Dec 13, OA Bowie, Battle of the Bulge

Upcoming Scenario


Battle of the Bulge VI
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Utilizing the format that has made our scenarios so successful, we have added even more missions and props, as well as a larger prize package. Prizes will be drawn and awarded throughout the day, but we will give-away at least $500 in prizes at the beginning of the safety briefing.



BATTLE FACTS

The coldest, snowiest weather in memory in the Ardennes Forest on the German/Belgium border.
Over a million men, 500,000 Germans, 600,000 Americans (more than fought at Gettysburg ) and 55,000 British.
3 German armies, 10 corps, the equivalent of 29 divisions.
3 American armies, 6 corps, the equivalent of 31 divisions.
The equivalent of 3 British divisions as well as contingents of Belgian, Canadian and French troops.
100,000 German casualties, killed, wounded or captured.
81,000 American casualties, including 23,554 captured and 19,000 killed.
1,400 British casualties 200 killed.
800 tanks lost on each side, 1,000 German aircraft.
The Malmedy Massacre, where 86 American soldiers were murdered, was the worst atrocity committed against American troops during the course of the war in Europe .
In its entirety, the “Battle of the Bulge,” was the worst battle - in terms of losses - to the American Forces in WWII.


_______

Short History
On a wintry mid-December day in 1944, three powerful German armies plunged into the semi-mountainous, heavily forested Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg . Their goal was to reach the sea, trap four allied armies, and impel a negotiated peace on the Western front.

Thinking the Ardennes was the least likely spot for a German offensive, American Staff Commanders chose to keep the line thin, so that the manpower might concentrate on offensives north and south of the Ardennes . They were wrong in their assessment. The American line was thinly held by three divisions and a part of a fourth, while the fifth was making a local attack and a sixth was in reserve. Division sectors were more than double the width of normal, defensive fronts.

Even though the German Offensive achieved total surprise, nowhere did the American troops give ground without a fight. Within three days, the determined American stand and the arrival of powerful reinforcements insured that the ambitious German goal was far beyond reach.

In snow and sub-freezing temperatures the Germans fell short of their interim objective - that of reaching the sprawling Meuse River on the fringe of the Ardennes . All the Germans accomplished was to create a Bulge in the American line. In the process they expended irreplaceable men, tanks and material. Four weeks later, after grim fighting, with heavy losses on both the American and German sides, the Bulge ceased to exist.

On Sunday, December 13th you can re-fight the Battle of the Bulge at OA. Starting with an opening spectacle of pyrotechnics that precedes the Siege of Bastogne (see below), this day should be non-stop action from beginning to end.



Pyrotechnics will be used to start this game!

The game will start with The Siege of Bastogne:

Mission Duration: 30 minutes

Point Value: 500 points

RED Start: The German side (RED) must start ON or BEYOND the circle marked on the Event Map (75 meter radius from Bastogne).

BLUE Start: The Allies side (BLUE) will start with approximately 20% of their troops in Bastogne. The remaining troops (Patton's relief force) must start within 10 feet of the field boundary between Andenne and Sedan . Please refer to the Event Map. The relief column may be delayed by weather!

Tank Start: The Red Armor will start at the town of Marvie. The Blue Armor will start at Blue HQ.

Mission Objective: The team who has control of Bastogne at the end of 30 minutes shall be awarded the mission points. To gain control of Bastogne , the Germans must respectfully lower the flag of the 101st Airborne in the Castle. If Bastogne is taken, the Americans can "re-gain" control by raising the flag. The flag itself may NOT be removed from the area. The position of the flag at the 30 minute mark will determine the victor!!!

Safety: We are concerned for our players trying to exit the Castle (Bastogne) with over 200 players shooting at it. Because of this, a special exit procedure will be used. On the North side (Route 50) of the Castle there are two doors. One of these doors will be designated as "Exit" and be used by eliminated players leaving the building. There will be signage and netting to denote this exit doorway. If a player shoots another player using this exit, a penalty WILL be assessed and the bodies disposed of accordingly.

Note: Armor and Anti-Armor assets may not be immediately available at "game on". Plan accordingly.

Ten or more additional missions will be run throughout the day, including:

Artillery bombardment
Downed paratrooper rescue (from hanging harness)
Demolition
Paratrooper insertion (Operation Stosser)
Armor battles and much, much more.

> Click here for field directions & local accomodations <
Click HERE for event map

The maximum number of players for this event will be limited to 500. We will close admission when 600 players have registered, so register online early! (We turned away players at Battle of the Bulge in December.)

COST: $35 at field, or $25 online (save $10) – includes admission and all day air

Registration begins promptly 7:30 AM with the game starting at 10:00 AM (see schedule below). Call 410-437-7492 if you have questions.
EVENT PAINT ONLY!
As a bonus for on line registration you can now pre-order your event paint at a $10 a case discount. Click on link below.


On Line Registration Ends
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at Midnight
> PRE-REGISTER ONLINE & SAVE! <
RPS Marballizer is our event paint for $65.00/case 2000

Prepay paint online and save $10.00 per case ($55/case)!!


Chrono Limit: 280 fps.

We will have a limited amount of HPA tanks for rent for this event for only $10, with ID. Gun rental with HPA tanks will rent for $20 with ID.

Cancellations must be made 72 hrs prior to game start. No refunds or transfers.



Schedule Special Positions
6:30 a.m. Gates open
7:30 a.m. Registration & Air open
9:00 a.m. Rules Briefing & Prize Give-away
9:30 a.m. Teams head to fields
10:00 a.m. Game starts
4:00 p.m. Prizes & Game Ends
Late arrivals will be inserted into the game at the regular Rejuvenation times (every 15 minutes)


In an effort to reward players who volunteer for "extra duty," selected players for the following positions will receive the following...

Generals (free admission, thermal goggles w/fan, free lunch & case of paint.)
Commanders (1000 balls each, free lunch)
You must first register for the event, then you will be given information on how to apply for special positions. If registering by phone, be sure to ask about how to sign up for special positions. You can preview the following SpecialPositionsApp.pdf to know what the special positions are, and what the online form will contain.





Permitted:
Paint and smoke grenades (non-heat generating), radios, mortars, and semi-auto markers.
Prohibited:
HOME MADE GRENADES OF ANY KIND, Grenade launchers, Laser sights, Paint other than event paint, Full-Auto or multi-shot burst markers.

Food provided by:
MC Caterers with their renowned pit beef, ham, turkey and other culinary delights.

Skippy said that anyone going from Fix Bayonets should put down the option "Either" when asked which side they want to play for. The Stalkers will pull us to whichever side they are playing for before the game starts. We will get to run with them for this one. Sweet!