A wargame simulating battle near Mortain, France, 1944

Mortain 1944

A 1/285 Scale (Micro Armor) Wargame

Introduction:

In August 1944, German forces in France launched a series of attacks towards the town of Mortain with the goal of severing the tail of Patton's 3rd Army as it drove south.

This battle consisted of a series of company-sized attacks at night by German Waffen-SS units on US infantry companies occupying terrain in and around St. Barthelmy, north of Mortain, on 7 August 1944. The scenario was based heavily on the Mortain 10 "Death of a Company" scenario created for Advanced Squad Leader. Rules used were a homebrew set called Squad Leader for Miniatures (SLM), basically a simplified ASL set using inches instead of hexes for calculating movement and firing.

The Wargame:

The game was held on Sunday, July 9, 2006 in a garage in Sacramento, California.

Waffen-SS forces attacked along three axes and were quickly ambushed by US infantry and towed tank destroyer forces lying in wait. After an afternoon of bashing each other around, the referee declared the game a draw. German forces had initially taken heavy casualties, but as their attacks were reorganized and pressed home with the aid of reinforcements it became obvious that the US defenders would be fighting for their lives.

If all goes as planned the battle will be continued at a later date.

German Forces

North deployment zone:

Lead elements of S.S. Panzergrenadier Regiment 4 "Der Fuhrer" of the 2nd S.S. Panzer Division "Das Reich" (approximately 1 motorized infantry company with recon and armor elements in support)

Center deployment zone:

Infantry company (with assault gun support) of Kampfgruppe Fick, 17th S.S. Panzergrenadier Division "Götz von Berlichingen"

South deployment zone:

Lead elements of 2nd Recon Battalion and 2nd Panzer Regiment of the 2nd S.S. Panzer Division "Das Reich", plus a recon company of Kampfgruppe Fick, 17th S.S. Panzergrenadier Division "Götz von Berlichingen"

US Forces

North deployment zone:

K Company, 2nd Battalion/120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division "Old Hickory," with 57mm AT gun support from HQ Company of 2nd Battalion.

Center deployment zone:

G Company, 2nd Battalion/120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division "Old Hickory," with 3" AT gun support from 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion attached to the division.

South deployment zone:

E Company and H (Heavy Weapons) Company, 2nd Battalion/120th Infantry Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division "Old Hickory," with 57mm AT gun support from HQ Company of 2nd Battalion.

The battlefield as seen from the southeast corner--from a German entry point. The US must hold the road running parallel to the board edge in the upper left of this photo.	A view of the host's gorgeous terrain. This is Hill 314 as seen from the US lines.	North: Another scenic view from behind the US lines showing the deployment zone of K Company.	An example of the host's dedication to an organized game! Note the photo of the gaming table that serves as a deployment map for K Company. All elements are initially hidden.	South: Recon elements from Das Reich barrel down the south road and discover a seemingly-deserted roadblock.
South: The roadblock is manned-- naturally a firefight develops at point-blank range.	South: More recon elements from Das Reich scout near the south road. This is an SdKfz 234/1 armored car.	South: A cheeky Puma (SdKfz 234/2) scouts right past a bazooka in ambush (upper right, in building) and lives to tell the tale.	South: More Das Reich elements on the south road. Note the AA halftrack with armored cab and 37mm Flak gun.	Center: On the middle road a couple of StuG III G's gingerly make their way to the base of Hill 314 after passing an abandoned roadblock.
South: A German recon motorcycle leaps out in front on the south road.	North: Panzer IV H's appear in the north opposite an orchard infested with US snipers.	North: Elements supporting Der Führer Regiment move towards a small hill in the south of the board.	South: Das Reich panzergrenadiers flank the useless roadblock.	South: The Puma is ambushed by a (formerly) hidden 57mm AT gun (at red marker).
South: The SdKfz 234/1 armored car is illuminated by an enemy star shell.	North: Recon elements screen the movements of elements of Der Führer. Closest vehicle is the SdKfz 140/1 recon tank, then an SdKfz 222 armored car, finally a SdKfz 251/9 with short 75mm gun.	North: Panzer IV's support a recon element. US troops in a farm open fire, sniper fire comes in from the nearby orchard (at right).	South: Panzergrenadiers run smack into a US ambush in and around the buildings along the road.	South: Another view of the German mechanized advance along the road.
South: A hidden 57mm AT gun opens fire on the brave recon motorcycle. Scratch one motorcycle.	South: More hits by concealed US 57mm AT guns.	North: Panzergrenadiers from Der Führer Regiment assemble for a company-sized attack. Note lone US defender.	Center: Kampfgruppe Fick musters its infantry and StuG III's for the attack on Hill 314.	North: Der Führer Regiment advances as one US element decides the time is ripe for redeployment to the rear.
Center: The attack by Kampfgruppe Fick is met with star shells and sporadic fire, plus spotting rounds from mortars.	North: A US 57mm AT gun concealed in a treeline opens up on German recon vehicles with devastating effect.	North: A relatively brief skirmish--US infantry fire on the SdKfz 222 is less of a worry than the AT gun on the flank.	North: Das Reich pushes past the farm buildings and orchard into the open.	Center: All hell breaks loose in front of Hill 314! Kampfgruppe Fick is the target of 81mm mortar fire, small arms, and 76mm AT fire.
Center: Another view of the heavy fighting in front of Hill 314.	South: Scattered survivors of the German panzergrenadier unit continue their advance down the road.	South: The German advance is constantly harassed by US elements in buildings.	Center-South: Star shells light up the night as US E Company in trenches is attacked by a recon company from Kampfgruppe Fick.	Two Hauptbann obersturm gropin' hamonrye holdthemayo führers of the Waffen-SS enjoy their Mexican beers.
Another dreaded Waffen-SS commander is flanked by a tipsy referee. The latter's democratic ardor could not be questioned, as he helped man the two US roadblocks.	The US players face their opponents with cold, calculating cruelty. Or maybe he's just facing off with the head on the POW-MIA flag (?).	North: An intrepid German motorcycle element drives helter-skelter through a series of US positions to come to a halt smack in front of an enemy machinegun.	North: German self-propelled 2cm flak gun (on an RSO chassis) faces off against a US element in cover.	North: Things look grim for the Ami's of K Company as the panzergrenadiers from Der Führer continue their concentrated attack.
North: A wider view of the K Company's deployment zone, with enemy elements at top.	Center: Hill 314 is being assaulted by Kampfgruppe Fick, led by a frenzied unit of berserkers. Artillery spotting rounds and star shells abound.	Center: Another view of Hill 314 and some of G Company's elements.	South: More skirmishing near the road. Small clashes continue at this end of the board.	South: Das Reich sends in some reinforcement in the form of Panzer IV's to support the gradual advance of the recon.
Center-South: E Company in the trenches is under heavy attack from Kampfgruppe Fick's recon infantry. The enemy is closing in!	North: A US element breaks cover and rushes the self-propelled 2cm AA gun. The German crew curses their luck: the 2cm jams on the first shot, and the crew bail out as US infantry swarm around the vehicle and grenade it.	Out of the maelstrom of battle (aka garage) and into the driveway. Are they dazed from battle, or is it simply the heat and the beer--and one burrito too many?