Spearhead Division: scenario #23: Osterode

A great looking scenario to play, it has everything you want in a 1945 western front scenario, M26 Pershing tanks, Jumbo Sherman tanks, Jagdtiger and Tiger II tanks, air-support, both day and night turns, off-board artillery, Infantry and support weapons of all types. I did have to borrow wire counters from another game.

The Germans setup to defend both maps 22 and 23, pretty much setup in all town hexes as these are the victory hexes for both sides other than step losses and it pretty much cancels out the effect of the VT Fuse artillery by being in town hexes. The German setup the dreaded Jagdtiger in the forward town hex on map 22 supported by some Infantry and AT-Guns and an AA-Gun as well to maybe fight off some of those American air-attacks. On map 23 the German setup the rest of their assorted forces including the reduced step King Tiger.

The American used their larger forces to rush the first German town on map 22 led by the Jumbo Sherman tank unit, which survived the German 88mm AT gun but not the Jagdtiger unit. One step of the Jagdtiger was finally taken out with shots from the M26 Pershing Tanks and the other step one lost after becoming demoralized and abandoned by its crew. After all the town hexes on map 22 were conquered by the Americans, the reinforcement arrive right on turn nine, so the Americans regrouped and charged the town hexes on map 23 inforce. The Germans Tiger II, StuG IIIG and 75mm AT Guns had a field-day shooting up American armor. A Pershing was lost, an M36, and many Sherman and Stuart tanks as well. The Tiger II finally had to be assaulted by Infantry and armor to take it out.

After some bloody street fighting the Americans controlled all the town hexes but one, which would have been taken with another turn or two. It felt like an American victory but when I added all the points up for town controlled hexes and enemy steps eliminated for both side, the Germans won a minor victory, 49 points to 42 points or a seven point difference. The Americans controlled the Battlefield but took too many losses. A very fun scenario to play.