After having received Airborne I.E. in the mail from a fellow gamer, my son Christian (9 years old) and I decided to take a walk through the scenarios. The first one is "Orange Hero":

On June 6, 1944, the Americans 505th and 507th PIR attacked the La Fiere Manoir to hold the bridge across the Meredet River. The Americans' goal is to seize La Fiere Manoir or to eliminate 2 1/2 German steps (strongpoints not included).

Turn 1:

The Americans moved out under the cover of darkness. Captain Schwarzwalder led his 2 American platoons as fast as he could to take the La Fiere manor house and have a decided position over the bridge. Lt. Marr takes the rest of the men and move toward the northern farm village, where there was a reported German bunker. After doing some quick scouting, Marr found that no Germans were actually there. The German Captain, sensing something wrong, ordered a fearful Lieutenant (morale of 6!) and a grenadier platoon to come with him to check out the bridge and make sure defenses were OK. Finding no one except the bridge guard in the La Fiere Manoir, they decide to stay and have breakfast with their friends.

Turn 2:

Due to some missed communication with as to what the attack plan was, Capt. Schwarzwalder and his two platoons arrive in a field across a hedgerow from the Manoir. Upon reconnaissance of the bridge area, they find a fortified strongpoint at one end of the bridge. Unfortunately, the Germans in the dining hall see them and quickly take up defensive positions. Gunfire from the Manoir ranges out to the paratroopers, but misses its mark in the darkness. Schwarzwalder realizes he is running out of time and needs to take the bridge now.

Turn 3:

Schwarzwalder gives the command to advance and attack, and all 75 paratroopers climb and stumble through the maze of shrubbery and trees in the hedgerow. The Germans try to pick them off, but the American Airborne are not to be denied. The paratroopers storm the Manoir, but the Germans tenaciously keep them at bay. Meanwhile, Lt. Marr is waiting behind to give words of encouragement (or shame) to any men that decide the Germans are too tough.

Turn 4:

The Germans, alarmed at seeing so many Americans, call for reinforcements. The Engineering platoon in Cauquigny races down the causeway while the mortar platoon starts searching for a more optimal position to rain down harassing fire. The American's attack coalesces and manages to blow up the bridge’s covering strongpoint. The loss of the defensive position stuns the German commander.

Turn 5:

As dawn breaks, the sound of gunfire draws a lone platoon from the countryside to the fray along the river. Lt Marr sees the men and moves in their direction. The engineer platoon finally arrives, reinforcing the Germans at the Manoir. Their close assault training starts to make an immediate impact as they take down a half a platoon of Americans and sends the other half packing for cover.

Turn 6:

Lt. Marr meets up with the newly arrived paratroopers and leads them to assist Capt. Schwarzwalder at the La Fiere Bridge. He hopes to arrive in time to be of help. Meanwhile, Schwarzwalder does not like how the battle is progressing. The Americans are hard pressed but they hold on.

Turn 7:

Another fifteen minutes of battle and the American are beginning to suffer at the German firepower. Another half platoon is gunned down as a flanking attack is conducted. As Capt. Schwarzwalder's forces are whittled away, there is less chance of the Americans actually kicking the Germans out of the Manoir house. The Germans, hoping to end off the contest, decides that they need yet more firepower. The last Lieutenant sends the HMG platoon toward the bridge in hopes of breaking the stalemate at the Manoir. He also sends the mortar company into the swamp area, as they would be able to target into the hedgerow country just north of the bridge. Lt. Marr sends the squad toward the Manoir, hoping against hope that these reinforcements are in time to bolster the American attack.

Turn 8:

With the newly arrived German HMG platoon, the German defense gels and the German counterattack begins. The presence of so much firepower has immediate and dire consequences on the Americans as the reinforcing platoon of paratroopers are gunned down unmercilessly. The last of the paratroopers, seeing their comrades fall to the Germans, become totally demoralized. Capt. Schwarzwalder manages to talk them back into a somewhat cohesive fighting force, but they are still shaken. Back at the tracks, another platoon of paratroopers show up and Lt. Marr moves toward to order them up to the front line.

Turn 9:

The Germans, sensing final victory over the American invaders, launch another assault. Again, the fighting spirit of the last platoon is broken. Even Capt. Schwarzwalder can’t get them to stop running for the hedgerows. Fortunately, the German marksmanship doesn't hit as they leave the Manoir, but the battle is already lost for the Americans.

END RESULT: German victory, which was expected, from what other people have posted here.

Overall, the scenario seems to deteriorate to a single assault. Both Christian and I noted that the whole scenario seemed balanced until the engineering squad came in and started hammering on the Americans in the assault hex. Time for a breather, then we start “Scenario 2: Battery Position At Holdy”.