The last daylight action of 16DEC44 was the German assault on Marnach. With all US forces finally cleared off the skyline drive, the German 600th Pioneer Battalion was able to erect the critical bridges for the 2nd Panzer Division to cross its tanks across the Our River at Dasburg (Zone 3).

Though the Our River crossing had finally been secured, as darkness fell on the 16th the Germans found themselves only a few miles from the last major natural obstacle before Bastogne, the Clerf River. Inexplicably, the German XLVII Corps chose not to push on with night attacks in an attempt to size the Bridges at Clerveaux (Zone 12), Drauffelt (Zone 16), and Willerwitz (Zone 15) all of which were within an easy march. Fatigue and fear of close action under night conditions against US infantry caused the German to act with excessive caution. The Americans were not so idle. All three engineer battalions of the 1128th Engineer Group rushed to the front and we can be assured that they have rigged the bridges at Clerveaux, Drauffelt, and Willerwitz for destruction when dawn lifts on the 17th . In addition the Recon Troop of the 28th ID conducted a zone recon into Consthum (Zone 13) to keep tabs on the 26th Volksgrenadier division. Unfortunately for the US, the 110th's Provisional battalions is now completely cut off and reduced in strength to a company. Any serious German effort against will likely result in its surrender.

Though the Germans chose not to press the attack, they were not completely idle during the night. The 3rd Panzer Regiment (2nd Panzer Division) has rolled it's lead battalion into Fishbach (Zone 7) and is poised to support a 2nd Panzer Division attack against Clerveaux. All divisional vehicle and towed assets which had been previously held back waiting on bridge construction over the Our River are now caught back up with their lead infantry units. The I Bn/2nd Panzer Grenadiers will be glad to have their Skdfz 251 Battle Taxis back! Finally, some of the Nebelwefers of the Volkswefer Brigades who expended ALL their rockets on the AM of the 16th received limited rocket resupply overnight.

As we move into the AM turn on 17DEC44 the German forces must now pay for not pressing the attack at night and force a bridgehead over the Clerf river. The first significant US reinforcement, CCR 9th Armor Division is arriving and may even be able to join a morning battle. The German's Panzer Lehr Division is now rolling through Dasburg and will be able to exploit any bridgehead opened up by the 26th Volksgrenadier or the 2nd Panzer Division. 16DEC44 was a day of infantry assaults and artillery barrages, but now the tanks are on the scene in full force. The casualties will rack up faster and higher as the US will dig in its heels more and Germans will pour it on more in trying to crack the US Clerf defensive line.

Note this map and the previous turn maps show only the units visible to both sides, behind the frontlines the Panzer Lehr and CCR, 9th AD are lurking and looking for a week spot to strike at.