Below you will find the third in a series of After Action Report articles written by players participating in The Last Hundred Yards ladder play on BGG. You can find the first two articles in this series here and here. If you would like to participate in the LHY ladder play, please contact Mark Buetow through the LHY Facebook page or on BGG. Enjoy!
Mission 13: Bridge 10
September 18, 1944: The 82nd Airborne had indeed achieved a major surprise on that bright September Sunday afternoon in 1944. Shortly after the paratroops had landed, a swift aggressive assault scattered the unprepared German defenders at the Grave crossing. With this important objective in hand, the next targets were the four bridges spanning the Maas-Waal canal. These crossings had been designated bridges 7 through 10 to confuse any eavesdropping German intelligence. Number 7, the Heumen lock bridge near Mook, had fallen late in the day—but there were worries it would not support the weight of Sherman tanks. German leadership was now anticipating the 82nd’s plans and blew Bridges 8 and 9 as darkness fell. That left only Bridge 10 near the village of Neerbosch. Early in the gloomy dawn of September 18th, Lt. Lloyd Polette Jr. led his force quickly toward the span. By now, the element of surprise was just a memory, the German defenders were alert, ready, and dug in. (Lt. Polette was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions that morning.)
Mission Objective:
The mission ends at the end of any game turn there are no undisrupted German combat units within four hexes of the bridge (F6), or if one side has exceeded its Casualty Differential Limit, or if the Final Score is ≥ 56.
Forces:
Americans: Able ABN Co., supported by one MG section and one 60mm mortar sections.
Germans: Force A: 3. Kp., 1st Plt. (Lt. Wagner and 3 sections) and 2nd Plt. (Lt. Moller and 3 sections) supported by one MG section and one FlaK 38.
After Action Report by Jeff Watts (Americans)
Our initial plan was for the 3rd platoon to advance along the east of the road while the 1st and 2nd platoons advanced west of the road protected by the knoll. The 3rd platoon suffered heavy small arms fire, causing its advance to stall. Elements of the 2nd platoon set up a fire support position in the stone building on the knoll while the 1st platoon and the balance of the 2nd continued their advance toward the stream. Enemy fire was steady but although ineffective, we momentarily lost our momentum.
We regained the initiative, and the 1st platoon continued to advance with a squad entering the western end of the river crossing while receiving covering fire from the other squads. The 2nd platoon was split between the hill and the 1st Platoon flank. Meanwhile the 3rd platoon remained paused east of the hill.
The 1st platoon took its first casualty in the advancing squad from the adjacent IP and retreated but its place was taken by the remaining units of the 1st platoon. In recovery, the disrupted section became heroic and charged the IP and was joined by other squads resulting in our first assault of a German position. We prevailed and the Germans were forced to withdraw.
We requested mortar support from both mortar sections against the two IPs east of the taken objective, penning the units occupying the IPs. The 1st platoon then assaulted an adjacent IP, while the 3rd platoon made a push in the east. Pressing forward under fire, the 3rd platoon advanced into the river, in position to assault in the next turn. Unfortunately, at this point, we lost the initiative and our advance stalled.
With the initiative again, fire from the 1st platoon and 2nd platoon suppressed multiple German positions while the trailing units of the 2nd advance across the river. Meanwhile, the 3rd platoon was pinned down while attempting to exit the stream.
We were able to retain the initiative and with mortar support suppressed the German positions in the center of their line. We successfully coordinated an assault by units of the 1st and 2nd platoons against German units in another IP. Ricci along with one of his squads flanked north of the assault. Other squads provided suppressing fire on the other nearby German positions.
The Germans reacted by reinforcing the assault with a section and returned fire along the line. The assault by the 1st and 2nd platoon’s assault was successful, resulting in a Germans casualty with other units disrupted and exposed. Maintaining the initiative, we laid down suppressing fire against the exposed disrupted Germans followed up by an assault by Ricci’s platoon. German units in a desperate attempt to reinforce was pounded by small arms fire as they approached their besieged comrades.
Despite the reinforcements, we prevailed. The Germans were forced to retreat and took additional casualties. At this juncture, the Americans win the Mission because the Germans have exceeded the Casualty Differential Limit (CDL).
I must say that it was not looking well for us early in the fight as it took 25 minutes before we were able to wrestle the IP from the Germans. But with a combination of a couple of timely initiative/coordination results we were able pull out a victory. Overall, a fun and exciting mission.
Previous Articles:
The Last Hundred Yards Ladder Play After Action Report: Mission 9 — A Tough Nut to Crack
The Last Hundred Yards Ladder Play After Action Report: Mission 24.0 — All for a Piece of Dirt
Author: Mike Denson
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