Allied Turn 25

	TURN: 25 OF 60	SCENARIO NAME: Going to Town

Fionn Kelly - Germans vs. Americans - Martin Turewicz

Orders phase

The radio cracks several times, then Sgt. Washington's voice rings in Pvt. Johnson’s headphone.

Washington: "John... dammit... we need some help over here! Those Krauts are going to shoot us up from front and rear!"

Johnson: "Well... his boots are still here. That Nebelwerfer cut him out of the turret."

Washington: "Ok, Private. I need a little help over here. Can you see that armored car between us on the road?"

Washington: "Damn, that's what I thought. Ok, Johnson... I want you to listen carefully. Do you guys have any smoke rounds on board?"

Washington: "Alright. I want you to fire a couple of them about fifty meters in front of my tank. That should cover us for a minute from the enemy Panzer, and we'll deal with that car. Do you think you can do that?"

Sgt. Washington intends to have the other tank fire a few smoke rounds to cover his Sherman by the woods from the enemy Panzer. I've used 8x zoom for this shot, so don't be surprised that the perspective is a little odd...

Here an overview shot of what I want to do. The blue line marks the earliest LOS that the Panzer can have to my Sherman. I intend to break it with the smoke rounds from the Sherman in the town. Meanwhile, I ordered my Sherman to engage the armored car hiding behind an embankment, as soon as it moves forward.

Of course, the "plan" depends on a lot of luck. The smoke round has to be fired fast and accurate, which is probably one of the biggest question marks. If it is too late or off target, and does not block the LOS, then goodbye...

I was thinking about ordering Washingtons tank to move towards the armored car at first, but then decided against it. This move would expose my flank to either the Panzer or the armored car, both of which I want to avoid. And another thing - by NOT moving, I am hoping that the enemy Panzer will take one split second longer to spot me. And this split second might decide about the smoke round arriving on time or not...

Down by the center road, I order the bazooka team to run back and hide before the German infantry comes too close. I want to keep my bazooka lurking there, waiting for a juicy tank or armored car to come by :-)

An overview shot, using only level one enlargement to give you a feel for the distances...

Since it is now clear that the Germans are intending to use the southern flank for the main assault, I am also moving an MG team I had hiding in the north further south to provide additional cover for the rest of my defenders around the bridge.

With the northern flank not showing any enemy infantry activities (yet...), I order the MG team to move south to provide extra punch against the enemy rifle platoon near the bridge.

Everywhere else I order my men to hide. Hide in order to spoil the aim of the Germans and also hide in order to save ammunition until they come closer and are in open ground around the river. On the southern hill, I order only one MG team (with still plenty of ammo) to fire at the distant attackers, while the main defenses remain hidden. No point in revealing my positions with the Germans still 400 meters away.

The MG is firing at the German squads crossing the river. Even if they manage to cross, there is plenty of open ground between the river and the woods, so I decide to keep the rest of my defenses hidden until the attackers come closer.

All in all, however, I am still optimistic. If what I am seeing now is the main assault from the Germans, then it is terribly weak. I can identify three rifle platoons, maybe four, and that against six of mine, out of which most are still at good strength. The biggest worry is the enemy armor, which could provide extra punch for the assaulters, and of course the artillery. I had been lucky with the first round of Nebelwerfer rockets, but I am not so sure if my defenses will survive another one so easily. And the armor... well, the tank question will be solved very soon, one way or the other...

Action phase

The enemy tank roars down the road, when the first smoke round pops in the woods. A little too far...

A smoke column rises in the woods, a little too far east...

But Washington can not pay attention to that, as the armored car speeds up the embankment and turns it turret to fire at the tank. Too late! One shot from the Sherman rips through the thin armor of the car and a huge explosion engulfs the enemy vehicle!

The armored car goes up in a big flame ball!

But what about the Panzer? It speeds down the road and comes in view of the Sherman! Just on time - a second smoke round arrives and blocks the LOS!

The enemy tank rolls down the road, then makes a right turn off the road and rolls through the snow towards the Sherman. But it can't see my tank now, and instead fires off a few HE shots at my infantry near the bridge.

Talking about those poor pigs near the bridge - their manpower keeps falling, as another artillery barrage hits right on target. I really hate myself for having set them up in such an exposed position. Most of the rifle squads there are down to 5 men and less (one has 3 men left I think), and the supporting MGs also took at least one or two casualties each. But it's a tough bunch out there. Morale still seems fine and none of them is pinned or panics.

The German infantry moving down towards the bridge reaches the wooden house on the other bank without spotting my hiding bazooka team, and will soon be in rifle range of my defenders. Despite the high casualties I have three MMGs in position there, as well as a decimated rifle platoon. Maybe not strong enough to stop the Germans before the bridge, but certainly enough to make them pay.

In the south, German infantry is crossing the river, and the first enemy squads are reaching the other side. My rifle platoon and the MGs on the southern hill open up at the assaulters. I can not see if there are any casualties or not, but the Germans are pretty much out in the open with little cover...

One rifle platoon on the southern hill opens up at the exposed German infantry. The other platoon remains hidden.

Is this all the Germans have to offer? I scan the map to spot any ugly surprises... but there is not much. In the north, on the eastern side of the woods, I can see some activity (mainly infantry) and this "could" be another platoon waiting in reserve (or already moving through the woods)...

But I also spot two light armored vehicles (halftracks or armored cars?) moving up from the rear. These must be the ones that were hiding behind the two houses in the rear. They seem to carry passengers, too.

Two "new" halftracks are moving down the road, passing the burning Panzers. They seem to carry passengers, which would indicate that they're rather halftracks than armored cars. Notice the US POWs in the background. This shot was taken with realistic scaling, but zoomed in slightly (2x).

So what do we have - one PzIV, two halftracks, and four, maybe five rifle platoons - possibly six (i.e. two rifle companies), but that is unlikely. What do I have? Roughly two companies of infantry in and around the town and two tanks, one immobile. Unless Fionn is still holding back some artillery, my chances are not that bad at all, I feel.