Rocherath - Krinkelt Skirmish Game - US forces in the area

 US forces consolidated around the Twin Villages on 12/17/44. Since the US forces were low on Anti tank guns and armor infantry platoons were given 2 bazookas each to aid in the defense against the German Armor. 

Col. John Stokes was in charge of the defense of Rocherath.  In supprt he had access to Artillery stationed on Elsenborn Ridge. 

3rd Battalion of the 38th Infantry was defending the southern edge of the villages with a company of infantry from support services (cooks and Admin) and a few 57mm anti tanks guns. 

3rd Battalion of the of the 393rd Infantry regiment was north east of the villages and was reinforced later in the day from K company of 1st Battalion 9th Regiment 2nd infantry Division, when the 3rd Battalion of the 393 was fragmanted and became disorganized. 

Lt. Col William D. McKinley arrived to the villages and deployed as follows: 

1^st Battalion 9^th Infantry deployed Company K and 3 AT guns from 644^th AT battalion north of road into Krinkelt from the woods.  Company C next to K,  Company B dug in on road, Company A to the South.  15 Bazookas handed out to McKinley’s men.

1^st Battalion 38^th Inf (Lt. Col Frank T. Mildren) left Wahlerscheid for Krinkelt in the afternoon. 

1^st Battalion 38^th Inf, aided by smoke and cover fire of 81mm and 4.2 inch mortars moved to Rocherath to reinforce the town left of 3^rd battalion 38^th east/NE of Krinkelt. Company A was OK, but Company B took some casualties from German Artillery and C company became disorganized as it entered a cross roads 1,000 yards north of Rocherath. They entered Krinkelt at 2130 as German Armor and Infantry attacked from the Northeast and had no time to dig in. 

Within Krinkelt was the Recon Company of the 644th Anti Tank Battalion consisting of M10 tank destroyers and Self Propelled Artillery (Priests) . 

Company A of the 741st Tank Battalion arrived and suffered 11 Shermans lost but took out 27 German tanks including 5 King Tiger tanks. 

The 801st Tank Destroyer battalion (towed guns) lost 17 guns and 16 half tracks but took out 4 MKIV tanks. 

At 1530 hours the the defense of the villages was in doubt so a reserve rifle company and the HQ company was deployed to block the road into Rocherath from the woods. 

German armor with riding infantry penetrated the defenses at 2130 hours, in the darkness the American defense did not realize the tanks were German, they were thought to be reinforcements. 

Bazooka teams hunted tanks from hedges and walls in the streets. Tank Destroyers hiding between houses ambushed German armor and were able to get flank and rear shots as close as 25 yards which took out Panthers, King Tigers and Mark IV tanks. 

Scenario ideas range from perimeter defense to hand-to-hand fighting and ambushing armor. Fog and night actions played a key part in the confusion allowing enemy units to pass close to each other without a shot being fired allowing for some interesting fog of war moments. This scenario could also fit a battalion level game or be part of a micro armor game.