The morning mist and fog is slowly receding along the banks of the Clerf River as the sun rises over the Bastogne sector. It is December 17th, 1944. Beyond the morning quite, there is an ever growing rumble of squeaking sprockets and rusty tracks. German armor is on the move, and the US defenders strung out along the Clerf River line know its coming their way.

For 24 hours the US defenders have grudgingly given up ground against the German advance. They have kept the Germans from reaching the Clerf River, last natural obstacle before Bastogne, thus far. But in this effort they were not facing Panzers and they were only assailed by two enemy divisions. Now there are three German divisions facing the Clerf River each hoping to secure a bridgehead over the Clerf.

In the north (right), the 2nd Panzer Division is assaulting at Clerveaux (Zone 12) with both battalions of the 304th Panzergrenadiers from the east, and the remnants of 2nd Panzergrenadiers and Panthers of the 3rd Panzer Regiment from the northeast. They seek to wrestle control of Clerveaux from the US 110th Infantry Regiment with its 2nd and 3rd Battalions along with the 44th Engineer Battalion which has just finished destroying both bridges into Clerveaux.

In the center, Panzer Lehr makes its debut on the Bastogne Front. Rushing up from Dasburg, Panzer Lehr seeks to force a crossing of the Clerf at Drauffelt (Zone 16). In its haste, the Panzer Lehr has advanced with both Panzer Grenadier Regiments leaving the bulk of its armor behind. Fortunately the regiments have been reinforced by Stug-III's from the 130th Panzer Jagders and the 243rd Stug Brigade. They will need this armor support as the German are for the first time in this campaign facing a concentration of American armor. At Drauffelt, the 28th ID HQ has ordered the well rested 707th Tank Battalion to protect the 35th Engineers, who finished their demolition of the Drauffelt bridges just hours ago, to keep the Germans from gaining a foot hold on the west bank of the Clerf.

In the south (left), the 26th Volksgrenadier division is pressing against the Clerf at Wilwerwiltz (Zone 15) with the 77th Grenadiers spearheading the attack, just as they have done for the past 24 hours. Short of infantry, the US has had to throw engineers into the fray to hold against the assault of all three battalions of the 77th Grenadiers. Under the control of the 1128th Engineer Group HQ, the 158th Engineer Battalion is joined by the remnants of 1/110th US Infantry. This combined force must keep the 77th Grenadiers from establishing a bridgehead on the Clerf. Fortunately for them, the VIII Corps has directed that Combat Command R 9Reserve, 9th US Armored Division rush to the front to reinforce the Clerf river line. CCR is expected to arrive in the late morning.

Three divisions of the XLVII Panzer Corp are each trying to force a crossing of the Clerf at three separate locations, Clerveaux, Drauffelt, and Wilwerwiltz. But just as these assaults are commencing, German reconnaissance patrols have learned that the bridges in the extreme south (left) at Kautenbach (Zone 14) are still standing and only guarded by a few companies. US Engineers are racing to Kautenbach to take care of the bridges but the German 39th Fusilier Regiment is easy striking range of Kautenbach and should arrive early in the afternoon. If the Germans can secure Kautenbach they will be able to flank the Clerf River line from the south. But if the US pushes to reinforce and give the Engineers time to demo the bridges there, then they risk being cut off if the Germans (77th Grenadiers) eject the US defenders from Wilwerwiltz for the only US escape route out of Kautenbach is through Wilwerwiltz. A difficult decision will lay before the US commanders when they plan their afternoon orders.

Battles for 17DEC44 AM Turn:

Scenario VIII - "2nd Panzer Assaults Clerveaux"

Zone 12 - Clerveaux - 2nd PzGr, 304th PzGr and 1st Bn, 3rd Panzer (Panthers) sweep the banks of the Clerf of US overwatch positions. The Germans now have a good location to bring up mobile bridge team. Good news for the US, one Panther was destroyed and another was permanently disabled. Minefields slowed the German left flank advance.

Main effort launched against Clervaux by 2nd Panzergrenadier, 1&2/ 304th Panzergrenadier, and 1/3rd Panzer Regiment at dawn. The attack secured the east bank of the Clerf river and engineering units began building bridges. The action will continue into the afternoon of 17 Dec.

At last Panthers make their debut in the campaign!

US Command Team (Done & Charles C) - "Contact, Panthers, East...Out!"

Stug-III's and the 304th Panzer Grenadiers begin thier assault on Clerveaux.

Don says "Come on Charles just a little deeper in to my minefields!"

Scenario IX - "Grenadiers at Wilwerwiltz”

77th Volksgrenadiers pushes west toward the Clerf and attacks US forces in and around Printsch/Willerwitz. The regiment was stalled by slow movement of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, and stopped with the arrival of the US 9th AD /CCR. The regiment secured the east bank of the Clerf river and prepares to renew the attack in the afternoon.

The 77th Grenadier Regimental Recon Platoon finds the US Engineers on the opposite bank of the Clerf.

II Bn, 77th Grenadiers seize Pintsch across the Clerf River from Wilwerwiltz.

How many times in a row can Mike U fail a command roll?

CCR, 9th US Armor Division rushed into Wilwerwiltz.

Scenario X - "Armor Clash at Drauffelt"

901st and 902nd PzGr's advance as far as the Clerf River. They clear the US Engineers from the right flank and have a nice spot to throw up a bridge, but it will take time to hack a road through the woods to make it worth it. One US Engineer Company is destroyed, but at cost of three platoons of Stug-III's! The 707th Tank Battalion continues to do an excellent job of resting! Never moved from their hide positions never fired a shot!

Charles C pushes the 901st and 902nd Panzer Grenadiers on to Drauffelt.

Main effort launched against Drauffelt led by the 901st Panzergrenadiers, supported by the 902nd Panzergrenadiers and divisional artillery with elements of the 243rd Sturmgeschutz Brigade integrated into each of the battlegroups . Due to the distances traveled to arrive at Drauffelt, the regiments launched a quick attack in the area north of the town, forcing the US forces back from the river and moving one battalion across in the early afternoon. Additional forces moved up to reinforce the panzergrenadiers as the attack renewed in the afternoon.