US Turn 3 – The best form of defence.

The US draw a single card – an Engineer. The German draw is pictured below.

During the US Admin phase each player can cycle Event cards they don’t want. The Germans therefore choose to replace an event they can no longer use (KG Peiper) and draw a “Hasty Attack”.

Sensing their opponent has made a mistake the US player seizes a couple of opportunities, first using the units driven out of Bastogne to mount an attack on Ettelbruck in the south, and then using supporting units to threaten the Germans advancing on Luxembourg City. The combat there goes so well for them that with the Combined Arms bonus they destroy the Germans! However, only time will tell if it was worth allocating two units to this scheme.

Meanwhile, in the north, the Americans feel they have to pounce on the isolated German infantry at Vielsam. A similar story unfolds. The Americans roll well, the Germans poorly, and another Infantry is destroyed. With an attack of 4 against 3 the Germans aren’t overly worried, but a roll of 6 to 1 results in another German Infantry Division being overwhelmed and destroyed! Supply is thus reestablished to St. Vith. The German player didn’t expect to see a counterattack in the north with the center so weak given the Short Scenario ends after only 5 turns, and that Bastogne is in German hands (so 1 – 0 in the German favour). As with the US move in the south, only time will tell what value this has. For now, the obvious consequence is it will be harder for the Germans to move up their Infantry.

Other US moves focus on setting powerful roadblocks in the center of the map. Note Houffalize was liberated by the 14^th Cavalry before they moved out to Champlon using Road movement to push the front lines in terms of where reinforcement units can be moved to.

So ends the 3^rd US Turn. The US has tried to balance defending VP spaces with setting themselves up for counterattacks that might encircle Bastogne and allow them to wrest the city back. But there isn’t much time for them to achieve this! Was it worth them pressing the flanks rather than the center?

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Next Week’s Article: German Turn 4 – Don’t rest on your laurels

Previous Articles:

Battle Command: The Bulge After Action Report Part 1 — German Turn 1

Battle Command: The Bulge After Action Report Part 2 — U.S. Turn 1

Battle Command: The Bulge After Action Report Part 3 — German Turn 2

Battle Command: The Bulge After Action Report Part 4 — U.S. Turn 2

Battle Command: The Bulge After Action Report Part 5 — German Turn 3