After completing Failing Orders,I was naturally drawn to this scenario. It is an interesting situation. An American battalion inserts itself into Stavelot amidst the followup German forces. It would have been more interesting had it not turned into a complete rout for the Americans as they were crushed handily by the Germans.

The Americans have a full battalion that will typically be setup in the town of Stavelot, but part of the town is still held by a company of SS GREN's as well as a German relief force on board 9. This is significant as it mounts four PzIVH's and two companies of GREN's. To top it off the Germans have a 50% chance of reinforcements to help the GREN's in the town on board 1. The Americans have to just hunker down and hold the town with the dual attack.

On turn 1 the Germans get there reinforcements and begin to move them in as well as get the troops on board 9 advancing on the town. Direct fire from the town GREN's are able to disrupt American troops in the town. Forced to recover the Americans pass on firing on the advancing reinforcements, giving the Germans the edge to assault the town. To the east the Germans press forward and American OBA does score a hit, but the bulk of the force is able to close on the bridge quickly and prepare for assaults. By turn 5 the game boils down to assaults on the town.

Heavy assaults occupy and drive up the casualty count quickly, but the Americans are on the bad end of it and slowly ground down and lose most of the town hexes. By turn 13 the Americans have no chance for retaking the towns with 6 INF, 2 HMG and a ENG lost. The Germans also have high losses in the attack, but they hold the bridge and the majority of the town.

A bit disappointed by this one as the Americans were forced to sit in the town and the Germans where easily able to get their tanks into the town. American OBA was not a big factor in the German advance and the American AT guns were quickly locked in assault allowing the German tanks to roam free. Eventually the game was just a slugfest in the town. My thoughts is that this scenario is too quick to surround the Americans and the game would be better to delay the western German reinforcements until turn 3 and make the unit on board 9 reinforcements that enter on turn 1. This would give the Americans a chance to fight it out with remnants in the town before tackling being surrounded.