at 6:00 a.m. and it was now 9:00 a.m., we had taken 12 turns. In real time it was 11:00 p.m. and we had gamed for nine hours. The outcome of the battle was in doubt as both sides insisted that they could still win the battle. Moderator: none, Victor: undecided.

Union

Warren Peterson (Prentiss)
Terry Callahan (Hurlbut)
Kavin Watson (McClernand)
Pat McGarrity (Sherman)

Confederates

Joe Shaffer (Johnston)
Lance Fraley (Beauregard)
Cliff Martin (Hardee)
Annan Gross

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April 6, 2002 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign - Stavelot

This is the start of a mini campaign designed around a series of scenarios from the book WWII Batttlezones by Mark Bevis Published by Table Top Games in England. Mein Panzer rules 1/300 micro armor

The campaign started with the advance of the KG Peiper on the Belgium village of Stavelot. Stavelot was being held by a company of armored infantry of the 526th Battalion and a company of combat engineers from the 202 Engineer Battalion and lastly a platoon of 3" antitank guns. The Germans advanced on a narrow front along the road from Lignueville. The pre planned artillery barrage by the Germans was ineffective in its attempt to dislodge the Americans. The German column was then held up when two PzVG's were hit and destroyed with antitank gun fire from the village. The Germans deployed to flank Stavelot with infantry on each flank and use its armor on the center.

At 0730 the engineers were given an order to pull out towards Trois Ponts. It was able to successfully pull out all of its trucks and personnel. At 0800 the armored infantry company and ATG platoon was ordered to pull out towards Malmedy. This was going to be made harder by the German PzV's that began to cross the bridge into Stavelot. As the infantry began to load into their M3 half tracks several were hit by tank gunfire. Two M3's were hit by gunfire from a platoon of Sdkfz251/9's firing 75mm guns. Returning US ATG fire wrecked one of the German half tracks.

Positions and movement at the end of the 0830 turn.

The game was stopped at this point to be continued next week. Moderator: Terry Callahan

American

Joe Shaffer
Bill Williams

German

Warren Peterson
Lance Fraley

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April 13, 2002 - No Game

No game tonight, everyone had prior commitments.
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April 20, 2002 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign - Stavelot Continued and Revisted

Stavelot

The Germans continued their assault on Stavelot, pushing the rest of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment across the bridge followed by a company of Panzer Grenadiers. The American Engineer Company made good its escape to Trois Ponts to the west. The US armored infantry company had problems exiting the battle. First the column would come under fire from the German 75mm Gun platoons to the south of the river as they would leave Stavelot. Then several of the half track divers panicked and left only partly loaded. The stranded infantrymen left behind headed out on foot toward the wooded hills to the north. During the American withdrawal the lead Panzer Company had turned to attack the Americans in the town until Pieper reminded the commander the their objective and the 1SS Panzer disengaged from battle at Stavelot. The Americans were able to disengage with the loss of eight half tracks and passenger and three antitank guns.

This is the end of the opening scenario of the campaign. The American engineer company successfully pulled itself out of the Stavelot without any losses. The Armored infantry company had more difficulty getting away. Part was the reluctance of the commander to leave and the other was the order was received later than the engineers. The Germans were deploying to enter the town and several PzV's got into the town shooting up several half-tracks and panicking the half track drivers. It could have been worse though if Pieper hadn't reminded his regimental commanders of their objectives. The panzers subsequently turned around and headed west away from the fleeing American columns.

Stavelot Revisited

After leaving Stavelot Pieper left a security company behind to protect his supply line. At 1300 an American infantry battalion attacked Stavelot from the north. The battalion moved down out of the trees with two companies in a frontal assault on the north edge of the town. Visibility had fallen during the day to 500 meters. The third company began to move around the east flank of the town to assault Stavelot from the flank. Meanwhile several platoons moved east to set up defensive positions in case of German reinforcement returning from the west. these included three 3" ATG's. The two infantry companies in the center were preparing to close assault the German's holding the town.

Positions and movement at the end of the 1330 turn.

At this point we stopped for the night. The time was the 1330 turn. we will continue next week. Moderator: Terry Callahan

American

Pat McGarrity
Joe Shaffer

German

Warren Peterson
Cliff Martin

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April 27, 2002 - Stavelot Revisited

This is the continuation of a mini campaign designed around a series of scenarios from the book WWII Batttlezones by Mark Bevis Published by Table Top Games in England. Mein Panzer rules 1/300 micro armor.

The American attack on Stavelot continues:

At 1330 Americans continued their attack on the defending German security company. The Germans occupying the houses in the town had excellent field of fire against the advancing US soldiers who were moving over open ground. D company was halted by the Germans on the northwestern edge of the town. Taking high casualties D Company XO ordered the company to pull back to the heights after the company CO was killed. This left the battle to A and B Companies. B company on the German Right Flank of the town began to have some successes clearing the defenders out of the houses. A Company attacked in the center. A bazooka team from Co. A collapsed a house after firing two rockets into it, but not before the defenders were able to exit the building. A friendly fire incident occurred when some 60mm mortars shells dropped short hitting several squads in B Company. The Americans began to use 105mm M7's and 60mm mortars to keep hitting the defenders. By 1430, the Germans were down to the only a squad or two, surrendered to the Americans. The Americans merged the remaining members of A Company into D and set up defenses in the town awaiting the inevitable counterattack.

The Battalion Commander fearing a counter attack from the west set up a defensive positions and an ATG ambush west of Stavelot. At 1500 the rumble of tanks could be heard. A company of PZIVH's was moving up the highway toward Stavelot. An unfortunate incident revealed the ATG ambush and both 3" anti tank guns were destroyed. The remaining 3" ATG opened up on the column destroying one and immobilizing another. It was at this point of the battle a flight of P-47D Thunderbolts roared in at low level. Seeing movement on the road the planes turned slightly and attacked the German column. The first two of the hated Jabo's, as the German's called the P-47, dropped their loads of 500 pound bombs destroying another tank and hitting a destroyed tank with two of the bombs. The last two Jabo's failed to hit any targets when they attacked the column. As the planes roared off the American GI's were cheering the pilots. The remaining PZIV's, fearing further air attacks, immediately dispersed into the field next to the road.

At this point we stopped for the night. The time was the 1530 turn. We will continue next week. Moderator: Terry Callahan

Positions and movement at the end of the 1530 turn.

American

Bob Gallavan
Joe Shaffer

German

Warren Peterson
Dan Willey

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May 4, 2002 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign

The German armor dispersed into the fields after the earlier P-47 attacks. The panzers advanced towards the western side of Stavlot without infantry support, this would prove to be a fatal error. The GI's behind the 57 mm ATG's fired two rounds and missed, then firing again began to take out the German Panzers one by one. At one point the German commander placed himself in a position to attack and was hit by two rounds of 57mm ATG. With the onset of nightfall the remaining Germans shut down their engines to avoid the American patrols.

After sunset a platoon of US engineers arrived from the north, and this time had 1000 pounds of TNT. Their task was to wire and blow the bridge across the Ambleve River. They took a couple of hours to wire up the bridge and around 2000 the Germans heard a large explosion, dawn would reveal the work of the engineers.

Around midnight three PzVI-II's came up the road from the east. Being unexcorted they stopped outside of town for the night.

During the night the American's recovered some equipment and stragglers from A company. These were assigned to the other companies to fill out several platoons and squads. Moderator: Terry Callahan

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May 11, 2002 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign

As the sun came up the remaining PZIV's of the 6th Co pulled back away from Stavelot to await expected re-enforcements. At noon a Recce company from the 1st SS arrived from the west to which the remaining tanks of the 6th Co. quickly joined. At about the same time a battlion of the 2d SS Panzergrenider arrived from the east and prepared to assult Stavelot. The exchanges of high explosive rounds from the panzers and US artillery mixed with small arms fire of the infantrymen intensified as contact between the two forces. The first onbjective for the Germans was to occupy the twon east of the river as the Americans in the building were flanking the Germans attacks across the river. The second task of the Germans was to get the infantry across the river in good order and in one piece.
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May 18, 2002 - Retreat from Russia

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May 25, 2002 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign

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June 1, 2002 - DiCon2

We all attended and or hosted games at DiCon2 in Collinsville, IL. The Convention ran Friday through Sunday. I played a game on Friday night and hosted and eight hour session on Saturday afternoon and evening. The Game I hosted was "On the Elbe" a late war fictional engagement between retreating Germans and teh advancing American Army.

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June 8, 2002 - Stalingrad and Battle of the Bulge

We played two board games tonight becasue only the German played showed up. The first game was Avalon Hill's Stalingrad. I am a little embarassed to say that the Germans lost in a spectacular fashion. They never got beyond their 1941 start lines and all the Finnish were destroyed in one turn! The game lasted only four turns.

Since it was so early we decided another game was in order and playe Avalon Hill's Battle of the Bulge. This game lasted significantly longer and was well fought by both sides. The Germans's got off to a good start by quickly pushing through the weak American units and racing away to cross the Muese River with six units. This would be important later. The American reganind composure and began to take advantage of the the fortified towns and road network attempting to block the German's every move. It wasn't unitil the Gemrans pushed through _______ that the game was decided. The German units that crossed the Muese River early in the game held the last river crossing. The Americans tried to hold off the Germans by defending open areas but in the end couldn't hold against the enemy.

Stalingrad

German

Terry Callahan
Cliff Martin

Russian

Warren Peterson

Battle of the Bulge

German

Terry Callahan
Cliff Martin

American

Warren Peterson

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June 15, 2002 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign
The German 2nd SS PanzerGrenadier regiment crossed the river with two companies east of Stavelot under the cover of smoke barrages. 2nd Company went dirstly twoard the village and the 3rd Company moved towards a small group of builings east of the twon. These were held by a mixed force of rangers, engineers and one platoon from D Company. A Forward observer movewd up to the top aof a nearby hill to get a veiw of the german Advance and call in the two batteries of artillery available to the Americans.

The Americans had some sucess with holding the Germans from Stavleot using rifle and machingun fire from the town on the exposed advancing Germans. With visability up to 2000 meters making it very easy for both sides to spot movement. The 1st SS Recce moved slowly against us squads hidden in the tree line. A bazooka team got off a couple of rounds destroying on armored car and damageing another.

The Germans found it was slow going against American soliders holed up in the buildings of the village. Moderator Terry Callahan

German

Warren Peterson

American

Bob Gallavan
Joe Shaffer

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June 22, 2002 - No Game
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June 29, 2002 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign

The struggle for Stavelot continued with the a battalion from the 2nd SS PanzerGrenadier regiment, supported by the two remaining Pz VI-II's, pressing from the south and east and the 1st SS Panzer Recon company, supported by the three remaining Pz IV's from 6th Panzer company, circling the town from the west to the northeast. The Germans cleared the portion of town south of the river and eventually silenced the flanking fire from the church complex west of town with machine gun fire from their King Tigers and supporting infantry. After suffering heavy casualties crossing the river, the PanzerGrenadiers approached the town and the orchard and village to the northeast under the cover of intense smoke barrages.

Meanwhile, the augmented reconnaissance company succeeded in knocking out one of the three SP 105 mm artillery howitzers and driving the remaining tubes off to the north just as the assaulting PanzerGrenadiers came into the view of the forward observer. The FO was able to call in one strike from a supporting battery, but was soon driven out of his position and spent the rest of the afternoon on the run. The reconnaissance company severely mauled the defenders of the orchard and village, a mixed bag of rangers, engineers and D company, 3rd platoon, at the cost of only one vehicle. The remaining defenders probably would have been crushed between the PanzerGrenadiers and the recon company, but the recce unit was ordered to break off the attack and proceed to the north with those elements of the PanzerGrendadiers that had reached their positions and to search for fuel for Peiper's panzers. A critical need now that the bridge in Stavelot was destroyed.

At the same time, visibility dropped and the supporting mortars could no longer maintain their smoke barrage covering the PanzerGrenadiers. Now in the open, the infantry took heavy casualties from the Americans in their covered positions. German artillery was ineffective in suppressing resistance. The Germans broke off the attack when it became obvious they wouldn't be able to retake the town. After regrouping and recovering damaged vehicles, the PanzerGrenadiers and their supporting units moved off to the south under the cover of night. Moderator Terry Callahan

At this point we are going to take a break in the campaign for several weeks because of the summer activities of the players, vacations, attending Historicon '02, etc.. We will resume the campaign in the middle of August where we will pick up the fate of the Americans now at Stoumont trying to hold off the advancing Peiper.

Until then we will play some air combat and anything else we can think of.

German

Warren Peterson

American

Bob Gallavan
Joe Shaffer

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Game List - January to June, 2002
Jan 5 - Battle of Bermuda Pt.1	Apr 6 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign - Stavelot
Jan 12 - Battle of Bermuda Pt.2	Apr 13 - No Game
Jan 19 - No Game	Apr 20 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign - Stavelot Continued and Stavelot Revisted.
Jan 26 - Battle at Twin Pass ACW	Apr 27 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign Stavelot Revisted
Feb 2 - Eastern Front 1943, near Kursk	May 4 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign Stavelot Revisted
Feb 9- Attack in the French Countryside	May 11 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign Stavelot Revisted
Feb 16 - We played Johnny Reb Tonight	May 18 - Retreat from Russia
Feb 23 - On The Elbe	May 25 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign Stavelot Revisted
Mar 2 - No Game it snowed	Jun 1 - DiCon2
Mar 9 - Commando Raid	Jun 8 - Board Games Tonight
Mar 16 - American Civil War -	Jun 15 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign Stavelot Revisted
Mar 23 - To Relieve Bastogne	Jun 22 - No Game
Mar 30 - Battle of Shiloh	Jun 29 - KampfGruppe Peiper Mini Campaign Stavelot Revisted