On July 10, 1944, Combat Command B of the American 3rd
Armored Division was assigned to secure Hauts-Vents.  It managed to
defeat elements of the German 275th Division and to secure the town.  
Unfortunately for the American GI's, the German Panzer Lehr
Division was not going to let the Americans keep the ground without a
fight.
    This scenario recreates the German 902nd Regiment's counter-attack on Hauts-Vents using
the Battleground rule set in 20mm.  Many thanks must go to Scott Fisher and Nathan Forney who
wrote the scenario book, "Skirmish Campaigns: Heroes of Omaha and Panzer Lehr".  If you  have
never read one of their books, you have to pick one up at the next convention.  Their
mini-campaigns are historically accurate and incredibly fun to play.  Or look on WarWeb.
The German objective is to occupy two of these
three houses in 9 to 13 turns, based on a variable
game end.  (This game ended in nine.)
This photo shows the
northern end of the sand
table, with the German
objectives in the upper left
hand corner.
This house, at the center of
the table, will become the
focus of some intense
combat.
These three photos show the entire
battlefield, with north being to the right.  If
you don't have a sand table, you need to
get one!
The Americans are dug in and ready
for a fight.  As a fun touch, the
American GI's are each named for a
member of the club.  The GM
promoted himself to Sarge!
Elements of the
German 902nd
Regiment enter from
the southwest and
through the orchard at
the south of the table.
Turns 1-3:  The Germans move north while the
Americans try to spot what is going on.  German
infantry tries to sweep around the northwest
while the Americans send a recon element of
Greyhounds and Wolverines to the southeast.
Recon leads the way.
Turn 4:  The
Germans take
casualties as they
leave the orchard, but
are able to take cover
at the next hedgerow.  
Turn 4:  The German armor (one Panzer III
and Panzer IV's) moves north along the main
road while the American Shermans lie in wait.
Turns 5-6:  The German infantry sweeps
along the western edge of the table, but a
"lucky" bazooka shot disables the lead
Panzer III, clogging the center road.  The
American Greyhounds run into the Panzer
IV's, causing more chaos in the middle of
the table.  The Germans fire off some
smoke to cover their armor and rip
through the American recon element.
Turns 7-8:  The German infantry controls the
middle of the table, but the disabled Panzer III
is slowing the German armor.  A Pz IV tries to
push it off the road.  A German shrek
manages to take out an American Sherman.
Turn 9:  Thanks to a die roll, this is
the last turn.  The Germans were
pushing the Americans back, but ran
out of time, mostly due to the
disabled Pz III that blocked the road.
After Action Report:  Panzer Lehr  (July 10, 1944)