The Costly Clipper - Axis - AAR D3 1900

Previous Series AARs

Part 1 The Costly Clipper - Axis - AAR Primer

Part 2 The Costly Clipper - Axis - AAR D1 1900

Part 3 The Costly Clipper - Axis - AAR D2 0700

Part 4 The Costly Clipper - Axis - AAR D2 1900

Part 5 The Costly Clipper - Axis - AAR D3 0700  

Part 6 The Costly Clipper - Axis - AAR D3 1900 

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I believe I was a little overzealous when I made the decision to continue pressing counterattacks on two fronts. Units in AO Links are shifting to defensive or stabilizing operations. The allies are operating armor units that the Germans don’t have the capability to counter. Outside of a small push north of Hochheid, this AO is ordered to hold the line for the next 24 hours in anticipation of further Allied armor-supported attacks. I had high hopes for Counter Attack-Charlie (CA-C) in AO Rechts. This counterattack was foiled and highly fatigued German units fell back towards Suggerath. Prummern on the eastern edge of the battle area remains the only success story. Units here continue to successfully clear the town. BP ACHTECK in the south is also struggling against the Allied attack. The city of Geilenkirchen is at high risk of capture.

AO Links

The Allied armor in tri-area of Tripsrath, Rischden, and Hochheid has denied me any movement today. The armor company and its supporting infantry repelled my attack on the village in Hochheid. After taking inventory of my anti-armor capability in Tripsath, including three Panthers, I think any offensives are done. The Allied infantry company in Hochheid had only attrited from 16 to 14 tanks. 10/104 and 5/10 are going to probe towards Hochheid but with the goal of blocking Allied movement in the forest east of German controlled Tripsrath. Remaining German units in this area have been ordered to defend and disrupt enemy forces west of Tripsrath, the last remaining major German occupied objective in the area.

  

Allied armor is significantly limiting German mobility 

AO Rechts

I'm salty about how CA-C failed to reach Rischden. In retrospect, my assessment of Allied units being "at risk of being surrounded" may have been faulty. I now believe that this was actually my own attack over extending itself and these gaps should have been warning signs. However, if I had strong units with a more prepared reserve backing them up, I think I could have pulled off the attack. Lessons learned.

Prummern might be my last key to victory. I/10 and 330 Regt will continue their assault and hopefully secure the town, and some much needed victory points.

 

Failed counterattack and a succeeding village assault: losers and winners, respectively 

Battle Position ACHTECK

CA-C has failed to reach Hunshove. BP ACHTECK, the defensive area surrounding city of Geilenkirchen, is falling. Allied forces are starting to split the Germans in the city. My plan is to have units east of the city's bridge secure the cross while those units on the west side will defend near the bridge. My hope is to bleed the Allies as much as possible and deny them leaving the city for the next 24 hours. 

 

Linking the German units up is a key overnight task

Remaining operations for the next 24 hours will be solely defensive. Points wise, I am even with the Allies. If I can take and hold Pummern, retain Tripsrath, and max out points for Beeck (each worth 8 VP) I think I can eek out a victory.