Stavelot - anyone beat it yet?

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive >> Stavelot - anyone beat it yet?

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Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/23/2021 7:25:35 PM

Krupinski

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I tried it several times.

If i want my spearhead strong enough i can no longer protect my flanks and supply.
The allies are coming from north and west with a lot of units.

Its cursed - how to win as germans?

Cheers
Hafer

Post #: 1

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/23/2021 7:35:17 PM

Remmes

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From: NL
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Same here, tough nut to crack. Good to hear i'm not alone having a hard time in this scenario.

(in reply to Krupinski)

Post #: 2

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/23/2021 7:42:21 PM

Jagger2002

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SPOILERS----I won it with a major victory on my third attempt. I used slow Peiper troops to take fuel depot. The rest of Peiper raced for La Gleize and Cheneux and took them. 2SS took Trois Ponts and Basse Bodeau in the center and Vielsam and Petite Halluex on the left. Major Victory. Fun battle. Small Kampfgroups were left behind to help cover flanks and protect VP locations as necessary. The key was to get La Gleize and Cheneux fast with Peiper and then I went defense in that area as masses of GIs showed up.

< Message edited by Jagger2002 -- 11/25/2021 3:26:18 AM >

(in reply to Krupinski)

Post #: 3

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/23/2021 8:19:38 PM

altipueri

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Thanks Jagger, I tried something like like but blundered (bad mouse control !) leaving Trois Ponts open to re-capture.

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Post #: 4

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/23/2021 9:40:30 PM

Jagger2002

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Hehe...it happens. Also no guarantee on my strategy but it did work once.

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 9:03:08 AM

altipueri

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Here's a bit on various accounts of the Stavelot fuel dump

https://soc.history.war.world-war-ii.narkive.com/hnPRLu1i/francorchamps-fuel-dump-apparently-conflicting-accounts

The dump had about a million gallons of fuel:

"We had progressed approximately a mile when we came to a huge gasoline
dump. Realizing the additional fuel would be a boon to the German troops,
Lieutenant Wheelwright and I decided to try to destroy it by igniting it.
Since two German tanks, which we could hear slowly laboring up the hill
behind us, had followed us out of town we needed to take immediate action.

"We first deployed the men on either side of the road and set up the 57mm AT
gun in the woods. We then fired a machine gun into the gasoline, which was
stacked in five-gallon containers on the left side of the road as far as the
eye could see. It did not ignite. The German tanks were now in sight. One
of the men then ran to the dump, quickly opened a can of the fuel and ran
with it to our position, spilling it out as he ran. A lighted match
provided the necessary spark to set the dump on fire. The first tank saw
the fire and turned around; the second tank followed.

"Sometime later, hearing activity in the woods behind us, we feared we were
surrounded by German troops. Frantically we tried to change our position
until one of the men shouted: "American troops"! It was the 1st Battalion,
117th Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Robert E. Frankland. Major Solis was accompanying these troops."
------------
And this might give you a photo of the dump (seems a weird link ) :

https://www.google.com/search?q=stavelot+fuel+depot&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=H612cdFmxGt90M%252CUcRORiIsTmxywM%252C_%253BhszdyHWCXtJxVM%252CxnB9z9EjZWUO-M%252C_%253Bu6BAui7cVe6BKM%252CJhjrSVb2p_89WM%252C_%253BDBzCFhGWB_zZYM%252CfQ2BnI4CYRkSiM%252C_%253BIODTrrU2LPtrgM%252CyxVQOpoNQsJC4M%252C_%253BSLuIidsB3DzGDM%252CzcI7gpv2uYjVPM%252C_%253BKg8nJxPctwyo-M%252C2jNp40J1ec2JaM%252C_%253Bs_B2_T1fbUeUFM%252CILoSieRalAZDbM%252C_%253BN17ac9BWMB8MZM%252Cad3EAKUd7GblpM%252C_%253BQczt5J9EmSyrQM%252C6YsrLnFk7eFfIM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRDThSz7bhe3t-V7358o4cqScFqhA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwinydXA3LD0AhUyh_0HHcC4AX0Q9QF6BAgOEAE#imgrc=H612cdFmxGt90M

(in reply to Jagger2002)

Post #: 6

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 3:39:41 PM

Krupinski

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagger2002

I won it with a major victory on my third attempt. I used slow Peiper troops to take fuel depot. The rest of Peiper raced for La Gleize and Cheneux and took them. 2SS took Trois Ponts and Basse Bodeau in the center and Vielsam and Petite Halluex on the left. Major Victory. Fun battle. Small Kampfgroups were left behind to help cover flanks and protect VP locations as necessary. The key was to get La Gleize and Cheneux fast with Peiper and then I went defense in that area as masses of GIs showed up.

Thanx. Tried your approach. Allies won. See screen.

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Post #: 7

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 4:03:11 PM

Jagger2002

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Keep trying. Work on the tactics?

Here is the screenshots from my third game. I was going to put up the victory screen as well but it exceeds the 200 kb size limit. I had 110 victory points and 2 were from casualty points.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jagger2002 -- 11/24/2021 4:08:10 PM >

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Post #: 8

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 4:09:33 PM

Jagger2002

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Are you using your officer cards?

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 4:23:11 PM

Krupinski

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagger2002

Are you using your officer cards?

Sure.

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Post #: 10

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 4:54:25 PM

Krupinski

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Another try. Two rounds to go. I got all of your objectivs. The forecast says "Minor Axis Victory". But i�m not sure Peiper & 2.SS can hold their ground..

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Post #: 11

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 5:04:33 PM

Jagger2002

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The problem with these panzer officers is they don't have the good defense cards. I don't remember what Peiper had. But defense is strong and hit the attackers with defensive ranged fire. No direct attacks or you lose your entrenchment bonus.

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Post #: 12

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 5:11:17 PM

Jagger2002

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You don't control Cheneux. The Amis are flooding in through there. Cheneux is important to block those road networks.

It is very hard for the Americans to make use of their numbers if you can capture Cheneux and La Gleize quickly before the Americans show up in numbers. It is a race to get there first.

< Message edited by Jagger2002 -- 11/24/2021 5:18:19 PM >

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 5:19:30 PM

Krupinski

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagger2002

You don't control Cheneux. The Amis are flooding in through there. Cheneux is important to block those road networks.

It is very hard for the Americans to make use of their numbers if you can capture Cheneux and La Gleize quickly before the Americans show up in numbers. It is a race to get there first.

I wish i could take Cheneux. But as you see there are a lot of those green devils. And they are getting more and more.

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 5:27:21 PM

Jagger2002

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SPOILERS----Too late in this scenario. But on turn 1, most of Peiper's battle group needs to be racing as fast as possible for Cheneux and La Gleize. I had 1 leg Peiper infantry unit push the roadblock troops back from the bridge in Stavelot...opening the road along the river. Then all my fast Peiper troops took off immediately along the river headed for Cheneux and La Gleize...all on turn 1. They ignored Trois Ponts on turn 2 and continued racing for La Gleize and Cheneux. IIRC, I took Cheneux w/o a fight and a fairly easy fight to take La Gleize. But I was there quickly before the mass of Americans arrived. From positions in those 2 towns, Peiper's troops were able to hold against all American attacks.

< Message edited by Jagger2002 -- 11/25/2021 3:27:17 AM >

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 5:35:09 PM

Jagger2002

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SPOILERS---- and La Gleize are 30 victory points but almost as important, the two towns form a strong defensive bottleneck requiring very few troops to defend. It is a tough nut for the Americans to crack.

< Message edited by Jagger2002 -- 11/25/2021 3:27:46 AM >

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 6:55:00 PM

Remmes

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Thanks for your advice Jagger2002.The quick dash for La Gleize and Stoumont and not getting bogged down in Trois-Ponts made all tthe difference.

Attachment (1)

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 7:03:02 PM

Remmes

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I actually visited La Gleize earlier this year. Today it is not being victimized by Tiger II Tanks but rather by hordes of motorists...

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 18

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 7:54:03 PM

Krupinski

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagger2002

Cheneux and La Gleize are 30 victory points but almost as important, the two towns form a strong defensive bottleneck requiring very few troops to defend. It is a tough nut for the Americans to crack.

That does the trick. Thank you sir Jagger2002!

Still 4 rounds to go but cleared almost all objectives you mentioned.

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 8:04:08 PM

Krupinski

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..finally!

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Post #: 20

RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 8:11:17 PM

Jagger2002

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Congratulations Remmes and Krupinski! Lots to learn in that scenario. Arracourt is a tough one too. Good lessons in that one as well. Although the lessons are of a different type.

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 10:19:34 PM

carll11

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Yes Ive had a few go's at arracourt, you've got secure that southern flank and there arent enough troops down there to really do that...

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/24/2021 10:19:59 PM

carll11

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Remmes

I actually visited La Gleize earlier this year. Today it is not being victimized by Tiger II Tanks but rather by hordes of motorists...

Nice!!

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/25/2021 1:24:25 AM

Jagger2002

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How about a discussion on Monday dealing with Arracourt scenario? Give people a few days to play the scenario and find out the difficulties with it?

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/25/2021 1:53:44 AM

Rosseau

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It appears Davide has designed some tough ones. Good for him!

I see no one has complained about any SPOILERS here.

Help is appreciated, especially after trying a scenario several times...

Has anyone tackled a scenario larger than Skyline Drive yet, I wonder?

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/25/2021 2:04:48 AM

Jagger2002

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We could open up a new thread on Monday titled Arracourt (spoilers).

I have played Bastogne which is bigger than Skyline Drive. So far, I have played Stavelot, Arracourt, To Dinant, Skyline Drive and Bastogne. Each one has been good. I think Skyline Drive has been the easiest so far but it isn't easy. All have been challenging.

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/25/2021 2:15:43 AM

Rosseau

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You're moving along quickly. I assume all scenarios played as the Axis, which would be the toughest to play...

Nice thing is there are those two monster campaigns awaiting! Those maps are simply huge and will be a real challenge to dig into. Great fun.

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/25/2021 3:30:44 AM

Jagger2002

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quote:

You're moving along quickly.

The advantage of being retired. The Bastogne scenario is played from the American side. Good to see how they play.

By the time I finish all the small and medium scenarios, I should be ready to make a half way decent showing in the monster scenarios.

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 11/25/2021 5:47:14 PM

Krupinski

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagger2002

How about a discussion on Monday dealing with Arracourt scenario? Give people a few days to play the scenario and find out the difficulties with it?

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RE: Stavelot - anyone beat it yet? - 12/20/2021 8:20:49 PM

GiveWarAchance

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YAH!!! On my 11th attempt, I scored a minor victory of 85 points with 2 for casualties by following Jagger's advice to rush for La Gleize and Cheneux. There was a horde already there blocking my way to those two towns so I had to blast through to take them. The ruthless AI smashed my unit in Cheneux and took it back which was sad. I was able to hold onto La Gleize but didn't have enough time to retake Cheneux.

Ironically I was able to win at Arracourt as Germany on my first try after starting this new game. It is a lot more forgiving and casual for beginners than this bare bones Stavelot battle which requires overloading the attack on La Gleize while relying on a house of cards to hold south and northeast.

(in reply to Krupinski)

Post #: 30