Bulldog1
Posts: 63
Joined: 11/15/2006
Status: offline
|
100 MEN
LINDERN, GERMANY
NOVEMBER 30, 1944 0600 HRS.
Best played as US side. The GIs will eventually get a radio.
Historical Background:
Progress into Germany was slow and painful. Inclement weather, limiting air support and turning the countryside into a quagmire,
a lack of supplies and a resilient German opponent had converted the rapid advances of the previous summer into a distant past.
Even so, the fighting continued. To relent would only mean worse weather and an enemy who would have time gather his wits about
him and firm up his defenses.
So it was that the orders came down from SHAEF to "Attack!" once again. On November 29th, units of XIX Corps of the 9th Army
finally reached the Roer River. Its counterpart, the XIII Corps of Simpson's 9th Army was trying to do the same. On November 30th,
they began their final push to get across the Roer.
The 84th Division would be in the lead. The 3rd Battalion, 335th Infantry would spearhead the assault. The initial attackers had
been stripped to the essentials for quick movement. The riflemen carried their rifle belts, two bandoleers of ammunition and three
bars of chocolate D ration per man. The only support weapons in the first wave would be light machine guns and bazookas.
There would be no preliminary bombardment to stir up the enemy. The one thought was to get these companies across the open area
to the village of Lindern as quickly as possible, just before daylight. Once they were across, they would protect the bridgehead
for the other units as they moved across the Roer.
Carefully moving through the dawn mists, the men could hear sporadic fire in the distance. A flare would go up, a burp gun
would stutter, and a mortar shell or two fell. The two leading platoons of K Company and one of I Company rushed toward the town.
They had been warned to, "Get into the village before the artillery gets you." These three platoons got across successfully.
But only they made it.
Suddenly an intense German artillery barrage blocked the wa y across the river. Cannons, machine guns, and mortars laid down
such a deadly fire that the rest of the battalion suffered severe casualties while trying to cross. They just could not get
into Lindern under such heavy fire. Only one radio made it with the first platoons that were on the other side. Even it would
not work. A random rifle round had severed its antenna. Thus no communication with the other side of the river was possible.
Charging into the town, they quickly established defensive positions. The three platoons numbered exactly 100 men. For some
reason, 84th Division headquarters was not made aware of the situation. These men were suddenly cut off.
1st Lieutenant Carpenter, commander of K Company took charge and had hasty defenses set up as soon as possible.
They waited for the rest of the battalion to join them, but there was no reinforcement. With no radio, there was no way to
find out what was happening, or notify someone of their predicament.
Meanwhile, German forces of the 230th VG Regiment, bolstered with mobile assault guns, made probes through Lindern. The three
Tiger tanks appeared but were hesitant to attack initially. There was some fighting, but the Germans were somewhat disorganized
and retreated. A few men worked frantically with the disabled radio.
Finally they rigged an antenna with wire to a high fence, and began sending out a cry for help with their location.
Company A of the 40th Tank battalion was standing by, waiting to enter the battle. One of their radio operators picked up the
weak signal, and Colonel J.C. Brown, commander of the group ordered the tanks to the rescue.
By now, the Germans were moving toward Lindern in force. As friendly artillery laid down a thick smoke screen, the Shermans
entered the battle. One of the desperate GIs of the 100 men commented, "It must have been a little after two when these
General Shermans came roaring up. What a sight! We figured the whole German army couldn't drive us out of there!"
As the Germans attacked with infantry and some armor, they came upon well disciplined and well deployed American soldiers
backed with serious firepower and tanks. The attack faltered, and by dusk, the Germans had moved back. The 100 men with some
timely armored backup had done their job! - WBW
Sources:
The Siegfried Line, MacDonald
Delivered from Evil, Leckie
There's a War to be Won, Perrett
Maps: Custom
Terrain: City, Village, Rural
Scenario Length: 15 Game Turns, 33% chance of game ending on turn 10
Victory objective: Both sides gets VPs for owning VP Objectives and casualties.
Scenario designer: Wild Bill Wilder - JT's Eagle Strike
Modified by: Bulldog
 Attachment (1)
|
Printable Version
RE: Submitted Scenarios - 
This Mod is only Done for using in Scenario : Tri Ang Bridge 
RE: Submitted Scenarios - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread