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Title
Arracourt
Description
Part of the problem for the German forces involved in the Lorraine counter-offensive was the "Eastern" outlook of many of the units. They were unfamiliar with the US Army and its very different tactics. On the Eastern front, tank formations …
Subject
Source
Publisher
Date
1944-09-19
Scenario#
24
Scenario Description
Part of the problem for the German forces involved in the Lorraine counter-offensive was the "Eastern" outlook of many of the units. They were unfamiliar with the US Army and its very different tactics. On the Eastern front, tank formations were used as a shock force to punch through infantry, because the Red army had no anti-tank weapons and limited artillery support. This was not the case with the US Army, as would become painfully obvious in the following weeks. The early morning attack of September 19th was planned as a two brigade assault with the 113th Panzer Brigade attacking Lezey, while 111th Panzer Brigade drove toward Arracourt. But the 111th became lost during the night, after receiving bad instructions from a French farmer. The German column near Lezey emerged from the fog and was quickly engaged. Poor scouting of the area, prior to giving battle, put the German forces at a disadvantage, as the US tankers used the ridges in the area to conceal their movements. The tank battle intensified near Rechicourt with the US forces gaining the upper hand. Late in the day, Patton visited Arracourt. Believing German strength in the area had been spent, he ordered General Wood to continue his advance. The German opportunity to hit the 4th US Armor Division with a concentrated blow was foiled by poor map reading and a French farmer.
Location
Arracourt, France
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Battle of Arracourt took place between U.S. and German armoured forces near the town of Arracourt, Lorraine, France between 18 and 29 September 1944, during the Lorraine Campaign of World War II. As part of a counteroffensive against recent U.S. advances in France, the German 5th Panzer Army had as its objective the recapture of Lunéville and the elimination of the XII Corps bridgehead over the Moselle River at Dieulouard. With local superiority in troops and tanks, the Germans anticipated quick defeat of the defending Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 4th Armored Division. With better intelligence, tactics and use of terrain, CCA and the XIX Tactical Air Command defeated two Panzer Brigades and elements of two Panzer divisions over eleven days of battle.
Narrative Source
Combatants
German
American
Additional Information
Game Type: Standard
Board Type: Countryside
Website Access: Available

Geolocation