Battle of Houx, Part II

Now returned from Scotland, time to continue this battle:

Turn 13

The fight on the crest moves on as the French gain the iniative again. But their rolls for the turn are terrible. Only one KIA and a Pin. Artillery misses and so does the 2/1 who is down to three men. The Germans move 2 squads of the 3 Platoon up and gain 2 shaken. But the Germans are massing more troops!

With the French FO forced to move, his view of the vital Wier and Lock have been lost. Germans are moving their third Platoon across the Meuse.

Turn 14

Germans win iniative and move their 2/3 to the crest. They inflict x5 KIAs and a Shaken on the French! Return fire drops x3 KIA and a Pin. Germans end turn with 3/2 getting another KIA and Shaken. The French counterattack is faltering.

On the German right, the French FO brings down two 75mm shells on target, but they gain only x1 KIA. Overall not a good couple of rounds for the French

Turn 15

The French regain iniative, and their 2/2 advances to point blank range where they inflict x3 KIAs. However, the German 2/3 unleash a devastating fire on the French and drop x9 (out of 15 shots)!! French 2/1 and 2/2 both miss (down to one man each) and the FO loses contact! The French commander orders what remains of his forces located on the hill to dig in and wait for reinforcements!

Turn 16

Both sides used up some rounds to regroup, consolidate and call up reserves. Germans had four and the French 3 squads on the hill. It was now 1500 hours and the Germans won the init and advanced 2/3 who inflicted 2KIAs. French return fire gained 6 KIA a Shaken and 1 Pin! Further advance and fire form the Germans added 4 KIA and 2 Shaken. The French commander threw in his last reserves the 2/2 with Platoon replacements (right center), but they gained only 2 hits which resulted in another KIA.

The French also brought on the 1st Squad of the GRDI Group, holding the 2nd Squad along with it's 1 P16 AC to see what kind of resistance there was

Turn 17

The French regain initiative and activate 3/2 first to save two Shaken men (in the rules, a shaken taken into melee is instantly lost). Their fire is awlful however, resulting in a single Shaken. Two more squads will add 3 KIAs. The Germans fare little better with 1 more KIA. But then the MMG brought up the hill scores big and gets 3 KIAs (top of photo), missing only one in it's blast!

On the German left, the GRDI advances but the Germans hold their fire

Turn 18

Germans win init and 3/3 charges and mows down 3 KIA and an additional Shaken. French 1/1 from the second line supports with 4 KIA and a Shaken. German 2/3 sees one brave man rush the second line while the others fire. They get 1 each, KIA, Shaken and Pin. French 3/3 misses! German MMG misses but the platoon commander throws in the 1/1 who drop 2 KIA and 1 Pin. 

On the German right, theGRDI advance both squads. The HQ and P16 remain off board

Turn 19

Germans keep initiative and use it on the hilltop with 1/3 and 2/3 adding 2 more KIA and a Shaken and Pin. French return fire will drop only 2 Germans (but one is that brave or foolish trooper who charged the second line). The French Platoon commander (left center) is considering withdrawing to safer ground

The German 3/1 opens up on the advancing GRDI but only scores 1 Shaken and 2 Pinned. That convinces the French FO to adjust his 75mm fire and they score 2 KIAs and 2 Shakens including the German LMG on that flank.

Turn 19

French regain initiative and they get 2 KIA. But the German 1/3 advances and scores the fantastic hit on the French to basically end the fight. They score 8 KIA and wipe out the French 1/1 (notice those empty foxholes bottom center to top)! Now the hill is held by six French as their FO withdraws along with Platoon HQ.

The GRDI advances and misses with everything, so the P16 AC is called out and it does gain a KIA and a Shaken. 

That leads the German to activate his lone 37mm ATG which has been waiting all this time...

...it's first shot knocks out the French AC! German 81mm mortar opens up as well but fortuantely for the French it misses

Turn 21

Germans regain iniative and move 1/3 to the summit but all miss, several at point blank range! French return fire however only scores a Pin; those Frenchmen are obviously shaken. All German fire is brought to bear on the remaining French on the hill and 2 KIA and a Shaken result. The two remaining French on the summit throw in the towel. It's over!

As the GRDI withdraw, the German 81mm destroys a LMG team (upper center) and rifle fire drop another KIA. The French withdraw.

The Germans have their hold on the west bank of the Meuse River!
All in all a great fight. The French did reasonably well, but that round at the end broke their back. Oh well, vive la guerre! Hope you enjoyed.