Pete Atack  - Sep 26, 2006 6:46 pm (#15662 Total: 15663)  

AAR WEGs St Lo

A more recent play.

Initial Deployment

German.

352d Division. Front of 9 company strength Strong Points backed by 7
battalion SPs about 1-1.5km behind the line and 2 battalions in general
reserve near St Lo. 

3d Fallschirmjager Division. Front of 10 company SPs backed by 2 company
and 2 battalion SPs 600 meters to 1km back and 2 battalions in general
reserve farther back near St Lo. 

US. 

2d Division. 3 battalions at the base of Hill 192. 

29th Division. 116th Regt tying in with 2d Div. The 115th Regt in 9
company strength positions covering the center and US right flank,
linking up with the 35th Div. Second and Third Battalions of the 175th
Regt in immediate reserve on the US left flank behind the 116th Regt. 

35th Division. 320th Regt in mixed company and battalion strength
positions on the division's left flank with 1st thru 3d battalions of
the 137th Regt in positions east of the Vire River. 

GT1 11 July 

Through an aggressive counter-recon plan, the 3d FJ Division picks up on
the impending attack by the 2d US Div & quickly barrages the assembly
area of 2/38th (2d battalion, 38th Regt) pinning the unit in place. US
initial barrages are far less effective and fail to disorganize any
German positions. Regardless, the orders are to attack. 3/38th, heavily
reinforced with armor and engineers, quickly overtakes 2 companies of
the 3/9th FJ including the key position on Hill 192. Due west of the
hill, the 116th Regt also advances rapidly. Minimal German resistance
(from 1/8th FJ) is pushed aside in La Rocque allowing the 1st & 3d
battalions to move south down the Bayeux Road. Paratroops from the 1/8th
& 2/9th FJ hastily move back to positions out of sight of the US
observation posts (OPs) not sighted on Hill 192. Advances elsewhere are
far less satisfactory. The green 35th Div fails to engage the German
352d Div anywhere and the balance of the 29th Div is largely scattered
in company defenses that are each too weak to attack without reforming
into battalions. 

Notes : The US forgot to use two available air strikes - a critical
mistake. The US 35th Div could not activate due to the random ending of
the Operations Phase. German decisions were to either reform companies
into battalions and leave some gaps in the line, or form a solid line
and watch the individual companies be easily swamped by US battalions
(the latter does allow for delaying the US forces as a result of
possibly forcing more activations, hence lowering the morale levels). 

GT2 12 July 

Inconsistent actions across the US front have led the commanders to fall
behind their aggressive schedules. The 2d Div, having captured all the
prepared German positions in their sector (destroying the last of the
3/9th FJ in the process), are only able to advance 1 battalion south,
stopping just north of St Pierre Du Semilly. Only an odd decision by the
1/5th FJ to advance into Plantro generates any activity in 2d Div's HQ
as their forward observers on Hill 192 quickly bring down a crushing
barrage on the unit. 

In 29th Div sector poor attacks by the both the 115th & 116th Regiments
sap the offensive spirit of the division. First, the 1/115th is shot to
pieces in front of La Luzerne which had been reinforced by StuGs from 3d
FJ Division HQ. Next was an equally poor attack by 3/115th on 3/8th FJ
that cost a company's worth of men. Lastly, an attack by 3/116th on Le
Mesnil Sigard that was also pushed back with the loss of several M10s
and 50% of the battalion to heavy German 75mm anti-tank gun fire from
the 2/9th FJ. 

The 35th Div again had a paltry day gaining most of its ground due to
the German units pulling back to the 2d defense line. Only two companies
from the 897th Battalion (352d Div) were lost to the advancing
Americans. Most worrying to the US commander : no divisional assets from
the 352d had yet been identified in the front lines. 

As for the Germans the front seemed to be solidifying. The 352d is
holding strong along the 2d defense line manned by 7 battalions. Only a
slight gap between Hill 122 & Mesnil Rouxelin worries the command. In 3d
FJ's area most prepared positions have been lost / abandoned, but the
key positions of Martinville Ridge & the Bayeux Rd are still under
German control. In several areas, many German battalions have worked to
exhaustion to dig new positions (mainly along the Talvas-Hill 122-La
Capelle line). 

Notes : US attacks are still not taking proper advantage of barrages.
The Germans were very able at disengaging and moving back to new
positions and then digging in. Part of this seems to be due to the lack
of US interdiction fire to lower German initiative. 

GT3 13 July 

Already behind schedule, heavy rains do nothing to assist. The US 2d Div
pushes its 3/38th south towards Plantro which the Germans hastily
abandon. The entire 29th Div sits motionless, only enduring a moderate
barrage on 2/115th directed from Hill 122. Under cover of poor weather,
a fatigued 2/9th FJ starts to pull back off Martinville Ridge, but rain
and mud keep them from getting far. The one US attack, by 3/320th (35th
ID) fails to make any headway and loses 2 armored companies and scores
of infantry. For the last time, the US corps commander orders his
divisions not to attack without an advance barrage. As night falls, most
troops on both sides are at least grateful for some rest. 

Notes : Rain and a quick end to the random activation keeps both sides
static. After 3 turns the folly of attacking without the defender being
pinned or disrupted has come to roost (especially when the defender is
in Improved Positions or Strongpoints). 

GT4 14 July 

Attacks all across the line pressure the Germans, but fail to get
optimal results. The 116th Regt moves up along the Martinville Ridge and
the north side of the Bayeux Rd, but an attack on the 2/9th FJ is
repulsed with losses in tanks and infantry that can't be afforded. South
of La Luzerne, Ger artillery breaks up the advance of the 2d & 3d
battalions of the 175th Regt which is followed up by a last disastrous
attack by the 2/115th on Les Romains (trying to open the Isigny Rd). In
protracted fighting the battalion is destroyed, but the defenders
(2/943d) are also bloodied. Finally in the 35th Div sector two attacks
cost the 3/137th & 3/320th for no gain. By days end German positions are
still strong and no direct threat to St Lo exists. 

GT5 15 July 

Under clear skies & with rested troops, US forces finally make
impressive gains. The 2d & 3d battalions of the 175th Regt quickly
advance to La Coudree (1.5km northeast of St Lo) after a devastating air
strike destroys the remnants of the 1/8th FJ in La Couchais. Now
exposed, 2/8th FJ abandons La Luzerne and moves west of the Isigny Rd
just below Hill 122. Also supported by air and artillery, 1/116th
overruns the 2/9th FJ, clearing the Martinville Ridge & advancing on La
Planche. In 35th Div's sector, 2/134th captures the La Marel SP
effectively cutting off the 1/914th (352d Div) in Le Carillon. Due west
of the Vire River 1st & 2d battalions of the 137th Regt close in on, and
bottle up a German battalion in La Cornicaillerie (a quick reduction
will open the Vire River Valley). 

Notes : finally the proper use of air power cracks the German line. At
this point the US has realized that possible leaving some battalions as
companies may have aided in pinning German units and allowing the easier
bypass of SPs. 

GT6 16 July 

The day starts cloudy, but a break in the weather lets another air
strike ravage Ger positions - the 2./943d, already reduced is eliminated
in Les Romains. With the collapse, only 1 prepared position remains
between the US forces and St Lo. The 2d Div is also able to push aside
resistance in Catigny (1/5th FJ) ending the Ger presence in their
sector. From that point on, Ger tactical ability runs the table. Heavy
barrages from Hill 122 and La Capelle pin and disrupt 5 separate US
battalions, virtually halting US operations before delivering the fatal
blow. The 1/9th FJ, supported by engineers and Jagdpanthers attack from
La Capelle. They quickly brush aside a recon platoon, then overrun a
pinned 3/116th battalion and supporting engineer detachment for only the
loss of their panzer support. Not finished, they regroup and attack into
the flank of another disrupted unit - the 2/116th, which is also
destroyed in the action. Full of confidence, the 1/9th pulls back to La
Capelle ending the day sitting strong in the farm complex with OPs back
up in the high ground. Largely demoralized, all US units are ordered to
halt and reconsolidate for the evening. 

GT7 17 July 

With units relatively rested, the Americans prepare to step off again.
As the better part of 4 battalions are now within striking distance of
St Lo, regimental commanders are confused by midday as no orders arrive
from higher HQs. IN one of those striking events that influence battles,
somehow no new orders are cut to have units move out from their halts
the previous evening. By the time the mistake is realized, the plans are
delayed until the following day. 

Notes : the GT ended after only 3 activations. 

GT8 18 July 

With a flurry of orders coming from corps pressuring the division for
success, the 29th and 35th divs launch assaults everywhere possible. La
Cornicaillie, held by 2/897th (352d Div) and St Herbert fall to a
grinding attack by the 1st & 2d battalions of the 137th Regt. Southwest
of Les Malaies, the 1/915th is hit hard and forced to retreat back on
Hill 122, but the 3/137th & 2/134th (35th US Div) are unable to move any
closer than 2.5-3km to St Lo. The 29th Div gets closer but at high cost.
With air and artillery support, the 3/115th destroys the 2/8th FJ and a
StuG company in La Barberie but close fighting & heavy indirect fire
breaks the battalion as a fighting organization. The 1/116th, after
seeing two sister battalions slaughtered elects to hold its positions
while 2d & 3d of the 175th slides north around a German SP in La
Macconnerie & get astride the St Lo suburbs but are held in place by 3
German battalions. 

Notes : no key VPs hexes fall to the US. Only 6 regular depots have been
captured and occupied and none of the key St Lo hexes is credibly
threatened. 

Victory 

US 6 VPs = German substantial victory. 

US Basic Game notes. 

US use of airpower is crucial to opening the line. 

Use some companies to pin & screen German positions so battalions can
easily bypass (especially in 35th Div sector); most Ger units of the
352d have limited attacking power and unless well supported will
collapse in the attack. 

Don't attack without at least trying to pin/disrupt with artillery. 

German Basic Game notes. 

Shorten the line ASAP; consolidate most battalions, but do not
underestimate the ability of company positions to slow the US even
though they will be destroyed quickly. 

Try not to commit assets to companies. 

352d Division. I think they were underused. At game end 50% of
divisional assets were not assigned (some of this was due to the US 35th
Div never really hitting an offensive stride), but many battalions were
in very strong SPs but that left gaps in the line (the US did not
exploit).