As usual with Jim, I made a careful study of the play of this game. I thought initially there were two obvious lines of attack: straight down the board 16 road and diagonally across and down board 17. Going down board 16 had the bad feature of potentially being shot at for multiple turns out in the open. Going down board 17 thus seemed to be the winner. I could shoot up any Infantry in the town with my MGs. One of the ATGs, it seemed to me had to be 17CC10. And even knowing it's there doesn't alter the fact that this is the best position. The position of the second ATG is more problematic. My idea was 17Z7, and Jim had it in 17Y6. Both these positions express the same idea: trying to stop an attack down board 17. I think 17Z7 is slightly better because it has better LOS across the pond to board 16, but it's only marginally better. I will call this the "obvious" defense: I'm guessing it's probably similar to what most ASL players will do on a first pass at this scenario.
The British Infantry I prefer to put in the woods near my ATGs. Jim had both his ATRs forward: one in 17T9 and one in 16M6. I like neither of these positions because the German can approach with the Pz 38t's exposing only his frontal armor. Their MGs, even fired during the MPh, are going to be very effective. Jim compounded this error, IMHO, by firing and thus giving up concealment. With the ATRs near the ATGs, you can hope for side or even rear shots: the two AT systems mutually support each other.
Having assessed the likely British defense, I solo'd out a few turns. I at first tried the board 17 approach, but although the Germans could make it into the town and beyond, they tended to still have problems. If they ran down the road, the ATGs would eat them up. If they tried to finesse through the cracks in the woods around 17W2, they were caught in passage when the French tanks arrived. They could not push forward quickly, set up in case the Fremch tanks entered near the village, and try for a methodical clearing of the woods area, but once the French tanks entered, the German tanks had a hard time killing these monsters, and even the H35's with their 37* and 7 TK# can kill with a side or rear shot against AF 1. No, the Germans didn't want to engage in an armor battle, or if one was necessary, it would be better fought where the French had to use Platoon movement (remember that you don't have to use platoon movement on the turn you enter board).
This led to my rethinking the basic strategy. Board 17 was clearly out, and straight up the road was still probably bad too. I thought up two more approaches: along the far board edge of board 16, where shots would probably at extremely long range (for ASL) and along the center woods between boards 17 and 16. A quick solitaire showed that the Germans can be in positions around 16L9 by turn two. A couple tanks can go forward on turn three to scout the AT positions: if the way is clear then everyone exits, but if the scouts find nasty ATGs, the Germans can bring up the Pz IV's for SMOKE and try to take on the ATGs one at a time from carefully chosen positions. If the Germans can't make the victory on turn three, the French tanks can't immediatly fall upon the Germans either. They have to set up defensively as part of the ATG line. This leaves the Germans still holding the initiative, even if it complicates the attack.
My attack up board 16 went perfectly: I was in position around 16M10, in 16J9 & 16K8 (trying to stay hidden from suspected ATG positions). Both British ATRs were down, and on my third turn a tanks probed from the 16G6 area toward the ATG position in 17CC10. He shot and shocked the tank (had to turn CA, so he lost concealment). He lost ROF, and his other ATG in 17Y6 lost it without causing any damage. By dashing behind the woods in 17X10 I was able to avoid intensive, and drove a tank down the road. After a variety of IF shots, the British could do no more than wave as five AFVs drove off on top of turn three for the victory.
This stunning, early and painless victory lead me to rethink the British defense. It is obvious that the British have to delay the Germans long enough for the French tanks to arrive. The ATG in 17CC10 has to stay, but I think the one in 17Z7 is not well positioned to prevent the German rush attack. The two ATRs and the LMG all have to cover the 17BB7 gap. This frees up the ATG, and two possible locations for it are 16I2 or 16H0, where it will have side and rear shots on Germans attempting to exit early, or 16K9. In all of these positions the ATG will be sacrificed, but the Germans will almost have to reduce it unless it breaks or something silly like that.
Another possible British defense is to try for the early defense in the brush in 17B7/17E10. I don't like this defense because once the Germans are aware of it, they will either charge the Guns and OVR them or circle them using the road or both. The Guns may take out a few tanks, but not enough to justify their early loss, IMHO. The other possible German countermove is to drive offboard to 16GG1, enter there and go forward. The British can try to follow the Germans, but I doubt they could form a good second line. And I like the odds against the French tanks if they aren't supported by the ATGs.
Final words: no grain! Don't ever play this with grain. It's not in season, so don't even think of trying. Second, what to do with the British trucks? My thought is use them as road blocks. If you put them in 17W2 & 17W3 in bypass, they prevent movement through that gap, or put hem in 17BB7 to slow up panzers using that gap.
JR