As part of the assault on Metz, the 10th Armored Division was ordered to execute a flank attack around the north side of the fortified area. Racing east past Thionville, the division turned south to complete the encirclement of Metz. The next objective became Bouzonville, across the Nied River. Finding the bridges there blown, task Force Chamberlain found one intact at Filistrof, to the west of Bouzonville, and promptly attacked. With recon elements in the lead, the task force quickly brushed aside a weak infantry screen north of the river. The bridge itself was taken easily, but once across the river the U.S. troops ran into more Germans in better positions.
Attacker: American (Troop A, 90th Cavalry Recon Squadron, 10th Armored Division/54th Armored Infantry Battalion)
Defender: German (Infanterie Regiment 73, Infanterie Division 416)
Round 2 and final round Bitter Ender 2023 Recon Mini.
This has been on my play list since it first came out in an annual all those years ago and now I got to play it, and I got to play it as the US! Steve set up his HIP guys on the US side of the river to deflect a center attack unluckily for him my armor columns enter along the two flanks and reconed by fire up to the bridge with no caulties waiting for their infantry support to come on the board.
The infantry came on, over ran the German infantry screen, set up a support by fire position on the heights while the armor moved into position for a turn 3 crossing. German defense fire was largley ineffective. WP screened the bridge, the M8's and half-tracks crossed and the infantry began sprinting. The US crossed and pushed the Germans back until a large battle developed on the left most hill where the Germans had concentrated their defenses around the HMG. The use succeeded in capturing two buildings there, and the one on the other flanking hill. They shifted their attack focus to the center hill which had a single squad defending it also, a 1/2 crossed the creek and made fore buildings in the village proper.
The US managed to envelop the lone squad with and M8 (-MA) and that along with some risky VBM freeze with 1/2 tracks freed up infantry to maneuver up to those buildings as well.
Steve fought hard and this went down to the wire but, he conceded at the end of his last MPh. Another great battle against a great opponent.
2022-12-17
(A) Mark Thompson
vs
Carl Nogueira (Germans)
American win
The Americans unmasked and quickly swept aside German forces North of the river with C and MG fire from the Greyhounds and the HMCs successfully placed WP on and in front of the HMG positioned to fire down the bridge. They were able to pour across the bridge in force and move to main hill mass in the center when the HMG malf'd on its second FL shot (and stayed out of the game thereafter). One Greyhound fell to a brave 8-0 CC with ATM, but the other played an outsized role in the cross-roads North of the German reinforcement entry area, mowing down infantry with MGs and (in a wildly improbable turn) taking out the Pzkw III in a ridiculous rate tear. Indeed, DR extremes were the theme of this game, with most in the American's favor, and the Germans conceded on Turn 5 when the Americans were poised to take unimpeded additional buildings in the central and West Hills. Great game and very fun combined arms scenario.
2021-11-01
(D) Kevin Sanders
vs
Jason Littleton
German win
2020-06-22
(A) Jeff Wright
vs
Stu Rubin
German win
2019-10-03
(A) Gordon Jupp
vs
Andy Bagley
American win
The Northern defenders were swept aside (their dice were terrible) and some US units braved the firelane to make it across the bridge on T3. When the German HMG went down to concentrated US MG fire the flood gates opened and the US were too strong...
2017-03-11
(A) Richard Carter
vs
Mike Rickman
American win
I took out his MG firing down the bridge with a CH and was able to destroy most of his onboard force. His reinforcements were not enough to retake lost ground.
2016-11-10
(D) Diane Spangler
vs
Lawrence Spangler
D
German win
2016-11-10
(A) Lawrence Spangler
vs
Diane Spangler
German win
2014-01-19
(A) Richard Carter
vs
Mark Moore
German win
It was close, came down to some good shots by him in my final mvt phase. And no real results from my final prep fire. I really like this scenario overall.
2007-08-28
(A) David Ramsey
vs
Martin Barker
American win
Called the win early but in fairness a gamey win based on vehicle crews jumping out to grab the locations