Romagny, August 1945

I've just been doing a bit more solo TacWWII, this time playing Bob Mackenzie's scenario for the Battle of Romagny. This was a US attack to regain the initiative after the failure of the Germans' Mortain counter attack. Elements of the US 30th Infantry Division pushed back troops of the 2. SS.

Like most of Bob's scenarios when converted to TacWWII this occupies a small table; about 2 feet by 3 feet.

In the picture above the Americans are attacking Romagny (centre right) from the left and from the hedged fields "above". In the distance, La Roche Grise is held by Kampfgruppe Ulrich. It'll stay that way because I didn't send enough US forces to take it.

In the pic below we can see 1st Bn, 119th Infantry Regiment advancing through the ruined factory at the west end of Romagny. They are supported by M4A3s of the 743rd Tank Battalion.

At the same time, GIs of the 117th Infantry are attacking Romagny from the north.

As the SS rifle company holding the north end of town retreated, the German commander decided to send his attached troop of Panthers to plug the gap. They were successful in wiping out one US platoon but tanks vs Bazookas in a built up area is a high risk option and the Panthers were knocked out.

Casualties on both sides were significant but the Americans were slightly luckier on morale tests. Soon both SS companies were retreating from Romagny. 

The Americans lost one M4 platoon to foolishly brave attacks by Panzerfaust armed elements of the 2SS Aufklärungs Abteilung but their morale held and the Panzerjäger were driven off.

After a pause in the action (the 117th got a "Halt" result on a battalion morale test and had to be ordered forward again by the regimental HQ) the remaining Germans in Romagny, men of the headquarters company, retreated leaving the town in American hands.

It took a couple of hours to play through the game. I'm enjoying rebuilding my familiarity with these rules and gradually upgrading my WW2 forces and terrain as I go.

One question that came up this time refers to Neutralised elements of units that are subject to a Retire morale result. In the past I've always played that they remain in place (Neutralised units certainly may not make a voluntary move in the rules) but this time I played that they must retreat along with their non-neutralised fellows. This makes them less likely to be captured by their opponents but more likely to retreat off the battlefield. It means that the company stays together and it's easier to keep track of which platoon is from which company. It also avoids some silly situations later in the game if the company rallies and the remnants return to the fight. Why should the formerly Neutralised guys near the enemy be in the same Mode as their mates who are now half a kilometre away having legged it?

 I think I'll stick with Retire-takes-precedence-over-Neutralised for now.