I have played J102 The Yelnya Bridge today, as first scenario of the year, winning as Russian. The job for the Germans is simple in theory, they must exit 16 EVPs (4 at least of Infantry) from the small portion of board 47 in play, OR control the three buildings in the middle of the board. My opponent tried to use from turn one of the ACs aggressively moving it along the road, but the ART gun on the hill destroyed it. The Russian MMG in a nearby trench and a 426 in the pillbox, avoided any bold attempt of the Germans to cross the stream using the bridge until turn 4. On the right flank - looking from the German perspective- a few SS squads successfully crossed the bridge with the help of the Pz II, but made little progress blocked by a minimal pinning force (three squads and the Commissar). When in turn 3 the MMG and the ART has been finally silenced by the long range fire of the PzIII, the SS remaining were too few, even because two of them were held in melee. So, with the Russian reinforcements in sight, unable to add 16 EVPs or control the three buildings, the Germans resigned.
This is the second time I play this scenario, and in both cases it was a clear Russian victory. I suspect that the "exit option" chosen by the German in both playings simply cannot work given the difficult nature of the terrain that forces the attacker to move in OG or pass across narrow paths easily predictable. (note the Russian can BS the Gun, the MMG and a light mortar). So it seems it is far better an all out attack on the village hoping to place a lucky shot on the gun and/or on the MMG.
Nice and enjoable scenario with scarce replayability.