Section Leaders:
Fionn Kelly & Madmatt

The Sunken Lane

Click Here for Print Friendly .DOC Version!

German Commander - Fionn Kelly

NOTE: SPOILER INFORMATION. This After Action Report contains detailed information regarding units and  terrain disposition to a scenario that may be included in the release version of Combat Mission. If you wish to play this game Blind or partake in a Double Blind match then READ NO FURTHER!!!!

Graphics Note: While the events in this AAR were played on a very recent Beta Build of Combat Mission. The graphics, at that time, were not finalized. For Final Graphics please view the POTD Feature which runs daily here and various features on the CMHQ-Annex site.

Turn 8

Thought Processes:

1.                  I’m cursing my luck at this stage. I’ve managed to hit Bil’s tanks three times ( once with a Panzerschreck and twice with Panzerfaust) but only managed one clean kill. I’m close to his tanks this turn now and I’m going to rush the one on my extreme right. I want to kill that tank and I WILL kill that tank even if it costs me the squad and Company HQ which will rush it.

2.                  On my left flank I order Giesey’s platoon to advance rightwards. I want to put a little more pressure on Bil’s tanks and want to kill some more of his mortar units PLUS I want to “drive” his units into Bertram’s platoon at the crossroads.

3.                  With the Brits before them dead or dying it is time to rush Bertram’s platoon to the crossroads. I’m using Giesey’s platoon like old-fashioned beaters and flushing the hunted into the path of Bertram’s guns.

4.                  With just a little luck this turn should see the annihilation of the survivors from Bil’s right flank (my left flank). Of course, given my luck with panzerfaust's I’ll probably hit both tanks on my left but won’t even damage either of them.

Orders Phase:

Giesey’s platoon is to advance along the channel. I want him to pressurise Bil into moving towards the right and right into the arms of Bertram’s platoon.

Bertram is to hold the crossroads and create a stable fulcrum around which I can pivot to engage the flanks of Bil’s forces.

On the right flank Duve and Sehlmer’s platoons are to spread out along the entire length of the ridge… I’m extremely happy with how many Sherman HE shells are flying over the heads of my troops and am thanking Charles for his faithful recreation of real-world ballistics. I’m going to post my men along the ridge and have them open fire a little on Bil’s gathering horde… Anything I can do to slow his attack down a little and attrit his forces is well worth the effort.

Action Phase:

One of Giesey’s squads bravely gets into position across the road from Bil’s leftmost Sherman and lets fly with an accurately aimed Panzerfaust. It flies true and hits the Sherman BUT doesn’t kill it. I’m having the worst luck I’ve ever seen with Panzerfausts in this PBEM game. That’s 4 hits but only 1 kill so far. Giesey’s platoon is being hurt badly by direct HE and MG fire from the two tanks and also from Bil’s 2 inch mortar teams. In return it has wiped out a couple of mortar teams and hit the tank.. The Sherman is now immobilised though so with a little luck I should be able to kill this immobilised behemoth next turn.

Bil’s forces are now in full retreat. Unfortunately for them they waited just one turn too long. Bertram’s platoon is in place and wipes out a platoon HQ and an infantry squad and badly damages another damaged squad. At this rate not a single soldier will survive the doomsday that is enveloping Bil’s right flank (my left flank).

The Company Commander on my right flank leads a squad into close action. The Company Commander fires at the tank and causes it to button whilst the accompanying squad uses this cover to prepare itself and fire a single faust. The faust flies slowly into the target and detonates destroying it. The crew bailed out mere seconds later but the three survivors were instantly gunned down by the Company HQ. This is a salutary lesson to all those who wonder what happens to tank crews who escape from vehicles in close proximity to the enemy… The answer is that they die… quickly.

I
This shows the positions the two platoons on my right have taken up. On the left is Duve’s platoon whilst, on the right is Sehlmer’s platoon. Sehlmer only has two squads under his command since the third squad was killed in the initial ambush at the wheatfield. In response to this I’ve kept the Company HQ with Sehlmer’s platoon so as to bolster it a little.

In other news… Losses this turn have been relatively even but I’ve managed to take out another tank and immobilize another. All in all this is going quite well. It is, however, almost time for me to stop defending so aggressively and to pull back into a defensive position from which I can delay Bil’s massive two-company strong reinforcements which arrive on Turn 10.