Bardenberg, Germany, October 8-12th 1944 Story : On the 8th of October 1944, a town a few miles north of Aachen – Bardenberg – was going to become the scene of a terrible battle between the 30th US Infantry and the Panzer-Brigade 108. These fights should allow either the Allies or the Germans to seal the fate of this city. A battle defined by the 30th Division general as ‘One of the decisive battles of the war’.

U.S. units :  30th Infantry Division

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119th Rgt Special cards: 3 Bazooka HQ: 57mm AT Gun + 105 Howitzer + 60mm Mortar + Jeep Infantry: 2 Veteran, 5 Rifle, 2 Green 120th Rgt Same as 119th Rgt Pioneers batallion Special cards: 3 Flamethrower 3 Engineers Divisional artillery 9 105mm Hotwitzer + 3 155mm Gun Air units 2 Flying fortress

German units : 

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Panzer-Brigade 108 Panzer abteilung: 2 Panther Panzergrenadier Abteilung: 4 Panzer grenadiers Support units: Jagdpanzer IV + StuG III + Railway Gun + Puma 60. Panzer-Grenadier Division 2 8cm Mortar + 2 Motorcycles + 4 PzGrenadiers + 2 Cargo Trucks 49. Volksgrenadier Division 18 Volksgrenadier + 6 MG Crews + 2 Pillbox 1. SS Panzer Division LSSAH Kampfgruppen Bucher 15cm Rockets + 1 PzGrenadier + 88 mm AA/AT +2 StuG III Kampfgruppen Ring 15cm Rockets + 2 Veteran + Panther + StuG III

Scenario rules : The battlefield consists of LW (light wood), VI (village), CI (City), TO (Town) LW VI CI TO 1.

German Headquarters LW LW LW VI VI LW CI VI LW TO VI LW U.S. Headquarters

Turns The scenario begins on October the 8th in the morning. One day is divided in 4 turns (morning, afternoon, evening and night). No special rules for morning and afternoon turns. During the evening turn, no air units available, Firepower -1, Recon +1 TN, -1 to each supply die. During the night turn, no air units available, Firepower -2, Recon +2 TN, -2 to each supply die.

2.

Supply Each player receives 20 points at start. Moreover, the U.S. player receives 3 supply dices each turn until the afternoon of October the 11th included. Then, he only receives 2 supply dices. The German player always receives 2 dices each turn. Supply points remain hidden during the game.

3.

Special cards Each player has a 50 special cards deck (2 identical cards max.) of his own choice. Each player draws 1 free card each turn with the possibility of buying only one other card at the cost of 6 points. Each player takes randomly 6 cards from this deck before the game begins.

4.

U.S. morale If an U.S. unit is destroyed in an urban zone during the fights of the 8th or 9th, it causes the rout of all the other units in that zone towards the U.S. HQ (push on the sides or back other units to allow the rout for stacking reasons if needed). If the rout happens after the first round of combat, the second round is not played and the units retreat immediately. American units can not deliberately retreat.

5.

Others Only assaults and refits need supply points, reinforcements are free and come in play as indicated below. Each HQ has a stacking limit of 12 cards. As it represents a road, enemy units can not stay in it. A unit that is not connected to its HQ by friendly units controlling a zone can not attack and can not refit. Units of the 49th Division don’t move after being set up.

Set up and reinforcement : October 8th Morning : START U.S.: 119th Inf.Rgt. in Badenberg controlling at least 5 urban cards. German: Panzer-Brigade 108 free deployment in the remaining urban zones or in the German HQ. The German player begins the game October 9th Morning : German : 49th VolksG. Div. (except the pillboxes). Make 2 decks of 10 cards, 10 enter play this turn, the other 10 next turn. If the Panzer-Brigade 108 controls 7 or more urban zones before October 9th, the 49th VolksG. Div. Can enter the following turn. October 9th Night : German : Withdrawal of the Panzer-Brigade 108 (put these units aside). Units of the 49 VolksG. Div. can be freely redeployed (with the two pillboxes). No assault and no movement this turn. U.S. : Withdrawal of the 119th Rgt (put these units aside). The 120th units deploy in the free zones in front of the German units as well as the divisional artillery. No assault and no movement this turn. October 10th Morning: The U.S. player begins. 120th Inf Rgt attacks with all the divisional artillery. October 10th Afternoon : U.S. : The pioneers battalion deploys in the U.S. HQ. October 11th Morning : U.S. : Take off for the 2 Flying fortresses. October 11th Afternoon : German: The 60th Panzer-grenadier Division deploys in the U.S. HQ U.S. : Withdrawal of the 2 Flying fortresses October 11th Night, October 12th Morning, October 12th Afternoon: German : Random arrival (one each turn) of the Panzer-Brigade 108 (less the previously destroyed units), KG Ring, KG Bucher. October 12th Morning : U.S. : The 119th Inf Rgt (less the previously destroyed units) deploys in the U.S. HQ October 12th Night : END (at the end of the turn)

Victory Each player counts the urban cards (VI, TO, CI) under his control: 5 or 6 : Close win 7 to 9 : Decisive victory

Credits Scenario by Philippe Ganis and André Terranova adapted by Florent Coupeau Originally published in Vae Victis 15