OK, this is going to be a little hazy because I played this more than a year ago, but I have my record sheet to help me. My first (solo) play of Elsenborn Ridge was #11 St. Vith, Help Arrives. I think I saw Jay Townsend's AAR of this scenario in the Consimworld AAR folder, and it inspired me to try it out, with the winter boards, of course!

As I recall, the US rushed out with their armor to get out to the treeline and hill at the south end of board 22, to obstruct the progress of the SS, who want to clear out the whole N-S road. The poor infantry had to catch up on foot. Unfortunately for the U.S., the Germans used the "Tank Riders" rule to get their infantry up to the front quickly, and therefore had a combined arms thing going. That and armor values of 3 meant massive destruction for the U.S. armor. My notes tell me that I had to put the game away after turn 9 because of an impending conference at work, but I wrote that a German major victory was all but assured due to the nearly complete elimination of the U.S. armor. The U.S. was within 1 German step of meeting their minor victory condition, but were unlikely to stick around long enough (barring some extreme luck and/or gamey "rush the road on the last turn" tactics) to reach major status for the draw.

Overall, interesting, but I clearly have to learn how to handle thin-skinned American armor better.

The Americans won a minor victory, though coming very close to a major one. By having the initiative the first two turns they were able to rush forward to board 22 and make the Germans advance across open ground. The Germans rushed the Americans, leaving their tanks to provide fire support if the Americans opened up during opportunity fire. The Americans did not but fired and moved with their M-18's. Eventually it came down to close combat. By the time this transpired, however, the Germans had lost all their armor and therefore did not get the combined arms bonus. This hurt them as the Americans were mostly in woods hexes. When the game ended the Americans had lost most of their armor, the Germans over half of their infantry, and were only able to prevent a major American victory by moving a unit on the rode (board 25) at the last minute.

This is the third of five St. Vith scenarios following up the "First Assault" which, in my play, ended up with a disrupted and demoralized reduced regiment of Volksgrenadiers. Here, an angry reinforced battalion (or two two-thirds strength battalions; however one wants to think of four companies) of Leibstandarte panzer grenadiers backed up by elements of their panzer and assault gun battalions runs headlong into a company of foot slogging US infantry and armored elements of the US 7th and 9th Armored Divisions. These elements include a company of M18 tank destroyers.

Germans get initiative on turn 1 and enter the north edge dropping off their truck/lorry-borne infantry just south of the towns and parking their armor in the town LT. The US pushes their armor forward, especially the quick moving M18's. Over the next two turns, US tankers trade jabs (as both sides slowly unveil from their LT positions) with the SS panzer crews whilst the grenadiers push all-out to the south to close with the sharp-shooting US tankers. The US commander is conflicted: clearly, German armor is going to wait at longer range and not engage in open terrain with the deft M18s and M4/76's: yet, they have to make a stand somewhere and they hold a light woods edge. What essentially happened is that the Waffen SS was well lined up such that a single activation moved a hoard of units ... US OF simply got overwhelmed; the Germans gained initiative on turn four; and suddenly US armor unsupported by INF were in three assaults. Some fair rolling on assault columns for the Germans along with a few panzerfaust shots suddenly found the US M4/76 elements smouldering ruins. It was clear the SS obersturmbahnfuhrer in command was simply going to take his time moving south with his armor well-screened.

The remaining US forces then fled southwards hoping to establish strongpoints on the road along the 20-m hill on the southern board. The SS, never known for its march discipline, took a few turns to reorganize, and the swath moved again southwards. US armor just never had much to shoot at - finally, the remaining two M18's went "kamikazi" rushing PzIVH units in a dash for a flanking bonus. Amazingly, one platoon skirted several grenadier platoons (read survived four 22-col DF OF rolls) only to get disrupted (i.e. one step destroyed, the survivor disrupted) by OF from the panzers. The second unit managed to get in a kill on the "type IVs," but to their dismay, the SS held morale. The StugIIIG's were not far behind and the brave M18 that had survived all of the OF shots in its mad dash, was swarmed by shadowy SS-troopers in camouflage.

Determined US attempts at dug-in strong points with an INF or HMG + M16 or M4/105 held well for a while, but the SS simply had to bring up their remaining armor, shoot out the US mechanized units, then move in their infantry. It was all over by Turn 15.

The US did gain a minor victory killing off a tenth German step on the final assault. The Germans had a major victory, however, as the road to St. Vith was now open.

En este escenario un batallón de panzer grenadier, apoyados por una compañía de tanques (PzIVH)y cañones de asalto, dos secciones de morteros y artillería fuera del mapa (2 x 16), pertenecientes a la 1ª división SS, atacan a una fuerza americana compuesta por dos compañía de tanques M4 en sus diversas variantes, una compañía de los velocísimos cazatanques M18 y una batería de cañones autopropulsados M18. El enfrentamiento se produce en los alrededores de Saint Vith.

Los alemanes avanazan encabezados por sus tanques PzIVH, que cometen la imprudencia de adelantarse demasiado en terreno desconocido, por lo que son blanco de los letales cazatanques M18 enemigos, que destruyen dos steps de PzIVH y dos secciones de semiorugas SPW 251. Los germanos aprenden la lección y organizan sus fuerzas para llevar a cabo un ataque lento y metódico. Hacen avanzar a sus panzer grenadier hacia los blindados enemigos con objeto de hacer que éstos disparen y manifiesten sus posiciones, lo que permitiría que fueran localizados y destruidos por los tanques y cañones de asalto que avanzan detrás de los panzer grenadier.

Para resistir el ataque de la infantería alemana, los blindados americanos se concentran al máximo (tres secciones en un hex), lo que les permite hacer un fuego de oportunidad letal, que produce numerosas bajas entre los asaltantes. Sin embargo, este fuego revela las posiciones de los blindados americanos a los panzer, que con un fuego antitanque preciso y efectivo van destruyendo paulatinamente los vehículos enemigos.

Con esta sencilla táctica aplicada sistemáticamente los alemanes van destruyendo y arrinconando a los blindados enemigos, aunque pagan por ello un precio terrible. Cuando los tanques americanos son destruidos quedan solamente las posiciones de la compañía de infantería, fortificada en una encrucijada de carreteras, pero el fuego de la artillería fuera del mapa y de los morteros alemanes mina su resistencia y son finalmente aniquilados en furiosos asaltos de los panzer grenadier.

Los alemanes cosiguen así la victoria, pero a un precio altísimo, ya que pierden la mitad aproximadamente de toda la infantería. Los americanos obtienen una victoria menor, pero los alemanes consiguen una victoria mayor y con ella la victoria definitiva.

Buen escenario. Si los americans hubiesen dispuesto de artillería fuera del mapa tal vez el resultado habría sido distinto.

Author	battlecarrysabot (United States)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	United States
Participants	Schoenwulf
Play Date	2025-06-05
Language	English
Scenario	ElsR011

With both sides beginning the fight off-board, the Americans seek to secure the crossroads and surrounding hilltops and inflict casualties on the approaching Germans, while the Germans attempt to seize the full length of the north-south running road and seize the same crossroads on Board 25. From the outset the Americans are in a hasty defense and the Germans try to capitalize on numerical advantage.

During the first third of the game, the Americans move forward and effectively setup a defensive line, with the majority of their foot units around the crosswords and the rest of their armor dispersed around the flanks. In addition, the Americans rapidly move the M18s forward, scoring kills on the German halftracks in an attempt to screen and delay the Germans. However, on just the third turn, the Germans fire indirect fire, resulting in an M18 being destroyed, the others demoralized and on the run. The German PzIVs and StuGs close to finish off the M18 Company. The rest of the German dismounted force moves forward and deploys.

The middle third progressed quickly, with the Germans attempting to force the Americans back with sustained direct and indirect fire, while maneuvering their armor to the western hills to gain direct fire opportunities on the Americans. For two hours, the forces exchange limited direct fire, some light AT fire and the Americans hold. Critical rolls were the Germans killing a step of M4/105 and the Americans knocking out a PzIV. Finally the American M16 AA Halftrack gets a good kill by shooting up both German 81mm mortars.

The final stage of the attack saw the Germans advance quickly on the crossroads, under murderous opportunity fire from the Americans. But the Germans persisted and on the first turn of assaults seized the crossroads, completely destroying the American force in that hex, including killing the strong Company Commander (CPT, 10-1-1). As the infantry fight progressed, the Germans began moving armor forward. Volleys across the hills began. While the Americans draw first blood the Germans are extremely accurate and kill all but two Platoons of American tanks. Those tanks run north, narrowly dodging German AT fire and eek out a small defensive position on the northern board.

Result: American Victory

Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	United States
Participants	Jockulus
Play Date	2026-10-10
Language	English
Scenario	ElsR011

This was an extended 7-session play-through with the dauntless & creative, Jockulus, leading defending elements of the American 7th and 9th Armored Divisions in this daytime, meeting engagement in wintry Belgium. I led elements of the 1st SS Armored Division in this 24-game turn, 2-map fight to see who will control Highway N-23. Oddly, both sides drew excellent sets of leaders.

The FOW, smoke/illum, excess initiative, extended assault, US M-18 - efficient unit move & fire, and consolidation optional rules, as well as these FOUR house rules: 1) Road Movement for Mechanized & Foot Units — All FOOT & MECHANIZED units may move on roads at the rate of 1/2 of a Movement Point (MP) per road hex, just like MOTORIZED units, 2) Standardized Movement for Mechanized Units — All mechanized units may move through clear hexes at a movement cost of only 1 movement point (MP) per hex, instead of 1 1/2. Add one to this cost if moving up, across, or down slopes hexes, 3) German Assault Gun Activation — German Army, turretless STGs and Jagdpanzer units were typically crewed by artillerymen. Like halftracks, these units may be activated by ALL leaders, as well as Tank Leaders, unless prohibited by scenario rules, and 4) Tank Leader Forward Observation — Full strength, EFFICIENT tank leaders may spot for ALL artillery & air strikes in accordance with the normal spotting rules (8.0, page 19). Just as leaders may spot enemy units, this action does not require an activation.

We felt that these house rules improved simplicity & playability of this scenario.

Our fast-paced, first session (game turns 1-2) featured a massive German combined arms column moving quickly south on the road to occupy town hexes in the northern third of Map 22. The scrambling Yanks moved nearly as fast north from the south map edge, on the same narrow front, The American Tank Destroyer company scored first against a probing STG IIIG platoon and an SPW unit on their right flank. They then began a methodical tactical withdrawal south onto the wooded, lower margins of the 40-meter hill mass. Three German step losses were recorded this session.

The tentative, yet exciting, second session (game turns 3–6) consisted of the Germans continuing to move south in two wings as the Americans withdrew slowly & carefully, losing a pair of steps to accurate SS OBA fire. The German left wing began veering to the right, joining their advancing comrades. A brief counter attack by an adventurous M-18 TD unit bagged an entire STG-IIIg platoon on the eastern margin of Map 25. The GIs consolidated their defenses on the north & east, lower slopes of the wooded, 40-meter hill mass.

Our action-packed, third session (game turns 7–9) was characterized by the Germans shifting the bulk of their advance to the right flank seeking to gain a portion of the crucial high ground, immediately west of the main road. This flanking move caused the Americans to further withdraw key defensive forces to prevent the advancing Germans from capturing the crucial crossroads that had been undefended. The German side encountered bad luck attempting panzerfaust fires in the three close assaults that ensued, while the quick-thinking Yanks continued an orderly tactical withdrawal, repositioning their powerful TD units and a company of tanks to comparative safety on the high ground. The Herrenvolk used their considerable numerical advantage in infantry/mortars/OBA, only losing a single step of infantry this session, while strengthening their grip on the lower margins of the wooded, 40-meter hill mass on Map 25. The GIs struggled to use their substantial advantage in armored units to inflict additional step losses on the surging German wave, however they still held the key position in Hex 25-0704 on the northeast hill slope, overlooking the road.

The grim & very costly fourth session (game turns 10–12) consisted of a great deal of close-range fighting with three close assaults being won by the suddenly surging Germans. Step losses this session were 15 and a leader for the battered American side, and another 5, plus a leader for the barbarous, Third Reich militia boys. When the smoke cleared, there was only a single US leader remaining on the battle map along with some tanks and a reduced HMG! The Herrenvolk lost a section of Pz-IV tanks on the wooded hill mass, while their GI opponents suffered the elimination of a platoon of M-4/76 Shermans, as well as a full strength M-18 TD unit, plus another M-18 section. Both sides saw their initiative levels reduced in fierce fighting.

More close assaults & long-range AT fire characterized our fifth session (game turns 13–15), Step losses for the Americans was another 8, while the scrambling Herrenvolk lost 2 in heavy fighting, and also had their initiative level reduced to zero. The GIs continued an orderly, tactical withdrawal south, while the Germans managed to gain control of the crucial N-23 road juncture at Hex 0709 on Map 25, as they closely followed the retreating Americans units. However, the Yanks are fast running out of space to safely retreat to, with a handful of turns still remaining! At this point in the battle, both sides might claim a minor victory, in effect, the scenario is technically a draw, assuming that the Germans fail to establish control of the entire north-south N-23 road.

The lively sixth session (game turns 16–17) was a grim & costly one for the Defending Yanks, who lost another 5 armored steps as they continued their tactical withdrawal to the southeast quadrant of the battle map.

Our entertaining, seventh & final session (game turns 18–24) was a classic game of cat & mouse, with the last of the US infantry and the sole remaining leader eliminated, as well as a series of poorly-delivered, German close assaults and several AT firefights. In the end, a minor American victory was the result, thanks to a great deal of clever maneuver by the last 3 steps of US armor. The final step loss tally was: 40 for the defending GIs and 19 for the rampaging German side. There were 15 FOW-shortened turns of the 24 played.

This was a relatively balanced, more than a little gamey, but fun-to-play scenario in wintry terrain. It merits a 4 in shared, online play with a challenging & flexible opponent. To merit a rating of 5, the victory conditions should be reconsidered & rewritten requiring the Germans to maintain complete control of the N-23 road north of the crucial intersection at 25-0709, while also inflicting at least TWICE the number of US steps that they lose in combat. It is suitable for both SHARED and SOLO play.

I am playing this scenario, as it is a quick one, and my time is short today. After one turn of play, I have rushed my M18's into a blocking position, hopefully they will get to activate first next turn? The American have very little Infantry but lots of armor. The Germans on the other hand have tons of Infantry and enough armor to make them dangerous. Both sides really need to try for the Major Victory conditions first because if both get minor one victory conditions, it will be a Draw. So the fight should center around the Northern part of board 25. Without very much Infantry, this looks tough for the Americans but if I can quickly take out the German armor, I should have a chance.

Those 14 movement factor, really makes the M18's a fun TD to move across the map board first and get into position and this scenario you get to use 3 full strength counters/Platoons of them.

This ended in an American Minor Victory. The Germans never could not get it together to make a finally push. They had terrible recovery dice rolls. I threw in the towel with about six turns left. The American did what they needed to do to get a minor victory but had little chance to get a Major Victory with too few Infantry units and no Artillery.

Continuing on with Elsenborn Ridge, scenario 11 St. Vith: Help Arrives pits several battalions of German SS against a adhoc group of American troops. The strengths of the Germans are number of units, better armor, artillery, morale and mobility. The American get the victory conditions, just destroy 10 German steps without the Germans gaining control of the north-south road up to and including the crossroads on board 25. The German strategy was to just move down the road and kill anything in the way. There movement can be controlled as there is enough trucks/halftracks to keep up with the tanks. Even dismounted the Germans must resist the temptation to rush the tanks forward. Steady, constant movement and firepower. For the Americans, a straight up battle is out of the question with the German strengths. The Americans must hit and run, use the their tank mobility to find and hit weak units and get around the advancing Germans to threaten the road link to the north.

From the start the Americans had problems. The Germans were able to score impressive kills on a couple of advance M18's causing the Americans to lose an initiative point. This lead to the Americans losing most of the initiative rolls and the Germans to match their tanks against the Americans with the Germans taking more kills. 8 to 1 kill ratios we the norm for the Germans as the American weak armor shows why the Americans need numbers to destroy Germans tanks. The American platoon of infantry and HMG tried to digin but the German infantry was able to close and get 3 to 1 assaults on the platoons. The bright spot for the Americans was that a M4/76 dugin on the hill on board 25 was able to disrupt and demoralize the German infantry trying to capture the crossroads. As a final defense the M24 tried to kill the SS as it approached, but it was soon dispatched with a panzerfaust. The final score a German minor victory with the capture of the crossroads on board 25. In terms of step losses Americans 24, Germans 5.

This scenario is one I would play again as the German dice rolls were too good and the Americans we so bad, this seemed to make the difference. I feel a Americans need to be more choosy about the attacks and use the mobility to get around and spread out the German assault.