theforger

There are reports showing what the fighting strength of a division was, and what it should be, down to the number of rifles! The SS Divisions are from RH10/312 starting from the LSSAH, /313 DAS Reich..../318 Hohenstauffen A must see site for any scenario designer.

https://blog.sturmpanzer.com Has a how to guide to search the Bundesarchiv for divisional records. He has an index of panzer divisions. For example searching on RH10/140 shows all the KStN unit/status charts for the 1st Panzer Division from 1943-45. RH10/141 2nd Panzer etc. The image quality is fantastic.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Marches-West-Scenarios-Wargames-ebook/dp/B0086V6KA4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+bear+marches+west&qid=1622891997&sr=8-1 This may help?

https://www.boekenbestellen.nl/boek/gustav-knittel/9789492475541 Reading Career, crimes and trial of Gustav Knittel by Timo Worst. Not sure where to begin...packed with 533 pages of detail, maps and pics many of which I'd not seen before, its detective work of the highest order...top quality purchase! Description of the Schnelle Group during the Ardennes is my area of interest and I was not disappointed one bit. The only downside is that I've now got to make some adjustments to my Stavelot and Trois Ponts maps!

+1. Cheers for the continued feedback. It was a rest area for the 2nd and 99th US Divisions. But also was the location for the 254th Combat Engineer Battalion, of which B Company defending south of the town provide the majority of the opposition. The other 2x Companies defended approaches from the east and south west, along with a mixed bag of troops in the centre. I included the bahnhof to the east as a touch objective because historically what was left of Sternebeck's Spizte took a wrong turn during the advance into the town and went in that direction, towards Wirzfeld. There's a bit of a doubt if there were 2x airfields but there was definitely at least one. Having refuelled at Bullingen the US were concerned that the KG would go north west towards Butgenbach which could have potentially freed up the 12th SS, instead they went south west to get off Rollbahn C and back onto their assigned Rollbahn D. Re-AA, they are brilliant, effective but vulnerable! Re infantry, you should have 1./, 2./ and 4./(heavy) Zugs along with pioneers from the Spizte, but they could be reduced in number from previous scenarios. Agree more would have been very useful, but I tried to follow the history. This opening campaign is relatively easy for the Germans as they often had surprise and/or fire superiority. In a lot of the scenarios in the later campaigns the forces are more evenly matched and balanced. But there are some that aren't. For example, unsupported US Tanks defending a village, at night, against Grenadier probe. I am going to review the briefings, re this and your earlier feedback, specifically weather conditions and visibility. Campaign 2 will not only be available as a standalone campaign, I will also build a single one that combines campaigns 1 and 2. I'll add in a decision scenario prior to Minen the Gap, to enable skipping, but with the loss of some of some of the Spitze. I'll take another look at the point allocation in Honsfeld, the quick fix would just allow campaign progression from a draw. Thanks again.

I think that's probably the best route. I could amend the script but you'd have to start the campaign again. I can only apologise. I think both the Baugnez and Bullingen scenarios are worth trying as they do have a couple of interesting challenges.

Hi Erwin, I didn't encounter this during tests. The mission is to occupy the 4x buildings to the South of Honsfeld using the Grenadiers (50pts), supported by Spitze tanks. The Spitze should be able to touch the town objective 50pts and then exit. That should leave you with at least 100 points and the Amis with just 50 for holding the centre of the town. There are also points for casualties for and against 50 points for both 30%. If you are struggling, by placing one unit in the centre of the town will deny the Amis the 50 points without having to mout thru the whole town. Maybe there was an Ami unit in your South Honsfeld objective area?

Played first as USA Wego/Iron. Just about gotta victory. My first impressions was that's an ugly looking tank, what am I supposed to do with that! But to be fair it seemed more effective than other's in the USA inventory I've played with. I've started 2x USA campaigns, only to discover I have a lot to learn, so before continuing with the campaigns, I'd try to at least win a battle or two. Also the 2x M150's were very effective too and arrived just in time. Enjoyed the scenario. Then played as the Russians and it was more straightforward, but I was a surprised at how many T72's I lost.

This video from Jay Karamales, about 25 minutes in, shows the foxhole positions of the 394th around Buchholz. The previous day elements of the 27th Fusilier Regt, wondered down the railway track and got cut down and routed by the Amis at Buchholz.

I don't know, he may have been protecting himself and/or his men from war crime charges that followed an SS KG assault. Or he may have witnessed atrocities first hand in Honsfeld on the 17th. I would add this is just from one source and there's conflicting info around Fallshirmjager units with Peiper after the 17th so I wouldn't take anything as definitive. There's consensus around a company of the 9th Fallshirmjager regiment fighting in Stavelot, but they never reached as far west as Stoumont, from PoW records, that was the z.b.V Fallshirmjager unit. The "Fallshirmjager" pictured at Poteau after the fight with Task Force Mayes, the morning of the 18th were actually from Knittel's recon unit, Luftwaffe replacements that didn't receive their SS uniforms in time for the offensive. They also arrived just for the photo op with a kreigsberichter and weren't involved in the fire-fight, it was elements of KG Hansen. Then they were ordered back to Kaiserbaracke and onto Stavelot.

Seems strange. It may be the "wrong" HQ? There are elements of 2x battalions. 1st Btn, 2nd Kompanie. And 2nd Btn 5th Kompanie. Each platoon in the company has its built in light mortar team. 2nd Btn under Major Taubert wasn't overly enamoured with fighting alongside the SS and managed to steer clear after the 17th. 1st Battalion crop up in the 2nd campaign fighting to re-open the supply line to Peiper at Stavelot and are pictured riding on the King Tigers at Kaiserbaracke.

It should be pretty straightforward to do a 4th campaign, combining parts 1,2,3 incorporating their feedback. As you said, I am getting really good advice from the guys. Campaign scripting is a whole new level for me.

After Lanzerath the Spitze and Spitze Kompanie were in pretty much in continuous action on the 17th. Units that appear to have full rest and supply will be ones rotated into the front. There is limited rest and resupply available after capturing the fuel dump in Bullingen (mission 6). Care should be taken on what units lead the assaults as they may have suffered track damage in previous actions or be low on ammo. There is no refit or repair throughout the campaign.

there's a picture on page 137 of Then And Now which took me sometime to work out where about in Honsfeld it was taken, because in the shot the Grenadiers and SPW are heading back in to the town from the north west against the direction of the offensive. Thanks @Bulletpoint for the feedback on your progress.

Re mission 3. The Spitze lost 2x Panthers (Bersin and Bahrendt) before linking up with the Fallshirmjager in Lanzerath on the night of the 16th, a substantial element of Sternebeck's firepower. So from a historical perspective I wanted to include it. This could be considered self indulgent, but this process has been an education for me on what happened and when to the KG to try and get a deeper understanding. From a game play perspective absolutely acknowledge, apart from maybe admiring the scenery and a developing sense of foreboding, there's little for the player, but I also didn't want to automatically rob you of the two Spitze Panthers either. Thankfully from a players perspective there's no more of these type of scenario's in the remainder of the campaign.