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Orders phase
Not much to change, so this will be a short one.
With the enemy infantry dismounted from the
halftrack in the south-east, my bazooka team is in serious danger
(2 men with pistols against 10 German Grenadiers), but I hope
that by the time the Germans would come over the elevation to be
able to spot my team, they will be engaged and pinned by my two
MGs further back. Besides, I figure that the chance to remain
unspotted is bigger if I keep my guys where they are and hiding,
and who knows - maybe the enemy halftrack will move forward
anyway.
So basically there are no changes anywhere in
the east. In the current state, I have nothing to stop the
Germans from advancing until they come closer except the two
Shermans, and I am not willing to risk these in a duel against
the enemy tanks. I will keep them in cover until the main enemy
body advances, namely the halftracks, and try to pick some off.
There IS one tempting target, though - since
the StuG backed up on the road and started moving further south,
it's exposing ist vulnerable flank to my Sherman which is hiding
behind the houses. If not for the Panther sitting close-by I
would probably take the risk, but with the Panther in position to
provide overwatch fire I stay hidden. Chances are that Fionn is
going to move the halftracks up in the next few turns, so I am
going to wait.
In the west, around the town, not too much
changed, either. I finetune my orders to the two reinforcing
platoons and 3rd platoon - which just made it across
the river - to move into assaulting positions. I intend to
exchange fire with the defenders inside the town for another
round and also wait for the called-in 105mm artillery fire which
should arrive late this or early next turn. THEN I'm going to
move in, starting with two platoons in the south. I wonder if
there are more defenders hiding in the town than I have seen so
far, but after having my eyes on the town now for 7 turns, I am
hoping to not have missed any bad surprises. Anyway, since the
Germans are slowly advancing in the east, there is not much more
time left for the assault - so I guess I am going to find it out
the hard way.
Action phase
YESSIR! One little candlelight amid all the
darkness... scratch that halftrack. Want to see how it is to fire
a bazooka? Enjoy:
Click on Image to Enlarge
After unloading a bunch of infantry, the
halftrack speeds up and comes racing down the road. The bazooka
team is still hidden, when the Platoon HQ and MG located behind
it open fire at the halftrack. The halftrack slides to a halt as
the German Grenadiers jump out...
Click on Image to Enlarge
...but the bazooka doesn't wait any longer
and fires a round at the halftrack. Notice the cross to the left
which marks the last known position of the first disembarked
squad.
Click on Image to Enlarge
It's a direct hit! It was the driver's
mistake that he halted the halftrack after my MG opened fire at
it to let the infantry jump out - because this made it a clear
target for my bazooka at 80 meters. The German Grenadiers hussle
away from the burning vehicle and serarch cover behind the
elevation.
<sigh> Finally SOMETHING worked out the
way it was supposed to. Not that the situation is cleared, since
there are two enemy squads on the other side of the elevation
which can easily rip my bazooka team apart. But it's nevertheless
a good feeling - let's enjoy it while it lasts.
Further east, the tension is growing. My other
bazooka team, lying in ambush behind the clearing, spots some
movement beside the roads. Infantry! So the Germans ARE sending
their infantry forward to look for ambushes. I can only hope that
my bazooka guys don't lose their nerves, let the infantry pass
and take on the vehicles. I wish them luck - there is nothing I
can do for them now...
Click on Image to Enlarge
Shhhht..... do... not... move...
Around the town, things seem to be going fine.
3rd platoon finally made it across the river and
reached their positions in the woods south-east of the town. I
will let them take some breath for a second and then order them
forward to support the main assault on the town. One of the
squads lost a men on the river to MG fire from the town, but all
in all they arrived in good shape.
Click on Image to Enlarge
In position... while the mortars and MGs are
spraying the town (note the burning building - it was hit from a
mortar shell, I think), 3rd platoon made
it across the frozen river and arrived in cover. Note the
shellholes - they come, I think, from one of the German tanks far
away to the east...
The situation on the south hill also holds
great promises. My two and a half platoons finally made it into
their initial positions. I can see a lot of movements in the town
- a few MGs changing positions - as well as, I assume, a few
broken squads. I can also see, and that is most important, some
good avenues of approach for my assault and some holes in the
German defensive ring! As soon as my 105mm arrives I am going to
charge!
Click on Image to Enlarge
2-and-a-half platoons waiting for the
assault. Note that four German teams are moving forward out of
town! I wonder if they know that they are heading right into my
main assault...
I have the feeling that the next few turns will
bring the decision. It will mainly depend on how my assault on
the town works out (probably slowly starting next turn) and how I
can stem the tide in the east. Fionn has, as I expected, moved
his main body out between the gap in the woods and is heading
south, right into my lightly defended south flank. I intend to do
something about that... more in the next turn.
Martin
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