I had the pleasure of inaugurating a new PG player to Skype, Hugmenot. The game was played over two evenings, both being very enjoyable as the battle kept swinging both ways until the end. The scenario is a small one just 14 turns and a handful of counters, but with SS troops defending it is always a tricky game. I was the Americans, Hugmenot was the Germans. Some interesting SSR's and victory conditions make scenario interesting.

The small German force sets up in the town on board 10, will an outpost to the north and several until outside the town to the west, including the Panther. The Americans have a small force for the attack, only a reinforced company of mechanized INF's a couple of M4's, several M5's and an M18. All of which start on board 9, placed in the woods out of sight of the Germans. The Americans have some limitations, the M4's cannot leave the roads due to the tough terrain. But the M5's, M18 and M3's can, so they will use the cover of woods to try to get close to the town and dislodge the SS.

The game starts with three groups of American troops/tanks moving out through the southern woods. The M18 and M5's pick their way along the woods with a company(-) following along. The second group of M5's with a company(-) move through the woods a little to the north, trying to stay in the cover but spotting the SS pickets to the west of the town. Then the M4's with a LT move down the road to spot the German pickets. The German pickets to the north pack up and head back into town when it is apparent that the American force is to the south.

Soon the American M18 and M5's are on the road south of the town on board 10. The German Panther reacts by closing in on the M18 to try for a quick kill. The American move the M4's up the road to counter but run into a 75/41 that quickly takes out a M4/76 step. The others move back to the safety of the woods on board 9. The Panther catches the M18 and kills it but it is exposed to the following American INF's. The Americans close and demoralize the Panther. A German OSFTR takes two GREN's to support the tank, but disaster strikes. Friendly fire from German 81mm mortars hit the the advancing GREN's killing a step and disrupting and demoralizing the remaining troops. American fire continue the killing by double demoralizing the other unit. This leaves the American INF's free to kill the Panther, which occurs shortly thereafter. The remnants for the SS relief force is also destroyed by the Americans.

The next phase has the Americans positioning for an attack on the town. M5's maneuver to the east of the town to be able to bring fire on SPW251's positioned in the east of the town, while the infantry continue to move up. But SS OP fire is very good scoring morale checks that the Americans have trouble with. The American command is green and posses not leader with a morale bonus, that hurt the advancing INF's. The American M5's attempt to pick off the SPW251's but two turns of fire yields no results. It is only until later turns will the SPW251's be destroyed. This gives the Germans strong firebases to hit the advancing Americans. The Americans try the OBA with little effect other than some disruptions that the Germans quickly recover. The Americans quickly focus on the southeast corner of the town. Stationed there is a HPSTFR, GREN and 81mm mortars. They are able to concentrate fire on the hex and force the demoralized 81mm out of the hex and disrupting the others. The Americans rush an INF with the SGT to close on the town, but SS OP is right on the mark and kills an American step and the SGT is mortally wounded.

The American concentrate fire an are able to take out the 75MM IG keeping the M3's safe for the moment. Getting down to the last turns the Americans move up the M5's and the M3's to close for an assault. Heavy fire by the Germans is ineffective and the American's assault the corner town hex. In the end the assault scores morale checks that leaves the hex contested. Final score Americans 14 Germans 12