Everything seemed to favor an American victory in this play, especially since neither German strongpoint was occupied. The American paras were able to take control of both town hex objectives unopposed, before the first wave of German reinforcements could stop them. Both of the unoccupied strongoints counted as step losses for inititiave purposes so already the American paras had an exceptional first action advantage.

Early on, the Germans forced an American step loss at 06:15/turn 8 after the Germans actually got the intiative despite the odds and got an X result on the 16 column of the direct fire table, hitting American units which were backtracking after taking the northernmost town to reinforce the other town. The paras then had their moment later on by demoralizing a lowly 6-0-0 German LT and a GREN unit and also were able to overrun the 81mm mortar, eliminating it. The demoralized German LT and GREN actaully ended up fleeing into the already American-contolled but vacant, northern town. Before either one could recover they were both also easily eliminated in an American urban assault.

Soon it was just two German units attempting to hold out and weaken defenses in the southern objective town until further reinforcements would arrive from the east edge at 11:00/turn 27. After those reinforcements arrived an assault was made on American units in the swamp outside of the town hex and eventually, at 12:00/turn 31, the Americans take another PARA step loss. However, the Germans have taken a beating as well and have not been able to take their town objective. Soon, it looks as if the best the Germans can only hope for a draw as what's left of their overall force is in some sort of disarray or disorder but they still continue the swamp hex assault though it has become more than 50/50 in favor of the Americans. It seems very possible for an American victory at the last moment as another German GREN unit is eliminated attempting an assault at 13:15/turn 36 but the Germans spoil it all with getting "snake eyes" on the 7 column of the direct fire table against the paras defending the southern town and force a third American step loss on the last German activation on the last turn.

So it ends with both sides meeting their victory requirements; The Americans occupying and controlling town hexes 0509 and 0803 but the Germans inflict 3 American step losses. This scenario surpassed my expectations but even with the surprise ending I can only give it a '3', which is still not a bad rating. In most cases this scenario will favor Germany as most likely at least one of the strongpoints will be occupied. Also, drawing the worst possible German Lieutenant with a 6-0-0 rating did not help with the initial German reinforcements. I really thought I had a rare American win for this one until the last German activation. So far, ater the first seven 'Airborne' scenarios the Americans have failed to secure even one victory but I suppose it could have run worse as Germany, for their part, has only won two of the scenarios; 5 out of 7 so far have been draws. Looking ahead the scenarios look a little more promising and am still motivated to complete them all.