Overall, Game Turn 5 did not go all that well for the German river assault despite the fact that more troops arrived in the southern bridgehead. Now at seven squads with a leader and a few LMGs this bridgehead is probably too large to dislodge considering 2 of 3 37* INF are out of action (temporarily) and the artillery missions are exhausted. Even so a lucky hit by the remaining 37* did break a 468 and a 468 AE pushing through the rowhouses to the south and another lucky French AFPh shot broke the squad on the right side of the line. The south also appears to be the side where the Germans still have additional infantry that can be sent over the river as losses have been almost non-existent on this flank. German H/MMG fire across the river remains heavy and keeps the French from remaining in a position for long.
The Southern Wing
The German attack in the centre finally collapsed as the last squad surrendered to the French skirmishers. Despite repeated reinforcements the centre attack could never get the traction it needed to get past the LL27-29 buildings. Constantly harassed by artillery and at least one French 81* Mor as well as flanking machine gun fire, the bridgehead finally fell apart in French Turn 5 with a total loss of 5-6 squads (4 prisoner). The remaining French skirmishers had to release some prisoners as they could not guard them all.
For the French the fire being thrown at the their screening force in the centre was getting to be too much. Of the original three 437 and two 457 w/ LMGs, a 437 was killed in the retreat while a second has to try and escape with 30 PoWs. The remaining screen managed to slip away over the heights to the north and south (broken and in good order). The French had an 81* Mor malfunction, which, together with the silenced 37* INF, has reduced French firepower, at least for now.
Despite all the German firepower still east of the river, the attackers seem to be running low on troops in the centre and the north. Most of their boats are also north of the weir, so there is some hope for the French there. The centre was also where the Germans ran into the often seen problem of what to do with repeated ROF and a broken enemy squad in LoS. The Germans fired once too often at a broken 457 w/ LMG in HH29 which, on the 5th attack, BH to a 458 and generated a Hero before slipping away to GG30 after breaking a German squad in the AFPh.
To add insult to injury a wounded German 8-1 rolled a 2 on a self-rally attempt only to disrupt. It has since been pointed out that this was an error and the German 8-1 should have rallied (HoB NA during self-rally).
As we are approaching Turn 6 I am starting to think about "Force Preservation". The four starting companies are all I have until the Evening Scenario, with no large infantry reserves at hand unless I'm willing to risk the DR for M1 "Stragglers". The Germans will come on like a tidal wave in the Afternoon Scenario so the French need to be in position to at least channel that flood, if they can't slow it down.
An interesting incident happened to an SdKfz 7 that was moving 8-ton Pontoons behind the river road. A French sniper result of 1 immobilised the vehicle in bypass (RR24/SS25) which seems to remove both tractor and pontoons from future use. One more thing for the Germans to worry about with a French SAN of 4. The photo below also shows that, other than squads and half-squads manning H/MMGs there doesn't appear to be much spare infantry in this area to restart the assault in the centre. The Berserk 468 on the right does not promise a happy ending for the northern bridgehead either but we better wait on that particular saga before commenting further.
Do we see the Germans step to the left and reinforce the southern assault??
Here is a zoomed out shot of the centre and right. It shows the Germans have a lot of strength on the east bank by virtue of the H/MMGs and tanks but the supply of bodies to throw across the river seems to be exhausted for now. The French are still in place, concealed and in strength as well.
And a bit of fun I had while clipping counters as they were placed on the map. The Belgian fleet arrives...
The pre-Dreadnaught battleship
"Bruxelles", escorted by two destroyers in case any U-Boats are about.