Instead of a collision the American task force never left board 24. They garrisoned the town, the farm in 1105 and the light woods to the NE of town where two companies dug in.

The SS assaulted the farm while the slower VG positioned to attach the woods. It took some turns to clear the farm with some nasty casualties on both sides and a platoon of StuGs getting shot up bad. The remaining assault guns were redirected toward the woods travelling behind the hill as the US had the 3" guns in the town with good line of sight. Shermans in the woods retreated at the sight of advancing assault guns and the woods were the scene of another bloody infantry fight. At this point as the US commander, I would retreat as two full companies had been lost and declared this a German win. The Panthers would be in the battle zone in an hour or so and I couldn't see how the 99th could hold that town. I had already sent a company up the hill behind to dig in as a back stop.

This is a pretty balanced fight and appearance of the Panthers will tip it over the edge if it gets that far. I pulled the plug around 9:15 and had even been brave enough to put the Jdgpz IV's on the hill in clear view of the 3" guns. However, if they were to fire, this would provoke certain artillery fire. Shame it was really over before the panzers could get involved! All the Shermans survived and were more of a threat.