Initial solo play. Set up Americans with plan of using HMG to suppress German positions on opposite side of valley prior to a mad dash by balance of American units on German right flank. Germans got initiative and began to bring on units behind American position (one hex out of American view in woods). Initial American HMG attack went quite well, demoralizing left flank German unit not hidden by initial spotting considerations. American rifle unit within range of right flank German unit managed to disrupt it with initial attack. Germans again win initiative and proceed to assault rear most American position, inflicting a step loss and killing an American LT with a die roll of 3 on casualty roll. Prior American opportunity fire had been ineffective. Stronger American platoon stack felt it necessary to join close combat (needed un demoralized leader to give a decent chance to Americans) as Germans piled into ongoing assault hex with HMG platoon. One American platoon sent on dash across valley was quickly demoralized by German fire. Assault hex devolved into further melee with German step loss and loss of a German leader, but additional American step loss effectively doomed American efforts.