OAF 43.1"Mannecourt Hill"
updated 061015
This
scenario was originally published in ON ALL FRONTS number 43 (June 1986). The
original scenario author is Tim Taylor. Original
credited playtestes are R. Hilbert & Jim Blue.
This scenario is part of a set of four that can be played with the Arracourt
Tank Battle Campaign Game. Further development, clarifications and modification
have been made to the original published scenario by Bill Thomson.
About one mile Northwest of Ommeray,
France, September 20, 1944: After the previous day's
debacle, the 113th Panzer Brigade regrouped with the help of the 111th Panzer
Brigade. Agressive probing by the 378th Tank Battalion from their position in
Lezey unbalanced the retreating Germans. The only noteworthy action occured mid-afternoon
when a reinforced company topped Mannecourt HIll and encountered German resistance
on nearby Hill 241.
VICTORY CONDITIONS: The Americans win if they have been
the last to have a unit in every hex of the highest elevation terrain of the
predesignated hill (SSR 3). The German player wins by avoiding the American
victory conditions.
SCENARIO SEQUENCE:
|
|
American sets up first |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
END |
|
German move first |
|
GERMANS FORCES:
- TURN 1: Element of the 113th Panzer Brigade enter
anywhere on the east edge:
3xPzKwVG; all with AAMGs
AMERICAN FORCES:
- AT START: Elements of the 37th Tank Battalion; set
up on any whole hex:
5xM4A3
SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:
- OAF 43.1.1: WEATHER: Environmental conditions are
Moist with no wind. Fog rules (111.2) are in effect. The fog is of intensity
4 (2nd level and lower are affected).
- OAF 43.1.2: Before play begins, the American player
secretly selects which three Sherman had gyrostabilizer proficient crews
AFTERMATH: The fog was
instrumental in nullifying the range advantage of the German range. In the white
chaos, the Germans lost all three forward Panthers, proving an immediate retreat
by the remaining forces. Only one AFV was lost by the Americans in this engagements.
Similar results were obtained in other German attacks, leading to the Brigades
discorporation and virtual assimilation into the 111th Panzer Brigade some two
days after the fateful battles..