In an effort to link up with the 29th Infantry Division, Lt. Robert Cole’s 3rd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment was assigned to capture Hill 30 at the south-east edge of Carentan. The men of “I” Company led the way, moving out over the elevated causeway under enemy sniper and machine-gun fire. Beyond the last bridge was a farmhouse, dominating a large, open field. During the morning 84 men of “H” Company passed through and took on German troops arrayed around a CP established in the farmhouse. Enemy fire held off the paratroopers, wounding and killing a number of Americans. Cole, meanwhile, paced back and forth, finally passing word down the line, “Fix bayonets and prepare to charge the farmhouse upon a blast of a whistle.”
Attacker: American (502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment)
Defender: German (Local Garrison and 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment)
Close Assault Round 1 - My German opponent appeared to not really be into the game. His personal moral was broken and he conceded when I was able to break his 9-2, 3x 5-4-8s and KIA'd a 5-4-8 in a single turn This scenario is very pro German. A Balance option would be to have the German MG's suffer from Ammo shortage (aka no fire lanes) Or maybe allow the Americans do a Banzai charge given the reason for the scenario's name
2025-02-15
(D) Jason Wert
vs
Mika Harviala
German win
Close Assault Round 1
2025-02-14
(D) Craig Renier
vs
Rob Oler
German win
The bulk of the American force advanced on the west side of the board with a small flanking force on the east. Progress for the first 3 turns continued essentially unhindered. The German mortar was able to break a squad on turn 1. That squad rallied immediately and the mortar had no more effect for the remainder of the game. The Americans positioned two MMG on Level 1 of the north building keeping the Germans off the hill and complicating German movement. At the end of Turn 3, the German position was very weak. The west side was greatly weakened when a German 9-1 was eliminated and two squads broken. On the east side two American HS's were threatening to completely flank the German position putting them in position to capture the south east building. This would have been devastating for the German position. Fortunately, as the American paratroopers advanced down the western road, German defensive fire was able to pin and break a number of squads. In the mean time, a number of paratroopers attempted to cross the center ground but got caught up in MG fire. Smoke was plentiful for the first 3 turns but seemed to dry up as the game progressed. The American MMGs on Level 1 in the building ended up being less useful than hoped due to difficult LOS around the woods and buildings. By Turn 7, the Germans were able to push back the east flanking units. As the Americans tried to dash across the southern road to the grain field, the German MMG cut down the leader and squads with him. With insufficient force remaining, the Americans conceded.
2025-02-07
(A) Mark Thompson
vs
Randy Shurtz (German)
American win
Close Assault Tournament, Round One. The Americans took the close buildings quickly, pushing back the small blocking force and, when when the 10-2 went heroic and 747s came in range of the German reinforcements holding the hill, the end was no longer in doubt. Fun game with great opponent.
2025-02-05
(D) Peter Palmer
vs
Neal Ekengren
A
German win
3.25 hrs
Close Assault Round 1 vs Neal
Started off badly for Neal as my first few shots were 3s and 4s. It didn't get better apart from one HOB roll that sent his 10-2 Heroic, a double -edged sword in the end as the game ended after his heroic 10-2 broke and wounded, while his 9 ML leader boxcarred at the same time.
This was played with part of the German OB reinforcements delayed until turn 2, but Neal was basically shot off the map. An Unsatisfying game because of the way it unfolded but as always Neal's a great guy to play.
I've played this scenario a few times over the years because it's fast, simple and brutal, and my enjoyment rating is for the scenario not the way the game played out.
It's by no means a classic but it's a serviceable scenario and best played as part of the entire Action at Carentan series.
