Orders phase

With parts of my position engulfed in flames, it’s about time to retreat. But instead of going uphill towards the town into the open, I decide to pull my units further north, where enemy activity (besides what seems to be a weak enemy platoon) is largely non-existant. I leave two MG teams, low on ammo, in position to cover the move and try to pin the Germans in the building.

Withdrawal! Except for two MG teams left behind to cover the move, I order all remaining units to withdraw to the north. On the right, I order two squads (down to 3 or 4 men) to hide in the shell crater.

Another full scale withdrawal is now necessary on the southern hill. After a second turn of artillery, there is not much left from the defenders. But I have no time anymore to wait for panicked units to rally. Everybody that can run is ordered to withdraw back into town.

Let’s get the heck out of here! Note the selected MG unit. With only one man left, this unit is immobile, because one man cannot carry all the heavy equipment alone! In the final version of CM, the player will be able to order the last man to abandon the equipment and move on with only a sidearm.

The overall situation here in the south is not good. My forward platoons (of which I hoped to provide a first stall to the enemy advance before slowly withdrawing into town) have been shattered to pieces by that artillery bombardment. Now the other positions in the town will have to face the full strength of three enemy platoons from the south. I anticipate that Fionn will move at least one platoon in a wide sweep through the woods into the rear of the town, while the other two platoons attack towards the corner building in a pincer movement together with the infantry and tank from the bridge. I intend to meet that assault head on and then go into a fighting withdrawal back into the block houses. Since I cannot allow my forces to be spread too thin, I neglect the wide flanking maneuverer for now. It will most likely take some time and by that time I am expecting to be fighting well within the town.

The MG in the third level on the corner of the block buildings has a great field of view over the whole southern hill and should provide good suppressive fire against the enemy. This MG also has still plenty of ammo left.

In the north, the enemy infantry storming westward to the river under HE fire from my Sherman, will shortly be out of field of view of my tank. Therefore I order my intact Mg team hiding in the north to open up at the Germans in the open. Together, I hope, I can beat back the German assaulters, which would then free up another platoon (the one in the church), which I am still holding back in reserve.

Only three infantry teams seem to be left from the German platoon which took out Sgt. Washingtons Sherman. Two MGs (the one on the screenshot and the one in the church) as well as the Sherman should provide enough punch to force the other units to retreat as well.

A pivotal point for next turn will be where the Panzer is going to go. It has three options, north, south or straight down the road west towards the corner block building. I seriously doubt if Fionn will move his Panzer so close to the town without infantry support, and therefore assume a north or south hook. South would be good because if he moves his infantry northward, he will be able to assemble a remarkable tank-infantry combined arms team. Moving north has its lure, too, because Fionn might be tempted to use the tank to wipe out my defensive position around the bridge.

Regardless of this, however, I am determined to use a fighting withdrawal to contain and - hopefully - pin or break the enemy assault. Despite the heavy beating that three of my platoons have underwent the last few turns, I still have five rifle platoons in the town (and most of them at fair-good strength and with plenty of ammo), supported by two MGs and 4 or 5 bazooka teams. What worries me most is the very low global morale by now. 44% and falling steadily. I guess that from a certain point on, the only option I will have to save the bulk of my force from surrendering is to withdraw off map, leaving the victory locations to the enemy, but saving my fighting strength for a later day.

Action phase

No more artillery - thank god! The unpanicked units make their way off the southern hill and reach the first line of buildings on the edge of town. Harassing MG fire from across the river costs a few more casualties, but the shade of what used to be one and a half platoons makes it back in as good a shape as they can be. Several units are left back. One squad which is routed and is running aimlessly in the woods to the left, and another squad which recovered from the artillery barrage and "could" make it back next turn. Also left - the last member of the MG crew.

Running back into (relative) safety within the town...

The one squad which recovered in the woods is providing some good intel about the German movements. It seems that the enemy platoons are turning northwards now, heading for the town. It seems like they are not choosing the wide flanking move after all. On the one hand this means one worry less, but on the other hand it means that my force in the south-east corner of the town will have to meet a full-scale assault from a whole company... argh!

Sgt. Jared, whose squad panicked shortly after the barrage, rallied his men and is now able to observe the advancing enemy infantry.

In the center, things are ugly. The Panzer IV makes a sharp right turn and moves through the snow towards what used to be my defensive position around the bridge. One rifle squad surrenders, another one is wiped out from point-blank MG fire from the tank. But the remaining units and the MGs are retreating under enemy fire form across the river.

Sgt. Riley has had enough and surrenders in face of the approaching enemy tank. No wonder, his squad has been reduced to two men out of twelve... Notice the prone soldier near the fire - this is another "squad" (also two men left), but it’s only pinned and did not panic!

In the north, the enemy infantry is advancing further under MG and HE fire, but this time manages to reach the building beside the road, effectively "diving" out of LOS of my Sherman. The MGs (from the church and the one seen below on a forward slope) continue firing, though, and I can see several pinned German teams.

Tracers zip overhead from the church...

...and my MMG turns around and opens fire as well.