"All American": Turn One, Probe Along the Road

Turn One, Probe Along the Road

The German attack has begun with troops and tanks pushing down the road toward Cauquigny. The Germans encounter the perimeter of the American Airborne forces and seek to quickly drive them in. 

Map

There is a dirt road with hedgerows on either side. While not the sturdy bocage that will be encountered in some parts of Normandy, these hedges still present a challenge to cross and count as medium obstacles. Units within 2” of the hedge may see through it and be seen by enemy units on the opposite site. Units being fired upon through a hedge count as having light cover.

The map is dominated by an orchard. On the German edge of the map there is a copse of trees. 

Support Choices

German support: additional senior leader (2) and one Renault R35 light tank (4). 

Airborne support: Add SMGs to Squad* (1) and an extra bazooka team (2). 

*Two M1 Garands replaced with Thompson SMGs. 

Platoon Leaders

German platoon commander is Feldwebel Konstantin Hermann: a young NCO and former Hitler Youth leader. 

 Airborne platoon commander is Lieutenant Frank Bond: a former Wall Street trader from New York.

Combat 

German morale began high on 11. The German 1st Squad appeared and moved along the diagonal hedgerow, with an R35 tank arriving and covering the road with overwatch. The German plan was to hug the diagonal hedgerow, moving along it, and flanking the US Airborne. 

A US 60mm mortar deployed in the orchard and began peppering the Germans with mortar bombs. A squad of airborne (1st Squad) appeared and opened up on the Germans from the orchard. The German 2nd Squad also deployed at the diagonal hedgerow in front of the orchard. 

US 60mm mortar in the orchard

German 1st and 2nd Squads strung along the diagonal hedgerow

The third and final German squad deployed in the copse of trees on the left of the road, and exchanged fire with the US 2nd squad (which was covering the road), and also attempted to kill or drive away the bazooka team which had deployed there. The US bazooka team fired several rockets at the R35 but the shots either missed or ricocheted off the armour. The R35 fired back with its 37mm cannon but its shots were inaccurate and didn't kill anyone. 

German 3rd Squad and R35 tank exchange fire with US 2nd Squad and Bazooka Team

The German 1st Squad came under heavy fire from the orchard (and continued to be mortared). It became pinned so it went tactical (hugging the ground) and its junior leader threw a smoke grenade to provide cover. But the smoke cover cut both ways. Sergeant Nick Sargent (“Sarge”) of the US 1st Squad took the opportunity to rush his men out of the orchard to the hedgerow and spray the German 1st Squad with Thompson SMGs at close range. Sarge's squad had previously exchanged some of its Garands for Thompsons. The Germans either got riddled with bullets or ran away. 

Nick Sargent and US 1st Squad assault with SMGs

The German plan to flank the Americans by hugging the diagonal hedgerow did not go well. With his 1st Squad effectively wiped out (and 3rd squad almost pinned), the German platoon commander ordered a withdrawal. The German platoon managed to withdraw in an orderly way except the leader of 1st Squad who was captured by Sergeant Sargent’s squad. The second German senior leader (a leutenant) did not even appear on the field. His men were retreating before he’d left the assembly area. 

Results

Germans suffered 7 casualties: 4 KIA, 2 wounded, and one POW. 

Airborne suffered 2 casualties: 1 KIA and 1 wounded. 

US: At the beginning of the campaign C.O.’s opinion is 1. Men’s opinion is 1. This changes to CO’s opinion 2, and men’s opinion 3. 

Germans: At the beginning of the campaign C.O.’s opinion is 0. Men’s opinion is 2. This changes to CO's opinion -1 and men’s opinion 0. 

Each commander's outlook remains unchanged. 

I play wild card “Panzer Marsch” to avoid passing the initiative to US Airborne.