No MUD; only terrain modifications are the lack of 40-m hill lines and the N/S road of B9 is treated as a trail. US objectives are: control of all hill terrain on B9, but particularly Hill 139 (the NE hill of B9); control of Grosshau (B10 town); and control of the entire E/W road. VG morale is particularly weak at 7/5, but the Heer units (holding Grosshau are 8/6. US is 8/6.

German Set-Up:

344th VG: 2xGREN B9/0714; 2xGREN B9/1003; 2xGREN B9/1107; HMG+75mm B9/1207; 2x81mm B10/1114; SP 9-4 B9/1105; SP 3-4 B10/1011; SP 5-4 B10/1106 275th INF: 2xGREN B10/0809; GREN + HMG B10/0808; StuGIIIG + GREN B10/0709. Note: The 275th drew the 9-0-2 hauptmann and the 10-1-2 leutnant. This will be particularly significant in the end game approach/assault phase.

US Attack Plan:

6xINF move eastwards along the “southern” third of the board. Objectives are to clear VG units on B9 and converge on Grosshau (town on B10) from the south.

Remaining units attack eastwards along and to either side of the E/W road. Two companies of INF vector NE to attack the B9 NE hill area (major objective) whilst the remainder, including most of the HMG and ENG continue due eastward adding supportive fire/units to attack VG units holding the southern part of Hill 136.

Play:

The southern prong began well for the US 4th INF. OBA disrupted both GREN platoons on the first attack allowing close approach whilst the VGs recovered. German return artillery fire combined with a German initiative win results in two demoralized US platoons (the units in the center of the US approach – thus effectively separating the northern and southern platoons. Grim-faced GIs began close assault with the VGs using the woods to their advantage. It was not until Turn 7 that the US had cleared these two troublesome platoons. They began their march eastwards, but in fragmented order as it was until Turn 9 that the last platoons had recovered to good order. Glory did await one of these platoons, however (see below).

The center attack moved ahead to the two boards edge where they encountered StuGs and a GREN platoon of the Heer that had moved forward westwards out of Grosshau. The first few shots from this blocking force caused demoralizations and disruptions, but otherwise did no serious harm other than forcing the US to take the time to fan out and try to encircle to avoid the DF/OF. Meanwhile, units from this group also aided attacks northwards, particularly vs. the AT gun/HMG.

Likewise the force sent NE found success against the strongest German strongpoint and GREN units holding the northern hill areas. Without recording specifically blow-by-blow, the US really fared well here despite German advantages in being dug-in. In particular, Turn 7 saw multiple VG casualties from X-results; compound demoralizations; and OF vs. fleeing units.

By Turn 11, the US controlled B9 and was forming attacks north and down the B10 trail (taking out the 81mm mortars as they went); moving eastward along the E/W road following up on the retreating assault guns and (now) reduced GREN. Likewise, the southern units were marching across with the lead units now engaged by the strongpoint guarding that area. At this point, German step losses = 19, US step losses = 5. Grosshau, however, was another kettle of fish.

How does one describe this frenetic and wild battle? Several strong US OBA strikes (M2’s) were shrugged off by the determined Heer who hunkered down, grim-faced in their home village. The infantry held the front, the StuGs the crossroads. German OBA dialed in and lead to two further step losses and several morale failures.

Just as determined, US Ivy Division soldiers and engineers braved horrid small arms fire to approach the outskirts of the town; literally a sea of olive surrounded all but the western buildings. The US must reduce three assaults in five turns.

Versus StuGIII’s: OF from the assault guns kept US approach (from the southern attack axis group) at bay for a turn or two until out of sheer desperation, Captain 10-1-1 (Distinguished Service Cross) lead a single platoon into assault simply in the hopes of tying down the German machines. With bazooka’s blazing, the US rolls a ‘12’ on the AT fire destroying four or five of the StuGs. The Germans did not go down without a fight, disrupting both the captain and his platoon. Fortunately, friendly units moved in for support.

Versus the 2xGREN (9-0-2 hauptmann): three separate assaults by US HMG + INF failed to break this fully; eventual addition of an ENG and a lucky shot, killing the valiant Heer company commander, had this hex cleared on Turn 16.

Versus the HMG+GREN (10-1-2 leutnant). US bodies piled up as platoon after platoon was shuffled in fresh to the attack. It came down to Turn 18, with the unfazed, but exhausted leutnant and a good order reduced HMG facing a 30-col US assault roll (net = +1 for leader+morale+ENG-2forTown). Had the US rolled a ‘1’ for an M2 result, the US would most likely not have made ANY victory condition given the high German morale. A roll of ‘3’ however, eliminates the last resistance in Grosshau and the US claims a Major Victory. The Germans earned a minor victory for their valiant defense, but the US advance into Germany would continue.

German Step Losses: 33

US Step Losses: 12

US morale at End: 8 units demoralized; 6 units disrupted (there wasn't much left in good order).

In retrospect, I should have pushed the board center (along the E/W road) attack earlier in order to put pressure against the town sooner. I think the success against the VGs on Hill 136 lulled me a bit regarding the attack against Grosshau: certainly I had enough experience trying to flush out high morale SS from towns in Winter Soldiers and Black SS to know that even 6-7 turns is not much time to defeat such units save for a very lucky OBA or DF softening attack (or very poor morale rolls).

I gather than PLloyd will be playing this at some later date as part of his 4th Infantry Division series. I look forward to reading his and subsequent AARs. In this play, it was a nail-biter right down to the very last attack (roll) with basically “victory or defeat” hinging on its outcome. I also felt that the timing on this one was excellent: the US is very hard pressed, but it can be done.