This game played over skype with Wayne Baumber in one sitting. Picked out as a random 'small' scenario. On looking at it, I was surprised to see a 4 out of 4 German win ratio as they looked so puny. Pressure was on not to lose here :-(

At 0930 hours (T1) the GI’s supported by a platoon of M4’s and a company of M3’s kicked off their advance from the east-west road as they started heading towards Les Tschous. The SS had placed a solitary MG platoon in the village and behind that, dug-in were their 3 x plns of grenadiers in the light woods. To the rear were their 2 x mortar units and they awaited the arrival of a friendly tank unit.

0945 (T2) Heavy American fire cuts down half the MG platoon defending the village. These are then reinforced with one of the grenadier platoons so that Les Tscheous can hold out a while.

1000 (T3) No casualties to report for either side, but the GI’s continue to close around the town forming fire-groups where possible. German fire, though not deadly is enough, in cahoots with their mortars to disrupt and demoralize a couple of American units.

1015 (T4). A US artillery spotter gets behind German lines and brings OBA down on the supporting German mortars. This eradicates half of them. Around Les Tscheous, the gun-battle heats up, with yet more American infantry from the 119th becoming demoralized. However, the attackers that continue the fray are right on top of the village now. One important US officer is lost in the shoot-out.

1030 (T6) US fire into Les Tscheous finishes off the enemy MG’s though the SS grenadier platoon still hold onto it for now. Flanking grenadier companies remain firm. Still no sign of the promised tank support for the SS Leibstandarte of Kampfgruppe Peiper ….. Where are they !!

1045-1100 (T7 & T8) The Americans force their way into the village now and are pretty ruthless, pulverising half the defenders in there. US losses are negligible. The Germans try to reinforce the town outskirts, but these too take casualties from the US OBA. In the town, the remaining defenders are cleared out and their Haupsturmfuhrer killed, paralyzing German command. Hoorah ! The German tank platoon arrives from the south just in time to take up a position in the woods alongside the road.

1115 (T9) The Americans now surge out of the village in a desperate effort to clear the remaining parts of the north-south road. A furious assault by those that just left Les Tscheous smashes into the depleted SS grenadier platoon outside the village, but they hold off the American attack by simply clinging onto their ground. This makes any further chance of assaulting the last desperate German defenders comprising of a tank unit and a mortar platoon impossible.

1130 (T10) Closing turn, Americans remove one final German grenadier platoon, but the PzIV’s and mortars remain adjacent to the road. They have held out for a close win. Casualties : Germans 8 steps, 1 officer. Americans 1 officer.

Well the Germans clung on for the win without knocking off a enemy step. The balance in fortune was strange really. The Americans regularly removed German steps and despite that, German morale kept holding. The Germans 3 x leaders were also ALL morale 10 which proved useful as well as fortunate. The Americans on the other hand, kept cracking far easier just when they were needed to form strong fire-groups. In the end, this may have made the difference because as the last turns ticked by, there was just not enough strength to decisively punch through. That said, the German tank reinforcements failed to arrive till turn 8 !! Had they got there earlier, this would have dampened the participation of the M4's and M3's in the US battle-group. I know Wayne didn't enjoy this one but I did (perhaps winning helped). I'll give it a steady 3 as I still think the US can win this one ? All I need to do is try and remove an enemy step which I have failed to do in my last 2 scenarios !