"We're outnumbered. Let's attack!"

American paratroopers land behind enemy lines and aim to take control of two objectives which may, or may not, be guarded by German strongpoints.

Definitely a Low Odds Attack!

One and a half platoons of paratroopers advance on the first strongpoint only to find it occupied and take heavy fire. Instead of holding back taking pot shots (and getting shot at) they decide to close in for assault to tie up the strongpoint until some reinforcements arrive.

Another one and a half paratroop platoons enter and head for the strongpoint as German forces are alerted and also send some reinforcements in.

Americans arrive first and despite having a couple of platoons they fail in the assault and need to rally.

Precious time is lost as the Grenadiers arrive and join in on the assault. Now the Americans are outnumbered!

What would you do as the American Captain?

Well, the Americans looked at their odds, and it would be a low odds attack indeed!

Number Crunch: Both sides were at 17 firepower, which puts them on the 18-18 column with leadership. Americans would assault into urban losing two columns to 9-18. Not good. When the German HMG platoon arrives, they would defend on the 18 column (and the Germans would assault on the 18 column after shifts)

Well, Captain American decided to wait. If the Germans never attacked it would be a draw, if they did, they at least had a chance at disrupting them then going in for a counterattack.

After holding down for an hour the Germans arrived and assaulted. Both sides took morale checks and two Germans were demoralized. The Americans then counterattacked… and lost a platoon!!!

Not good.

The Germans attacked (now 9-9) to no effect and both sides recovered morale.

Germans led another assault and both sides lost a half platoon of infantry. The German Lieutenant and one of the American Captains also perished.

The Americans were down to 1.5 platoons, but the Germans lost one of their two leaders.

But the Germans recovered and attacked again (13-9) and the American half paratroop was lost. A further assault (13-9) saw both sides lose half a platoon! But the German HMG was demoralised and fled the strongpoint. Unfortunately, the Americans were too low on men, half a platoon was not enough to assault the strongpoint supported by a Grenadier platoon.

Eventually, after about 90 minutes, the German HMG recovered and returned with additional reinforcements. The reinforcements entered the assault on turn 30 (now 13-5) and within the half hour the last paratroopers were eliminated, a LT captured, and the last two officers fled to find more men.

GERMAN VICTORY.

Aftermath

This is a difficult one to rate. The reinforcements and “uncertainty” of the strongpoints make for a mildly interesting scenario. As always, the low counter count of Airborne limit the decision making. The scenario did play out in just under an hour including set up and take down. But, American victory does seem “low odds” but not impossible. If the first strongpoint was empty or if they succeeded in their initial assault, it could have played out a bit differently taking out the German reinforcements then charging to the second objective. So I’ll give this a 3 for possible potential.

Scenario Rating: 3/5 – Has possibility but, your odds are low.