Sometimes a PG scenario reminds you of the need for combined arms. Sadly, armed forces can become infatuated with their weapons systems and forget that complex mechanical and electrical contraptions still need to work in battlefield conditions and that there are places where they can work well and places where that just isn't possible. Case in point, Panzer Lehr #4.

A small but potent force of 20-25 Pz IVs along with a company of infantry borne in halftracks needs to take a ridge away from the British who are manning it with a battalion or so. The southern approach to the ridge is clear but the ridge itself and the northern approaches are heavily wooded (if this were a horror movie, as my daughter is currently watching on Netflix in a constant stream, the ominous music would start now). The British have a couple of AT guns but they are primarily an infantry force. While half of the force is hidden (and some deployed to the east to impede a German indirect approach to the ridge) the concrete objective makes it less of an issue in this scenario than in most.

The German assault goes off very well and the ridge is cleared within 5 turns with the exception of one hex which fights on defying the cold hard logic of Pz IVs in your face. In order to deter a British counterattack the Germans launch a couple spoiling attacks to the northern woods and one of the GREN units becomes demoralized and flees. Another takes a step loss and is similarly demoralized and fleeing. This leaves the German with only two infantry types and therefore an area must be held with armor alone. Remember that the ridge is wooded...

The British counterattack the tanks, despite the power of the tanks themselves in assault combat the British gain two column adjustments for the leader and the tanks in woods, the net one improvement makes it possible for them to attack on the 24 column (2 RIF, 1 WPN and a leader are attacking) and they cause a step loss and demoralization on the Pz IV. The German infantry continues to avoid recovery and the British continue their assault on the wooded ridge clearing two hexes and destroying four steps of Pz IVs, no doubt the Prince was in one.

As a result the Germans abandon the ridge line to get into safer ground and the British consolidate their rewon position. Upon recovery, the Germans decide that there is no point in continuing the battle as their remaining forces cannot hold the ridge if they do win it again. The loss is entirely due to the sparse infantry support to the armored attack.

A very satisfying small scenario. One which will play well in any venue. I give it a "4".