Scenario 2 of Elsenborn Ridge is a continuation of the first scenario, with the Volksgrenadiers opening the attack on the American 99th Infantry Division. The grenadiers have the numbers in this scenario with 26 GREN's and 6 HMG's double the American counterparts. But morale is a huge issue for the Germans. With low morale leaders with morale bonuses will be prized. The Germans also have impressive opening OBA but it reduces quickly to half as much. The American OBA is impressive and will be the key to the Americans killing enough German units. One point that makes this scenario rated lower is that the Germans will probably not be able to use their initial OBA strength on the Americans if they setup far enough back to not be seen on the first couple of turns. Possibly forcing the Americans to setup a number of units on board 25 might make it more historical.

For my play the Americans setup a small amount of units on the west side of the ridge on board 25. They were positioned to slow the Germans as well as the entrenchments near the road to keep control as long as possible. A line of INF's were arrayed north to south along the ridge to give the Germans so quick fights to slow the advance. Given the low morale this might force them to recover units for several turns. The rest of the Americans were setup around the road on board 23 dug in and waiting.

The Germans advanced from the east along the road making it to the east side of the ridge. Given the American setup the first turn of German artillery was useless as the leaders could not get far enough forward to spot the American position. But on the second turn German OBA scored the first kill on an American INF. The Germans moved to take the crossroads on board 25, but this was covered by a entrenched INF and HMG on the west side of the ridge. German OBA and HMG firebases opened fire on the entrenchment with some initial disruptions and demoralizations, but the Americans recovered. Other German units move to capture the 40m hill to the northwest of there positions. Once there they engaged an American LT and INF platoon in the woods on the hill. Quickly demoralizing the LT and disrupting the INF, they overpowered the Americans in a quick assault.

At this point American OBA opened fire on the advancing Germans disrupting and demoralizing several German units. An American Sargent moved up the ridge to the so to spot the German units looking to capture the south side of the ridge. Spotting vulnerable mortars called in OBA and demoralized them, effectively putting them out of action for the game.

The Germans continue the push to the north west, moving over the 40m hill and down toward the road where dug in Americans awaited. American mortars hit the advancing the Germans once again disrupting and demoralized GREN's. A German Lt Colonel setup on the hill to recover units as they failed, but this proved overwhelming later in the game. American causalities were mounting from the German OBA and assaults on the southern line of pickets, but one platoon of dugin troops held firm.

After the American Sargent spotted his initial OBA, he and his platoon moved back after two companies of Germans closed on his position. German OBA briefly disrupted him and his platoon, but he soon recovered at the American picket line. The Germans at this point advanced to the picket line to assault it and captured one set of foxholes but another put up a fight demoralizing a company of GREN's. The American Sargent saw the opportunity to counter attack and he and his platoon reinforced the steadfast INF platoon. In bitter fighting the Americans killed another GREN and demoralized others. This stopped any southern advance by the Germans.

To the middle of the fight the Germans, need to assault the entrenchments on the west side of the board 25 ridge. OBA was called in and disrupted the Americans long enough for a crack German LT and GRENs move to assault. They advanced but Americans first fire was better and disrupted the attacking units. Slowly the Americans recovered and now they were stronger than the attacking Germans. Inflicting casualties on the attackers, they were forced to just sit in the assault and shuffle good order GRENs and HMGs in the fight, without results. In the end the Americans held out. The same was true for another entrenchment down the road, denying the Germans of a victory.

It was up to the Americans to try to kill enough Germans to get a victory. American OBA and assaults tried but the Germans were good enough to keep the troops recovering each time the Americans demoralized German units. So in the end the Americans came up short as well.

A good scenario, but the Germans need good leaders and need to keep recovering troops to stay in the game. The Americans need to keep hitting the Germans as they advance. Low morale will slow them and with a few good dice rolls they can get the win. One point to remember with the Americans is that full strength good order American INF's will get a +1 shift in an assault for the morale difference. This can be very useful in a counter attack. For the Germans mass numbers are key. With key leaders build fire groups and assault groups to overrun the Americans.