From: RayFreeman@aol.com Subject: Tigers in the Mist Replay GAME REPLAY: TIGERS IN THE MIST German Player: Carl Moss American Player: Ray Freeman This game was played on Sunday, December 22, 1996 face to face. The following narrative was put together over a couple of days following the game from rough notes made during play. The game system has 3 impulses per turn with a turn lasting one day. I have renamed the impulses morning, mid day, and afternoon for this narrative. 5:30 am, December 16, 1944. An American observer atop a water tower in Hosingen, Belgium sees a strange phenomenon, countless flickering pinpoints of light. To the south along the Sauer River, US outposts spot the small dark shape of boats coming out of the thick fog which blankets the river. To the north at the Schnee Eifel ridge, the rumble of dozens of heavy engines is heard. At the town of Lutzkampen at the southern end of the ridge, eerie lights illuminate the clouds above and German tanks materialize from the thick ground fog which coats the countryside. Then simultaneously along the 85 mile long front, artillery shells begin to fall around the forward positions of the American Army. The Battle of the Bulge has begun. December 16: Morning The Germans open the campaign with tremendous success, definitely better than average, as the US line crumples nearly everywhere. Southern Front In the 7th Army sector, the Germans, attacking for the most part without tank support due to pre-existing blown bridges, seize Wallendorf and Vianden while suffering modest casualties. Center In 5th Pz Armys sector, the Germans capture Holzhum. At Marnach, 2nd Pz Divisions panzergrenadiers suffer very heavy casualties but gain a toehold across the Our River. Further north, the 116 Pz Division, cooperating with the 62nd Volkgrenadiers and 560 VG shatter the defenses along the Schnee Eifel at Lutzkampen, Habscheid and Bleialf. Two regiments of the 106 Infantry are annihilated and 106/422 is cut off by this attack. The 112 regiment of the 28th Infantry Division is also destroyed. The southern approaches to St. Vith have been laid bare. North The Americans hold in the Losheim gap, stopping the Germans cold at Manderfeld and Bucholz. At Udenbreth, the 99th Infantry barely holds the front door to the twin villages. Due to orders from the Fuhrer, the 1st and 12th SS Panzer Divisions and Panzer Lehr remain in reserve. German engineers fail to repair a single bridge! 9th Armored CCB moves into a blocking position at Burg Reuland, covering the southern flank of St. Vith. December 16: Mid Day In the south, the Germans are frustrated by the lack of bridges, which spoils their early success in this sector. They are only able to muster a single attack, at Hosheid with a kampfgruppe (KG) of 2 Pz and 5 Fallschirmjaeger (FJ). The tiny garrison there is destroyed. In the center at Berg Reuland, two thirds of the attacking German 2 Pz armor is destroyed, but so is 9 Arm CCB and this important crossroads falls. The southern flank of St. Vith has been turned. KG Peiper goes into action at Manderfeld and suffers casualties as it is caught by a US artillery barrage. However, the defending 14th Cavalry Group is overwhelmed by a deadly combination of tanks and nebelwerfers. In the north, 12 SS Pz wheels north and smashes into two regiments of the 2nd Infantry Division at Wahlerscheid. In the biggest battle of the young campaign so far the German spearhead is badly cut up, losing 4 strength points (SP) while inflicting only 2 SP of losses on the Amis. In the far north, a powerful German force composed mainly of 6 Pz Army reserves hits Monschau at 10-3 odds. The Germans suffer horrendous casualties, but somehow still manage to wipe out the dug in US defenders. The Germans have made three penetrations this impulse, causing serious problems for the American player. The German engineers manage to throw up bridges in the center at Holzhum and Marnach, adding to the defenders woes. The US player seals off the penetrations in the south and center by occupying Ettelbruck, Eschdorf, Weiswampach, and Beho. The 1128 Engineers dig in at Wiltz, vulnerable now that the Our River has been bridged at Gemund-Holzhum. December 16: Afternoon The Germans are unable to make more than two reasonable attacks. Both are in 5 Pz Armys sector. At Wiltz, a strong KG of the 2nd Pz and 26 VG divisions crush the defending engineers who are still under orders not to blow up any bridges. At Marnach, the American defenders shoot poorly and Panzer Lehr overwhelms the heros of the morning. The German engineers finally get a bridge over the Sauer at Wallendorf, but the crossing on the main road to the south at Echternach still bedevils the Axis. The loss of Wiltz on the 16th is a positional disaster for the Americans, who frantically throw light forces in the path of the German juggernaut in front of Bastogne. The defenders of Echternach are forced to abandon their position to avoid being surrounded. Men of the 106/422 regiment begin to surrender. The American situation has become desperate due to the very heavy attrition on impulse one. The US strategic reserve consists only of the 526 Armored Infantry Battalion, now positioned in a central position at Houffalize. The US lost 14 combat units and a total of 31 SP on the 16th despite being well entrenched. The Germans also suffered heavily, losing 27 SP. From the German perspective the 7th Army has made some progress in the south, but has been hampered by the failure of their engineers to bridge the Sauer River at Echternach. In the north, the only real success was at Monschau. This victory has blown the northern hinge off the US position and is a source of considerable concern for the American high command. To exploit this success, Oberstgruppenfuhrer Sepp Dietrich has ordered a KG from Liebstandarte Adolph Hitler to Kesternich over the poor forest roads in the far north. In the center, Manteuffels 5th Panzer Army has crushed everything in its path and Bastogne may fall on December 17. The 106 and 28 Infantry Divisions have been virtually annihilated. Consequently, all other sectors of the 'Ghost Front' have been stripped by Bradley and Hodges to screen off the German penetrations in the center. December 17: Morning In an attempt to split the US defense, the German Special Forces set up a roadblock at Baraque de Fraiture. In the south, the 78 Ranger Battalion (Bn) blows the Ettelbruck-Hosheid bridge. Then 4/22 Inf blows the Hosheid-Eschdorf bridge. These demolitions stop the planned German thrust through the Ettelbruck-Luxembourg-Bastogne triangle. Consdorf and Diekirch both fall. In the center, 70th Tank Bn is overrun at Longvilly, just 9 kilometers (Km) east of Bastogne. At Weiswampach, 9 Arm CCR sells itself dearly, wiping out a tank battalion of 116 Pz, but is itself overwhelmed by the massive 10 SP attack. Belgian fusiliers, pressed into front line duty at Beho, are flattened by 116 Pz and 62 VG. KG Peiper and 560 VG combine to crush the newly arrived remnants of 2/38 Inf Rgt at St. Vith. In the north, the 99 Inf roadblock at Bucholz is the key to the International Highway leading to Malmedy and Liege. Predictably the Germans hit it with a maximum attack with tanks from 12 SS Pz backed up by the entire 12 VG Division. This unit of the 99th, apparently exhausted from their successful defense on the 16th, is blown away. The road to Malmedy is open! At Udenbreth, the last remnants of 99 Inf are annihilated. At Wahlerscheid, the 2/9 Rgt battles desperately for survival, but is finished off by the last throw of the 12 SS panzergrenadiers. Wahlerscheid has become a graveyard for the 2nd Infantry, but they have taken half of the Hitler Jugend Division with them. The four surviving German units at Wahlerscheid have all been reduced to a single strength point. In the far north at Hertogenwald, a KG of 1 SS Pz goes into action against the armored component of 2 Inf. The American tankers are outnumbered 9 to 3, but catch a break when the Germans fail to obtain artillery support. Unfortunately, US gunnery is poor, but the unit survives despite heavy casualties. In the south, the bridge at Echternach is rebuilt allowing German armor to roll south on the Bitburg-Luxembourg highway. In the south, 4/12 Rgt digs in at Hostert, only 9 Km from Luxembourg. The 78 Rngr falls back to Mersch. In the center, the shattered defenders fall back to the Liege-Arlon highway, a serious concession this early in the campaign. Houffalize and Noville are held by weak units while the 9 Arm sends its last combat command to Bastogne. In the north, the US sets up a screen in front of Malmedy and Stavelot and directs a 6 SP task force from the 7th Armored Division to Vielsalm, blocking access to Baraque de Fraiture and Trois Ponts. In the far north, 1/16 Rgt digs in at Roetgen south of Aachen. December 17: Mid Day In the south, Lehr and 212 VG combine to smash the defenders at Hostert with a 9-2 attack. In the center at Noville, the 1111 Eng are wiped out but shatter the small attacking Lehr Kampfgruppe. A KG with units from three German divisions assaults Bastogne at 10-3. The situation is critical, but this time Manteuffels command comes up just short and a lone SP of 9 Arm CCA survives to hold the key road center. In the north, Vielsalm is the site of a major tank battle with the Germans attacking at 10-6. Luck favors the Germans and attrition is very heavy. Both US combat commands barely survive, losing 4 SP while the Germans lose 4 SP as well with a tank regiment from 116 Pz wiped out. At Ligneuville, a bridge demo try at 20% fails. Both sides suffer heavy casualties but the 26th Rgt of the Big Red One holds on. The roadblock at Waimes is blasted apart. In the far north at Hertogenwald, the Germans try a cheap 2-1 shot which fails. The US moves to defend Luxembourg and the town of Bertogne, just north of Bastogne. Bradleys staff has burned all non-transportable documents and relocated to Florenville. December 17: Afternoon The Germans are spent, managing only a weak 3-1 assault on Luxembourg. The attack is repulsed. US forces elect to dig in at Mersch and Eschdorf in the south. The Americans reinforce Malmedy, and reserves take up positions at numerous points behind the front. The remnants of 106/422, surrounded since the morning of the 16th, surrender at Auw. In the center the Wehrmacht has been nearly unstoppable and a true Bulge has formed on the map. Bastogne has been invested and will surely fall on the 18th as will Luxembourg. German infantry is starting to lag behind their central spearheads. It seems doubtful the American Army can survive a couple of more days like the first two. On the 17th the US lost 12 units and a total of 28 SP. German losses were 3 units and 26 SP. December 18: Morning The German Special Forces are placed at Malmedy where they will try to sabotage any bridge demolition attempts. The kommandos accomplish their mission and the last intact tank unit of 12 SS Pz hits Malmedy supported by units of 12 VG and 3 FJ for a 10-4 attack. The last US engineer unit is wiped out, but the position holds as the Germans suffer 40% casualties. All three tank units of 12 SS Pz have been decimated. However, the investiture of Malmedy has convinced OKW to release the 9th SS Panzer Division from reserve status. Elsewhere in the north the few remaining defenders of Ligneuville are quickly overcome. At Elsenborn, the dug in 2/23 Rgt holds out against a 6-3 attack. At Vielsalm, the shattered 7 Arm combat commands fight valiantly and hold the town. The Germans had expected an easy victory at 9-2 odds, but one US SP survives and the northern spearhead of 5 Pz Army is stopped cold. In the far north, the roadblock at Hertogenwald is crushed at 9-1, however the valiant 2nd Division tankers have bought just enough time for a rgt of 9 Inf to entrench at Eupen. In the center, the Germans overrun Bertogne at 3-1. At Bastogne, the lone defending SP is easily destroyed in a 9-1 attack. The US 9 Arm Division has ceased to exist. In the south, Mersch and Luxembourg fall. In the south, 4/22 abandons Eschdorf and retreats 30 Km to Fauvillers. 10 Arm Inf digs in at Arlon joined by a combat command of the same division. In the north, 99 Norwegian digs in at Stavelot, reinforced by 7 Arm CCA. In the far north, a rgt of 9 Inf digs in at Eupen. December 18: Mid Day In the south at Arlon, 10 Arm holds, inflicting heavy casualties in a 9-5 battle. In the center, the 101 Airborne (Abn) suffers heavy losses at Sprimont, but stops the German spearhead at 9-3. The Germans try a 3-3 attack at La Roche in an attempt to achieve a bridgehead across the Ourthe River. They succeed, but 2 Pz loses a Pz Rgt in the process. The 62 VG take Houffalize with tank support. In the north, frustrated in their attempt to get at the critical Baraque de Fraiture crossroads or Trois Ponts by the fanatical defense of Vielsalm, German panzers wheel north and slam into Stavelot at 9-5 as the 40% bridge demolition attempt fails. The battle is a disaster for the Allies. The Norwegians are slaughtered and all but one SP of tanks smashed for no German casualties! In the far north, the Germans try a 7-3 attack at Roetgen and crush the defenders. Suddenly the tide has turned in the north and the highway to Liege hangs by a thread while the road to Aachen is open. However, the Germans are finished offensively for the day. All they can do is push their reserves and rear area troops forward. The German rear areas have quite a few stragglers and weak units best described as nearly useless battle detritus. These are a by product of the combat and stacking system and US tactics. One SP units have little use in a major offensive action, although often a single one in a battle can be useful. The problem for the Germans is that they tend to be created much faster than they are killed off with the result that they are in the way near the front or clogging up the roads in the rear. A lot of German striking power has been eroded away by attrition. They started the battle with 21 mobile units of 3 or more SP, but now have only 6 such units left at the front. Their reinforcements just coming up are badly needed to keep the offensive moving. In the south the Hosheid-Ettelbruck bridge is repaired. December 18: Afternoon 9 SS Pz is sent to the central sector at Lullange while the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade moves to Waimes in the north. Skorzenys 150 Pz Bde finally arrives and is dispatched to Ambleve. The 3rd Panzergrenadier Division advances to Kesternich in the far north. The Americans counterattack at La Roche at 5-1 and liquidate the tenuous German bridgehead. US forces dig in at Baraque and Trois Ponts. On the 18th, the US lost 9 units and 28 SP, the Germans 3 and 27. Amazingly, the American line has stabilized in the south and center, but now the northern sector is in trouble with thin lines everywhere north of Trois Ponts and few available reserves. The Germans score 3 victory points this turn, 1 for Luxembourg and 2 for Bastogne. December 19: Morning The Wehrmacht launches powerful attacks across the entire board, hoping to annihilate the American front line. In the south at Arlon, Lehr tanks and a motley assortment of VG infantry attack at 9-3. Few casualties result and the important Arlon blocking position holds. Fauvillers falls to a 7-2 attack while Nives succumbs at 6-2. In the center, the defense of Sprimont crumbles in a 7-1 attack. 9 SS Pz goes into action with the veteran 26 VG at La Roche after a failed bridge demo attempt. German artillery support fails to materialize. At first the battle favors the US as 9 SS Pz takes heavy casualties, but the 101 Abn unit is wiped out and its supporting tanks hit too, and a bloody stalemate results. At Baraque, 7 Arm Inf although dug in defends poorly and is massacred at 7-2. At Vielsalm, the lone defending SP of 7 Arm has little chance of survival at 7-1 and does not. These tankers are made of stern stuff, and in their third and final battle at Vielsalm they and their supporting artillery wipe out 2 more SS SP. In the north, Stavelot is critical for the Wehrmacht, thus a 9-1 attack quickly exterminates the last SP of 7 Arm Div. The Germans reinforce their attack on Malmedy with the Fuhrer Begleit tanks to achieve 9-2 odds and take the position. At Elsenborn, 2/23 Rgt is finished off by a 4-1, but these US veterans sell themselves dearly, killing off two German units. However, the fall of Elsenborn opens a direct route from Waimes to Monschau, allowing easy transfer of German forces between these two fronts. In the far north, Eupen is assaulted at a risky 6-3 after an attempt to blow the bridge over the Vesdre River fails. Fortunatley for the US, the 9 Inf defends well and decimates the attackers while suffering only light casualties. At Walheim, only 7 Km from Aachen, 3 PG and 326 VG go into action at 9-5 against 30 Inf and the 743 Tank Bn. The German Special Forces make their final appearance, being used to alter the Allied combat DRM. Unfortunately for the Germans, using Shermans to lead this assault has the opposite effect of that intended. Apparently infuriated by the ruse, the US defenders open up at point blank range and every shot hits! Both 3 PG units are destroyed and the VG hit for a six SP loss! The few remaining Volksgrenadiers fight back valiantly and manage to score 2 SP of damage. However, the German thrust has been utterly smashed, and their visions of victory at Zone D fade away. In the south, remnants of 10 Arm tanks fall back 30 Km from Arlon to Neufchateau, leaving their dug in armored infantry to fend for themselves. In the center, units of the 82 Abn entrench behind the Ourthe River at Champion. In the north, a Rgt of 30 Inf digs in at Stoumont. The US commits its last reserves in the north to Belle Croix and Grandmenil, where the final unit of 82 Abn takes up residence. December 19: Mid Day The airborne blows the Sprimont-Champion bridge, cutting the main highway between Bastogne and Marche. The reserved units of 9 SS Pz then turn south to Neufchateau and drive out the defenders. In the north at Francorchamps, a mixed KG including Skorzenys 150 Pz Bde attacks at 10-2. The Germans get massive artillery support while the US gets none, upping the odds to 13-2. In an amazing display of ineptitude, the Germans are unable to break through. The last German try is a 6-1 at Belle Croix, mainly by the FBB panzergrenadiers. The German tank support is destroyed, but their infantry carries the position. The US commits nearly all its remaining reserves to Libramont and Paliseul to hold the line in the south. The garrison in Arlon is left in place to prevent German reserves on the southern front from advancing on Neufchateau and Florenville. In the center, Jalhay is undefendable as the US is out of units except for an extra at Walheim where they dare not weaken the defense. December 19: Afternoon The bridge from Vielsalm to Trois Ponts is blown, stopping the Germans from releasing 2 SS Pz. The German player forgot to attack here on 19-2, thus losing potentially an entire days use of the Das Reich Division. This was a critical mistake which may come back to haunt the Wehrmacht. In the north, a recon force of 116 Pz seizes Jalhay. The only German attack this impulse is a 5-1 at Libramont. The position falls and the entire US southern flank collapses. Moircy is abandoned and the US is forced to retreat over 25 Km, rebuilding the line at Wellin and Rochefort using the 82 Abn unit from Moircy and the 740 Tank Bn which just arrived at Liege. In the north the US abandons Francorchamps. The US front line is Walheim-Eupen-Verviers-Spa-Stoumont-Trois Ponts-Grandmenil- La Roche-Champion-Rochefort-Wellin-Paliseul. The Americans also has a tiny, doomed garrison at Arlon. Their one reserve is placed at Tinlot. The Germans took no new VP areas on the 19th. They again score 3 bringing their VP total to 6. Bradleys staff relocates to Namur. US losses on the 19th are 10 units and 22 SP. German losses are 6 and 27. December 20: Morning The SS Das Reich Division becomes available in Zone B. German spearheads are having diffculty massing strength against the Allied southern flank due to the big retreat yesterday afternoon. Arlon falls to an 8-1 attack. Paliseul falls. The bridge connecting Transinne to Wellin does not blow, and the Germans attack at 6-2. The defenders hold, but 11 Pz Div is released. Rochefort and La Roche fall. The entire southern half of the board has been nearly cleared of US units, except for the 82 Abn at Champion and 1 SP at Wellin. In the center at Grandmenil, 116 Pz, 560 VG and 62 VG combine to attack the 82 Abn at 9-3. The airborne unit holds and both sides suffer heavy casualties. In the north, a 10-2 attack at Stoumont, aided by massive artillery support smashes through with light losses. Spa is hit at 9-1 and the defenders are crushed. In the far north at Eupen, the attack goes in at 5-2 as the Germans have many weak one SP units in this sector. The defenders again hold. The Germans commit their remaining front line units at Walheim, attacking at 9-3. This time fortune favors the Axis as the defenders are destroyed. Aachen again beckons. With victory at Zone D in sight for the Germans, the US player is forced to commit 2 combat commands of 3 Arm at Aachen. The US retreats forming a line Beauraing- Marche-Aywaille-Eupen-Aachen. December 20: Mid Day The German Army is exhausted, but scrapes together four more attacks hoping to break a couple of areas. In the north, a heavily defended Aachen is inviolate as the Wehrmacht can not match the strength of the defenders. The 116 Pz tries a desperation 2-1 at Eupen. The defender scores a hit, but the 20% chance German shot succeeds and the first domino falls. In a 6-3 attack at Theux, the 150 Pz Bde is cut to pieces and the attack falls apart. Ville is hit at 7-2, but the 3rd Arm Inf holds firm. The final gasp is a 8-3 at Marche. This battle is a US disaster. The Germans annihilate the 82 Abn unit while suffering no casualties. December 20: Afternoon The Germans launch a suicide attack on Herve at 4-3. It works as 3 SP survive to force any US reinforcements to attack. The Big Red OneÕs last regiment, the 18th, does just that, coming from Aachen and hitting Herve at 3-3. Fortunately for the Americans they lose only 1 SP. The US line is now Gedinne-Wellin-Forzee-Petit Han-Ville-Theux-Herve and Aachen. The Germans score 5 VP (adding Arlon and Marche) to run their total to 11. Another 10 US units and 20 SP die. For the Germans it's 6 and 20. December 21: Morning The Germans initiate a general offensive all along the front, revitalized by fresh reinforcements. A 9-6 attack on Aachen fails with heavy casualties. At Herve, the 2 SS Pz enters its first action at 10-5, but the US defenders hold. At Theux, a 9-3 attack, primarily by the 11 Pz scatters the defenders. At Aywaille, KG Peiper leads a 9-3 assault. The defense holds. Ville falls. In the center Petit Han and Forzee are captured, while the Germans are defeated at Baillonville and Haid. At Haid, the tanks of the Fuhrer Grenadier Bde are wiped out only 17 Km from the Meuse River. In the south Wellin falls to a 7-1. Unable to form a conventional defensive line, the Americans retreat. Two units of the 84 Inf occupy Liege. The line is now Beauraing-Celles-Haid-Mean-Tinlot- Amay, with isolated outposts at Aywaille, Liege, Herve and Aachen. The US defense has been stretched to the breaking point, one or two more battles will doom their ability to defend the river crossings. There are no more reserves. December 21: Mid Day The Germans race forward to fill the void, investing Liege and seizing the VP area of Flemalle on the banks of the Meuse. Tinlot falls to a 3-1 attack by the Fuhrer Begleit, while at Mean the British 2nd House Hold Cavalry is eliminated by the 5 FJ mechanized infantry. December 21: Afternoon The fall of Mean finishes the Allies. The last mobile German reserves are able to move from Marche and seize Ciney and Huy, surrounding the 3rd Arm unit at Haid. In the final German attack of the day, the 26 VG manages to wipe out the Haid defender with a 3-2 attack. The Allies counterattack at Huy and Ciney with their reinforcements. At Ciney the British 29 Tank Bde hits some Lehr remnants at 4-1, crushing them and retaking the town. However at Huy, the desperation attack by the 602nd Tank Destroyers at 1-2 is shot apart. The isolated US unit at Aywaille surrenders. The Germans add VP areas at Aywaille and Flemalle adding 8 to their score to total 19. This however means little as the Germans will be able to exit a flood of units through Huy into Zone G on the morning of the 22nd ensuring a decisive victory. The fall of Mean on 21-2 was decisive. If 2HHC had held, the Germans would not have been able to seize Huy as the hole at Tinlot was unexploitable. The Germans would have then likely scored 9 VP on December 22 for a total of 28, which would have been only enough for a draw. Considering how badly the first two turns went, the Allies made a very close game of it. It is possible that I misplayed the US move on the 21st. I undoubtably should have abandoned Aywaille, but I doubt the extra SP would have ended up at Mean where it turned out to be needed. By this point in the game the US was in very bad shape and only survived as long as this because Aachen, Eupen and Herve were defended so heroically, the former two areas being under a lot of pressure since the morning of the 19th. This game illustrated the unpredictable nature of the combat system quite well. In one case a 3-2 attack was successful, in another a 13-2 attack failed. In one impulse a particular unit may fight like a demon only to be snuffed out instantly a turn later. The uncertainty inherent in the combat results keeps both players on the edge of their seats on every toss of the dice. No attack is automatic and no defense is 100% safe. This was a very good, very close game. I hope you have enjoyed following it.