A moderate scenario for Elsenborn Ridge. At first glance, it appears this should be easy for the Germans as they outnumber the Americans by almost 4:1. However, they have lower morale and 2/3 of their force enters as reinforcements over half way through the battle. Both sides start by advancing towards the towns on #24. The Germans reach the town first and set up to fire on the advancing Americans. The Americans set up a firebase on the northwest side of the town, and send a flanking force around the southwest. The Germans fire is ineffective for several turns. The US use their higher initiative to advance on the town, and set up for close combat. The US firebase disrupts the northern Germand forces, and the flanking force advance into the town and into close combat with the Germans. After several hours, the US forces eliminate the original German defenders, but the German reinforcements have not yet entered. The reinforcements do not enter until turn 17. They massive force begins to move towards the town, but with only five turns to regain all town hexes and evict the US forces, the task is difficult. The US is able to slow the advance and time runs out with the Germans unable to completely push all US forces from the town, so the US wins.

This is an interesting scenario. A small group of paratroopers, with 8/8 morale and initiative that never drops, need to take a town from some German Volksgrenadiers. There are 2 problems. One is that the VG will get to the town first. The second is that, starting about midway through the scenario, 2 battalions of reinforcements show up for the Germans. Of course, to win, the Paras only have to hold one town hex. Oh, did I mention that the only artillery the paras have is a pair of 81mm mortar units? The Germans have some OBA, although its not a huge amount. Snow limits visibility to 4 hexes, which is not a big deal as most of the fighting will be much closer than that. It does restrict visibility for OBA and the mortars, and the effects on movement have some effect.

So, the Paras assembled and came marching up the road until they were about 5 hexes from the town and then broke into attack forces. One platoon went towards the 1 hex town away from the main one, and the rest of the force headed for the main town. A big problem for the Paras in this one was that the Germans had a 10-2-1 leader, so there was massive firepower coming from the town. And the plan, which I knew would be bloody, fell apart quickly.

First, I should have sent 2 platoons to the 1 hex town. As is, the Germans sent 1 platoon and a leader to defend it, and got there first, and the assaults were on the 5 column vs. the 9 for the Germans. And, despite the Germans 7/5 morale, they refused to fail any morale checks (this was a theme through the scenario). So, they were still locked in assault when I called the scenario. Under the cover of smoke from the mortars, the Paras approached the town taking some casualties, and eventually forced their way into one town hex. 2 platoons and a leader circled around to the back of the town which was much more lightly defended to try to get in that way. The German platoons that were there took a low column shot at them and rolled snake eyes, and the Paratroopers were all demoralized. They fled and refused to recover for the rest of the scenario (I mean, they needed a 6 or less, you'd think they'd get it eventually). That was the high tide for the Americans. The Germans refused to fail morale checks (for the most part), they won initiative several times despite having a deficit in the base initiative each turn, and the US could not get more troops into the town.

The reinforcements came in on their 2nd eligible turn (turn 12), and I called the scenario. There was little chance of the Americans taking another town hex, and with 10 turns to just pound on the guys in the one town hex, it seemed unlikely they'd keep it. Plus, I needed the table for another game. :)

Despite the total failure of the Paras in this one, this was an interesting scenario. Without the 10-2-1 leader, the Germans, while still tough defending a town, are not as deadly. If the Germans don't roll that snake eyes when I'm trying to end-run the main force and the Paratroopers get another foothold, its a different game. If I send 2 platoons to the small town instead of 1, the Americans have another hex the Germans have to retake.

Although its a fairly static scenario (take the town(s)), I think this would be a good FtF scenario and could be played in just a few hours.

Ending the plays of all the scenarios in Elsenborn Ridge, this one gives a chance for a small group of American paratroops to try to take an hold a town from worn out German Volksgrenadiers at the end of the Bugle fighting. The Americans have a eager PARA's advancing on a town without and support except their HMG's and MTR's. The have good morale and unwavering initiative, which will nearly guarantee they will be able to start each turn. But they must capture and hold a town. The Germans have the number of troops, 26 GREN's, but they have lower morale and only moderate artillery support. The leader draw was average for both side, no major leader bonuses and leader morale ranging with more 8's and 9's with a couple of 10's. Weather the a factor with movement and spotting.

The game starts with a race to the towns on board 24. The Germans win and establish a quick defense before the first American PARA's arrive. The PARA's are aggressive and attack the north west edge of the town before the HMGs and MTRs arrive. They are able to assault and trade a step for demoralizing both GREN's in the town. More PARA's move up and the demoralized GREN's are forced to flee and are lost to fleeing fire. The Germans try to quarantine the Americans to the one town hex while they wait for the reinforcements. But the Americans are on the move and the Germans cannot control all the hexes. The PARA's are able to get one hex on the north east side of the town as well. The American PMG's arrive and give more punch to try to consolidate their hold on the northern part of the town. Germans shift units to try to protect this and keep the Americans out of the other northern town hex.

The next major event is the awaiting the German reinforcements. Not until turn 15 do the reinforcements arrive. Rushed forward, they establish themselves in the town and look to assault the two American town hexes. Pouring fire and men into the two hexes the assualts stall with heavy German losses. The American PARA's shift good order units into the fights and keep the Germans out. The fight ends with 12 steps of GREN's and 2 steps of HMG's killed in desperate assaults against the PARA's. American losses were moderate with 5 losses in the end. But the Americans held the town hexes for the win.