In this scenario, we have a force of Hitler Youth from the 12th SS Panzer Division attempting to invest an American occupied town. The scenario takes place entirely at night, with visibility out to 2 hexes.

The Hitlerites advanced on a dispersed front in order to avoid any mass target opportunities, with the intention of consolidating for an assault against the town. Supported by armor, the plan was to advance under cover of darkness, consolidate before the town, suppress the defenders with OB artillery, and then launch a coordinated attack. What the Germans did not count on was the American artillery and their illumination rounds.

The first illum round was successful in displaying a mass of troops approaching through the snow covered plowed fields (I used the excellent Winter Wonderland boards in lieu of the standard boards). The initial American bombardment succeeded in a step loss to a Grenadier platoon and loss of its accompanying truck. The second strike caused another step loss, and another destroyed truck. German morale faltered immediately with several disruptions and demoralized units.

In the end, successive American illumination rounds kept the Germans under the spot light as it were, and devastating fire from the Americans in the town hexes prevented the Germans from consolidating. Around turn 8, the Germans were finally able to get a couple platoons and a tank in position to assault, but the assault was beaten back with further casualties, and the Germans conceded the battle at that point.

This is a tough scenario for the Germans given the forces available at their disposal. Once a unit is illuminated, the visibility rules are negated, allowing all hell to break loose, which it did. American combined HMG fire swept through the ranks of the Hitler Youth, as did OBA and DF from the rifle platoons and 3" guns ensconced in the town hexes. The Germans were never able to form up and get in position due to the withering fire being concentrated upon them, illuminated as they were in the open.