Germans: Doug Bush
USA: Bryant Glando
Overview: This scenario features 8 SS squads with 3 assault guns (2 of which are flame Hertzers) trying to capture two bridges on board 13 from a bunch of Americans consisting of 6 US 666 types, 3 546s, with several machine guns and a couple bazookas. There is ground snow, but it actually helps the Germans by turning the stream dry.
Setup: Bryant placed a strong screen of lightly armed infantry forward in the woods along the board boundary. The .50 and 57L gun went in FF4 and the MMG was in R1 to cover the other flank. The HIP squad was in the brush in DD1 w/ Baz ready to smoke a passing hertzer (more on that guy later).
Early Turns: I brought the germans in on the west side of board 18, using the level 1 hills for cover. Some good rolls + the SS firepower + US morale 6 resulted in his screen collapsing on turn 2, with three squads falling back to the orchard with the 8-0 leader. On the west flank, a Hertzer rolled up and cooked the squad w/ mmg in R1, who then surrendered. I kept pushing on the west flank, but had to turn back toward the orchard to close on the eastern bridge in CC5. By turn 4 I had cleared out the orchard, but most of his guys had escaped back toward the bridge, and in the meantime I had malfed one of the flamethrowers. At the same time, I had pushed two squads down the west edge with the mission of circling back to grab the un-defended Y8 bridge. I figured the 57L and .50 would appear soon, and I wasn't disappointed.
Later Turns: Things started to go down the drain when his HIP 546 w/ Baz blew away my last Hertzer when it was moving around the north side of the pond to get some fire on the gun/.50 in FF4. Things temporarily came back my way when his 57L missed my Stu 42 who was hull-down in the orchard. I was then able to roll a 3 and break the entire .50/57L kill stack with the resulting hit from my 105mm Stu42. From there, however, the bottom dropped out for the germans. Despite the fact that he only had 3 squads around the eastern bridge (CC5) at this point (end of turn 5), I still blew it. First, the Stu 42 malfed its gun on my first prep fire of turn 6, and then all of a sudden I couldn't pass a MC to save my life. This disaster was followed by two "1" snipers, one of whom broke the squad I had gotten on the other (Z8) bridge! Even with a broken gun, I was planning to VBM freeze two of the squads next to the bridge, and risk the fire from the other two squads he had in range. ! Unfortunately, I stupidly tried to repair the gun in my turn 7 and.... a "6" NOOO! A Recall! So much for that plan. In the meantime, he had miracle-rallied another squad beside the bridge with a three, so my resulting un-covered, tuetonic banzi charge got blown away short of the bridge. In the end, I had captured the Z8 bridge, but didn't get within a hex of the CC5 bridge.
Analysis: The germans have got tons o' firepower, especially those awesome little Hertzers. Small target, 14 front armor, and a 30FP flamethrower - nice. Still the germans have to attack across a lot of open ground once they cross board 18 vs the usual collection of American firepower. With the eastern flank almost completely open ground once past 18C2 hill mass, I think the best german option is to either go down the west flank and turn back east toward the bridges, or go down the middle to sieze the orchard and then bull your way across the CC5 bridge. However, with only seven turns, going down the west flank means you've got to keep moving, and may entail some risks for your armor with the 57L lurking around. The "3" flank factor on the Hertzers is their achilles heel. For the US, I think Bryant's set up was pretty good, with a screen along the board edge, weaker delaying forces in the west, and strong forces + reserves around the orchard and the CC5 bridge.
Support Weapons: I think another good place for the 57L might be 13V8, which would probably produce some good flank shots as the germans turn east through or around the orchard toward CC5. The germans have good smoke making potential (the Stu42 s9) but I think one must save it for the bridge assault(s). I tried to use it early to cover my moves across board 18 and rolled a 10, oops. The 105mm gun on the Stu42 is sweet, but it only has an 8 frontal, so you've got to be careful until the 57L shows itself. The US mortar should go well back, perhaps in FF7. Bryant had it forward in the orchard and it got taken out pretty fast. The .50 should also be back in a place to cover both bridges and their approaches. Overall, a fun scenario. I recommend it.
Doug Bush