A fairly challenging assault for the Germans. Your 5 panzer--all PzKw IV's except for the single AO Panther--and hitch-hiking infantry platoons start (and reinforce) near the western edge of a map that's roughly 10 by 12 kilometers, with 15 far-flung easterly objectives to take by turn 35. You've got about 20 infantry platoons starting out north of the main town a little more than halfway across the map. Five off-board artillery batteries round out the force.
What makes this especially difficult is that, with winter movement conditions in effect, you must lead with your tanks most of the time. Dismounted infantry moves at a glacial pace off-road, and incessant artillery barrages keep paralyzing the great mass plodding south and east to the VH's in town and beyond (some were aimed at the rolling panzers, but fortunately missed).
Needless to say the "Amis" have forces lurking to frustrate your designs in the most likely (and unlikely) locations. Without dismounted infantry in front your panzers must take risks to find the quickest route through to the distant objectives. Sooner or later their luck may run out.
As it happened I got a marginal win, about 3550 to 450. Secured all the VH's but lost 4 panzers which is one too many, along with the usual sacrificial lambs on foot. Not a bad result considering "these terrible hardships of war" (W.T. Sherman)
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#14 Christmas Visitors
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