| Panzer Grenadier: Airborne
Preview, Part Three
By Mike Bennighof, Ph.D.
August 2013
For a game with an ugly box (both versions), we sure sold a lot of copies of Panzer Grenadier: Airborne. When we finally ran out of boxes and counter sheets, we still had a large stockpile of maps. So back it came in book format.
As a book supplement, Airborne is in some ways greatly improved. While it’s no longer playable solely with the components included, it now has a much broader array of terrain allowing large scenarios. And the American paratroopers can face off with enemies not included in the boxed edition, like German paratroopers or the Waffen SS.
Here’s a look at the final 11 scenarios found in the book, not including Pat Callahan’s mega-scenario:
Scenario Twenty-Three
Le Ham
10 June 1944
At 1400 the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment planned to drive through the enemy positions opposite them to seize Le Ham. The 1st Battalion received the honor of spearheading the attack until Montebourg Station fell. Then 2nd Battalion would pass through them and capture Le Ham. The attack commenced on time as the paratroopers advanced behind a solid smoke screen.
Note: This scenario requires boards from 1940: The Fall of France in addition to a PARA ENG from Battle of the Bulge and pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
According to the 1st Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mark Alexander, “The first part of the attack worked fine . . . Montebourg Station was cleared with minimum losses.” However, “The 2nd Battalion was one half hour late in following; giving the Germans time . . . they stopped the 2nd Battalion cold just outside the village.” By 2300 they were still encountering heavy resistance just outside of Le Ham, so headquarters ordered to break contact and withdraw.
Notes
This is a new Mike Perryman scenario, with the Americans driving from east to west along a narrow corridor and some surprisingly good German infantry fighting to stop them. There aren’t a lot of troops involved on either side, and the very good artillery support afforded the Americans will probably make the difference.
Scenario Twenty-Four
Ingouf Farm, Day Shift
11 June 1944
The 3rd Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment endured hardships on the 10th, with I Company suffering 70% casualties from the fighting around Hill 30 and a nighttime Luftwaffe air strike. Nevertheless, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole gathered his men in the predawn darkness and pushed them across the Madeleine River, as Private Alan Dieter led the way.
Note: This scenario requires the board from Airborne, a Luftwaffe engineer unit from Battle of the Bulge in addition to pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
The Americans walked into an ambush, and Private Dieter sustained a wound. He stopped and asked his commander: “They’re always calling me a fuck-up in this company. I didn’t let you down this time, did I?” Upon receiving a negative answer the soldier proudly headed to the rear for treatment. A deadlock soon developed at the bridge that Colonel Cole tried to break by leading a bayonet charge, hollering at the top of his lungs “We about to learn ’em a lesson!” The only thing learned was by the Americans - they did not have enough strength to drive off the defenders. Not until additional US paratroopers arrived did the Germans feel compelled to leave. Counterattack being the German mantra, they wouldn't stay gone long.
Notes
Another Mike Perryman addition for the book edition, one of his paratrooper-vs.-paratrooper battles. Neither side has a lot of forces, with the Germans in particular lacking in manpower, but both sport extremely good morale. The Americans will need that advantage, as they face a tough task including a river crossing and a town assault.
Scenario Twenty-Five
This is Not a Voluntary Proposition
11 June 1944
Rebuffed in their effort to secure Le Ham on the previous day, the Americans added forces for today's effort. The 2nd Battalion planned to continue their attack from the east while the new force attacked from the north. A heavy artillery barrage would precede the attack, and observers noted that German artillery fire had weakened during the course of 10 June. The troops moved out and everything began according to the plan drafted by Col. William Ekman of the 505th Parachute Infantry.
Note: This scenario requires boards from 1940: The Fall of France in addition to a PARA ENG from Battle of the Bulge and pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
Once close to Le Ham, Captain Joe Gault led F Company of the 325th Glider Infantry in rushing the village while the rest of the battalion tried to distract the defenders. It didn’t work, and soon all progress towards the village was stopped while Colonel “Swede” Swenson and one of his company commanders fell as casualties. The attack was on the verge of collapsing altogether when General Matthew Ridgeway calmly walked through enemy fire until he located Captain Gault. In a gravelly voice the general said, “Captain Gault, this is not a voluntary proposition. Move your men out.” In short order the Americans owned the village.
Notes
This is another new Perryman scenario, and it’s a big one, with the Airborne fighting for control of four boards. They have the usual high morale plus very good artillery support, but the Germans are good, too.
Scenario Twenty-Six
Battalion Round Up
11 June 1944
On D-Day, the 3rd Battalion of the 507th Parachute Infantry found itself badly scattered a long way from their target. Major Charles Johnson decided to hole up in Graignes and gather the battalion together. Eventually 180 paratroopers made their way into town along with a glider pilot. While the majority of the men were attending mass on the 10th an SS soldier was shot while scouting the village. The men quickly left mass to prepare for battle but the rest of the day passed quietly. However, the next morning a large enemy force was observed heading in their direction.
Note: This scenario requires the board from Airborne in addition to pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
Security for a German repair party attempting to fix a nearby bridge (destroyed by US paratroopers) required that the SS division take Graignes. In their first action of the war earlier in the day the Götz von Berlichingen SS Division had been bloodily repulsed. After regrouping they launched a second attack which the Americans barely turned back. They regrouped a second time, and their determination paid off as they quickly drove the paratroopers from the town and into the swamps. After securing the town the SS promptly murdered the American wounded, medical staff, two priests, and two French women. For three days two Spaniards and a local townsman led the 87 Americans who had fled into the swamps back to friendly lines. During this time the officers fed everyone by purchasing food from local civilians using the French francs in their escape kits.
Notes
Another new scenario from the tireless Mike Perryman, this time making use of another set of pieces not available for the boxed game as the paratroopers take on a stunningly inept SS division. The Germans have numbers and artillery, and they’re going to need them as American morale outclasses them badly.
Scenario Twenty-Seven
Ingouf Farm, Afternoon Shift
11 June 1944
Earlier in the morning Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Cole had established his bridgehead over the Madeleine River with the help of Lieutenant Colonel Cassidy’s battalion. They quickly secured their perimeter in anticipation of the inevitable counterattack. Surprisingly, it was the Fallschirmjägers they had just driven off who did the attacking.
Note: This scenario requires the board from Airborne, pieces from Battle of the Bulge, and pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
Both sides suffered heavily in the fighting around the Ingouf Farm, but the Screaming Eagles prevailed and now considered the bridgehead secured. While the Americans quickly brought up replacements to replace their losses, the Fallschirmjägers were unable to do so. It takes special men to pay the dues needed to become a paratrooper, and many of the Germans that would have made those sacrifices already lay at eternal rest in the unconquerable vastness of Russia.
Notes
It’s another Perryman paratroopers-against-paratroopers battle, this time with pretty dense force allotments on a narrow front. The farm and bridge are the keys to victory, with casualties at best a secondary consideration.
Scenario Twenty-Eight
Line Infantry
12 June 1944
Southeast of Carentan the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, less 3rd Battalion and Company G, faced west and launched an attack on the German-held village of Le Mesnil in an attempt to clear the relatively open ground to the east of the city. All of the American airborne formations stayed in the line longer than planned due to tenacious German defense. The Americans showed they could be pretty tenacious themselves.
Note: This scenario requires a board from Airborne in addition to pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge and a 105mm from 1940: The Fall of France.
Conclusion
The advance went well until late in the day when heavy German artillery firing over open sights halted the glider infantrymen. The Americans would not stay halted for long, however. A day later, more energetic attacks drove the Germans back.
Notes
Another new scenario, this one uses the Airborne map for an attack by the American paratroopers on German defenders with very little infantry but a large allotment of support weapons.
Scenario Twenty-Nine
Bonus Prize
13 June 1944
“Lightning Joe” Collins had counted on the 90th Infantry Division to secure the Douve River line and block German access to the Cotentin Peninsula. The “Eight Ball Division” failed to advance thanks to poor training and even weaker leadership, with two commanders fired in its first week of combat. Frustrated, Collins inserted the battered 82nd Airborne Division back into the line and ordered the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, then at about half strength, to accomplish what the “Tough Ombres” of the 90th could not. Reinforced with artillery, tanks and engineers, the 508th (now a Regimental Combat Team) would cross the Douve River under cover of darkness and secure Cretteville. From there the plan evolved into a push to occupy Coigny and Baupte. Cretteville fell by 0800, and the paratroopers pushed southward toward their next two objectives.
Note: This scenario requires boards and a SdKfz-222 from 1940: The Fall of France, in addition to pieces from Elsenborn Ridge and Battle of the Bulge. Only use leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
The 1st Battalion pressed on and enjoyed their dinner in Coigny that evening. The 2nd Battalion’s day didn't go as well as they faced a determined counterattack a mile-and-a-half short of Baupte. Eventually they sent the Germans there packing as well and entered Baupte successfully. There the paratroopers captured a motor park full of vehicles, a substantial cache of food, and most importantly, a safe full of money — quite the bonus prize. To make the day complete the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions finally joined up just south of town. The lackluster performance of the German 265th Infantry Division was not surprising considering the foreign conscripts of its two “Ost” battalions (one-third of its infantry) spoke three different languages and their heavy weapons were almost exclusively of foreign manufacture.
Notes
This is a good-sized scenario, with the American player finally able to fight with multiple battalions of ass-kicking paratroopers plus some air support. The Germans aren’t very good, but they do occupy some tough defensive positions.
Scenario Thirty
A Long Day
14 June 1944
When the 90th Infantry Division proved unready for prime time, its failure stalled the effort to cut the Cotentin Peninsula. VII Corps directed the All Americans of the 82nd Airborne to take over the drive; two days of rest had allowed them to refit some of their weapons and sort out disorganized units, but not to absorb replacements for their heavy casualties. One regiment had already entered the front lines, and early on the 14th the rest of the division passed through the “Alamo Division” to see what they could do against strong enemy opposition.
Note: This scenario requires boards from 1940: The Fall of France in addition to pieces from Elsenborn Ridge and Battle of the Bulge. Only use leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
The paratroopers initially overran the Germans rather easily despite the earlier German success against the 90th Infantry — things appeared rosy. That soon changed as the 91st Air-Landing Division was a well-trained outfit, and despite being greatly depleted remained a dangerous opponent. Unwilling to concede defeat, the Germans repeatedly counterattacked the paratroopers, slowing them to a crawl. To further complicate the task, the 82nd Airborne Division had to send the regiment’s 3rd Battalion to Renouf to cover a flank left open when the 90th Infantry Division was unable to keep pace (the same Eight Ball division whose headquarters the previous day had told the 82nd they had better keep up, then failed in their assault). At 2200 hours the paratroopers called it a day still short of La Bonneville. The 82nd Airborne Division proved to be some of the finest infantry fighting in Normandy, but missions like these seriously depleted their ranks of highly skilled and motivated men, and would greatly hamper rebuilding in the future.
Notes
Another big new scenario from Mike Perryman, this time it’s Air-Landing troops against Glidermen, with large infantry forces on both sides, and armored support for both as well. It’s a wide-ranging brawl with victory based on town control and casualties.
Scenario Thirty-One
Advance Along the Douve
14 June 1944
With the beachhead strongly established, it was time to drive across the base of the Cotentin Peninsula and isolate Cherbourg to the north. On the 14th, a general advance west by 90th and 9th Infantry and 82nd Airborne Divisions began about mid-day. On the far left flank the 82nd deployed elements of two regiments advancing on a narrow front along the north bank of the Douve.
Note: This scenario requires the board from Airborne in addition to pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
The advancing Americans drove the defenders back slowly throughout the afternoon. After consolidating their gains late in the day, an evening counterattack pushed the 507th back a bit. Nonetheless, the German defenders had been hard-pressed all along the line as American pressure everywhere drove them back and bled their already under-strength units even more.
Notes
This one revises one of the boxed game scenarios, a pretty tense little fight between a substantial German defensive force with good morale and two battalions of Americans (one parachute, one glider) trying to winkle them out of their positions.
Scenario Thirty-Two
A New Spearhead
15 June 1944
On the previous day the 507th Parachute Regiment had taken a pounding while advancing on La Bonneville, so division headquarters needed another unit to spearhead the effort as they desired constant pressure on the enemy to keep them from regrouping. Therefore the 505th Parachute Regiment passed through the 507th to lead the attack.
Note: This scenario requires boards and a SdKfz-222 from 1940: The Fall of France in addition to pieces from Elsenborn Ridge and Battle of the Bulge. Use only leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Alexander’s 1st Battalion enjoyed a good day as they reached their objective while encountering only scattered light opposition. The 2nd Battalion met stronger opposition at Les Rosiers but prevailed in what Private David Bowman called “the most heated battle in which I participated in Normandy.” Despite the successes, in his after action report Colonel Alexander did nothing but rant about 2nd Battalion being unable to keep up.
Notes
A new Mike Perryman scenario, this one sends the Americans attacking along a narrow corridor against pretty stout opposition. The Germans have very good morale and some artillery support, plus a handful of assault guns. But the Americans boast that paratrooper morale, and they get some air support.
Scenario Thirty-Three
Finally Forward
3 July 1944
A raging storm in late June closed the English Channel to shipping, forcing the Americans to suspend all offensive actions except those aimed at liberating Cherbourg due to a lack of supplies. By early July the supply shortage was rectified and the 82nd Airborne was tasked with securing Hills 95 and 131. The day started badly when heavy rain grounded all air support. It quickly became worse when the only forward observer and his radio went down, depriving the attackers of their artillery support. The changing battlefield conditions resulted in the 325th Glider Infantry being ordered to secure La Poterie preparatory to seizing Hill 95.
Note: This scenario requires boards from 1940: The Fall of France in addition to pieces and leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
The rest of the division secured Hill 131, but the splitting of the 325th forces meant La Poterie and Hill 95 both remained in enemy hands despite fighting that lasted well into the night. On conducting his reconnaissance for the next morning’s attack, mortar fire and severely wounded Lieutenant Colonel Mark J. Alexander of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The colonel lay in a hospital bed receiving last rites form Father Connelly when he awoke to find the good Father praying over him “When I came to again,” Alexander wrote many years later, “the nurse came to me, looked at my dog tags, and said, ‘Your dog tags only say you are a Christian, but you are a Catholic now for Father Connelly just gave you the last rites.’”
Notes
It’s another narrow-corridor assault by Mike Perryman, but both sides once again have substantial forces. The American glidermen and German air-landing troops are evenly matched in morale, and while the Americans have pretty hefty tank support the Germans get an 88mm gun that can shred the Shermans.
Scenario Thirty-Four
If at First You Don't Succeed
4 July 1944
In other sectors of the front, Americans celebrated their country’s birthday by firing all available weapons at noon despite an ammunition shortage. The men of the 82nd Airborne fired their weapons at noon too, but with a much more deadly purpose. Despite staff worries concerning the counterattacking Germans dominated the fighting the previous day, General Ridgeway ordered his men forward as planned to finish securing the peninsula.
Note: This scenario requires boards from 1940: The Fall of France in addition to pieces from Elsenborn Ridge and Battle of the Bulge. Only use leaders from Elsenborn Ridge.
Conclusion
The paratroopers cleared Hill 95 by noon, only to be driven back off by another counterattack. The fighting there raged well into the night before the American airborne could reclaim it. The fighting for the rest of the ridgeline didn't even go that well, and a regimental commander demanded that General Ridgeway come give him his orders to resume the attack in person. The colonel was right as the attack went nowhere despite heavy causalities. The stubborn defenders of La Poterie refused to be budged, and would retain control of the town until the following morning. The American GIs first encountered purple-tipped wooden machinegun bullets here that would explode in the air if they failed to hit their target, and left numerous splinters in the wound if they connected with their target. On July 8th the 8th Infantry Division took over for the 82nd Airborne allowing them to take showers and be issued new uniforms. The 82nd appreciated their glidermen, who were authorized flight pay on July 1st. They also the granted the 325th the honor of wearing jump boots in recognition of their performance in Normandy. On July 11th the 82nd survivors loaded into LSTs for their return to England.
Notes
This is a big scenario, with a large American force of paratroopers and glidermen trying to force their way past German air-landing troops who have good morale and are lavishly supplied with support weapons: mortars, anti-tank guns and two batteries of the awesome 88mm guns. Plus three platoons of assault guns. They’ll need all of that; the Americans have tank and aircraft support and strong backing from their artillery.
And that wraps up the 34 regular scenarios from Airborne; there’s also a large and complex one by Pat Callahan.
You've read about them, now play them! Order Airborne in print format!
Mike Bennighof is president of Avalanche Press and holds a doctorate in history from Emory University. A Fulbright Scholar and award-winning journalist, he has published over 100 books, games and articles on historical subjects.
He lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife, three children and his dog, Leopold.
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