This scenario was played over 5 sessions on Skype with Hugmenot. It depicts a large American attack on German positions at St Barthelemy just after the US troops have been bombed accidentally by the USAAF. As a result, one clever SSR in this game is that when a US officer wishes to activate, he will need to avoid rolling a 1 or 2 on a d6. his can have ramifications on set-up and tactics throughout the game.

The Germans, SS troops from 1st & 2nd SS Divisions (Leibstandarte & Das Reich) set up across a one board front in the hope of defending St.Barthelemy and a major road junction. The VP's award points for these features as well as inflicting losses. The terrain does not allow the Germans to simply plot up in towns as those features are to the rear. Therefore, they deploy forward, dug-in defending a hill line centrally located with GRENs, HMG's, PzIVH and AT. They also, on their right flank, set up a short series of dug-in positions to stave off or hold up any flanking attempt. On their right, another group of GRENs are located to try and force any American attack to be funnelled through the wheatfields to slow it down. They also deploy all their mortars and rockets in St.Barthelemy (a 55col shot when combined) out of sight of any US eyes.

The US have many troops and outnumber the Germans by around 2 to 1. This means they have 32 INF and 9 HMG platoons backed by 6 x 81mm and a 3 x 18 OBA. BUT .. the big but, is that as mentioned, they are racked with confused command where there is a 1 in 3 chance of an officer failing to activate when required plus a huge logistical problem of getting this sizeable force forward. They also only have 18 turns to bring their numbers to bare.

In turns 1 to 4 the US spend their time getting the juggernaut moving. In this time, they lose 5 steps inflicting 1 on the Germans. They have so far only brought themselves into long DF range of their enemy.

Turns 5-8 saw the Americans begin to pressure the German right flank where their short line of dug-outs were located just for this eventuality. The GI's suffered going forward, taking 7 step losses here in those 4 turns. They did manage to keep pressing though and by the end of turn 8, they had instigated 3 x assaults against the SS positions. The Germans could have been in a stronger position, but their morale checks often let themselves down as they initially showed little stomach for a close-in fight. But the line was still just about holding but was being bent and stretched. If and when this line collapsed, St Barthelemy would be put in immediate danger.

During the same period, the Amis tried a flanking effort on the left too. However, German fire continually disrupted leaders in this attack and getting the men forward was a slow and arduous task for the Americans. Little headway was made in fact. Also, in the centre, barring some bombardments, little pressure was being placed on the Germans, though this was probably in fear of this being the SS strongest point and DF received from here could be potentially deadly ? By the end of turn 8, losses were German 7 steps, American 16 steps.

Turns 9-12: (Right Flank) : As I had a 2 v 1 initiative advantage, I was hoping to get the first AS of turn 9, but rolling a 2 to his 6 allowed the US two AS's. The US continued with their assaults on the weakened dug-in positions on the German right flank. It was a mixed bag of action. The US attacks were weak in their effect and the Germans inflicted tough MC's on the Americans. Despite this salvaging opportunity, 2 of the 3 dug-outs morale didn't hold up and left themselves vulnerable in demoralised and disrupted states. This was looking dangerous, so the Germans concentrated on putting what ever forces they could spare towards the threatened town plus use on and off board artillery to pummel the Americans. Both sides ended up inflicting 3 steps of damage on each other but at this point, the US were looking very threatening indeed.

Turns 10 & 11 proved more sedatory in casualty loss, just one American step. But now, the US advance on the right had been slowed. German opportunity fire was still causing disorder and the guns continued to bombard the area. Add to this that one dug-out was completely holding out and the others were only now just being overrun PLUS a 4 AS turn ended quickly by FOW and suddenly there was a time pressure on the American attack.

Turn 12 was a little devastating for the Americans as they collected 8 steps of casualties in their attempts to advance in the face of pinpoint artillery plotting and accurate opp.fire. The right flank attack in the north began looking very weakened for the US. It seemed every time they advanced elements forward, they were either shot up, disrupted or demoralised.

On the left flank the American advance over the 4 turns played was no more than a trickle. Some GI's also changed direction as these, combined with the centre forces looked to push on towards the objective crossroads. There was lots of movement, but very little action on the left. Perhaps best expressed as some US disorder and German holding tactics.

With the sudden ending of a very short turn 11, the US, in turn 12 got their troops in the centre on the move. These had been weakened in numbers a bit as some of this force had been disseminated in the last 3 turns towards both flanks. They finally advanced in sight of the German line, but were still 400m away on a wheat covered hill. Nonetheless, German defensive fire inflicted some losses as well as disruption and demoralisation.

Overall, for the Germans, the end of turn 12 had them looking well-placed. The northern section or German right flank looked to have reduced the Americans to something nearing a disorganised group of 'small-groups'. The Germans also had the left or southern flank under control, but it still had to be suspiciously eyed for developments. The centre was also looking strong for the Germans. As it stood at turn 12's end, the Germans still controlled all 9 town hexes across the board and the crossroads. Step-losess were: German 11 steps, American 28 steps.

American attacks on the German right flank continued, albeit weakened, but their slow advance had finally got eyes on the on-board artillery set up in the town. The Americans wasted no time in bringing OBA upon these guns and destroying the Nebelwurfer and 120mm mortar. The battle now began raging around the town, with both sides sending more men to it.

On the German left, the US pushed for the objective crossroads and made some brave ground but with some cost in loss and disorder. Again, both sides are plying men into the area for a final scrimmage. The centre still was seeing little action by US troops there. By end of T15: Total steps lost were German 16, American 32.

So onto the final 2 turns, 16 & 17 (18 did not get played), and the Americans now concentrated on attacking the crossroads and getting into any town hex they could. Initially it looked good as all their leaders activated and got the GI's assaulting forward. However, the effect was far less exciting than the movement ! They were unable to budge any of the Germans at any of the locations. The battle was falling into a lbit of chaotic series of hopeful assaults. One sideshow was when the US M10 got a jump on the PzIVH. The M10 loosed off two volleys and missed with both. The PzIV's turrets taversed, fired, fired again and the M10's were no more. With American forces either tied down in stalemate assaults or disrupted, the game ended at the end of turn 17 as the dusk began to draw in. The Germans had held St.Barthelemy and had inflicted sizeable losses on their attackers.

Casualties for the opposing sides (in steps) were:

German: 15 FOOT, 3 Leaders, 2 APC, 3 GUN = 20 step-equivalents

American: 36 FOOT, 5 Leaders, 2 AFV = 40 step-equivalents.

Germans held 5 Town hexes (10pts)- American held 2 Town hexes (6pts)

(2 Town hexes were contested as was the major road junction)

Final Points Tally - German 40+10 = 50pts, American 20+6 = 26pts

Major German Victory.

This was one really exciting scenario that flowed different ways each session. There is quite a bit of choice for set-up and attack routes, let alone variation of fate, leader draws and dice-rolls. Therefore I suspect future plays especially shared plays will see a variation of stories. This easily scores a 5 and will remain memorable to me just as Iron Line South has from FoF