Action at Oberembt
26/2/45
The battle for Oberembt took place the night of 26 Feb 1945 when infantry from the 117th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division, supported by A and C companies of the 743rd Tank Battalion attacked elements of the 9 Panzer Division
Map and Order of Battle
US Deployment
The 1st & 2nd Battalions 117th Infantry are deployed in the areas indicated by the pink dashed lines
The RHQ, and Regimental Gun Battery are deployed within 3" of Lich
All the armour arrives anywhere between B & C on turns 2 or 3. Roll for each unit separately. A roll of 6+ on a d10 at the end of the first turn indicates entry on turn 2, otherwise the unit enters on turn 3
German Deployment
The I/10 Panzergrenadiers and 12 Bttr, 85 Nebelwerfer Regiment are deployed behind the pink dashed line. All personnel and towed guns are entrenched (-3 cover). At least one Panzergrenadier Kompanie must be deployed within 3" of Bettenhaven
The Panzerkampftruppe is deployed after the US infantry and is deployed within 6" of a any US stand in the 1st or 2nd Battalions (see special rules)
The Germans have 40" of anti tank mines
Terrain
The table is 5ft x 6.5ft if playing 1"=50m. North is towards the top of the page
For the most part the terrain is very flat and open farmland, bereft of cover
The red lines are roads
The blue lines are streams. They are no impediment to most stands but wheeled vehicles and man-handled guns cost a BMA to cross. Personnel stands (but not towed guns) get medium (-2) cover when in the stream against fire from outside the stream
The green dotted lines are tree lines, they break LOS to targets not touching the line. They give light cover. Note twin lines of trees break LOS unless the stand is in the stream
The big grey squares are solidly build BUA (-3 cover). The simple town fighting rules are in effect (ie guns and tanks inside the town get a ROF 0)
The small grey squares are farms. They give a single personnel stands (not towed guns) -3 cover.
Special Rules
The battle runs from just after nightfall until dawn. The game lasts 10 or 11 turns. Roll d10 at end of turn 9 on a 6+ there is an extra turn
The battle takes place on a clear moonlight night. max visibility is 8". Spotting distances are halved or 8" whichever is smaller. The following night rules are in effect (pg 93): 39.1.2 (2nd paragraph only); 39.1.4 and 39.1.7
Neither side can move on turn 1. The German Panzerkampftruppe and the US 1st & 2nd Infantry Battalions are assumed to have just completed their (cautious) move, so neither side can opportunity fire. There is no IDF turn 1
No German vehicle can move until a stand other than those in the Panzerkampftruppe has spotted a US stand
Victory Conditions
To win the US must hold two out of three of points A, X or Y. They must have the only troops in good morale within 6" of point A or 3" of points X or Y at the end of the game. Good morale means not shaken and not demoralised. The Germans win if the US forces do not make their victory conditions
References
30th Infantry Division Site: http://www.oldhickory30th.com
823rd Tank Destroyer After Action Report: http://www.tankdestroyer.net/images/stories/ArticlePDFs/823-AAR_Feb_1-28_1945.pdf
Amicide, CMS: http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/resources/csi/shrader/shrader.asp
Battlefront Discussion Forum: http://www.battlefront.com/community/archive/index.php/t-17275.html
Fire Brigades, Kamen Nevenkin
Foreign Military Study B-053: Korpsgruppe Bayerlin
Western Front 45 History Page: http://www.archiv-oberaussem.com/western-front45/doku.php?id=start