Orders phase

Several adjustments are necessary this turn. I need to get my platoons on the hill away from LOS of the Panzer IV, and decide to move the forward platoon back while the second platoon covers. Ultimately, I think, I will move my platoons back into town to build up a solid defensive line... if the Germans leave me enough to to withdraw that is.

First platoon moves back while second platoon covers. If the Germans leave me enough time, I intend to leapfrog my platoons back into town.

Around the bridge, I decide that now is the time to unhide all my units and open fire with whatever ammo they still have left. It's probably one full turn before the enemy Panzer is in LOS, and chances are good that I can catch several German units in the open. Notice, however, that the flag over the bridge changed to German control. No wonder - I have little more than a skeleton force here. Even with the final arrival of the MMG from the other bank (which results in four MG teams in this position), my defenders are highly exposed to the enemy vehicles and especially the tank. I'm afraid that once that Panzer rolls forward and plasters everything with HE ammo, there will be not much left but smoke and craters in the ground...

"Fire at will!"

But in order to give my forward platoon at least a little AT defense capability, I decide to move one of thebazooka teams that were hiding in the town forward. From the new position, it should be able to fire at any vehicles which cross the bridge and then approach the forward position from the south on the near bank. The distance is a little less than 200 meters... but any vehicle moving uphill and through the snow will be going slow - and might still be a good target, even from such a long distance.

Run and hide...

Cpt. Brown, CO of baker company, is looking through his binoculars at the enemy infantry surrounding the town, when he hears footsteps from behind. Looking out of the window, he sees four GIs running down the road, carrying a .30 cal machinegun between them. He steps out of the door, right in front of the soldiers.

"Where' ya going?"

A young corporal answers: "Cpl. Rice, Sir. We're moving this beast to the south..."

Cpt. Brown shakes his head. "No way, Corporal. The Jerries are already in the woods and you'll be a fine target for the Panzer so far on the edge of town. Get your butts over there..." Henderson points at the corner of the row of blockhouses across the road. "From the third floor you can cover the hill but will be less of a target for the Panzer. And hurry up!"

Cpl. Rice's MG team. The brown line shows that the team is now in command range of Cpt. Brown's (name fits somehow ;-)) Company HQ unit. Because it is in command, I can cancel the team's order and issue a new one without a time delay penalty (i.e. the MG team will start moving to the new location within 15 seconds or so after the turn starts, and not approx. 35 seconds if out of command).

Action phase

Just as first platoon on the southern hill moves back through the position of the second platoon, the blood freezing sound of "incoming mail" promises more casualties. And yes, several rounds of enemy artillery land right on the position. I count at least 7 or 8 casualties from the barrage, and, among them, also Lt. Travis, the Platoon commander of the second platoon. Two of the five squads in the area panic and one routs. There is a good chance that one will calm down again since it still is in command range, but the two squads without Platoon HQ are more or less lost.

The enemy artillery lands right on target...

Heavy casualties are the result. One Platoon HQ unit wiped out, two squads in panic and one routed. Oh my...

In the bridge area, news are a little better. My MG teams manage to pin several of the attacking squads. Unfortunately, it seems that the enemy Panzer can trace LOS to one of my squads further up on the hill and places a few accurate HE shells. The squads loses 2 or 3 men, but does not panic.

The battle around the bridge is heating up. Tracers zip back and forth. My men are exhausted and are short on ammo, but none of the units panics.

Also not bad are the news from the north. The enemy platoon in the northern woods is indeed making the mistake of moving out of the woods into open ground. My Sherman starts firing HE shells at the attackers. Shortly before the turn is over, I can see at least one of the infantry squads turning around and heading back for cover.

Shooting range...

But despite this local successes, overall the situation is pitch black. The enemy has managed to infiltrate the southern flank and has effectively reduced my defenses there with the artillery barrage. I am definitely going to withdraw from the southern woods back into town, but it will take time...