This Flames of War (FOW) “Peiper’s Charge” scenario originally came out as an old FOW forum .pdf format scenario during Battlefront’s Battle of the Bulge themed supplements (Nuts and Devil’s Charge) era. Fortunately WR saved a copy of the scenario since it wasn’t included in the converged Watch on the Rhine – Bulge set hardcover book editions (Ardennes Offensive and Battle of the Bulge) compilation.
Peiper’s Charge represents a FOW scaled down German panzer attack led by SS Obersturrmbannfuhrer Jochen Peiper, along narrow Ardennes forest roadways, seeking to gain the Meuse River crossing, during the winter Battle of the Bulge offensive.
The scenario itself is a lengthy three table sector format all linked together by the table 6×4* short ends. Peiper and his platoons enter at one short table edge and have to fight and maneuver across all three table lengths to exit the opposite short edge for scenario victory. During his progress he encounters American blocking forces, armored rifle and rifle platoons, engineers, paratroopers, and various tank platoons, all with the winter forest lurking nearby, with the Americans tasked to slow and finally stop his forward progress for American victory.
The northern attack shows Peiper’s advance (red dotted line map center). Wikipedia map.
The book to read up on the historical event.
The original complete “Peiper’s Charge” .pdf format scenario came from Battlefront’s former forum. The .pdf scenario file contains the background story and the complete available platoon forces. There are several minor omissions or clarifications to note in the scenario commentary which WR found: Peipers-Charge-Scenario
1. For Tables One and Two, the trigger point for Table Three American reserve early release is after the conclusion of turn eight (Table One) and turn sixteen (Table Two). On the scenario map notes for Table One it has only six turns listed to exit Table One, should be “eight” instead.
2. Objective “B” should be located on the roadway exit for Table Two and not across the river per scenario map. Objective “C” is one of the Objective “B” markers.
3. Some of the American platoons are not listed on the deployment map but are written as starting on the tabletop. WR has typed / updated the American platoons on the scenario map shaded locations as needed.
The entire scenario three table set up is played lengthwise for each table. Note the three tables are placed lengthwise and can be separated to three independent tables or played as one long
Each table can be its own small battle for the scenario. Once the Germans exit any entire platoon off the table at Objective A, B, or C that table’s engagement ends and all remaining American platoons are considered out of the scenario (removed) and a new set of American platoons are deployed upon the next entered table (Two or Three) before German arrival. So the scenario first is played on Table One, then Table Two, and concludes on Table Three in that order. If played as one lengthy table set up, then German turn movement may carry over remaining measurable distance on to the new table, counting as a turn on the former table. For every table scenario (individual or continuous length) the German forces under Peiper remain the same, reduced from the last tabletop engagements by team removal, to continue their forward advance into the next table scenario. Thus the Germans are faced with a running engagement across all three tables.
For the entire scenario Peiper’s command consists of the following ten platoons plus his HQ Panther tank. These platoons enter the table edge per the scenario special rule Attack Column (three platoon per turn).
For a slightly different scenario, WR proposes several options to the German force makeup. Choose one or two additional platoons from the three listed platoons below plus add Sd Kfz 9 recovery vehicle to Peiper’s HQ command:
- Add a Skorzeny Commando Group (2x Skorzeny Commando Group teams on jeeps) to the German platoon list which starts deployed anywhere on Table Two, on turn one, after American forces deployment caused by entrance of German platoon. These independent jeep teams can move anywhere on Table Two and enter Table Three being “inactive except movement” before Peiper’s column arrival. All Skorzeny rules including Perfect Disguises, Time to Head Back, Exposed, Challenge, Spread Rumours, Reverse Road Signs, and Observe Defenses are in effect during scenario play. Full Skorzeny Group and 150th PanzerBrigade Kampfgruppe rules are found in Devil’s Charge supplement. (100 pts.) Note: Used with posted AAR on scenario.
- Add a SS Panzergrenadier Heavy Platoon mortar section kampfgruppe (Cmd, Sd Kfz 251/1 D HT, Obs, Kubelwagen, 2x Sd Kfz 251/2 D {8cm} HT. Add to the German platoon pool at scenario start. This platoon gives a smoke bombardment option to the German effort. (90 pts.)
- Add SS Panzerspah Platoon of 3x Sd Kfz 234/1 (2cm) armored cars. Add to the German platoon pool st scenario start. This is a reconnaissance platoon. (110 pts.)
Free Sd Kfz 9 recovery halftrack added to Peiper’s HQ command at scenario start. The Sd Kfz 9 follows the MRB Ver3.0 pg. 45 Recovery Vehicle rules. Also, players are reminded to use the Improvised Vehicle Recovery rule found on same MRB page even if the Sd Kfz 9 isn’t chosen to keep the roadway cleared.
American scenario forces and deployment: Table One or “The Breakthrough”. All American platoons start on the tabletop and deployed before the German players deploy their Fallschirmjager platoon in map corner square. Note: The American Tank Destroyer platoon has 2x M10 3″ GMC and their full security section Cmd. jeep and 2x M20 Scout car teams. Germans have scenario first turn movement on all scenario tables. American platoons on Table Two or Three may shift position or exit their starting deployment area before the first German platoon arrives on the same table if playing the combined three table scenario, otherwise they remain in their deployment area when playing the separate table format.
WR added an American HQ command group of CinC, 2iC, driving their two jeep transport teams. They act as a company commander team for any American platoon on the tabletop during scenario. Start them anywhere on Table One, suggested someplace outside of German tank gunnery range.
The American P-47 airpower arrives on turn three under the basic scenario but WR prefers to play the airpower becomes available only when the Germans enters Table Three. See the Peiper’s Charge 1944 attached scenario notes (.doc) file for additional scenario notes and thoughts: Peiper’s Charge Scenario Notes
For scenario Table Two or “The Bridges” the American forces are below. Again the Towed Tank Destroyer platoon (4x M5 3in guns (late)) has their full security section of 3x Jeeps. If the above optional Skorzeny Commando Groups are used, deploy them after the American platoons on Table Two or Three.
And for Table Three or “To the Meuse” sub-table scenario, the following American deployment platoons and the arriving American reserves. The American non-airpower reserves follow the Reserves rule or become immediately available and enter Table Three tabletop when the Germans enter Table Three (see Schedule to Keep rule).
Special rules and terrain notes for Peiper’s Charge scenario are displayed below in the scenario notes screen clips. Otherwise refer to the actual scenario notes .pdf file if needed.
Additional set up notes and the victory conditions below. Victory is simply based upon the number of German platoons which leave the tabletop at (2) or (3) map labelled road exits or if all the Americans are completed removed from Table Three. American win automatic victory if all the German platoons are destroyed.
German players should note the American fuel dumps marked on the map and rule above. By controlling this fuel objective, the German player, during their Starting Step, may immediately make a full movement, with any terrain reduction, before their following normal Movement Step. Full Peiper’s Charge WR’s scenario notes file (.doc): Peiper’s Charge Scenario Notes
Should be an interesting FOW scenario. WR is planning to play test before revealing the scenario at the up coming HMGS-PSW Fall 2018 convention, held October 14th at California State University Fullerton. More on the HMGS-PSW convention in future WR posts.
Cheers from the Warren for now, WR has some modelling to finish.
WR
Progress report for miniatures towards the scenario: (Updated in date order)
07/30/18 Update: Peiper’s Charge scenario background article posted. Currently modelling the various German required panzer 20mm models projects into next month to fulfil scenario requirements…. 2x King Tigers, 4x Pz IV Wibbelwind AA, the six Grille SPA platoon, the Fallschirmjager, and maybe some Pz V Panthers if needed. For the Americans, WR just needs to cover the American Blocking detachments (2x), and finish the Towed Tank Destroyer cannon command team.
09/01/18 Update: Finished last month (August) all the German 1/72 or 20mm scale armor needed for Pieper’s Charge scenario which WR didn’t have already painted in his WWII 20mm collection. Added two full King Tiger platoons with company HQ tanks (ESCI or Italeri kits), three Grille Ausf H (2) (Attack and UM kits) and full Ausf M (UM kits) SPA batteries with munition carriers. One additional Attack model Grille Ausf H still needs to be located on Ebay to complete the fourth model in battery.
For anti-Jabo strafing attacks, WR added Pz IV Wirbelwind and Ostwind flak batteries. Four Wirbelwind and four Ostwind models in each flak battery. All are Hasegawa kits. Interesting thing about the kits….. they have the turrets for a normal Pz IV tank and a Pz IV upper hull. So WR built the turrets and can swap out the flak cannon on the Whirlwind or Ostwind miniatures making two additional standard Pz IV 75mm platoons. For the spare tank hulls, WR glued the hulls to a base, used putty to build up the groundwork and created eight dug in tank bunkers to place the spare turrets during Italian scenarios… Gothic line stuff.
Currently working on the required two American Strongpoint platoons which WR has decided to paint the required additional teams to cover the Perimeter Outpost platoon organization too. A Perimeter Outpost company HQ group also on painting table for future scenarios. Lastly the German fallschirmjager platoon is required…. penning WR’s search for the plastic soldiers in his storage shed.
09/12/2018 Update: Finished the required American platoons for Pieper’s Charge scenario plus painted Engineer (Flame) platoon with two extra rifle pioneer teams, a Perimeter Outpost HQ group, Engineer HQ group, and Improvised Machine gun platoon with their .50cal HMG team option. All placed in their cut down apple box storage. Since WR has the room….. need to paint up another late war 81mm Mortar platoon to fill the remaining space.
Engineer (Flame) platoon with two extra rifle teams at left, Engineer HQ group, two Perimeter Outpost or Roadblock platoons with HQ group lower right and impoverished MG (.50cal) platoon.
09/17/2018 Update: As WR locates his German Fallschirmjagers to paint, he turned his attention to complete the Peiper’s Charge tabletop winter terrain. Since the Battle of the Bulge occurred during the winter month of December, with snow on the ground, on the trees, and the cold soldiers manning the front lines, some special “snow and ice” terrain is required. First acquire and texture trees with snow for the winter look. Two types of trees, evergreen and some with their nearly bare branches. Painting miniatures with snow texture is possible, but generally limits them for winter battles, but the tabletop ground texture is certainly usable for many future tabletop scenarios, for different eras, including the Battle of Eylau 1807 and the Winter War 1939 featuring Finnish and Russian miniatures in deep snow,. Both are near the top of WR’s bucket list for battles. Full details on the wintered terrain construction posted soon on WR but for now a few photos during the work in progress.
09/26/2018 Update: Finally finished the late war German Fallschirmjager platoon, along with two other platoons and a company HQ unit with its three Panzerschreck teams. The WR way…. play sufficient miniature teams to make a unit of them….. hence three platoons and a company HQ group.
German late war Fallschirmjager platoons (3) with Company HQ group at far left.
The completed scenario layout… all eighteen feet of table.
View from the east towards the west and the German objective road exits. German column enters lower left.
American rear area view looking eastwards. The foreground units are the reserves to arrive. Two Paratrooper platoons, Two Sherman platoons, and the dreaded P-47 flights.
Wargamerabbit 