This 12-turn scenario has 2 armored infantry companies with 2 HMGs' an Engineer and 2 Mortars and all their halftrack transports, supported by an M-16 AA halftrack, 2 Shermans and an M-18 Hellcat holding the central town on board 11 against 10 SS Grenadiers, 3 HMGs, 3 mortars, 2 engineers, a Panther ands 2 Mk IVHs who have to enter the board and kill as many US units as possible and take as many town hexes as possible. Icy weather makes all terrain go up by 1 movement point, so everything gets off to a slow start as German armor moves just ahead of the infantry but not far enough to become good assault targets, while the Germans can move their infantry just 2 hexes until they come through the woods. The larger group lead by the SS Colonel maneuvers to try to assault the western town hexes while the smaller group moves mortars into the light woods and tries to maneuver two stacks to assault from the east. As the US, I moved my shermans out of the town hoping for a bit of luck against the Mk IVs. Some luck. The Mk IVs rolled 2 modified 13s right off killing the Shermans. The M-18 moved into the northernmost town hex hoping to hit the Panther before going out, but again, the German armor rolled high and the Hellcats died without drawing blood. With this sort of start, it looked bad for the US troops, but luck was with the US in assaults, and having a clear field of fire as the Germans inched their way forward didnt hurt either as stacks of SS troops found themselves wiped out or reduced and demoralized all around the town. 2 assaults were managed, and the first in the northwestern edge of town cost the Germans the Panthers and all the infantry and even the Captain leading. This after the German Colonel fell to DF along with a step of infantry that he was leading. Over the course of the game, the Germans found themselves decapitated 3 times, leaving only the LTs working to lead what was left of their infantry. The last decapitation occured when the last Captain lead the 2 Mk IVs into an assault, only to lose a step of tanks and then roll a 2 on leader loss. Decapitation had little effect on the units with the exception of the 7-0-0 LT leading the mortars naturally, so the mortars were inneffective for several turns while the LT regaied his composure. At the end of turn 11, with 3 of 4 steps of Mk IVs destroyed and the last one demoralized, it was time to call it a game. 33 points for the US to 18 for the Germans, not counting the town hexes which were completely still in US hands. Major US victory. Great game.

The title comes both from the scenario description (the US CCB of 6th Armored is described as "exhausted" and partially the result (namely that the US could not take advantage of opportunities to take out the 12th SS armored units).

My only critique of the scenario is that, given the "exhaustion" factor; the short duration of the attack; and the fact that the Germans clearly have the burden of attack; I think a +2 initiative edge rather than +1 (to the German side) might have been more appropriate.

The weather conditions mean that foot units move one hex at a time. The US side has 11 (count 'em) M3 units. This is significant long-range DF capability: a major German goal is to shoot up these units as they expose themselves hopefully before US armor takes out the panzers.

The US sets up with a strong blocking force between the two woods that lie to the NW and NE of the hill-top town on the 20-m elevation line (i.e. blocking the direct approach from the north). Dug-in on a hill is significant protection vs. DF. The M16 was put into the crossroads of the town - it is very powerful with DF, but quite vulnerable to any AT fire, that I wanted it protected until a key moment (or, hopefully, when the SS panzers were destroyed or tied up). M4's were set to cover the western approach and just to the NE of Arloncourt. The M18 was held in heavy woods to the NE with a view to a dart-and-dash attack vs. German armor that might have entered one the eastern side of the board. It could also fairly quickly relocate to the west (as it turned out).

The 12th SS sent two infantry attacks - the HMG laden one backed by one Pz-IVH platoon from the NW side of the road; the other from the NE side; the mortars quickly established themselves in the light woods at the board edge a bit farther east (but within their 10-hex range). I put the 2xENG riding on the Pz-V and Pz-IVH (with a leader) for a western hook. Moving only two hexes per turn, it took about 4 turns to get to the road leading into the western side of Arloncourt.

The game seemed to hinge on this: the Pz-IVH supporting the panzergrenadiers was repeatedly missed by the M4 sitting dug-in atop the hill. Rather than counter-firing, the panzer platoon shot up the M3 half-tracks that were supplying some effective DF support vs. approaching German infantry. On the western side, the Pz-IVH with an ENG riding atop, survived four shots from a dug-in M4 and the M18 that had moved over to assist. Once they were exposed (and that was just too good a target), the covering Pz-V pretty much laid waste (even though it missed with one shot).

Those malevolent youth also were fairly effective in clearing out the blocking company of remaining INF (in particular a US roll of '2' on the 9-col assault for first-fire fizzed, allowing a subsequent roll of '6' on the 30-col by the SS troopers to clear that hex in one fell swoop).

As it does, the final phase of urban combat was bloody and slow, but the SS were able to combine their surviving armor with ENG units to mitigate the US defensive advantage.

Another element of chance, but that, perhaps, mimicked the "for real" state of the US defenders is that the US drew no leader with a combat bonus (a few with morale bonuses). On the other hand, the 12th SS were lead by a grizzled Normandy veteran (the 10-1-2 obersturmbannfuhrer) who did receive his share of OBA and mortar fire).

I liked this one, though. Subtle elements without a lot of time to counter mistakes or unfortunate breaks. Perhaps a 4.5 if we rated that way.

The malevolent young men of the 12th SS had to attack across frozen and slippery ground to wrest Alroncourt away from the "Super" 6th Armored Division on very cold wintry New Years Day in January 1945. And they had little time to do so, so a direct attack was the only way to go. The infantry., lead by the Panther platoon went directly at the city while the Mk IVs and a Schuetzen Company cleared the US LP/OPs from the woods NW of he town. The US set up with the infantry the town back my the M16 Meat Chopper in the center. On the flanks were halftrack patrols and the Sherman with the Hellcat platoon covering the right flank.

The attack was met by accurate artillery and mortar fire but the SS boys continued on with casualties mounting. As the Pz IVs crested the hill, the Hell killed a step of the panzers and tried a shoot-and-scoot, but due to bad ground conditions couldn't get away. The SS infantry finally got to the town but had a tough time getting a foothold. The Shermans fell back and in face of the Panther threat. This allowed the Panzers to flank the town and gaining two precarious footholds in the center and rear of Arloncourt. Al the US armored infantry was fixed fighting of the SS infantry, a small platoon did try to take out the Panthers but got shot up doing so. The Germans still had a chance on the last turn to turn this around if their assaults would work, but they all failed and the Americans held most of the town for a decisive victory.

A nice quick scenario that is the standard urban assault but with the twist of slow go to get to the town for the Germans because of the icy conditions.

This small scenario pits two reasonably equal forces, but the SS are on the attack and have to take Arloncourt (the town on board 11 to win). There is also snow and ice which force the Germans into a frontal slog as there is simply not enough time before night falls for any fancy moves. The German armour outclasses the US armour but a canny US commander will hide his tanks and half tracks in the centre of the town, thus forcing the German commander into a catch 22 postion, does he bludgeon his way into the town using just armour or wait for his GREN's to catch up for a more measured assault. The former is to risky and the latter to time consuming. As the German attack slowly moves towards its jump off point accurate US INF/MG and OBDA cause losses and the attack never really gets going. I am loathe to say any scenario can not be won by a particular side but suffice to say if I was the US commander in a FtF game I would be surprised to lose this one. Not recommended.