My buddy and I started playing the original ToI from the box about 2 weeks ago and started with the introduction scenarios. So far, so good. He won 2, I won 2. We played this one tonight and I, as the Germans, was able to hold him off.
I was able to rush all my heavy MG to the woods right next to the bridge WITH concealment. He got a half-track there but once his squad jumped out they got smoked. 4 hits, no defense. It turned into a morale problem at that point. Most of his forces went to the forest heavy side but never really pushed, being afraid of the OP fire guns which I can't really blame him. I'm thinking there was fear those MG's in constant OP fire would slow him down too much.
All in all I think the best way for the US of A to do this is sprint your half tracks with squads as far up the road as possible and let the dice do what they do.
Also, as the US, be very careful of clustering squads in reach of Mortars. I had 3 of his squads effectively out of action as constant pinning at that distance is as good as taking them out entirely.
