|
|
Section Leaders:
Click Here for Print Friendly .DOC version German Commander - Fionn
Kelly German Turns 21-25 The situation at the beginning of these turns is
that Chris has managed to bring forces to bear on both of my flanks and
is advancing on my infantry
platoons’ positions. I expect contact to occur during turns 26 to 30
but feel that the next five turns will decide whether or not I can hold
later. To that end I am going to commit the last of my arty and
re-position such heavy weapons teams as necessary. On my left flank the turn begins with the almost
instant annihilation of my 2cm FlakVierling by an enemy tank destroyer.
Judging by the size of the explosions this TD is armed with another
90mm gun and this tentatively IDs it as an M36. The two HMG42 teams are also beginning to pull
back. I’m toying with the idea of pulling them back to the next
ridgeline to provide some cover for Staeker’s platoon if I decide to
pull it back after ambushing the leading group of Chris’ forces. In the centre of the battlefield I re-orient the
SMG platoon to try and put some pressure on the US infantry platoon
nearby. I don’t have any hopes of over-running the American positions
BUT I do hope to draw some units away from Chris’ main attack and
into a futile attempt to chase the SMG platoon down. On my right flank I begin the repositioning of
the 2cm FlaKVierling. I am moving it rightwards a little so that it can
be in position to bring some fire to bear on any enemy infantry
platoons which attempt to turn the flank of my reverse slope defence. Meanwhile Scheer and Hochstadter’s platoons
continue to move into the alternate positions I’ve picked for them.
By the time they are finished they have formed a new, contiguous line
running along the reverse slope of the ridge and the woods beside it.
The line should be strong enough to throw anything less than a company
back. My only problem is that it looks like Chris can commit at least
two companies to frontal attacks and the remnants of another company (
mainly survivors from the wooded plateau I’ve been shelling) to a
flank attack. Factor in the 5 or 6 tanks on this flank and you have a
situation which can best be described as desperate. As the infantry fall into position behind
Steinbauer’s tank and he pummels the flanking US infantry with HE
shell after HE shell disaster befalls me. Steinbauer is hit and slumps,
injured, into his tank. In a fight where a premium will be placed upon
seeing the enemy first and destroying him quickly I’ve just had my
principal anti-tank asset blinded in one eye. As a response to this I
immediately down-grade Steinbauer to a secondary anti-tank asset and
decide to pull him back and move him to my left flank in order to help
fight off the enemy infantry threat. From now on Geier’s Jagdpanzer
IV will form my anti-tank bulwark on the right flank. I reverse Steinbauer into full defilade through
a gap in my infantry positions and then send him haring off to my left
flank as quickly as possible as Chris’ infantry are advancing quickly
there. As Steinbauer moves leftwards I notice an
opportunity to bring him up for a hull-down shot at the enemy
tank-destroyed on the distant ridgeline. Since I’m determined to take
whatever chances present themselves for whittling down the enemy’s
forces I plot a mini-pincer. Steinbauer will move up from behind a hill
to engage the enemy tank destroyer while Geier’s Jpz IV will maneuvre
to bring it under fire from the side. If all goes well the enemy TD and
light gun ( almost certainly a 40mm AAA gun ) will both be knocked out
at no cost and then my two remaining AFVs can concentrate on shoring up
my two flanks without worrying about any nasty maneuvres by the TD. Unfortunately, as Geier moves forward he stops
to take the light gun under fire. Damnit Geier, you don’t even have
HE shells. Kill the godamn tank and not some crappy little AA gun.
Worst of all this movement coincides precisely with the moving up of
all of Chris’ tanks on my right. The turn ends with an M36 drawing a
perfect bead on that congenital idiot Geier. I respond by ordering
Geier to rotate to place his frontal armour facing the 90mm gun on the
M36 as quickly as possible and then to reverse into a new firing
position. This SHOULD save me but one can never know given the vagaries
of luck in CM. As the next turn unfolds Geier pulls his
“great escape” off and manages to survive to fight another turn.
The enemy tank destroyer on the ridgeline isn’t so lucky and after
about 4 or 5 misses my Panther finally takes it out. The 25th turn ends with my last 81mm
artillery barraging some woods that an enemy platoon is forming up in
whilst my infantry and panzerschreck teams settle into their fighting
positions. (Take particular notice of the placement of the schreck team
in the middle of the valley Scheer and Hochstadter’s platoons are
defending. I have placed it here in an endeavor to take out any of
Chris’ armour which pokes its nose in too far. To encourage Chris to
poke his nose into range I’m going to be careful to leave some areas
uncovered by my Jpz IV. When Chris moves forward to take advantage of
this “lapse” on my part I’ll great him with a schreck straight in
the turret. That’s the plan at least. On my left flank Staeker’s platoon is finally
brought into action. An entire American company is arrayed facing it
but one platoon from that company is about to become mincemeat. Once
I’ve chewed that platoon up I’ll be left facing 2 platoons plus 3
or 4 MGs. That would be enough to take out Staeker’s platoon but
I’ve decided to move my 2 HMG42s back into position and bring
Steinbauer forward aggressively and try to hold the “Staeker line”.
1 German platoon + 1 Panther ( almost out of HE) and 2 HMG42s ought to
be enough to hold off two American platoons.
I’m confident of holding my left flank
securely. The battle now will be decided on my right flank. My left is
secure. My right still hangs in the balance.
|
