For the most part, the 82nd Airborne had some decent initial luck along the Merderet River. The demoralization recovery generally went well, and of the four strongpoints they encountered three were unoccupied and the fourth was quickly taken out by assault. (The fifth was never contacted.) The paratroopers quickly established a perimeter around the causeway, plus a couple of guard points along the road further north.

However, not all luck went their way. The westernmost group had difficulty recovering and was overrun by the early German arrivals, and the Germans got all of their AFV's early in the battle. Then, of the early-morning airdrop, only the leader, the jeep and the howitzer arrived.

The Americans settled down to a grinding series of assaults and fire attacks, taking a healthy chunk out of the attackers. But the presence of AFV's in the assaults greatly aided the German effort, as did the plethora of troops (if a unit fled out of an assault, another was usually ready to step in.) And the length of the scenario allowed AFV's that had fled to recover and come back.

By Turn 30 the Germans had technically won - they had causeway hex 0411 and had taken out more than 8 US steps - though the US could have suicidally ventured out of town 0412 to try and take the causeway. But I continued the fight to see how it played out. The parachutists stood tall under the relentless prEssure, but there were just too many Germans. By the end, only one PARA HMG, one PARA, the howitzer and three leaders were left, and both sides of the river were in German hands. Still, the Germans paid a stiff penalty: about 23 steps taken out.

A very interesting scenario - really evocative of the para drops on D-Day, what with the need to organize (Recover) and gather, then fend off increasing pressure. But given the length of the scenario, I'm not so sure about its balance, which is why I gave it a "3." Maybe the best plan is to dig in all along the causeway and at both ends, with 0411 in the center of the string - forcing the Germans to grind even more. However, that plan would at best secure a draw. Based on this one play, I can't see the US winning unless the German only rarely rolls above "8" for the reinforcements.