Across the Aisne and Into Freineux WTO (id:#57798)

Front Line Productions (Baraque de Fraiture ID: BdF 9)   [next]   [previous]

Freineux, Belgium 1944-12-24 (22 others)

No balance information available

Overview:

A German attack from Odeigne toward Grandmenil required the clearing of the village of Freineux. Located just west of Odeigne, the action at Freineux involved many of the same American and German units locked in combat around Baraque de Fraiture. The Germans attackers thought shadows near the bridge across the Aisne River, leading to Freineux, were mines. This forced the Germans to split into two groups and ford the river. Four Panthers under Untersturmfuhrer Fritz Langanke and a small group of SS infantry were the first to cross the river and attempt to enter the town. Leaping from the decks if the Panthers, Untersturmfuhrer Eric Heller lead his reinforced SS platoon into the outskirts of Freineux but not before taking casualties from American tanks well-positioned in the town. Meanwhile Langanke's Panthers were taken under fire by a young tank gunner named Corporal Jim Vance, with his excellent gunnery skills he managed to knock out two of the enemy tanks while a third was disabled by a 76mm anti-tank gun. The battle for Freineux was on. . .

Defender: American (D Company, 83rd Reconnaissance Battalion with 643rd TD Battalion and Company D, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division/1st Platoon Company C, 317th PIR/3rd Platoon, Company C, 14th Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division)  

Errata (source)