"The SS are on the move..."

-- Tom

LQ Rating:  3.62

German combat results were definitely not fully realized this turn due to the vagaries of the die roll. The first two of which really had me concerned. The attack on 4/12 promptly cut off the retreat route of 28/109 defending in Vianden (50/50 chance), but the stubborn town's defenders survived with a Firefight. The 1D4 advance against 106/422 threatened to surround a valuable artillery unit, which prompted me to throw in all available artillery for the defense of 2/23 in front of St. Vith. I was disappointed to see greater than a D1 advance on Monschau given the overall strength of the attack. On the other hand, all of U.S. 2nd Inf Div remains unscathed and neither of my 7-4-4s have been reduced.

17AM is one of the high water marks for the German Army. The Allied player should expect to lose three or four units on this turn. The valiant remnants of 28/109 will continue to hold up 7th Army by blocking the NE approaches to Ettlebruck. I'm hopefully going to create a minor dilemma for the Germans by attempting to discourage a flanking attack on 9/CCR which is covering the main eastern road net into Bastogne. Will Tom go for the low odds attack vs the bloody 110th or use his 26/78 to gain a flanking attack vs 9/CCR? Those few sacrificial units used to minimize the Peiper breakout move will be reduced units, one placed in St. Vith and the other placed to block the approaches to Malmedy. I will place 99/395 in a position to block a flanking attack on the road to Eupen. If Tom wants to surround this unit, it will take Peiper to do so due to the air interdiction in Elsenborn. Unlike the much shorter tournament scenario game, I'm ready to gamble that Tom is unwilling to risk an attack with KG Peiper that results in a Firefight and subsequent loss to his most powerful unit. I will hold back one air unit for combat defense in case he thinks otherwise.

-- Randy

LQ Rating:  3.0 (106/423 survives another surrender roll.)