NOTE: For a long time, I played the morale rules wrong, with units just needing to roll their morale or less to recover, not less than their morale. This is reflected in some of the commentaries.

Deployment

The Germans set up the 105mm, GREN and LT (8-0-1) in 0707. I opt for the higher protection of the woods over the first fire of being dug in. The wagon, 81mm and a LT (10-1-0) set up in 0803 while the GREN, reduced HMG and CAPT (9-1-1) set up dug in 0704. My basic thought is that there won’t be a lot of German movement. I do want to shift the GREN and HMG to 0705 and have them dig in there, as they will have better fields of fire. I will send the wagon towards the 105mm. If I can repulse the first American attack, I’ll load it up and take it somewhere safer.

The Americans set up a PARA and CAPT (9-1-1) in 0608 and a PARA, CAPT (9-1-0) and LT (9-0-1) in 0509. I’m going to send 1 PARA through the woods to attack the 105mm while the other moves towards town. The reinforcements will help with the 105mm if the need arises, or will head up the road to the town.

First hour

On the first turn, one company of Americans advances into the woods adjacent to the 105mm, surviving opportunity fire unscathed, while the others moving into 0507 are not as lucky, with the CAPT being demoralized and the PARA being disrupted. The 105mm gets off a shot at the weakened stack and misses, as does the 81mm. The wagon moves towards the 105mm and the GREN and HMG move to 0705 and prepare to dig in.

Turn 2 sees the CAPT return to disrupted and the PARA rally. The GREN fires and misses (why I didn’t fire the 105mm, I do not know) and the PARA in the woods assaults the 105’s position, and succeed in disrupting the German LT, however he recovers before the turn is over. The assault continues on turn 3 with neither side gaining an advantage. On Turn 4 the assaulting PARA is demoralized, while the one not involved in the assault works around the town. The Germans attempt to knock out the demoralized PARA and free up the 105mm, only to fail. A GREN Platoon moves into town, leaving the dug-in HMG to guard the approaches.

Second hour

The CAPT in the assault hex rallies the PARA to disrupted, however the Germans assault them again and demoralize them again. 2 new PARA and a 1st LT (9-1-0) advance onto the board, heading to help out the assault on the 105mm. On Turn 6, the Germans grab the initiative and have a great chance to hurt the demoralized PARA. The Assault produces an M result, however the PARA’s refuse to break and on their own impulse really back to Disrupted. The assault reinforcements are delayed when mortar fire disrupts one of the PARA units.

On Turn 7, the Germans assault, hoping to demoralize or damage the disrupted unit, but are unsuccessful and the PARA finally rallies back to normal. While the disrupted PARA in 0507 rallies, the other platoon and a 1st LT head to 0606 to aid the assault. On Turn 8 the reinforced PARAs finally get to the 9 column (the same as the Germans) and succeed in disrupting the LT and the 105mm. The GREN hang tough, though. A lucky mortar shot gets an M2 on the units in 0506, and the Americans pass all the morale checks.

Third hour

The assault against the artillery position continues, with the PARA finally managing to take out the battery and demoralize the LT. Another platoon of PARA arrives with an excellent 1st LT (10-1-1). The Americans prepare to assault the town in 0604, but accurate fire from the Germans disrupts a platoon and demoralizes the 1st LT. The Germans have also reinforced the town with the reduced HMG platoon.

On Turn 10, the assault continues, and gets bloodier. The Germans produce a 1, reducing a PARA platoon, disrupting the CAPT and the full strength PARA and demoralizing the reduced PARA. However, the Germans don’t escape unscathed, with the GREN and LT both being demoralized. The Germans attempt to rally, however the leader fails and flees. The GREN recovers to disrupted status. Outside of 0604, both units recover. That’s a short lived victory, though, as the Germans pour fire into 0505 and get an X, reducing one PARA platoon, demoralizing the survivors and disrupting the 1st LT.

Turn 11 sees the Americans withdraw from adjacent to the town, recognizing they are too weak to take it. However things go from bad to worse on turn 12, as accurate fire from the town produces an M2 and the demoralized reduced PARA platoon is eliminated, for a total of 3 American step losses, preventing an American victory. However, if the Americans can take both towns and lose no more steps, they can still salvage a draw.

Fourth and fifth hours

The German GREN platoon that was guarding the 105mm attempts to disengage and gets demoralized for its troubles. The PARA pounce on him and cause a step loss. On turn 14, the reduced platoon fails to rally and the free shot from the PARAs as they flee the assault finish them off. Back at the town, the Germans hear troops moving up from the beaches, and send the HMG platoon to 0803 to bolster the defense. PARAs fire at it as it crosses the clear terrain in 0704 and roll a 12 for an M2, however the HMG rolls a 4 on its morale check and barely passes.

American reinforcements arrive on turn 15, and the HMG in 0803 manages to demoralize the army HMG platoon as it heads towards 0604. Still, the INF platoon and the Shermans move into position.

The assault on 0604 begins on turn 16, with the Americans getting to the 13 column and the Germans on the 9. The Germans miss completely, while the Americans get an M2….and the Germans hang tough. Meanwhile, the other Americans set up for an assault on the town in 0803. Turn 17 sees the assault on 0604 gain ground, as the GREN is reduced at the cost of some disrupted Shermans. The HMG fires at the advancing PARAs, not slowing them down, and then has to defend against an attack by an INF platoon. The fight is a tough one, with the Americans getting an M1 and the Germans an M2, however the only effect is a demoralized 2nd LT. Finally, on turn 18, the Americans clear out 0604 and continue the assault on 0803, destroying the mortar and disrupting the other Germans except for on LT. The Americans take it on the chin, too, with the INF and a PARA platoon demoralized, and the other PARA platoon disrupted, as is the 1st LT.

The game is over in a German victory, as they held onto 0803.

Final Thoughts

This turned out to be a pretty balanced scenario. Overall, I think the die rolls favored the Germans a bit, although the Americans had their share of luck. Had the GREN retreating from the 105mm position not been demoralized by the free shot from the PARA and been able to reinforce 0803, I doubt the Americans could have taken either town. At the same time, the Germans had a few lucky opportunity fire shots that slowed up important assaults. I think I approached 0604 too quickly, and those casualties really erased any chance for an American victory.