Luneville - Pictures
The game was played on Chris's new 10'x5' board at chez Chris on Friday 27/7/07. Most of the AFV's and the US infantry were from my collection, the German infantry were painted by Chris. Terrain was a mix of both our collections
Note that during the game we moved around the house models in Luneville to facilitate moving the models
115 Panzer Abt prepares to enter Luneville from the southeast. Fujimi PzKfw-IV, Crusader Jagdpanzer-IV, Cromwell RSO
M18 of CCR on the eastern edge of Luneville pointing south. The the east of Luneville was a large strip of open ground, the M18 was watching for sneaky German outflanking manoeuvres. MMS M18
Elements of the 42nd Recce Squadron watch over the railway yard in Luneville. Old Cromwell M5's and an M8. All infantry are Matchbox
57mm M1 of the 10th Infantry watches the eastern flank, looking towards the supposed location of the 113 Panzer Brigade. The 113 Pz Brig failed to make an appearance all game. Elheim M1 with SHQ crew
Shermans of CCR in the west end of Luneville. Corgi diecast nearest the camera, Cromwell in the distance
FFI resistance fighters support US forces in Luneville. Figs painted by Chris (SHS aka Friend or Foe)
Sherman of CCR on the west of Luneville
Panzer Grenadiers of the 111 Panzer Brigade launch a attack on the west corner of Luneville. US deployment restrictions meant that only the FFI was there to greet them: and the FFI were rated Green Morale 7. Needless to say the FFI fled back to US positions. However the 111 was also morale 7 and without the benefit from cover was vulnerable to morale failure. Chris's dice came up trumps (for the Americans) and most of the panzer grenadiers and, more importantly, the Panthers fled back to the start line. One panzer grenadier company did make it in to the city and then hunkered down while 111's CO rallied his troops
111's attack in close-up
As the Panthers had fled the US commander brought out CCR's Shermans to the edge of the city to shoot up the remnants of the panzer grenadiers, which caused great carnage. Hearing Panther engines in the distance the Shermans' commander ordered a disengagement back into the city. However the morale dice had other ideas and the Shermans pinned in place. This was to be terminal for the M4's. Panthers by Matchbox
Sherman of CCR faces the commander's PzKfw-IV from 115 Pz Abt. The Sherman was subsequently perforated from the flank by a Panther
Concurrent with 111 Panzer Brigade's assault Kampfgruppe 15 Panzer Grenadier Division launched an assault across the railway sidings in Luneville The Stuarts' 37mm were no match for the panzers and they fell back to the north of the town
M18 of CCR slides down the outside of Luneville to flank 15 Pz Gren's attack. The M18 killed a PzKfw-IV and the other fled, effectively defeating the German thrust on the eastern flank.
Close encounter! The Jagdpanzer failed its morale during the assault on the railway sidings and fell back. The M8's pursued it to help it on its way. Eventually the jagdpanzer crew surrendered.
German high tide. Panthers outside Faubourg de Nancy. The Panthers of 111 Panzer Brigade rushed the bridge over the Vezouze. The defending engineers engaged the panzers with their Bazooka's and the Panthers' company commander was forced back, leaving his underlings stranded 2km away on the far bank of the river. Chris subsequently rolled a '10' for morale and the Panthers became demoralised, the two over the river way too far from any superior to have a hope of ever being rallied.
Sherman 76mm pokes out from Luneville to shoot the demoralised Panther commander up the rear
TF Hunter arrives, with the mechanised infantry leading. leading 'track is from Academy, the next two are Corgi diecasts.
TF Hunter
The Sherman 76mm and the commander of CCR move ahead of TF Hunter on the road south of Luneville
TF Hunter's artillery support: Matchbox M7 and Hasegawa M4 MMC.
The Hasegawa MMC has hade its interior detailed as the basic kit lacks ammo lockers
Sherman 76 of TF Hunter. The Sherman is an awkward hybrid: Fujimi hull with Matchbox turret
M18 takes up the rear most position in the convoy
MMG team supports TF Hunter's advance. Elheim MG with SHQ crew, converted from mortar crew.
The last Panzers of the 15 Panzer Grenadiers retreat to the southeast corner of Luneville
M3's of TF Hunter move to the south of the Murthe River. To the North of the river TF Hunter's Shermans go pinned leaving the M18 to charge the PzKfw-IV of 115 Pz Abt on its own. This was unfortunately fatal.
TF Hunter's infantry dismounts and make a valiant assault across the foot bridge. At the end of the Bridge the staff officer of 111 Panzer Brigade in the SdKfz-251 shoots the infantry. Not surprisingly the attack was unsuccessful, though one stand was forced back rather than killed. The PzKfw-IV slew an M3 but the concentrated US MG fire overwhelmed the SdKfz-251. Although defeated the US attack distracted the PzKfw-IV from the American assault north of the river
US Shermans round the bend to confront the Germans. Just out of shot to the left are a Sherman 76 and a 75mm which finished off the Panzer facing them
M8's from CCR defend the flank against the German infantry still in Luneville
Surprise assault. Chris moved his PaK-40 from the east Flank to the west to protect against the Shermans. This left his right unprotected and allowed the Stuarts to use their superior mobility to tear down the flank and close assault the PaK
Everything goes pear shaped for the Yanks. The leading Shermans fail their morale and go shaken, falling back and leaving the Germans with a tenuous hold in the south east corner of Luneville
The Final Scene looking north in to Luneville
The US would have definitely won the game if the Shermans had not gone shaken at the last minute. The Germans only had one tank remaining but had loads of infantry streaming south to join their comrades. This happened with four turns remaining. there would have been time to rally the Shermans an make a last push by which time the German infantry would have consolidated the defence.
The game was a hard fought draw with perhaps the US side coming out marginally ahead. A well fought and entertaining game.