Heat: Pedal to the Metal Heat: Pedal to the Metal

[Normandy] Battle of Fromentel - August 15, 1944 - August 17, 1944

Advance of the "Spearhead" Division.
Western Front By: jdrommel - Last update: 07/07/2016
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x5 x12 x6 x12
    first You play first


There are problems with this scenario: it cannot be set-up using the standard terrain tiles of Memoir '44 and the selected extensions. There are too many terrains of one or more types. Please contact the author.

Historical Background:
After the failure of the German counter-offensive on Mortain (Unternehmen Lüttich), the German Panzer Divisions withdrew in direction of Argentan, threatened by units of the XVth US Corps arriving from the south. During this time, US tanks of the 3rd US Armored Division "Spearhead" were coming from la Ferté Macé, as vanguard of the VIIth US Corps. During three days, from the 14th to the 17th of August, Sherman tanks of the 33rd Armored Battalion and M-10 Tank Destroyers of the 703rd TD Battalion, with the support of infantrymen of the 36th Mech Infantry Battalion, had to fight fiercely against units of the 10.SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg" in the area between Rânes and Fromentel. The road from the railway to the crossing of Fromentel was called "Purple Heart Place" by the GI's because of the losses they suffered on that place. On the 17th of August, the tanks of the 3rd US Armored Division entered in the ruins of Fromentel while the Germans withdrew to Putanges and then Trun to escape of the Falaise pocket.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany] : 5 command cards.
Allied player [United States] : 6 command cards, you move first.

Conditions of Victory:
12 medals.
The crossing of Fromentel is a temporary medal objective for the Allied player.

Special Rules:
- Special Weapon Asset rules (SWAs 4 - Special Weapon Assets>1942) are in effect for units equipped with Anti-Tank Weapons (SWAs 5).
- Use "Specialized Units" and "Elite Armor" rules (Troops 2) to Axis infantry and tank units with elite badge.
- Use "Half-Track" (Troops 18) and "Re-supply" rules (Actions 24) for the Axis unit with badge HT and "Heavy Anti-Tank Guns" rules (Troops 23) to the Axis artillery battery.
- Use "Mobile Artillery" rules (Troops 14) to the Allied artillery battery and "Tank Destroyers" rules (Troops 24) to the Allied armored unit with TD badge.

Scenario Bibliography:
- Magazine Batailles & Blindés n°60 - La guerre éclair de la 3rd US Armored Division.
- La bataille de Fromentel - Article Internet.

Scenario played on the 5th tournament of Picardie at Ravenel on the 4th of June 2016.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.

Set-up Order
1
20
1
10
1
10
22
3
9
1