Mortain, France, August 6-10, 1944
Historical Situation
2nd Pz Division and 1st SS Panzer Division headed up the attack. Facing them was the 30th Infantry Division. Company B, 117th Infantry was hit and fought back with their 57mm AT guns. The 823rd TD Battalion with 3 inch Anti-Tank guns destroyed a bunch of Panthers and Panzer IV's.
At L'Abbay Blanche a Panzergrenadier force advanced on the crossroads on August 6th. The Germans planned to follow the highway north out of Mortain, over Cance river bridge at the Pont del la Vacherie and continue to La Dainie where it merged with Route 177 and support 1st SS Panzer Division's drive west toward Avraches.
A recon unit crossed the river and went south from the railroad station, following the tracks. They ran into a road block covering the northern bridge and were eliminated.
A little while later the main group arrived at the bridge crossing the Cance at Pont de la Vacherie. The 1st platoon of A/823rd TD battalion had dug-in two 3 inch guns west of the road in a hedgerow near the orchards. From there they had a good view of the road road and ambushed the vehicles as they climbed the hill after the bridge.
The attack started at 0430 hours and the fog limited visibility to 100 meters. Four Sturmgeshutz supported the attack the III Abteilung "DF" in their attack. Things went poorly for the Germans and they lost 9 vehicles including 6 Sdkfz 251's along with the infantry[1].
At St.-Barthèlmy 7 Panthers and some Panzer IV tanks attacked with supporting infantry. The 1st Battalion, 117th Infantry along with AT guns from the 823rd TD Battalion were waiting. Two American Infantry companies (A and C?) were dug-in to the north and kept the attackers at bay for a while[2]. Eventually the Americans ran out of anti-tank weapons and had to withdraw. The 2nd Panzer Division and the 1st SS Division combined forces and finally took the town after 6 hours of heavy fighting[3].
Map/Terrain
Key features are:
- 5 x 5 Table (could be bigger)
- 8 players controling 6 infantry companies and 2 support companies
- Three bridges where vehicles can cross
- Train station and railway overpass
- Contours north of the railroad
Pre-game Preparation
- None
American Player (Defending)
Objective
Details here.
Forces Available
Elements of the US 30th Infantry Division
Provision for 3 players (including someone as overall commander).
1st Battalion
1 FO (105mm Battery)
1 FO (155mm Battery)
1 FAC (P-47, rockets †)
A Company
1 HMG
2 M1 57mm ATG
2 Infantry Platoons:
B Company
1 HMG
2 M5 76mm ATG[6]
2 Infantry Platoons:
* For rallying only.
† See special rules below
Deployment
Details here.
Reinforcements
None.
German Player (Attacking)
Objective
Details here.
Forces Available
Provision for 5-6 players (including someone as overall commander).
Battlegroup Command
1 FO (75mm IG, 251/9)
1 AA (Sdkfz 7/2)
Recce Platoon:
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Platoon
1st Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment
Support Platoon
2 StuG III
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Companies with:
1 FO (81mm Mortar)
1 HMG
2 Infantry Platoons in Hanomags:
Morale: Regular
Deployment
Details here.
Reinforcements
None.
Victory Conditions
Breakthrough (A) and Casualty (AD) objectives.
Scenario Special Rules
Details here.
Notes
Vehicles/Stands needed:
- 3 Panthers
- 2 StuG III or 2 Jagdpanzer IV
- 3 SdKfz 250/9 or 3 SdKfz 234/1
- 6 SdKfz 251/1 "Hanomags"
- 2 BC (German and American)
- 5 Forward Observers (3 German, 1 US FO and 1 US FAC)
- 4 American ATG
- 2 HMG (German and US)
Sources
[2] Featherston, Alwyn (1993). Saving the breakout: the 30th Division's heroic stand at Mortain, August 7-12, 1944. Novato, CA, USA. Presidio Press.
[3] McManus, John C. (2005). The Americans at Normandy. Macmillian (Read Online).
[4] Reardon, Mark J. Victory at Mortain: Stopping Hitler's Panzer Counteroffensive. (Purchase online)
[9] The Mortain Counterattack - The 30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII