OAF 43 'The Arracout Tank Battle Campaign Game"

updated 061015

This campaign game documentation is authored by Tim Taylor and serves as a mechanism to link the four individual scenarios in this issue (TS1-TS4). It was originally published in ON ALL FRONTS number 64.


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:

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

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

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:

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:

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.

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:

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:

Historically, the Americans won an Astounding Victory.