Section Leaders:
Fionn Kelly & Madmatt

Riesberg

German – Riesberg
Turn 6

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ORDERS FOR SIXTH MINUTE

 As Heinrich’s mortar is now out of high-explosive ammo, I order him to fire smoke shells into the American positions. If even one American tank can be screened from firing on my men, it will certainly be worth it. It will, however, not be enough to shake my feeling that I should have ordered this a minute ago; Kraus might be still at his gun now if I had done so.

Bahr and his men are to move into the wooded angle to the right of the road. From there I will attempt to work them into the Americans’ flank, causing as much trouble as possible. If I can force the Americans to split their attentions, I might be able to cause more damage. It will also help should I be forced to order a withdrawal from the town; if Bahr is out there doing damage, it will take that much heat off the forces.

I order the remaining man from Lamp’s first squad to crawl back toward Lamp’s command team, but I doubt he’ll make it. Even if he does, he’ll be little use, really. Perhaps I can station him as defense for Hermanns’ Panzerschreck team, which is still crawling back to the stone house to the right of the abandoned wreckage of Kraus’ 88mm gun.

The reserve platoon which just arrived is to move into the heavily wooded terrain beside Heinrich’s mortar; as the Americans seem to be concentrating on the right side of the town, I will want this unit kept as a backstop should I need to pull the forces in the town out.

Beerbauer’s gun will continue lobbing HE shells into the Americans advancing on the immediate left of the road, and Machen’s mortar is to finish moving into an area from which, hopefully, he will also be able to fire on the enemy.

The rest of my forces are to hold in place and begin shooting at enemy units that enter their assigned ambush zones.

ACTION IN SIXTH MINUTE

 The battle has entered its high point. A full company of US infantry breaks from the cover of the trees that ring the forward-left of the town and begin to rush forward. Two squads come at the front row of buildings, while another is hooking around the left side; I hope that Schafer’s men will be in a good position to stop this flank attempt. Additionally, I have confirmed the presence of four tanks watching over them. I do not know how effective the smoke fired from Heinrich’s mortar is, but if he can manage to fire his last smoke shells into the same area, it may cut the US armor off from the town. That would allow my infantry to fight a battle on a playing field slightly closer to level.

Klappert’s machine gun team fires only a few bursts before several tank-gun shells explode in and around their position. Quickly, Klappert loses 3 men, and the rest are pinned. They probably will contribute nothing further. The final man from Lt. Lamp’s first squad is apparently killed by shifting rubble in the building; his body will probably never be recovered. Lamp’s third squad, deployed farthest forward, is taken under fire by several enemy squads. At the end of the minute it is at half strength and engaged in hand to hand combat with a US squad. I doubt my men will triumph, but they will certainly cost this unit dearly.

Lamp’s command section is targeted by several enemy units as well, and one man is killed. Of greater concern is that he will soon be in close combat against 2 US squads. Ironically, though, since there is only one and a half squads left for him to command, they will probably die at the same time.

“The enemy is in the first row of houses, but they have paid for their advance. This squad is at half strength, while the other two have suffered losses as well.”

Meister’s men open up from their positions on the right side of the road. Sheltered from the direct fire of the US armor, they are able to fire with less distraction. Beerbauer, on the right, fires another few shells into the US infantry rushing up the left side of the road, and manages to cause a couple apparently to panic.

Indeed, I have been able to observe many enemy soldiers get hit; one infantry team, part of the rush on the forward buildings, is eliminated before I can even identify it. I hope it was a command unit. Another squad is seen to be at half strength, while all the other enemy units have suffered 2 or 3 casualties in their rush for the buildings. Again, they will almost certainly take the rest of the left side of town in the next minute, but I am certain they are paying for it.

Bahr’s re-deployment continues unmolested and, apparently, unobserved. If he can manage to get from where he is now to the trees along the road without being seen or, at the very least, without suffering casualties, he will be a useful force to hit the enemy’s flank with. The enemy commander may have used the greater part of his infantry rushing the town in the hopes of taking it quickly, then clearing the rest of the forest around it. If so, Dietrich may be able to get a shot at some tanks. By that point, the battle will probably be essentially over either way, but there is little else I can do.

 
“Bahr’s men are moving out of ambush positions.”

I honestly had not expected this kind of assault; I would have attempted to clear the area around the town first, in order to secure the flanks and rear against enemy reserves.