JTS/WDS Bulge 44 - Starter Scenario AAR Turn 1

This is my first attempt at new content. I have been purchasing JTS/HPS/WDS games since way back in the CD days. About a decade ago I played numerous  PBEM games through The Blitz Club

I have always wanted to return and deep dive many of the series - Panzer Campaigns/Battles, Modern War, Squad Battles, American Civil War, Napoleonic's, Early American Wars, and even Strategic WW2. In addition, with the recent tragic death of Dr. Tiller, I looked again at all his series and am totally amazed at what he produced. He was a giant in the wargaming industry and his absence will be sorely missed. But I am heartened that it will all continue now under WDS. 

So this post is an attempt to begin the process of reacquainting myself with these many amazing series,  starting with the anchor series Panzer Campaigns. And considering the time of year, what better place to start than with the Bulge '44 starter scenario:

Date: Dec 16th, 1944  -  Size: Small  -  Location: Schönberg, 10km east of St. Vith 

Scenario Briefing: When the LXVI Korps' attack was planned, it was decided that the 18th Volksgrenadier Division, under the command Oberst von Hoffmann-Schönborn, should make a right hook towards the bridge over the River Our at Schönberg. This would give access to the important road junction at St Vith towards Vielsalm and Bovigny. Hoffmann-Schönborn divided his division into two parts and performed an outflanking maneuver around the flanks of the waiting 422nd and 423rd US Infantry regiments. When it was over, the two regiments and several other elements of the 106th Infantry Division surrendered. Hoffmann-Schönborn's outflanking pincer maneuver in the Schnee Eifel gave the German forces their greatest victory in the Ardennes - and it was accomplished not with a powerful Panzer force, but rather a simple Volksgrenadier division ... 

Here is the initial setup w/FoW turned on. 

Looking at the map the strategy does seem to match the scenario briefing - instead of slogging thru the center/Schnee Eifel rugged forest terrain, the best way to go is a pincer movement. In the north thru Roth and then into clear terrain on the way to the big VPs in Schonberg and Herrebach. Then in the south along the road thru forest terrain to Bejalf. For a real victory, most if not all locations need to be taken by the end of the game - only 9 turns.

So in the North, the infantry moves forward and establishes contact with the US forces in Roth - a unit of Greyhounds - in preparation for a next turn assault. The lone US infantry unit in the center  overlooking the north/south road needs to be pushed back also to allow movement along the road. So some of the Northern forces deal with that first with the aid of artillery.

In the south, the German forces enter travel mode and move forward along the road trying to establish contact with US forces on this approach. Luckily they do detect US forces but they remain just out of reach - which will give the German units a chance to deploy out of travel mode before actual contact next turn.

Finally, one of the deception units deploys in the area of Roth to attempt to disrupt US units traveling along the road, and prevent US Engineers from blowing any bridges. The other 3 deception units move forward to hopefully be in range to deploy near the other VP sites next turn.

During the US turn, more units of the 106th Inf are detected in the Schnee Eifel but they break contact and retreat from their trenches. A bit surprising but not complaining.

End of turn:

I hope to delve more into tactics in the following posts.