OAF 43 'The Arracout Tank Battle Campaign Game"

updated 061015

Campaign Rules For 'The Arracourt Tank Battle"

What is known to U.S. Army historians as the Arracourt tank battle came about as a direct clash of offensive actions. The Germans were attempting to straighten out their lines and rescue the all but trapped 553rd Volksgrenadier Division. The Americans, other than parrying the German thrust, were pushing their spearheads forward to encircle even more German formations.

The small section of this conflict represented by the campaign centers around C Company , 37th Tank Battalion, under Captain R. Lamison. They were based in Lezey, successfully defending against all attacks with only support from units of the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion. Both of these formations were part of CCB, 4th Armored Division under General Wood.

The 113th Panzer Brigade initially attacked, but was severely damaged as a result. The next day, as Captain Junghannis blunted the American sweeps, it was still the 113th defending but bolstered by the 111th Panzer Brigade. As the engagement wore on, the 113th disintegrated; being incorporated into the 111th to make up for its losses. The above was to set up a rationale for the campaign. A soldier or leader could have participated in each of the scenarios in sequence. Only the base forces might change in the scenarios, but the personal leaders are the same throughout (barring their death, of course).

Before each scenario begins there is a Campaign Phase where the players create/promote/demote leaders, determine what is added/subtracted in the next scenario, and assess Campaign Victory Points (CVP). After, the last scenario has been played, there is a final Campaign Phase in which CVPs are totaled and a Victor & Victory level are ascertained.

Campaign Phase 1(before TS10

Each player adds his own 8 0 tank commander to their force pool. He is in C Company, 37th Tank Battalion, or 113th Panzer Brigade.

Campaign Phase 2b(after TS1 & before TS2)

1 ) The winner of TS1 gets CVPs for his level of victory:

• Marginal Victory : I CVP
• Substantial Victory : 2 CVPs
• Decisive Victory : 3 CVPs
• Greater ( > 6 VP,5) : 5 CVPs

2) Personal leaders' performances gain (or lose) CVPs as shown below:

• a Elan points divided by 3 (round off) yields that number of CVPs.
• b Cowardice putts. divided by 3 (round off) yields that number of negative CVPs.
• c Promotion yields 1 CVP.
• d Demotion yields -1 CVP. (Demotion below the starting level means that a new leader must be started. )
• e A lightly wounded leader who remains in play yields 1 CVP each time he does so.
• f KIA yields 2 CVPs and a now leader must be added to the next scenario.

3) Both players add or delete the following forces in the next scenario:

• a The German player adds one less than the number of surviving tanks.
• b The American player deletes one less than the number of destroyed tanks.
• c Both add their tank commanders to the next scenario.
• d Both players add their own 7 0 infantry leader to their force pool. He is in the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion or in the 113th Panzer. 4

Campaign Phase 3 (after TS2 & before TS3)

1) The winner of TS2 gets CVPs equal to the # of controlled victory hilltop hexes. For example, if the Americans won by controlling all hilltop hexes of hill 621, they would receive 7 CVPs; if the Germans won by controlling one hex of the hilltop of hill 538, they would receive 1CVP.

2) Personal leaders' performances gain (or lose) CVPs as above.

3) Both players add or delete the following forces in the next scenario:

• a German: 0 Add one less than the number of surviving tanks from TS 2. Surviving leaders, infantry, & SW divided by 3 ( round off) are retained in TS3.
• b American: Add two less than the number of surviving tanks from TS2. Surviving leaders, infantry, & SW divided by 3 (round off) are retained in TS3.
• c Both players add their commander & leader to TS3.

Campaign Phase 4 (after TS3 & before TS4)

1) The winner of TS3 gets a # of CVPs equal to the difference between both sides' # of controlled victory hexes. Thus, if the Germans control 7 victory hexes, & the Americans 4, the Germans would receive 3 CVPs.
2) Personal leaders' performances gain (or lose.) CVPs as above.
3) Both players add or delete the following forces in the next scenario:

• a The Germans neither retain nor delete any of the force from TS3.
• b American: Delete the # of destroyed tanks from T53. Destroyed leaders, infantry, & SW divided by 3 (round off) is deleted from TS3.
• c Both players add their commander and leader to the next scenario.

NOTE: TS4 is the only scenario where the Americans have an optional reinforcement; it may enter anytime after Turn 10. The Americans lose 10 CVP5 by bringing on their optional reinforcement.

• 1x9-1; 1x8-1; 1x8-0; 2x667; 4x666; 1xMMG; 3xBaz44a; 1xM4A3(76)w; 2xM4A1(76)w

Campaign Phase 5 (after TS4)

1 ) All previous CVPs are totaled.

2) The winner gets a number equal to the difference between both sides' number of controlled victory hexes.

3) Personal leaders' performances gain (or lose) CVPs as above.

4) The ultimate rank of the personal leaders yields CVPs:

• 8-0: 1 CVP
• 8-1: 2 CVPs
• 9-1: 3 CVPs
• 9-2: 4 CVPs
• 10-2: 5 CVPs

5) a The number of surviving AFVs (not halftracks) divided by 2 (round up) yields that # of CVPs. b The number of surviving infantry squads divided by 3 (round off) yields that number of CVPs.

6) The CVPs gathered in TS4 are added to the previous total.

Final Tally:

Both sides compare their scores as a ratio:

• 1:1 = Draw
  >= 3:2 = Marginal Victory
• >= 2:1 = Tactical Victory
• >= 3:1 = Substantial Victory
• >=4:1 = Operational Victory
• >=5:1 = Decisive Victory
• > 5:1 = Astounding Victory

Historically, the Americans won an Astounding Victory.