Bastogne 4

Situation East of Bastogne at the end of turn 4 (click to enlarge)

Turn 4 saw the American player further try to consolidate a front ranging from Noville to Neffe, fitted with tough 2-4 and 2-5 units, several of them stationed in woods. Together with this effort, and following the mistake in turn 3 that granted the German player the keys to Bastogne (earning him his first two victory points this turn from the fact), an American push was tried in the South-East of the village, by retrieving dispersed units and by focusing firepower.

The German player started its turn with the programmed removal of units from badly battered KG v. Bohm, earning him zero victory points. But heavy reinforcements were on the way, entering zones F, E and G. Reinforcements entering zone G, essentially KG Kunkel, where deployed to try and consolidate the positions at Bastogne and its surroundings, and to try to spread out along the several roads and tracks and make American terrain evolution harder (particularly the push coming from the South-East). Also, adding up to previously available units, to make a cluster of artillery South of Bastogne, in range and ready to pound into the city. Remaining reinforcements entering other zones were mostly artillery, that was massively deployed this turn along the front East of Bastogne, and used to try to help piercing it benefiting for the woods effect on the opposing units.

Situation at Bastogne at the end of turn 4 (click to enlarge)

The bet on artillery, using the newly arrived units, and a push in spending artillery points payed of for Germany. By the end of the turn the East of Bastogne Line was pierced, allowing exploitation capable units to progress behind the American line. Several American disorganized units could be found along the entire line, particularly at its extremes, in Bastogne and in the contingent of the South-East push.

Artillery points barely running out in the German side were accompanied by heavy casualties in the American side.

Apparently the German troops arrived at Bastogne to stay.