Battle of the Bulge replay starts today

[Norm]

As mentioned above, today I am starting the Bulge campaign, using the Bitter Woods game and playing two turns a day to match the timeline of the real battle.

I have started a post over on my blog that will follow the game and it will be updated daily from today through to 26th December.

Not figures I know, but hopefully it will provide some interest and a coffee break for anyone passing by.

The link to that post for anyone interested is;

http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2018/12/battle-of-bulge-1944.html

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Have a lot of fun! 

[sunjester]

Go for it!

[Steve J]

Looking forward to following this in the run up to Xmas

[paulr]

Wot they said

[Techno]

Hear, hear !!

Cheers - Phil

[Poggle]

Likewise! 

[Norm]

Thanks all:-)

By the end of the 17th (today), Bastogne has fallen to the Germans and Peiper by-passes St. Vith. The Allies are very nervous.

[Steve J]

On to Antwerp!

[paulr]

I can see why they're nervous

[d_Guy]

Interesting to watch this develop, Norm. Germans seem to be achieving close to their most optimistic schedule. Will the war be extended another year? Or will  the Russians  take Berlin by July? Or will the US nuke Germany in mid-August? Questions pile up.

[Raider4]

Interesting to watch this develop, Norm. Germans seem to be achieving close to their most optimistic schedule. Will the war be extended another year? Or will  the Russians  take Berlin by July? Or will the US nuke Germany in mid-August? Questions pile up.

Don't worry, I've seen this movie. The German M47s will run out of fuel any time now . . .

[Norm]

Thanks all. Separate to what is actually happening on the table, I am finding that the situation has the Allied player really nervous about breakthrough and in panic because they have nothing to stop the advance, while the Germans don't quite have enough oomph to smash that centre or take Liege quickly and are worried that the Allies will recover, so there is a real emotional connection to play.

News for 19th Dec .. the Allies have taken heavy losses and now really find themselves stretched. Bastogne fell early, leaving the route to Marche exposed and Eupen is under threat and close to being cut-off. German fuel supplies are about to become problematic.

[d_Guy]

Don't worry, I've seen this movie. The German M47s will run out of fuel any time now . . .

Good point Raider, they are probably having trouble getting parts for them as well. 

[paulr]

Will the Germans find stumble upon the Allied fuel dumps

Didn't some junior officer destroy one of the fuel dumps on his own initiative and against orders just before the Germans arrived, or am I remembering wrongly

[Norm]

The game has two discoverable fuel dumps,  but they have both been destroyed already.

Apparently as early as 17th December, the Americans began to 'evacuate' their fuel dumps, but the one at Francochamps was destroyed as it looked likely to fall to capture. Just arranging the removal of fuel on the snow bound roads amidst all of the confusion must have been a nightmare.

It is years since I have seen the Henry Fonda Bulge film, but if memory serves me right, the story line seemed to suggest that the capture of the fuel was an end unto itself.

[Norm]

In the ongoing Bulge game (Bitter Woods - Compass Games edition), the daily report for the 22nd December has just gone onto the blog.

Link for anyone interested (just scroll down to todays date).

https://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2018/12/battle-of-bulge-1944.html

[paulr]

A very tense and interesting game

[Norm]

I have concluded my Bulge game, using Bitter Woods from Compass Games. It was played on a day-by-day basis, following the historical timetable.

Topping 10,000 words, it has been quite an effort putting it together, but something that seems worthwhile, to me at least, every now and then.

If anyone is interested in a looong read, the link is

http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2018/12/battle-of-bulge-1944.html

[paulr]

Thanks Norm, I've really enjoyed following this