Post by armchair general on May 30, 2017 16:15:51 GMT
Kampfgruppe Pieper, The Breakthrought. Stavelot, December 1944.
The race was on to break throught the american lines for the men of KG Pieper as they had already suffered many delays due in great part to massive traffic jams and determined rearguard actions by retreating american formations. The Kampfgruppe was made of elements of 1st SS Liebstandarte panzer division, 501st SS schwere panzer abteilung (equiped with king tigers) and 150th "special" panzer brigade using captured US vehicles led by the infamous Otto Skorzeny.
Having failed to take control of Malmédy, Stavelot and its stone bridge was Pieper's next objective on December 18th. But in the meantime the village held by the US 291 engineer battalion had been reinforced with units from 825th tank destroyer battalion and the 526 armored infantry brigade.
The bridge had been prepared for demolition but Pieper had to be faster than the americans, so despite the traffic jams the first unit sent forward was to be Skorzeny's brigade with its US jeeps and SS soldiers dressed as americans...
Would the trick work this time?
Maps:
West-Map 14 (number in the lower left corner)- Map2 (number LLcorner)-East.
Check my pictures of playtests to help you set up.
s668.photobucket.com/albums/vv48/generalhoth/KG%20Pieper/
On map 14 all brush hexes are Forest.
Hex D23A is a Town hex, Stavelot.
Place river hexes all along the middle of the map (on those half hexes joining the too maps).
A movement roll is necessary to cross the river. If a vehicle fails its movement roll it becomes stuck in the hex it wanted to cross.
There is a stone bridge on D40X (naturally following the road). King tigers being too heavy, cant use the bridge!
The bridge does not provide cover for units on it.
Finally: Place 2 Strongpoints on D39X and D47X. See custom card.
Kampfgruppe Pieper:
Set up up to 5 hexes from the east side (half hexes are in play) on map 2
SS leader
SS panzergrenadier x7
Mg 42 x2
81mm mortar x2
Disciplined spotter
Kubelwagen
Messerschmitt bf 109 x2
150th "special" pz brigade:
US jeep x3
Disciplined spotter
SS stormtrooper
Werhmacht oberleutnant
All infantry start mounted on jeeps and MUST cross the bridge.
Special rule: this unit wore US uniforms and was to infiltrate enemy lines.
When in the same hex as a US unit roll a dice; on a result of 4+ the jeep passes unoticed.
Such a jeep doesnt count for stacking (limit of one jeep per hex) and cant be attacked unless it fires at US units.
On a roll of 1, 2 or 3, place a disrupted counter on the jeep and the german infantry unloads untouched but is unmasked!
If the german unit is killed or disrupted the jeep (if still in play) returns in the US line up!
Enter on turn one on the eastern road hex:
Sdkfz 251 x1
SS panther
Pioneers (while on the bridge pioneers can permanently desactivate the bridge's bombs on a roll of 4+).
Enter on turn 2 on the road hex:
SS panther ausf G
SS panzer IV
Sdkfz251
SS stormtrooper
Enter on turn 3 on the road hex:
King tiger
Sdkfz 251
Pioneers
Flakpanzer IV wirbelwind
Elements 526th armored infantry brigade:
set up anywhere on map 14, but not on river hexes.
Strongpoint x2
Red devil
Garand x7
Thompson gunner x3
M5 halftrack
jeep
M1919 mg
3 inch gun x2
M1 mortar
Quad 50
Untested recruit x4
Bazooka x3
Engineer x2 (At the start of turn 6 engineers on the bridge can blow it up on a roll of 4+)
Enter on turn 2 through the road hex:
M36 MGC x2
M8 greyhound x2
Enter on turn 4 on the road hex:
Easy eight
M4A1 sherman
Brushcutter sherman
Resourceful hero (place as per card rule)
P51D mustang x2
Victory conditions:
At the end of turn 8:
The germans win if they control the bridge and the 2 strongpoints. A breakthrough has been achieved.
The US win if the germans fail the above conditions or if they manage to blow up the bridge!
Sources:
KG Pieper dans les ardennes- Jean Philippe Liardet (champs de batailles)
La bataille des ardennes- Keith Johannsen (champs de batailles numéro 4)