T5
 

NF> Looks like the depresion is mine so squads are back in taxis to get to its edge.
The scouting party which is now headed by CF scout who is working his way along the lip of the depresion headout for it including 4 M3s. The 231s discovered the high grass offers good cover & move in to the depresion to hide behind a tiny outcrop.
This depresion is long & reaches naerly to central flags so plot 2 smoke drops 3/4 way down near a row of trees just in case, AA here moves up behind the grass to extend their cover for minimal risk.
The 2 Mtrs here that provided early support head for the depression moving up as they are at max range already.
CF> Scout risks moving to L1 near the squad & discovers he can see naff all, grass blocks LOS South towards the squad & his likely freinds so the best option is to go a bit further along the depresion as the grass is about 300m wide. 2 units & scout shoot at the squad & he vanishes.
There are woods in the depresion so sqd moves along but nothing & I need to know if its clear so another tries in the open drawing fire from another squad on the edge of the depresion. 233Fu & HTs fire at then squads unload & he retreats out of LOS. Sniper & squad join scout & find original squad again, he to runs till out of LOS but is nearly done for. AA her trusts these guys eyes & moves up
SF> Mk2+ Mk3 route everyone in the depresion then more Mk3s head down the depresion to get a LOS on units at L1, they manage to route another.
We have LOS to another squad on level 1 & route that then 4 tanks there move onto grass to fire at the rest. This is fairly safe as fire at can only come from one direction NE, in fact if we can get troops here to position CF is going for is about 3/4 kilo away so eyes will help & may well get some long rangefire from.
Tanks take quite a bit of fire from rifle grenades so look after M2 but only 2 squads are left in a fighting state so its time for the troops to do there bit.
The first unit to try takes fire from another 2 units so the last couple of vehicles try to engage none to succesfully as only manage to get a LOS on one & it was moving flat out to do it. Squads can engage at range by moving NE onto earth so do so then rest move up & engage closer, MMG catches a lift onto L1 to cover the area CF is going for.
This is my vehicle heavy force & its showing at turn end only 2 of 18 squads are not routed, 2 or 3 squads died several are unwell & we did not lose a man.
Also we are in a position to support CF, & are predominantly now heading for the road. The idea chase runners down the road through the woods then cut off through rather than chasing everyone through the woods as we are likely to run into the arms of thier friends.
AIT> Consistent we lose 2 men they lose about 4 times that & 3 squads vanish down the road which is straight for abot a Km before swerving round some trees& possibly a gun. One of those moments you wish you could get a message to your pilots NF guys spot a couple of units but spoters come in right on top of & promptly die, intel next go. No arty yet, Russian slow response time maybe?

T6
 

T7
 

NF> The 2 squads on L1 act as pathfinders for tanks checking LOS, then the 2 tanks move to just out of range of ATG & destroy a T-26.
Infantry exits the depresion & take long range shots at squads. 2 more & a Maxim chip in so a MkII roles up & takes on the maxim routing before the sniper makes sure. Maxim is killed the other is not far off & 2 of 3 squads in range are running. A couple of squads are ready for a look East towards other T-26s AA guns, M3 & Ram ready to engage next go. Hope is can take on T-26 while copse of trees covers from AA but want infantry as eyes in case an ATG opens up.
CF> Everyone jumps forward a location a couple of squads making a double jump to 231 location. A lone M3 ends turn in view, smoke has come down so any fire will be from in the depresion.
The other force kill the 3 squads & run for the woods the scout will have a view into the depresion next turn, we are poised for an attack on C Flags shortly.
Rough picture of situation depresion is a slanting T
Each symbol is about 3 hexes
0=Depresion
X=woods - they extend into the depresion in the South. Also line of trees in just before splits off North
F= North & centre Flags
S= Both scouts lower one with force following
2+3= Scout force position of 231 & M3s

--------------------------F
---------------------0
--------------------000000
-------------------000
----------------0 0
0000S000000
--------3 2 000F
------------000XXX
-----------00XX
----------SXX

SF> Move as far along the the road as posssible without AAMG getting targets, nothing responds, a few units enter woods. Might miss a couple in woods but have a little killing spree 3 sqds & Maxim left.
AIT> As use force to depict my units will use Group G to depict what facing sometimes.
NG seem a bit hardier a maxim opens up at range then the rest gang up on 1 squad killing 5 before he runs. Group transiting to woods in centre got hit by arty.
Immobile M3 81mtr destroyed & MMG lose a man. I droped a bit on AAguns & ATG pinning all.

T8-9
 

NF> Sniper routes nearest 2 squads then MMG loses 2 men attacking MaximHMG but its running & another squad is found. 2 troops near tanks discover crater seems to have blocked view to ATG, we are going to risk it & they saw another T-26.
2 M3s & M2 move forward spraying squads & killing T-26 they can see, all squads & HT crest the rise & push the Russians back further. Most are presently screened from the others by a woods hex & its max range to them.
2 squads, Ram & the other M3 move slightly East killing a T-26 & AAgun, the other loses 2 crew & sniper now covers it to just in case. The other AAgun is behind a row of trees though kinda expecting an unseen ATG to chirp up soon.
CF> well I am slightly stumped have a fairly good view of depresion excluding North part, will see all next turn. 3 Tanks & several troops now in the open.
231s ran across to get a diffrent viewpoint & still not a thing, thinking a FOO is a posibility but hes not likely to be on his tod. Any guns may be waiting I have noticed it does that on occasion, false sense of security saves fire till its turn so you can't move to safety.
SF> Bit reckless here its pretty open East of woods but 5 tanks & 231 bust out attacking AAMG, 3 more tanks & some troops in transport are in position to exit woods from the North into a depresion that runs to within about 600m of S flags. A few units charge headlong into woods & several cut across. 1 close call but he is pinned & fails to spot me. About 4 killed & remains of the same on the run.
AIT> Arty missed several 122 batts this time to. NF 45mmATG fired at M3 near AAgun, no real threat but another 76ATG further back but near the other got a halftrack so Ruskies claim there first vehicle & they were the first country to kill an arty piece.

T9
NF> We have hit a few snags here drifting smoke from destroyed T-26s is protecting the 3rd one & providing some cover for most of the force 7 squads & both 76ATG. Trying to move towards this another 5 squads & a maximHMG are discovered to our North obscured by 2 wood hexes.
Lost a couple of men finding this out & we need to neutralise them, but vehicles cannot attack without taking a big risk so trying to get troops there to see whats on the other side as its a line of trees that continues a bit further on. MMG & AAMG manage to get 76ATG in there sights route & damage one but lose 4 men in the process, have to place smoke to protect them. In fact out of respect for the Maxim end up placing a fair bit as some units have ended up in poor locations. Exchange of men was about equal this go & I was in a position to lose quite a few, most of my arty is targeting here so should be able to keep them unhappy
CF> Got a lucky break here ATG being moved East down the depresion was fired on by 76ATG it missed & I am fairly sure there is nothing in the depresion this side of the tree line. This line blocks sight to L1 north of flags & position it was in fire could only have come from a few hexes. Scout poped some smoke trying to get to tree line for a look especialy troops & we are exposed to any fire from woods to SE but did drop 2 tubes on last go. FOO has LOS so I can move them to guns likely position.
AA wagens have run for cover as threat seems unlikely.
The force that entered depresion from the South send a couple of squads out as eyes but rest are using cover to head for the woods. This could turn into a race against arty falling.
SF> Kill AAMG & everyone we can see in the woods then move NE into the depresion, we really need to regroup a bit but risking running with passengers continuing to a line of trees about 200m away. Only 1 squad is on the ground, risky but arty is chasing me down here.
Its all go suddenly.
I need to move up some mortars again but its to dangerous the way arty is falling & I would like to send planes in over centre flags but can't see a path without hitting a likely hostile enviroment, plot 2 coming in from the East with the hopes I will have a chance to cancel if required.
AIT> Only 2 mtrs fire this turn but despite placing smoke up north we lose the exchange, turns out though managed to fluke one of the few elite squads into being involved & he kept loses down by taking out a man with every shot.

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

I hope you get better soon! The AARs are always an interesting read.

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

Cheers back tomorrow I think, necks not so bad now

T10-12 The Saga Continues
 

Pretty sure unless I can pull something out of the bag NF or CF is going to get slapped by arty soon.
NF> 2 vehicles with targets fire now I need to silence the maxim while avoiding the 76ATG. The T-26 is a problem as its gun is good enough at short range. 3 squads sniper M3 & Ram head down the depresion with the aim of getting the T-26 in sight & closing on the ATG.
On L1 M3 moves to engage troops to North they have RPGs so soaks up some fire, squad moves & lose a man so move M3 again as think can target maxim. this brings it by a tiny depresion & it dies to assault but crew survives. Now its hard despite the fact hes not healthy MMG & HT take on maxim routing & HT is recieving RPG fire. A few squads head East near T-26 now but most head NE but cant reach the depresion. 3 HTs & M2 brave things to route unit in depresion & as much fire as I can put down is placed on nearby squads.
Trucks are spreading out as best as possible.
CF> Nearly at tree line, ATG that got fired on crossing leaves transport exiting to L1 N of depresion, a MMG is going there to.
It will take them 2 turns to reach the tree line which extends to here running \, they will have a view to N flags 1km away.
A scout who has been running slighty further north at L1 can now see partly into the N part of the depresion a BT7 is bang in the middle of it.
Looking like I have got away with running into the dangerous stuff this game.
The FOO is on L1 just South as far as it goes & can see a T-26 slightly back from guns probable position.
The main part of this force further South is making its way through the woods, still 300m to go but there is a line of open we can check to see if can speed up next go.
The other ATGs MMG & scout are going down the depresion.
SF> Still a bit of a mess but working forward, 1 squad & FOO have headed down the road in hopes of usefull LOS to flags. Quite a bit of earth & grass in the area surrounding flags.
AIT> Just 2 mtrs fire I stop CB as its going nowhere & am letting planes run. Not much fight in them my crews safe & HT survived attack as squad could not assault.

T11
NF> M3 in the depresion engages reverse bringing T-26 into view its a terrible shot & pays the price, it & the Ram cannot exit towards Soviets as 45ATG will get rear shots so turn for it moving to depresions lip. Squads here fire letting sniper free, he reduces 76ATG crew badly & we are now free baring new targets.
Rest just close gap firing & truck moves near my crew to wisk him away, alls well to start then lose a man by T-26 as a squad was in same hex. Take a bit of ranged fire from new squad to NE then lose 2 or 3 men finding the squad that killed my tank has help.
Turns out not to bad & get most running as morale seems very poor meaning errors are recoverable from.
CF> Lined up ready behind tree line & group in woods check out the path through it so a HT begins its run, I am one lucky git BT-7 fires point blank hitting but its still mobile, pulls back. Rest make best attempt to move forward several squads within 100-150m but somehow none with AT weaponry. tanks are strugling to keep up.
SF> Made it to a position to exit the depresion, there is a group of 4 trees we can move into. Our MMg seems to have got detached & will take a while to catch up, FOO & its squad advancing more slowly now.
AIT> Little arty falls but I hit central area with most of mine 7 or 8 guns.
NG has little fight in it 76ATG did manage a shot at HT but missed.
Planes made run & survived fire mainly from North about 6 guns & they see 2 of them near flags & 2 squads just behind, fail to find ATG but attack 2 of 4 T-26s damaging one

T12
I am becoming fond of my snipers, MMG might put down more long range fire but snipers are great for that undetected shot.
NF>Sniper routes a squad then does same to 76ATG, its nearly dead.
MMG fires at 45ATG kills 2 & M3 climbs the slope to recieve fire from T-26 on the flags, the other one is in a depresion.
They have a little exchange then Ram joins & kills before geting another 45 crew, squad & HT join in its dead.
there are about 6 squads to the NE one new discovery & about 8 to the East 3 new, we lose a couple of men.
Get most running & 3 squads are loaded into trucks with hope of shutting range next go. They are entering woods but there is a path through it for the railway though will need to deal with the last AAgun first. Several vehicles are exposed to the area past flags now.
There are 3 BT-7s in the depresion near N flags & a 81mtr by them, this is roughly equidistant between the NF+CF
CF> Squad assaults BT-7 in woods, second has a go then M3 kills move to 100m of woods edge.
Squads in depresion move to treeline only new unit is a crew retreating, not where the 76ATG is, possibly from another or AA. Realise when tanks move into trees will be in LOS of BT-7s mentioned earlier, worried about arty but going to delay for 1 turn so units in woods are ready & as my arty is falling may as well let it.
SF> The depresion splits into a Y laid out -< with trees at junction the NE route being only 50m wide for 100m. Squads move into trees see a BT-7 600m East just in front of woods. Squad trying NE recieves fire losing 2 men, a second trys is unseen but spots a squad & Maxim quad AAMG 500m East just in front of flags, he will place smoke to cover but there is a BT-7 further North which 2 M3s kill first. The FOO & its squad are near the South end of the depresion & see an AAMG in it so dispatch a M3 to kill which finds a second. Another M3 & FOOs squad help kill both. We are in position to exit in reasonable force next go & plot arty on maxim quad in case tanks fail, calling in air to.
AIT> lots of arty came down aimed at NF, most behind but 2 on target, I lose contact with my batt but its ok. Little fire is forthcoming from Russians but near 45ATG squads did not do ther job as 2 more T-26s & another 45ATG open up. The ATG loses 2 men but the Ram & HT die, mounting a rescue for Ram crew is not really on with arty like it is as distinct possibility will move into it. So looks like we have to keep them occupied instead.
__________________________________________________ __
On accident keep saying giving up dirt bikes as I never learn, always start sensible get amazed at levels of grip dirt tires give then find it often in spectacular style. At least this time managed not to run myself over, getting to old for this things hurt that never used to & for way longer. Picture this old duffer attempting to walk across room with sore knees from standing on pegs all day. Knee twinges causing neck to stiffen resulting in pain reflex causing leg to throw forward landing hard. Knee twinges....... progress across the room like a rag doll with a cattle prod up its rear. Am I coming back with that drink I went to get, probably not wise.

T13-14
 

NF> The 45ATG is close enough to be a threat to my M3 so troops have to make up for failing to see it 2 squads & my trusty sniper take it out. M3 takes on T-26 & despite a suppresion of 10 bags the nearest.
Vehicles & MMG fire at ready squads then move up trying to avoid ares arty is coming down. Find another squad to the North & 2 behind woods to the East but they give up easy. Units in trucks move up to capitalise on by closing range but last one recieves fire from 2 squads to NW killing a man. Squad near the truck had not moved so manages to protect them with smoke.
Trucks are vulnerable if they recover as about 200m away but needed to dash through arty. M2 is continuing to support troops but 2 M3s are trying to support the other heading for BT-7s
CF> Get to cocky here woods group sniper & 1 squad make it to treeline, I cannot find that ATG might have guessed wrong.
T-26s & 3 new squads can be seen by my squad, he decides its prudent not to fire.
Squads moving in woods take fire from T-26 but faail to see it, trying to find run into a BT-7 which M3 kills but lost a HT with squad in the process
Units in depresion see another AAgun & ATG fires at it first hit kill impresive, ATG at L1 decides to take on T-26 & another AAgun getting the tank.
Truck runs behind trees all the way to crest line dropping off its squad. 231s go one better & move to L1 behind trees.
This is the woods edge & 200m from T-26s but fire from at greater range is blocked by trees to North.
Troops crossing from tree line take fire from a maxim MMG lose a man but MMg kills it. As given away hoses down BT-7s to NE.
This was not in the plan but 4 M3s take on the BT-7s killing all 3
SF> Few squads move seeing another BT-7 to the North near CGs T-26s, in the unlikely situation of no guns here this would be the best way to kill them as can engage at range.
2 M3s take out both BT-7s then another routes Maxim Quad, troops move & 3 squads are found to the NE plus another Quad. M3 kills Quad my troops fire & so does a BT-7 in trees South of flags before M3 kills it, they are not seeing units in trees. Several tanks are fully exposed in the open so may as well go the whole hog & move others forward.
M3 heading NE in depresion recieves fire from anothe BT-7, M2 fires at but can't damage so last M3 helps out & its destroyed.
Conduct the rest of my fire leaving 4 squads one routed to the NE 500m from most units. 3 loaded Hts are at the far end of South end of the depresion ready for a move towards the woods & possible run to cut escape. MMGs have turned up & 2 flakwagens want to play next go to.
AIT> Arty is getting heavier hits N+S but no real damage. Lose more than a dozen men mainly in South as units are to busy firing at ATGs. Two show up in woods but before can cause any real damage one is hurt & other abandons to the onslaught of fire. Maxim HMG also makes an appearance but plane sends it running.
The units defending C+S flags are realy one force but North ones had gaps of 500m between so if remember will try shrinking width from 130 to 100 next game.
This will hopefully make for closer deployment & restrict my tactical choices, might regret this if KVs turn up as should increase chances of troops supporting in the area.

T14
NF> The main group are all running in a bunch as my battery landed on, 1 squad NE is at the woods another 2 or 3 made it & lost sight of. NW are 3 fresh squads maybe more.
First order of buisness bike picks up Rams crew & takes well away, check arty status to make sure have contact. M3 that has been pretty much single handadly taking on T-26s loses Los to so moves seeing 2 BT-2s further back so it kills one.
AAgun has a building to its NW partly hiding so furthest M3 moves first killing 1 man. squad nearer tries & finds it has a squad with it, turns out to be 3.
Manage to get HT in position to take on squad without exposing to AA, it routes it they are proving quite effective mobile weapon platforms.
Last M3 moves up sharing its love on squads & AA before squads move up to kill but unseen sniper at about 500m puts a damper on this. One makes it round the back of the building & does some more damage rest settle for pot shots or hold fire.
To the NW 2 squads enter a little dip heading towards ruskies & M2 moves over to lend support.
Lone squad is chasing units into woods but a couple are trying to move down railline to cut off.
CF> Units N of tree line, scout moves onto L1 this side are 2 T-26 2 AAguns & find 76ATG & a squad well back.
ATG routes an AAgun MMG routes the 76 before squad uses grass for cover & finnishes it. Next squad up loses a man sniper at 200m M3s move up & rout it then last squad enters & kills. Tanks are hidden from last AAgun & T-26s, flakwagens engage AAgun & route but recieve fire. 2 little AAgun further back only pen of 2 so last 2 tanks move up achieving little more than getting suppresed. I can move my Flaks to safety but decide to live dangerously due to range.
South of treeline squad finds T-26 in woods & kills then squad moves to L1 by sniper & sniper takes a look.
4 squads & T-26s together all pinned by arty exept 2 BT-26s, there is another squad on its own in the tree line. At this range sniper is not being courageous takes 1 shot & sends squad scurrying. Squad fires recieves including a maxim not seen & its sort of round the corner for the moment wont effect anyone else.
Squad in woods has another go a finds another squad in treeline, this ones ready & kills 2men then T-26 has a go & kills a 3rd. Sniper has to risk exposure as we need to pin this squad or tanks will definetly be seen. Sniper fires then another squad taking fire from 3 tanks but we have pinned it, tanks still have shots but gamble time to save men. 1 tank is slightly round the corner so 3 M3s & Ram move on other 3 as 2 are buttoned. First ignores fire at as his target is the furthest tank 2nd loses his main gun but we continue get into position killing all 3. 231s engage the other they are alternating fire but pen is to low so last M3 comes in from side, takes multiple hits but it dies with the last shot, spots maxim to.
SF> MMG & scouts attack ATG lose 2 men as BT-7 behind it fires, squad joins in then M3 moves & destroys BT.
Squads in Ht decide to make a run & finnish off ATG but it all becomes a bit tricky as another is seen, other units fire & squad unloads beside recieving fire from a Quad. Due to the grass most units can't see so smoke & kill but next HT dodges fire from another, heck most of my force is becoming involved in this but eventualy all 3 HTs make it & get a gun each.
The few remaning units head NE finding & killing another BT-7.
AIT> Arty falling mainly behind but gets a truck, my FOOs have lost LOS but concentrating mainly on middle
NF> Sniper kills one of my squads
CF> one of my flaks is damaged in the exchange but crews were persuaded to abandon there posts. Unseen 76ATG was persuaded to do the same but not before damaging a MKIII. There are 7 abandonned & one manned gun here!!
SF> Yet another 45ATG pipes up in the woods damaging a M3 then further back a 76 opens up & kills one. Lukily plane was targeting maxim quad & made a pass on both routing them & inflicting 2 hits.

T15-16
 

NF> Trying to find that sniper 1 HT fires at squads near where AAgun was to allow some movement, another moves towards sniper as do sniper & scout, MMG moves into woods then squads move. He gets another 2 men before can find him & it turns out MMG can't see him, don't remember who killed but M3 sniper & HT all had a go then MMG fires at AAgun squads & we move that way (SE). There is a line of tres with 2 breaks just South of them & 2 squads that get close are in trouble as AAguns on the other side open up place smoke.
The lone tank & its support squad go to work they can't see one AA gun but kill 2 men in the other, while hes at it M3 polishes off BT-2 & a T-26. Really getting to like this lone ranger think hes got 6 tanks & a gun this game.
Send a squad into the woods a couple have made it past the rail line & he fires at them, anothers further down the line so send a HT down it.
Am thinking my forces are spread thin but want to kill while still running so HT turns the corner & a shell whistles past, 3 running squads the maxim & 200m away on the tracks a T-28e. Thats not good I have used all my movement, no choice squad bails out losing a man & pops smoke. I will just have to hope running squads don't recover & send whats left this way plus backtrack an M3 to the woods.
NW there are now 4 squads & the 2 that were going for pull back as trucks run for them. M2 heads towards T-28 stopping in a position to cover the trucks.
CF> I am having a real mare here, line of trees goes 5 hexes E>W then turns SE. The area north of the trees is high grass & plays total havoc with LOS to the area trees bend round to. I know there are 2 T-26s there & squads, should be quite a few as units on the other side of trees routed through them sqauds on the other side have confirmed that & fired at maxim which was the only unit but its on the other side to now.
Flaks try there luck & ATG routing only remaining gun & a squad, MMG moves up in a good position to see round I think.
Turns out no but over by NF T-26s sees another AAGun, fires at & kills it.
No choice scout & 3 squads move up, can see a few squads but there must be more, find location to attack tank from so M3 experiments trying to find another, it does so help moves up 2 against one. No its not the other tank has kicked in time for a bit of brain scratching ranges are 150+250m so a hit could kill. Realise there is a gap in trees & might be able to target one through, 231 finds the spot & 2 M3s move to & kill. Thats better now we fire & kill it to.
Take our first flag & scout discovers the other squads & dies.
Flak & ATGs are taking a hopefully safe route towards NF.
SF> MMG fires at Quad & tank moves then kills 76ATG, squad fires at 45ATG then squad moves into trees 100m from it & is fired on by another one, thats 6 & probably it. They are adjacent so flaks move to target first with hopes of pinning both, it works & squad finnishes one. Second squad moves to kill the other & recieves fire from 3 new squads. Have a lot of trouble targeting only managing to attack one but in the process find another squad kill a maxim, the quad & T-26. The 3rd squad near the woods now moves & kills last ATG.
Trying to get squads in front of armour & keep them out of trouble as expect another 76ATG somewhere.
AIT> Only 2 arty fall this turn but I manage to drop mtr fire on T-28e.
Exchange of fire is fairly light but NF lose men to a new maxim HMG.
I plotted 2 air to attack up North then overfly T28s area to see if they spot more, one of planes that went down South left smoking but they found the 76ATG so I am a happy bunny.
T16
NF>
Lone tank is trying to get a LOS on 2 remaining T-26s or the AAgun without giving a flank shot, gets T-26 in view but misses, M£ on the other side manages to get the other in view & kills then moves a hex & has AAgun & the other T-26 in its sights. There are 4 squads & maxim here but only 2 in good order, sniper takes one & squad at 100m sends others running. My 3 squads here cant go any further without crossing AAguns fire zone so just get in position, sniper & MMG do the same all can attack the AAgun with a 1 hex move.
2 squads & scout are chasing runners & can see arty smoke 600m away, the HT enters woods to catch them to avoid AAgun.
In view of the success we are having against tanks decide to risk going for T-28e, its buttoned & Russians are at there worst I think at the start of the war with exp of 60 or so. The ease with which they run seems to confirm this & watched shot accuracy from tanks.
Squad moves into trees 100m away it does not see him, fires at no return fire, the M3 will have to engage at 150m which is close so M2 moves to 250m through woods & recieves fire. Do not fire back as he will with better chance. M3 moves 100m shot misses at 26% so M2 fires a misses so does he, M3 fires at 41% & kills. Squads head off looking for more & chasing runners.
2 squads turn back to go after 4 squads to NW as planes coming, also flak ATGs & one MMG on the way to provide long range suppresion
CF+SF> This is really one big force now but generaly about 200m in front is a depresion then more L1 so need to be carefull as could be some guns in. Towards the South part further East I saw arty smoke but as trying to remember turns forget where exactly. Will do from S>N
4 squads here so tanks move & rout, they can do this because smoke from planes bombs blocks view of 76ATG. Squads near woods area move up so they can take it on next turn & scout catches a ride to within 100m of it. Move forward & force all the enemy to enter the depresion get 2 flags.
North squads move forward entering tree line, there is a bit more than a compny here all running plus crews most have made it past the small depresion here.
Reduce them to just under a company & 2 M3s kill another AAgun.
Little choice vehicles are exposed, due to the lie of the land think less so to the North as fire will be more distant, flags taken.
AIT> little fire but get a few runners obviosly, lone M3 bags the T-26 & a BT-2 is now in his sights, love this guy. Squads to NW are on the move we shoot at one then planes come in looks like there were 7 or 8 but both had bombs so its back to 4. They also see another T-28 who looks like he is moving to cover arty pieces going round the woods.

T17
 

NF>Lone tank kills BT-2 & now all 3 M3s are heading towards T-28, if anything new turns up here SF will see it.
Squads are giving chase & more runners are coming out of the woods.
M2 & a squad are moving towards NW group, units there kill a couple of men & find another squad. With the way they are heading it is now debatable if flak & ATGs will be able to give much support.
SF> Most Northern scout spots 2 squads one close the other at about 600m, M3 routes the closer while MMG kills 6 in the other squad it is to the NE 300m behind the flags. Send a few squads that way into the depresion its about 200x500ms & recieve no fire so a truck tries to cross to a nearer hiding spot. 2 men down as Maxim HMG opens up, 2 tanks open up & send it running. Send more units this way & squads chase runners to the East some entering the narrow depresion here. Vehicles either go NE or stay put as one unit has exited the depresion & its visible to problems further South.
Troops attack 76ATG its crew abandons but my squad is routed by another one, trying to move on this lose 3 men as find another 2 45ATGs. Manage to move up & destroy these & scout places smoke to block 76 because vehicles cant move & he has a maxim nearby. Thats 9 ATGs in a 500m stagered line so far.
231 M2 & a couple of M3 move into depresion as far as can risk routing maxim & another squad they find. Other scout & squad use transport to enter so they can see whats around. There is a sniper near the gun but hes not very good & misses so route him to.
AIT> Arty is very quite most people are running but sniper rallied & got a man. Also another 76ATG opened up killing an M3 but not before it returned fire along with a couple of squads as smoke cleared a bit. An 80mm mtr hit here & both guns are running.

T18 on
 

NF> have a total of 4 runers left that I can see & a couple of units are getting close to arty, T-28 will be somewhere N of it. 1 tank has made it to a position to cover the other 2 are making best speed. Sending stuff to support NW as in trouble, lost 2 men & at least 2 maybe 3 more squads turned up. Tried to stop them using woods but not going to manage it.
SF> the sniper finaly sucumbs to a concentrated effort & squads move out, pretty sure the area is now clear of guns so commence mop up operations.
Kill a fair few lost count but only about 10 runners remain.
Force moving NE discover 2 maxims which MMGs & M3s deal with, also 2 Mtrs squad kills one. Hidden by drifting smoke from destroyed tanks near flags a 45ATG fires at 231 missing, it withdraws. Realise a bit late LOS to from this side is hard but NF squad has it in his sights so routes it.
AIT> Arty started up most is wide of the mark but some fell on units transiting to NE. Most of my arty is mobile just in case it had targeted them as its been quite, my bat is offline again.
Only fighting is to North exchanged men, impressed with my tank despite max move engaged T-28 & hit at 500m but had no effect.
T19
NF> M3 fires everything at T-28 damaging twice & routing scout rides up & has a go to make sure, squad starts attacking 2 mtrs here.
Find 4 more units exiting woods 2 squads targeting.
NW despite some relief arriving can only see 2 squads, route them for the loss of a man. Air was coming in again but going to cancel as it might hit me & I have avoided friendly fire for a while now.
Near the ATG squad closes from the North & finds 3 maxims, rest from south. A couple of squads from move to positins to check for ATGs but out of LOS of maxims due to smoke, fire at routed squad & 2 more maxims return fire. Its a nest of them have already killed 2 or 3 here. M3s fire at recent maxims then one rolls up & kills the ATG followed by squads that kill the 2 latest maxims. Both 231s here attack the other 3 maxims, squad sends them all running for the loss of man.
To the South find a few more squads but kill most only 4 runners left however lose 2 men finding & destroying another ATG in the area. Arty firing has put telltales back on map so 3 vehicles are running for.
AIT> Arty got 2 or 3 men & I could not cancel one plane, it found an enemy squad & attacked that but close call.
Scout failed in its assault of T-28 as it withdrew behind some trees.
Down South 231 had parked by Soviet HQ, survived the assault.
T20
NF> Scout heads after T-28 & tries to assualt again, fails but 2 tanks can get position on both miss. Kill both mortars here
NW lose 2 men finding another 3 squads but manage to rout one, as suspected getting support fire fails only M2 helps out.
Elsewhere kill everything just 4 runners covering the rest of the map, one is the HQ.
Take all flags M3 killing 120mtr found there.
Find 2 120mtrs & 2 107how only one survives the attacks.
AIT> Lose a man in only battle left & for some reason arty seems lighter.:D
T21
Deal with all runners & T-28 dies sending support as fast as I can to last area.
This time I planned it M2 fires at squad & it pops smoke meaning my only squad here is safe, he fires a bit but no luck as pretty suppressed. One flakwagen manages to find a firing position routing a second squad.
The other 2 squads here were chasing a runner through the woods, follow to the road & man down need help. Valient effort they manage to kill 7 route 2 45ATGs & a squad, there are another half dozen but most are running
AIT> at the road one of my squads is in poor shape but persuaded them all to run. the other group had to move to fire & no one was lost.
T22
Road squads get help from scout & another squad managing to kill all but one Rusky.
As the squads moved support forces get targets & manage to kill 3 of the 4.
Units coming to assist take fire from 2 other squads in woods.
Reinforcments arrive 8 T-26s, 4 are killed 3 by a 231
Soviets call it a day.
7 or so other squads were in the road area
Men 124>1479
AFV 3>39
Score 6126>640
Decisive
Our forces were lucky in that the worst armour threat was T-28s, also I was reasonably lucky with the ATG cluster
It will I think be a few months yet before the Soviets become a major threat as exp & morale improve, at present it takes little to turn them & tank crews are useless.
Still generaly more fun than the dessert though

Minsk
 

High command want to take full advantage of the Soviets lack of staying power, our orders are to keep the pressure on by continuing the advance
Special battle Minsk advance visibility is 32
Changed map to 100 wide & set flags in a rough line 2/3rds in woods & Northern group of buildings, then a small gap & rest on the other buiding group.
This means the area they have to protect is just over 1.5km wide so I might face a more dense setup.

Roughly the part of the map we are intrestead in is as follows
3 groups of woods about 500m across in a line with a E>W road & 2 buidings in the 300m clearing between the North 2
500m further back a road runs N>S the village(A) at the crossroads sits in a wide woods & is main objective
500m South of woods is the other village(B) secondary objective
(A) has fields from it to the North woods & a small depresion in front of N part of woods it sits in
(B) has high grass in front of & sits back from 2 lower woods like so >
It has a small depresion to its South & another runs behind central woods to its NW
The grass & field might cause sight problems

Forces
Support
3x Nebelwerfer 41Rockets
3x 28cm other rockets, the smaller ones range 43 or so
Main force
We are missing inc immobile
3 halftracks
2 trucks
2 MkIII
Ram
Motorbike
80MM Mtr
Inf AAMG
2 squads
Scout
Also in a bad way 2 Squads, scout & MMG The scout will sit this one out

The opening gambit
If AI has set up forward there could be a few units in woods but for a fast start I am going to gamble not.
10cmMtr Pre bombard just in case & dropping smoke in gaps between woods
1 Company & a few tanks head for gap between South woods, they can enter a small depresion on turn 2 which when exited could bring them in range of enemy troops. Gives vehicles a place to hide while troops get ahead for gun spotting.
Reduced company & several tanks head down road towards the other gap
Rest the largest force with as much transport as I could give it is heading round a lake then heading round the top of N woods.
The hope is some of this force may be able to head for the enemy rear.
AI Prebombards with 1 bat of 122 only & on turn 1 adds to my smoke between middle & South woods.
Turn3
I have been hitting woods with light stuff as in mortars to prevent creating shell holes but looks like I missed.
NF> Scout in motorbike & 231s charged along the back of the woods drawing no fire, upon reaching top end of woods unload & pass through a tree line that extends further strajght into 2 souts watching the flanks. They are 150m away & my scout seems unseen, only units that can assist are 231s & by using woods can do so without much exposure. Each targets a scout getting a man & pinning, with luck they might miss my scout & infantry is ready to help next go.
The woods has a decent clearing in the middle so Pioneers enter to check it out as a path for vehicles. One recieves fire & falls back to safety after spotting a squad.
CF> Started at reasonable pace to allow NF time & the first squad to stick his head through the smoke gets it shot off, 2men down to a point blank shot plus a unit on my side of the smoke fires from the woods. M3 silences the squad in the woods & squad sends adj squad running, decide to pursue heading down road as not enough MP to enter building & discover transparent trees means squad in woods that fired at Pioneer can fire at him to. Then a maxim in the N woods opens up & a 37AAgun 300m to the East, he is not having a good day.
There is a 1 hex gap in smoke on either side of the other building here which is slightly further East.
231 decides to risk avoids AAgun & sends maxim running, as no fire came from that building it moves directly behind it for cover.
4 M3s move up 2 end turn very slightly exposed but with squad in N woods in sight. the other 2 had a little go at AAgun for no effect then withdrew.
Next squad to go did not fair any better losing 2 men also as decided to check out centre woods. MMG from SF exits depresion & gets him running with the help of a squad.
SF> Several troops exit the depresion fanning out scouts moving for C woods & smoke, 2 HT exit & use smoke to move by central woods & unload but the rest of the vehicles stay in the depresion. There is a line of trees to our SW which I want checked first & it turns out can see straight through most of it.
Carry on bombarding woods & plot 2 guns to drop smoke to screen the Nort flank move. As have rockets decide to fire them at main village areas that cover the road best.
AIT> It drops more smoke in between both woods any LOS to AAgun is gone, looks like I am droping smoke in the wrong place up North as a 45ATg somewhere to NE kills 231, we get a scout running. Not the best of starts & it looks like the AI has flanking covered.

T4-6
 

Firstly it seems despite a vision of only 32 most woods hex can be seen through so 100m is common engage range in the woods. Because of this & reasonble size clearings vehicle support is not a probem. Ignoring rifle grenades as front hit is acceptable.
CF> 231 still has maxim in view so takes out 2 men before it moves to safety, the other squad has disapeared into the smoke & I am not risking more hits on lead squad as he is now 4 men down. Remember several squads started the battle 1 or 2 men light & this could have gone better.
Move him over behind E building but recieves fire & is now 5 men down, it came from a 2nd squad in N woods so 2 M3s & 231 route both of them.
Am now becoming worried arty fire could finnish off some of my units.
Another squad & 231 search for squad that ran & lose a man in the process as he recovered but send him running.
Next one goes down road entering a single tree hex to wait for smoke to clear but recieves fire from a squad & maxim so pulls back
Now I know why the AI was dropping smoke I am walking into him but there is a small gap in it & can fire on maxim from top of centre woods. Squads enter followed by armour & we lose a couple more men. The most southerly squad has brass ones it takes 3 tanks & a squad to get him to move.
Thinking we are clear M3 moves towards position to take on maxim & is assualted, fails & sent z fire at its hex but can't spot him. Situation ends with him & 4 runners in the woods, another squad was also found in the clearing & persuaded to run but this is provin quite costly.
SF> things go better here ther is a 150m corridor in the smoke scout spots squad sniper pinns then scout routes.
A squad is also detected by the treeline & forced to run by MMg & squads, seems like he is alone.
Vehicles move out some enter Central woods in position to check clearing & possibly cut off runners in, ATGs heading this way to.
Other units enter smoke so we can at least move forward in force.
NF> In the woods pursue 2 squads CF routed killing one & units move up to clearing, seems clear & HT enters spotting a squad so withdraws. M3 moves to position so it can attack but does not as max move.
On the flank 231 routes the other scout my scout kills him moving onto earth so has a good view, sees another scout which MMG takes on.
Now several squads move out the one furthest North loses 2 men to another scout & maxim bit of fire ends up with 2 scouts running one is down to its last man.
The maxim is untochable grass & earth block view, turns out 231 that died was on grass so had a view. I need to get my MMGs on or risk vehicles to ATG that is out there as maxim is out of squad range.
Begining to think the AI has a flank move pretty well covered, 1.5km to NE 2 T-35s are visible, SE in front of town are 2 T-26s.
Its catch 22 situation take on the flank with problamatic LOS, sense says let them come to me but if I do not expand my front his arty could have a field day on my densely packed forces.
Take a gamble squad fired at by maxim places smoke the treeline extends another 200m NE so truck moves & makes it. More transparent trees but squad unloads anyway grass blocks LOS to the North. More squads & sniper move up in hopes they can get in range of ATG but I am reminded of the last game when it had a dozen guns covering the flank. Some units press into woods & tanks move to position to go either way.
Normal game this turn 4 & I am winging it the plan has turned to pooh.
Cancel 1 rocket strike as thinking might get town in sight was ambitious. Targeting it & short range rockets plus 155s at flank blanketing the area, with luck might hit something & dust will be welcome.
I am actualy worried about Soviet arty as units started damaged & while the besst defence is to keep moving this could leave me very exposed.
AIT> No arty yet they lost a couple of men we didn't but tank was damaged before squad was routed, mortar drifted off target in woods & killed one of my trucks in another friendly fire incident.
T5
NF> Both scouts move NE to good vantage points, locate 2 squads, maxim & 45ATG there has to be more than one. MMG gets on some grass & pinns the maxim followed by a couple of squads by the woods firing at max range vs a squad. Due to there position most of my squads will need to move through the treeline to fire sniper goes first as he can stay in trees, routes maxim & pinns nearest squad. Squads move forward & both sides end up losing about 3-4 men, 2 more maxims are found. We now have some targets so FOO moves out & shifts fire.
In the woods tank routes squad but only has 2 shots, I am hoping it started damaged & rifle grenades did not do that, need to take care of this tank.
Troops kill the squad & we are nearly at woods border, transparent trees are causing probs one of my squads is exposed & sees a squad midway between woods & the village.
MMG by the road enters building & losses 2 men to 2 squads opposite. M3 goes after the one with RG then 231 helps out, one is routed so MMG chances his luck both are running.
Smoke has drifted meaning cannot get a shot on maxim, 80 mtr is landing behind it so move into position but recieve fire from a squad in front of woods, get him running for no loss this time.
Another squad moves towards C woods seeing 37AA gun, he dives into wood & chases sqaud that assaulted M3. Grass means we can attack the AAgun safely so 2 M3s kill it moving to position for maxim if smoke clears.
Central woods> things go better here kill a squad 2 runners exit & one remains but it seems empty clearing has been checked. The dip behind is just over 500m long but only 150 wide & a couple of units make it in using remaining smoke cover. At the end of the turn as LOS seems clear HT moves into. Find spot I picked is not that good as has a reasonable view out of, squad unloads recieving fire from a maxim & DSHK HMG 300m away in depresion just East of trees, places smoke. In the woods moving up but again transparency is a problem. ATGs unload but could take a couple of turns to get position, FOOs in there to.
South of these woods squads in smoke find a squad unnoticed & kill 5men. Those moving to treeline find another hardy chap, it takes 2 M3s flak & a squad to put the persuaders on him. M3s move back behind smoke, I am trying to figure out what to do with my vehicles but risk running a HT to very South of depresion (trees between it & HMG) as scout finds limited LOS. It makes it as does an M3 but it recieved fire from a T-26 somewhere
A thought dawned on me part way through, at the moment I am not doing much better than trading men, I cannot afford this last battle was an attack to & seem to remember he lost 1400 men. I only have 900, 800 after casulties so even a 2:1 ratio will leave me in big trouble, need to do better.
AIT> Decide to smoke out T-35s adjust rockets & target area around road plus 2 HMGs in the depression. I am using a lot of arty here & purposely did not buy more ammo supply so have to think about if I want rockets to keep firing.
Soviet arty starts up 6 81mtrs & on board 122s one in road area but rest to far back.
Only exchange is on the flank we lose 2 men they lose 3 2 to a great shot by my scout. Another maxim & squad join in rockets get 2 ATGs but have little effect on the rest just pinning update further next report.
At the road get a lucky break during retreat smoke has cleared & squad & MMG fire at runner as he enters AAguns hex killing 3 & making it abandon, now thats a result.
T6
NF> Find another squad so we have 4 squads & 4 maxims 2 scouts, 1 of each is running, also 2 crews running.
MMG kills 3 forcing another maxim runner.
Sniper God Bless him takes 2 squads & a maxim out of the picture.
2 more squads kill scouts.
Last maxim is hidden from most by dust so squad fires at last ready squad routing but sniper 150m away makes him pay, 2 down.
Scout routes sniper & squad moves adj to kill, further fire kills a maxim but another one opens up from just North of the village by the T-26.
Now things get a bit hairy most units in N woods are not ready though 3 squads engage near the road, helped by 2 m3in s the last of the smoke they send 3 squads & a maxim running.
The other maxim need to take a gamble as its pinned squad moves out he is exposed but risk the shot & send running.
This leaves area near road clear, we need to move fwd this is were arty is coming so squad moves resulting in this situation. will use R followed by numbers to signify route status.
North of road 3 squads + maxim all R nearby, further away like 500m maxim 82mtr 2-T-26
On or by the road 6 squads & maxim all R, 2 BT-7s
Very slightly South of road another 4 squads 2R & an AAgun, T-26s
Move ATG up have a gap in my view but further South 2 squads maxim 4 assorted BTs.
Its time for the armour to play but the AAgun is a pain it covers best positions to attack from & will suppress.
2 tanks that can in N woods & 1 from centre have a go at 2 N T-26s & a BT-7 destroying one T-26 but all other shots miss.
Finnish moving squads in woods one has to place smoke as HT ends up exposed.
2 Squads by road decide to get abit gung ho taking on AAgun under fairly heavy fire, MMG moves up to help even more fire & 2 more BT-7s spotted, grief not sure this was sensible. 3 AA crew killed its running but we lost 3 or 4 men to.
2 M3s just S of road take on T-26s killing one.
Now I am running into flank shot issues which I hope high grass will prevent, it does but T-26 damages M3 so withdraws.
M2 risks it killing a BT-7 & ducking back, 231 does the same.
I am exposed to more than enough possible ATGs for one turn.
Central woods squad moves into N end of depresion under fire & places smoke, HT & truck follow then transparent trees catch me out Pioneer in truck losses 4 men to a squad ouch. M3 has ago at HMGs in depresion but no luck.
At the South find another squad & my squad sends running, keep afew others running the find another squad about 500m further back plus 3 T-26s, my squad takes a lot of fire so smokes.
Bit of a problem here smoke is about to go & I am unsure of places from which I can target T-26s. have a nasty feeling due to grass will have to get close enough that they hurt & thats without a half decent ATG kicking in.
AIT> That was a bit tense, firstly misjudged pulling back trucks lost 4 & a bike to arty, got a couple of men as well.
North arty pinned most of my force & maxim got 2 men, we probably got about the same.
South not a lot happened.
Middle the dogs of war were let lose 2 Soviet tanks died a 3rd possibly damaged, the AAgun is gone as are several squads & a maxim.
The highlight was probably the squad & HT in the depresion taking on both HMGs & winning big time.
We have one nearly dead squad by the road who took serious amounts of fire, thought he was a gonner but MMG rallied & helped save him.
Luckily the Russians are bad shots thought 231 was safe but took a fair amount of fire all missing, there are at least 3 45ATGs out there that I have not spotted, targeted tanks as well. 2 76 ATGs which I have spotted only scored a couple of hits one M3 is really messed up.
I think area directly in front of the village is clear of ATGs & most fire came from South end of the woods or between both villages.
Could well have been more stuff a lot happened we did win the exchange but I am being made to pay.

T7-8
 

With the way things are coming in from the North does seem the best option as can screen me from some guns.
A sweeping flank move here though seems out for the forseable future, there are 4 tell tale arty puffs here though.
Smoke should block 4 tanks to far North, they are however nicely set up on the road so can reinforce the village quickly.
Its actually a good place as large clearing there with contact ranges of 150-300m, that will kill my tanks.
Reasonably confident area N of road is devoid of guns apart from some possibly to far North.
The area between the 2 villages is a diffrent matter thats chock full of guns & armour.
Assume further South will be more guns as terrain allows for & the AI seems fairly competent at covering its flanks.
All the troops I can see from N to 200m S of road are running with the exeption of 2 maxims.
Further South can only see 10 & most are ready, there are I am sure a lot not yet detected.
Route maxim near village & pinn the North one but few fire opportunities & more worried about getting away from arty here though quite a few are stuck for the next barrage. HT picks up FOO & wisks him away from it.
Take out BT-7 & T-26 this leaves one T-26 near the road but wrecks & woods make targeting without exposure to ATGs impossible at the moment.
This leaves 2 groups of tanks N+S of 2nd village, using trees to screen 2M3s attack furthest south group reducing it to 1 T-26
2 ATGs get a BT each leaving 2 but unseen squad kills 2 crew.
From N>S
3 tanks head out think only one is vulnerable to fire from the North.
Squads in N woods head for village see a T-26 which M3 takes down then a maxim in the dip that runs in front of woods.
Nothing else seems to be there so 231 & Ht send it running, try driving a truck up so lead squad is on dips edge 350m away from flags.
Units exit woods heading for village & M3 routes a maxim in it.
A problem we have is a maxim behind the central woods depresion but discover units N of road cannot geat a bead on him. MMG in depresion tries & walks into a sniper. M2 & M3 have a go but end up having to commit my sniper ruining plans for him, squad moves up & kills.
Back to the maxim & troops south of road move on at some cost but 76ATGs shoot at them to. Lose quite a few men here as discovering more all the time including another BT.
As ATGs fired tanks take a risk fire at for no effect but kill last T-26 by the road & another near the village, 3 are left.
231 & a couple of squads risk a run for North village getting to within 250m, lots of stuff in field following.
C woods have now nearly left as in the dip including several tanks, its cleared out.
Furthest South having problems not much more than reinforced platoon here, there are 2 tanks but they have to be very carefull so are not helping. At one stage we were outnumbered 2:1 here though slightly better odds now. HQ is playing scout again bless him.
AIT> arty was ok batts are still silent, no vehicles recieved fire.
Maxims are cheesing me off as they keep picking off men, luckily have not come across any yet down South. Most heated exchange was here but numbers vs exp battle is going exp way. My troops get 4 or 5 shots while Soviets usually run after 2.
T8
Smoke came down well in South giving a reasonable screen from fire past the village.
Half wit that I am used rockets up North, its all over the shop, useless.
With the exeption of far South nearly all visible troops are running
Maxim in village & a squad between them only units with fight in.
Tanks & guns are alright arty should hit 76s this go.
231 & M3 sort out maxim & a HT in the depresion gets the squad, ATG takes out BT.
North units continue towards T-35s looking for guns see another T-26, 3 M3s are now heading for.
MMG moving up N of village in truck recieves fire from 76ATGs, they miss but scout finds both in woods near good ambush point, M3s are safe.
Squads are at wood edge & will be able to attack one next turn.
Closing on the village find another squad in it, we are slicing & dicing though now within 100m & units are ready to look down the road, enemy units are fading fast.
In the centre every troop posible moves out of the depresion for a look, find a 3 more squads maxim & AAMG, village tanks get maxim sniper the AA.
Some squads trade fire with enemy squads but mainly ignore fire from as several are now in range of 76s, they are shooting back but 4 crew killed & my ATGs had a go to.
Light armour sits tight & M3s role out one is damaged by a 45ATG but troops in position to see now 4 of them. Tanks are staying put & engaging, light armour engages the ducks back. Result, we lost some men & have a damaged M3 but kill a 76 & all other guns have crews greatly reduced & routed, another BT has shown up.
Down South the lack of vehicle support is showing not to mention we are now outnumbered 3:1 facing more than 15 squads.
Smoke cover is not enough but help is needed so 2 M3s & HT help out, kill last T-26 here to. End up positioned not to bad I think as my squads placed smoke to restrict fire at.
Trying to extract damaged tanks & picking up ATGs, they have been there to long. Same goes for some arty its relocating. Foos have ended up quite far fwd running from expected arty fall.
AIT> Batts kick in but recent move forward means they miss something hits a MMG that was damaged & kills it.
North M3 is fired at by a new ATG which squads kill.
Few other new units pop up in centre & South including a mtr direct firing & damaging HT.
More smoke falls in South making fairly safe there exept M3 recieves fire from centre somewhere near other ATGs, its another 76 but quite where it is elludes me.
This ones fun.

T9
 

Situation normal, apart from in the South all are running.
North misjudge LOS for 76 & it kills truck & scouts, another 45ATG fires at M3s & is killed by squaud & MMG, about 6 runners left now, M3s attack tanks T-26 brews up.
Now the fun begins as move on woods & village, a couple of men entering woods find trees are transparent here to.
Near the 76 find 3 squads a maxim & another maxim running, 4 squads & 2 HTs send them running killing both maxims, they then engage 76 followed by 231 & Ram who kill it. Care is needed as found another 45ATG slightly back from & the other 76 is out of reach to.
At the village 2 squads & M3 deal with 2 found squads there.
First squad to look down the road finds a 45ATG just past the crossroads, he has a go but is routed, there are two of them, 2 other squads & MMG take over followed by 2 M3s, finaly get one & other runs. The crossroads has a clump of trees in its SW corner then a little gap, centre squads recieve fire from 3 squads in woods SE of the crossroads M2 persuades one to run.
In the centre the hunt is on for the 76 tanks can only move towards the North till I can find it.
Start recieving fire frm the South village another 2 AAMG, 37AA & 2 squads are found here. tanks engage at range with some success but its still enough to stall the move forward. Fire from crossroads area means some troops are caught in a crossfire, I have to smoke in places.
Down South things are still not going well ignoring the scouts we have advanced all of 100m in the last few turns. Anticipated relief is now not fothcoming due to the hidden 76 & scout smokes M3 to protect it.At least the 2 M3s & Ht are now playing a more active part but its heavy going, some arty is going to help as men are getting a bit short on the ground.
Apart from the Ht here most of my light armour South of the road is in hiding
AIT> Most arty has stopped, my batterys reputation is tarnished it had been doing good CB service but since coming to the Eatern front it has failed abismaly to get a lock, giving up.
Main things tide finaly turned down South, combination of vehicles 2 MMG now giving support & a bit of arty made a diffrence.
Big moment up North not sure how lead tank survived unscathed as he was ganged up on. Tanks fired at him & another 45ATG had a go before squads forced to run. Of much more concern was another 76 in the woods somewhere near the other possibly, looks like the flank move has stalled again.

T10-12
 

Smoke blocks LOS from centre to crossroads, hunt for ATGs goes first.
Near village find 2 76s & 45 to go with 2 already there, they are pinned as dropped arty.
Get all but one to route status, it does not have a view out of the local area though. If they recover Ram 231 & HT are targets.
Move into the village proper having trouble with a couple of new squads but one of my squads has made it to the N>S road, lots of runners
2 tanks move to take on squads SE of croosroads, squad has to help as find another but control the area.
There is smoke on the E>W road 100m past the crossroads, lead squad enters more runners kill 3 of, get MMG here by taxi then in exitment to kill em move 231 a bit further. It dies to a 37AA at the side of the road asked for that.
Central guys can't find thier gun(s) but kill an AAMG a 2 more squads appear by the village. Vehicles still carefull but taxis break cover to pick up guys near the road, we need to get a shift on runners now have a good head start.
South again does not go to well but only one more squad joins in. For some reason this turn my rally attempts have gone to pot, think out of those tried only 1 managed it.
North, freed up from ATGs move on MMG & squads routing another 45 then M3s take out all but one T-35
AIT> No arty that turn but if anything went to Soviets.
N found another 45 number 6 hes pinned
ATGs in wood killed or routed 45 & 76 but a new one showed up to NE so lost 231 & HT
Road they routed MMG & killed his truck.
Centre we won here a few runners taken out & found & routed 76ATG
South think we did slightly better but 2 of my squads are now half squads, its getting critical.
T11
NF> Route ATG & another they find then destroy a mortar & last T-35
Village 2 squads kill closest 76 others are moving toward the other down the road. Have taken several flags & starting to cross into woods now, but a bit of a firefight is going on which we win, cannot pussue runners down E>W road due to AAgun. Some tanks & taxis that loaded last go head into woods South of the road to get position on AAgun & they kill the 76.
Continue moving forward in space between woods & South village recieve more fire from village & to East a sniper, decide tanks can risk coming out but we lose several men over the next bit.
South village has a line of trees running / just behind & smoke screen is nearly gone, scout moves through it & requests help.
Sniper routes 2 maxims bfore scout pops smoke as apart from runners there are 2 squads here & a T-26.
Squad enters village from the North its full of AA, he manages to route one, next squad fails but find excluding excluding runners.
2 squads E of village covering road, 2 more in it & 3 AA guns.
Each AA gun is positioned so attacking one gives another track hits, squads manage to silence one at some cost allowing 2 M3s that can reach to take on others. Other squads have to draw fire to allow trucks to close safely. Its all a bit hairy & some smoke is dropped but 2 AAguns are killed & squads routed.
In the process though 2 more AAguns take part. As I said lost a few men here.
The exitment in the village means the only support SF gets is an ATG & one squad at range, however I think morale has gone, another squad joins in but they are folding. HQ decides its time to break cover & is closing, so does 223Fu who so far has stayed out of things, tanks move forward to better firing positions.
AIT> arty returns, have outrun most of it but units near South village & clearing North of take a couple of solid hits.
No more ATGs up North but AI is on the move. M3 destroys T-26 by North village & one is engaged at the other village.
Sniper is found & destroyed by a huge volley from M3s
In the village 1 squad is in critical shape but killed 4 AAgun crew
South, we are moving no further here they have started heading for village & flags outnumbered by more than 3:1 again.
T12
First squad to try his luck vs 76 is routed, second does little better but Pioneer places a DC killing it outright.
North group finaly start to become a flanking force & head forward.
Around the village & its woods the race is on to see if we can catch the runners before they exit. 2 M3s get the AAgun routed then Ht drives up squad finnishing it.
Little moment then as M3 heads down the road straight into the arms of 3 T-26s, range 100m but all are moving, get him some help another M3 but first 2 flaks Z fire on 2 of them, kill without taking a hit. Take all flags here.
Rally seems to have returned to normal so most units can clear arty however some end up possibly heading into it at the village.
Its all getting a bit worrying round here 2/3rds of my force is to the North chasing units.
To the South do what we can but its more a case of hanging on, 3 more squads appear & while i do manage to get all 3 ATGs helping the odds here are now becoming silly.
Tanks just North of village turn NE & head for it & a bit of fighting kills AA guns & T-26 who only fired once, combination of move & low experience I think means few shots. Would explain earlier tank exchange.
Now the reason for heading into arty, squad & scout make it to far side of village recieving fire from over a dozen squads meaning they cannot place smoke.
Scouts position is critical 4 squads within 100m, manage to reduce this to 1 but still dont think its enough & expect more armour to come to villages defence.
The only good thing so long as it misses my scout is rocket had reloaded & is about to fire here
AIT> Oh hell arty missed in town just but SF has been stuck for a while so arty is coming down on them & the ATGs & theres more. To the South of the depresion 6 T-26s & 2 T-28s have shown up. More may have made it into the depression. A few more squads appeared to. One of my squads in the village is critical but scout survives. Lots of blood was spilt on both sides but we did get the upper hand. Should have left 223Fu alone AAgun somewhere in S woods killed him, no survivors.
At least the North is now a done deal its becoming a case of can I transfer help quick enough.

T13-14
 

North we are out of the trees & just mowing down runners, the odd one has rallied but nothing to worry about. Should get most runners going down the road I think, picking up anyone I can & transfering unit cohesion be damned.
At the village tanks trying to move to engage enemy armour get stuck in the fight there. Still over 2 comp of Soviets south of the village & the scout is living dangerously finding more & 3 AAguns but hes now out of smoke, have engaged to little effect. The sniper is doing a great job though of keeping the scout safe
Far South most units dont fire smoking & trying to clear arty. Reposition 1 ATG trying to move others might lose the trucks so did not load just near.
A couple of tanks might get armour targets next go.
AIT> To my joy find I have plotted all 3 rockets in the vicinity of the AAguns, let fly & thats that but another one has turned up. My arty is mainly hitting just South of village should all be running now so can support South from behind once sort out tanks. M3 gets a T-28. Most arty missed managed to clear it just.
HTs are taking direct fire from artilery now all but 2 tanks have vanished.
T14
Killing arty pieces 4 left by the looks of it but the big question is where did the tanks go. At the depresion so think they are in the woods heading for SF. They have also come underattack by maxims but slowly getting reinforced. The village is ours as we are aproaching equal numbers & the road nearby is chock full of trafic. Next go we will probably outnumber him everywhere.
AIT> They are still putting up a fight one particulary hardy squad killed 3 of my men despite the fact he was taking fire from 2M3s 2 squads & a HT, the tanks headed back for the depresion all fire exchanged missed. Its looking like my South force is out of the woods now they just held on without losing a squad.

T15 on
 

SF> is accepting losses to save 2 squads reduced to 4 & 5 men but has help now, tanks die easily as greatly outnumbered its just a case of keeping guys in trouble alive & taking the last flag. There are still more soviet squads turning up though.
T16
Hurt troops are withdrawn if they can avoid arty will survive. Have a minor moment when thought I had missed a tank but realise there are another 4 or so, still have a lot of armour here now so they succumb quickly. All arty stops
T-17
Never a dull moment HT has kittens as 3 BT-7 arrive as reinforcements, only armour near is a Ram & M2 but they get one a piece then squad unloads from HT walks up to & kills the other. The fun continues as units going after 122s start recieving fire from them, manage to destroy one but HQ has joined in as well & the few tanks here dealt with BT-7s or moved there in case more turn up. The good news is in South scout has made it to where new squads keep apearing & think thats about it. Taking last flag next go & it turns out moved arty just in time, one was hit but will be moved next turn.
T20
Its all over I think a couple of units escaped but there is not a Soviet unit left on the map.
Men 164>1893
Guns 1?>64
AFV 4>43
Score 6507>889
Marginal
Thats 3 marginal 8 decisive so far, paying the price for not playing for a long time as wish I had not upgraded all my tanks. Germany did not have the better equipment at the start of the war but it certainly does now. Apart from the odd ATGs you do not need to look after your armour much which could become boring.

New battle
 

Quite day so here you go.
Missed the location but meeting vis 51 turns 31
Map open ground is mainly high grass & a large level 2 hill in the middle.
A strip of woods runs over it from the bottom left to top right corner. It gets a bit sparse with a couple of small gaps my side of halfway point on the map.
1.5Km South at the base of the hill are more woods, this clearing as it heads East opens up to 2Km with a clump of trees in the middle like so ---O
So trees all round it & a clump in the middle.
Flags are on the clump & further forward in top & bottom row of trees.
The bit to the North is mainly open but probably will not come into play.
Map included.

Force
Decide if anything should downgrade make a few changes for no real reason
Swap 2 MkII for MkIVf1 as main roll is infantry.
Swap 1 231 for 251/10HT plan to swap all 3 & buy enough HT so 1 company is equiped with in next battle or 2
The Plan
Each company is heading for a set of flags.
ATGs most MMG & half of the armour is heading down the centre to crest the hill.
The group going for North flags should hopefully be screened by woods for a while & have a reasonable amount of armour with them.
Hope is they can move to get flank shots depending on what Soviets come at me with or act as a firefight force.
Start
No pre bombard so start the race for objectives.
By the end of turn 2 I can see half a dozen BT-7s heading for S flags & a mix of BT-7s & T-28s heading between central & S flags.
Have some units on the hill & grass does some funny things with LOS, move 1 hex & you are hidden the next back in view using speed of 231s to find hidy spots. Unload in a few places time to see if I have judged it right think range is to great for them to try firing.
T3 They don't fire & nor do I keep closing range for the turkey shoot. N & S made good speed trucks within 400m of flags, have to pop smoke in 2 places in South to protect taxis as could be in LOS when he moves. In the centre several troops unloaded but have found one area can stay loaded for a good distance.
Can see a lot of Soviet cruiser tanks heading for C & S flags details next go as can probably start picking off. They will start taking S flags this turn.
T4
The majority of tanks are BT-s 2 through 7, Also some T-28 & T-26 & 3 BA-10 armored cars some have left my sight.
NF> Squads & Pioneers are entering woods, tanks are still moving to position & 4 are going NE as lone squad on sentry duty there reports a dozen tanks heading down. Coming from the East mainly towards S & C flags are 40 plus tanks. 231s have ended up here & could end up engaging at about 500m when they move to level 1
CF> Move to position should be able to start engaging shortly range still generaly 1.5km
SF> They have taken some flags, can't see as in woods but 4 or 5 BTs, squads & Pioneers head in for ambush. 3 M3s Ram & 251/10 are here along with a MkII who kills a BT-7 at 500m
No arty plotted yet & AA is in position, taxis retreating but trying to guess arty fall.
AIT> Yeah gads there are a lot of them can now see 17 flanking to the North my view is not good here.
231 damaged a BT-8 but only expected a couple 6 made level 1.
They took central flag & from what I can see main push is between centre & South flags but I cannot see much to the North East as woods block
At S flag Pioneers have killed & forced abandonment of 2 BTs, bit of fire here to but it missed.
T5
SF> We move forward 100m as low exp seeing squads in woods moving 1 hex should be hard for tanks is my theory.
It holds 2 BT-7s die to a squad & 2 Pioneers then M3 & M2 both get a BA-6 trying to come round the left flank.
CF> Holding central hill majority of force is still on level 2 but a few have moved to level 1.
A BA-10 made it to level 1 & several tanks are just over 1km away so open up.
Kill a BA-10, 3 BTs, T-28 & immob another with a flank shot. T-28s have riders squad & maxim
I have 10 M3 here & 2ATGs one in position half the M3s move forward but have to be careful about flank shots from the North now.
NF> Squads take 2 flags & 231s kill a BT-8 & damage a BT-2, not sure its wise to leave them here they are having trouble penetrating at 500m
& tanks & ATG here are not quite in position.
FF> (Flank force far North) 3 tanks enter LOS hoping to tempt in my direction as we took flags.
AIT> Well luckily the fire improved a bit BA-10 took about 10 shots to hit but still mainly missing.
CF> got BA-10 eventualy plus 5 or 6 BTs & rider unloaded.
SF> only got 2 targets but missed
NF> 231s somehow survived & damaged 2 BTs, squads in wood slightly North of flags engaged cavalry & smoke dropped near 231s is blocking ATGs fire lane.
FF> Lots of smoke dropped here & they are charging on Westward

T6-7
 

SF> M3 kills 2 BTs at 30m another is buttoned for some reason so 251/10 engages at 200m & kills, all but one M3 move forward.
There are 11 Bts on L1 1O of them near the 231s but recent smoke means they can only see one, some of the others will enter ATGs LOS at 200m range. 231s kill BT-8 but one is damaged so they head off to join FF
CF> manage to kill 3 tanks on L1 & damage another, 2 tanks move to achieve this.
ATG gets T-28 & a BT the other kills immobile T-28, M3s kill another 5 BTs & 3 tanks move up as does the infantry.
NF> take all flags & use quite a bit of Z fire moving forward there is a MkIV in woods with the squads & we route 4 cavalry.
FF> One M3 fires but only damages the others move SW to intercept, a scout & MMG are en route.
AIT> I plot some arty behind cavalry, AI fires a bit more smoke & some arty hits CF & SF 76s & Mtrs no batts.
Kill 9 BTs coming for the hill 2 make it 2 level 2, one destroyed the other runs. Pioneer in South gets another coming through the woods.
2 more cav are routed in woods, squad on the flank can see a cav unit 200m away.
Can now see a couple of squads at 500m between N & C flags
T7
FF> Destroy a BT but most are still moving to position, bit worried here trying to extract 2 platoons to assist one each from NF + CF, another MMG is on the way & 2 Northern ATGs are loading up. M4 heading there & hopefully free some M3s next turn. My fault considered a reserve & NF was going to be but decided to head straight into woods as intel was sketchy round here.
SF> Continue moving forward adj to flags now, find a BA10 & 251/10 kills. Squad checking for flank move finds 2 tanks & losses a man before placing smoke. Ram & M2 move to cover likely path of one & M3 destroys the other. The other 2 M3s are in position to move to woods edge.
CF> 10 tanks made it to level 1 again most at North end & SF has noticed a squad near level 1, Kill 5 then have to move to find targets, get another 3 for a total of 8 inc one T-28. The majority of tanks & all squads move partly to avoid arty but also working slightly NE
Tanks coming from the East look severly depleted now I can only see about 20, there are more but wrecks are blocking view esp in the North.
Can see GazAA trucks in the distance & arty tell tales several fairly near the map edge. decide to CB them poor morale should get them off the map.
NF> get a bit ambitious pushing forward lose 3 men as turns out a ready squad was among the pinned lot. they lost about 6 men & can see 6 runners & 1 ready
AIT> Right that was a lot of artillery aimed mainly at SF & south of CF, most infantry got hit, tanks moved so it missed the majority of them.
2 IL6s did a pass on SF as well & my AA is covering the others, lost a HT & 2nd immobile. Facing air for first time & sending armour out from my umbrella is probably not sensible so need to rethink SF as they were going to try & flank.
CF> only got 2-3 tanks here as most moved but only 4 end on L1, I think though this is because focus has shifted to the South.
SF> Mk2 hits for no effect Ram did not get a target. M3 on the flank engaged 4 tanks at 400m killing a T-28 so ex rider here, one has vanished.
NF> not sure think more cav squads turned up a scout definetly did. Repulsed attack causing reasonable damage but run out of shots in one area resulting in scout losing 2 men.
FF> B@#%£ I think they have turned back so all but one tank is out of position, 231 will check it out but lone tank is facing 5 at between 300-500m & only damaged one. They seem to be heading SE to cut through woods towards N flags, another cav sqd has turned up fire was exchanged but for no effect.
My squads in woods could have cavalry coming from North as well. Hmmm

T8-10
 

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

T14-17
 

T18+
 

T18
There are of course units I can't see but will give situation of enemy forces at end of my turn.
FF> Stuff in open does not move but guys in woods make rapid progress & are now alongside or past most Ruskies. They kill about 10 units this turn leaving 12 in the open & about half that in the woods.
SF> Aproaching the woods here though most armour is heading for the centre along with some squads, less than 20 of the 50 odd units here are left.
NF> inc centre about 10 Soviets remain & we are at wood edges or in the large clearing being lead by troops who find 2 more 76s killing & routing for 3 men.
Tanks then move up killing 2 crew in 37AA & another 2 BT-7s that have come into sight, missed the other. Have 2 flags left think arty is falling on but basicaly since I went Oh thats a lot to keep running have reduced them by well over half having got more running & mainly kept them at it.
AIT> arty is indeed coming down on last flags but want to end this so trucks going in anyway, its also started coming down on FF but smoke has fallen so moving. Most of my arty is avoiding it to & is out of range anyway as can't keep up. otherwise sporadic fire & BT disapeareed but others have come into view.
T19
Air might come in but not fused only concesion is all vehicles will end the turn empty.
FF> Pick up MMG & ATG wisking them away from the arty & reduce total forces here to 7 from 16 or so.
NF> gets distracted with 3 76ATGs, lose a few men but kill one & cut another in half. The 3rd caused more problems & may well recover next go in which case it has a choice of vehicles at close range who only managed to route it with there last shot. MMG & ATG killed the AAgun.
The rest carry on MMG bumping into a squad 3 men down, tanks move to engage a mix of T-26 T-28 & BTs killing & damaging one.
Squad & Mk3 kill a 45ATG & we are now well into Soviet setup zone
AIT> No plane & ATGs are forced to abandon but the squad kills my MMG. Tank battle is on I can see 6 & destroyed 2 more fore light damage on a Mk3
T20
Kill all tanks except T-28 then move finding 2 AAguns, kill one & pinn the other then close range anyway, running short of targets.
IL6 attacks & is hit twice for 6 damage before attacking a Mk3 with no effect. Now have 4 T-28s in sight with riders but still need to shut the range as shells are just bouncing off.
T21
Turns out to be 5 T-28s so far so roll forward killing 3 & damaging another, this provokes 4 AAguns which a couple of brave squads MMGs & ATGs kill along with the one already know about. In the North all runners are gone but have run into 5 AA guns here, 1 down so far.
Get another T-28 in its turn then destroy AAguns & some arty, move closer to last T-28 but it refuses to die so scare it with about 20 hits, more armour enters then game ends.

As you might have noticed bored Helena is away on a course.
Question please guys if know when do Ruskies get harder as currently morale exp very low I am not losing many units so force is becoming elite. Seriously considering selling off & rebuying so have normal exp levels as my forces just out class them. Another 50 battles & they will be near God like. Had more trouble with the Poles than this lot.
Forgot scores
Men 190 > 1833
AFV 1 > 49
Score 7975 > 294
Decisive

New battle delay
 

We are are tasked with delaying the Russians, terrain is mainly level 2 hills & everything is covered in grass or fields.
There approach contains lots of large settlements & a stream that I mainly can't see.
About 20 hexes from the North a E>W road runs to a village on my side.
Just in from the South is another road that runs to a fair sized town (ignore will play no part in) after passing through a village.
Accepted default flags which means I am just defending the hills in the middle, with the exception of 4 rough hexes there is no cover of any kind in the area I am to defend. Welcome to the expanses of Russia with lots of nothing at all.
Visibility came out at 65 & they have plenty of time with 47 turns.
Sorry forgot to save the map.

Force Changes
Could have changed tanks but its going easy enough so left it, don't think much diffrent anyway though if gave smoke dischargers back might have been handy didn't look.
We now have 13 halftracks so one company is fully equiped with them for its squads, because of this much as I will miss there speed 231s are gone as have 3 251/10s instead.
For support we have managed to get 3 57ATGs so will be using their own guns against them.
Setup
As its a delay so not dug in troops are on hilltops to see whats coming & vehicles are on reverse slopes just in case its something dangerous.
Our bottom flank is at present exposed with nothing more than the 3 57s covering it. With any luck if attack comes mainly in centre or better still the North we can crush it then mount up to move out for a bit of fun.

The start
Well looks like the order of the day is spread out & keep my batt on CB pre bombard was I think 2-6-1 / 76-122-155
Surprisingly all trucks are ok several are running but others did not fair so well. One of my ATGs is down 2 men, 2 mtrs have abandoned & are nearly dead & 2 Mk3s have taken damage, that smarted.
Heck turn 2 & I would like to review those numbers to 3-12-1 if you think my arty is firing think again thats a lot of firepower just siting still could prove fatal. Batt CB fired getting one 122, he had better keep it up me thinks. Lots of armour has been spotted including running for my weak flank more on next go but the major thing is T-34 spotted in the North the big guns have come out to play.
Its turn 3 his smoke has come down quite well blocking a lot of stuff from view, the other arty has stopped but no way it replotted thats more batts. Smoke means I am unsure where to go so staying put for the moment estimate is 60 armour in bound quite posibly more & the nasty stuff is up North. Fleeting glances of more T-34s & KV
Turn 4 & the AI is thinking, I have a couple of BTs coming down the North road but the next thing up is infantry.
Similar down South but the infantry is further back & I think more is in front of them just hidden, 4 tanks have broken cover to move & engage.
There is another bit of road up North I thought it would use but only followed part way then cut off heading for a hill which has caught me out a bit.
There is a 4th big group heading for a ford so in effect have 4 forces fairly equaly spaced heading for me & I am begining to think I could have deployed better.
AIT> All arty stops BTs are mainly 7s with some 8s otherwise all the usuall suspects & some T60s along with the nice toys.
Mk3 plugs the first 2 BTs through the North village & support ATG gets 2 on the road down South. Realise should have paid more attention on setup the road down South is out of sight to anyone on level O so it may try running along for a ways before turning.
Beds calling found out how to type quick, fast music shoulder still hurts at times though.

T5-8
 

T9-11
 

T12-14
 

T12
That was to close everyone is still loaded but several HTs were right on the edge of strikes
TF> The poor squads that took on KV took a lot of fire, they got a man but did worse one is running. A maxim opened up on them to from the next village scout doing his duty & spotting it before having palpatations as 2 squads crested the rise near him, Mk3 lent a hand but to little effect. A T-60 tried coming between the two villages which squad immob, think another tried & ran.
A BT tried coming round the bottom of the lower village, it was fired on & I just killed it
>> starts off with a lot of infantry ends up with hordes of them 2+ comp & about 10 tanks.
First thing save the scout so Mk3 & squad route them, 2nd thing is T-34 squad in the village makes a dash down the road checking its clear & saying hello to Mr Maxim & goodbye to a squad. Mk3 just North of village rolls forward recieves a lot of fire inc T-34 & unseen T-60 100m away, 2 Mk4s move up but fail to deal with T-60. Mk3 in village decides to risk his luck going round the corner which squad had not reached, several minutes later all fire at him stops mainly from squads along the road, fire at one now realy heavily suppressed we are not getting to T-34 this way so falls back to squads hex.
Another tries it can cut through coming out by T60 so a squad says hello just to make sure. Moves & places another 3 shots on the T-34 getting the turret with its last. T-60 will probably run & even point blank not to worried about so the jobs done.
Mk3 tries coming through a gap in lower village & takes fire, he has a nice rear shot on a T-28 if we can persuade it to turn so Mk3+4 in wrecks between buildings move out Mk4 killing routed T-60 on the way then trying its luck to no avail vs a BT. Mk3 takes on T-28 but even with rear shots takes everything it has to kill it. Another tank joins it but misses its targets though last Mk3 gets 2 more BTs. One tank is in a slightly dodgy situation here but with the way they have being shooting banking on a miss, a BT 7 T-26 remain plus 2 T-28s further back. Infantry here generally tries to get in position to attack next turn when the vehicles can give support but one misjudges it losing a man. MMGs are turning up but trying to spread about due to arty also several HTs are inbound but trying to pick a safe route coming out to the North so they can run round flanking. Despite what I said arty is staying on line to hit the lump of men in the North
CF> Was a bit worried for Ram & assault on a MK3 but fire held them back though all but one squad is in a ready state, a BT has made it to within 100m of a Mk3 but it missed, note to Ruskies training helps.
Arty did not quite land as expected AIs on the ball hitting 2 Mk3s in the gully & troops there so HT10 was safe. Think it hit lead T-28 as well because its running. Fire between troops here about a dozen was fairly even & 2 Mk3s that stayed damaged & destroyed BTs, this tank platoon seems to be drawing a lot of arty no matter what I do a couple at least are getting hit every round.
>> One of the gully Mk3 rallies the other does not so it reverses out of the gully taking fire from T-28 which it engages damaging, the other moves out killing the T-28 & damaging the other. One of the 4 tanks that has just come off the hill top rolls through the smoke sticking a shot in its rear then HT10 runs up killing the BT. Mk3 from BF platoon kills damaged BT eliminating armour threat on this side of smoke/wrecks. the infantry here decide to let the company or so to the south come & move NE as do reinforcements coming this way. they are to head through the smoke & try to cut off squads by the road. 3 tanks & MMG facing put fire into them to try & slow them but first Mk3 fires at BT from 250m, hits but no effect though BT is shaken & misses so the close Mk3 finnishes it & takes out the GazAA
BF> 57 mainly missed but got a T-26 in the end & is still in one piece. Forgot to say as 3 tanks moving to here were going flat out switched off main gun to save ammo so just fired at a couple of squads.
>> 57 crew moves back to its guns hex 3 squads get position on 2 squads threating the other 57 routing them. My ATG on the flank kills nearest T-26 then tanks take out 3 more leaving just one thats a major threat so 57 kills it. All but one tank move up & Mk2 plus 2 Hts alloted to defence force head this way to help with killing soft targets & help if decide to head down the road later traping center from both sides which is why I have fallen back there.

T13
Drove round arty better that go but it killed a 80Mtr, we got a GazAA in exchange. they probably lost 25+ men to our 6 & mtr & apart from far South advanced 50m or less.
NF> thought I had dropped off MMG ok but it lost 4 men to a maxim, as expected platoon tried moving on the scout but was repulsed as was a half hearted move on the village. T-60 recovered & died for trying to take on my Mk3, the vulnerable Mk3 was not so lucky this gunner actually got his act together pulling off a weak spot hit, the crew is not to exposed though. No enemy tanks were killed as only a few shots at due to the onslaught from Russian infantry. Both T-28s moved forward disapearing into a depression thats probably full of troops to >> Kill both visible tanks easily enough worried about imminent arty around top village so despite the odds push them back & move fwd costing us a few men. Have 11 tanks here now so they go some way to subdueing but not enough, they get maxims & squads near scout routed plus a few more. want to try & work North plus punch a hole further South trying to split but tanks move to try & get position to recieve T28s. Infantry have to get in position to defend them as going to have to set a few Mk3s to ignore them as AIs likely to move tanks last.
CF> Just fire at troops here >> The bulk of the troops are pretty much to our North we take pot shots at them but are heading East for the wrecks with the aim of swinging round some buildings here & cutting them off. No idea whats on the other side but a few troops make it routing a tank which pioneer mech assaults finnishing it. the 2 Mk3s furthest South help another squad who has run into a BT & squad. Between them they manage to route both but all end turn adj to the BT.
SF> 57 damaged a T-28 & the other is back at his gun, troops stopped squads moving on the ATG but had a tough time of it elsewhere as coming over a reasonably wide front & very little is taking them on in places. Tanks did little as vehicles are making good use of the cover available.
>> The 2 squads snipper & scout holding the north retreat to a bank so if they route will be hidden.
Others are trying to move South but mainly pinned down, vehicles fail to help much & move South to.
The main thrust is comming centred around the 57 but a small hill protects it to the East, troops are trying to protect & get in position, presently everything is to close to the 57 arty magnet. Troops cut a maxim here in half & take out a GazAA, 3 tanks roll forward killing a T-26 & damaging T-28 which the 57 finnishes leaving just one as the immediate threat.

T14
A bit of pain was dished out there on both sides, good job we moved the village does not exist any more it was flattened completly!! The 57 got hit to missed most of my troops but tanks got caught up in it one taking light damage.
TF> those maxims really hurt got them routed again but not before they took there pound of flesh. They did not try to move fwd as lots of targets I guess & are a bit thinner on the ground now. T-28 tried & died the other deciding to let me come to it
>> Those maxims have recovered again & later find a 3rd, Mk4s route them along with MMGs & the one that got hurt gets retribution destroying one.
Finding that T-28 proves hard as its taken position near the slope & there are heaps of squads here, finaly find it but fail to kill so 2 Mk3s wade into enemy squads finaly managing to get it. HTs arrive & every one moves forward forming a funnel making them all route to the same area, hard to tell but I have probably herded well over 15 squads into a little box which is starting to create paths on either side to run round & trap them.
CF> not a lot really they did move fwd I think as half have disapeared & squad holding the South end of the village had an eventfull couple of minutes throwing out everything it had
>> what did I say cut through here & swing round the village, its a good job the relief has turned up as in close proximity is a company & what turns out to be 4 maxims, the vehicles do a pretty good job here & in the end manage to get most running including crucially 3 of the 4 maxims. Pioneer crept up on 1 squad killing a man with rifle then he flamed it for another 10 dead. Think he has got the hang of making crispy critters thats a big hit.
BF> Vehicles did not move much & due to arty best we managed was to route T-28, a T-26 has appeared rather unexpectantly towards the North & a generally hard time was had by everyone in the bottom 1/3rd of the map. Its looking like a second wave of infantry is inbound & only a sterling job by the sniper saved the day. Even so ATG gun is under threat from several angles now as could not hold them back, did the AI just pull off a combined arms attack I think yes very close to losing control here.
>> Mk3 moves & kills the surprise T-26 vehicle fire vs troop is virtually innefective in fact troop fire does not seem to worry them to much either no wonder they advanced, HT10 that reloaded takes up position in case more tanks appear here. MMGs are now in position to help at range but if that does not stop them I am going to have to smoke & cover my retreat they are to close.
Wrecks block LOS for most ATGs & 57 is not in any state to fire. One tank rallies & they take out 2 T-28s closing the range on OP truck. I don't think they will have cleared arty completly & some troops probably wont but the platoon guarding the road where the other 57 is are starting to thread there way through the wrecks killing another GazAA & managing to stop the troops here. A bit of effort gets a shot at Op truck but only kill 1 man.
HT10s might not have the speed of armoured cars but the HE loadout makes them good little support tools, might not kill much but gets them running.

A bit of feedback would be nice guys how is this new way of reporting, its a bit more work for me so if its not any better will go back as now have an electronic post it sitting on the mini map to record stuff. As a note if see 7 & think its strange tis my typing its supposed to be & I just misssed the shift key.

T15
 

16-17
 

T18-20
 

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

T22
TF>> this is insane find & destroy more AAguns plus 5 arty are dead or dying, tanks here are charging flat out at T-28s firing as they go (see next bit), little chance of hurting but at least they all have them locked for there go & might dishearten them.
CF> Most stuff got out of arty but a HT did not make it, something was damaged by AAguns before we could quite them down. AI has tried to spring a little surprise as 2 T-28s have moved onto AA hill, nothing fired at them as dealing with AA, ATGs did not recover but a mortar got a man.
>> no time to engage tanks here trying to avoid arty & kill those AAguns, going quite well ATGs are dealt with then squad climbs AA hill finding more to his cost. So far we have managed to destroy 9 alltogether here just another 6 or so to go, really glad MMG has stayed out of the arty so far
BF> Just firing at runners>> a few squads make it through the trees to give them the hurry up & vehicles are moving to here to act as shephards. I know a couple escaped but really we have more than enough targets to round up.

T23
This arty is getting to me CB again but still has several batts left & just blanketed the whole area in the centre, I am losing men & transport. Also lost a HT that cleared the arty but became the target for 3 more AAguns>> we have to move kill everything I can see exept for T-28s though strip track off one of them & try to get away from the steel rain. In the south as if I wasn't allready throwing everything I have at them to try & finnish this. The odd one fires back but on the whole they seem to have accepted there new masters.

T24-26
 

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

T3-5
 

T3
Living dangerously here but don't really expect anything in woods they have a little look then some get back in bikes running down road & entering woods on either side, looks like no ones home, a scout is sitting on road halfway down the woods. Should be able to have a little look next go. The platoon of trucks that risked setting up near the bridge are at the woods entrance to, others will reach it next go but armour can't keep up. have a feeling it will arrive just as the arty does. I only have 4 arty 2 firing this go at buildings just ahead on either side of the road. 1 plotted to fire on known units the other is dropping smoke down the road as there is a nice spot for an ATG.

T4
They drop smoke North of my position, are they planing on coming through the woods? Had planned on being bold & moving vehicles into there loaded as a bit bunched up if everyone comes down the road. Woods on either side are not that easy to enter as most hexes have rough to. Also need to make sure clear as my mortars will set up around here. My arty drifted missing buildings but landed right on top of known units only 37ATG is visible.
>> Bikes take a risk run empty to either side through the woods the one going South I misjudge & can be seen from out of woods retreats man down to a maxim. Both seem clear not worried about South but want to expand North & palce a FOO in woods there to. Woods are mainly level 2 then it falls away to the SE its mainly level 1 to the NE goes to ground level after about 500m. Area here is fairly self contained 100m of open by the road then falls away, want smoke to block the view before move so spread out ready to go sniper finds a maxim & a few units route him to level 1 out of sight. Start sending vehicles NE into woods then like an idiot send one not thinking about short route & it goes straight down the road:doh: looks like no ATG but there is a maxim & squad in building north of road arty was supposed to hit. As we have cocked it up may as well take advantage I can get 6 HTs in range so launch an attack getting both running, consider poping smoke but just hope there is not a ATG in the building. Should be able to get out of here before arty strikes now.
Have 5 mortars on line now & realise replacements have call time of 2.2, its pointless placing that smoke now so plot smoke to block off square & on bread factory as heading that way. Want to follow road round to SE to but first need to see whats in the clearing to our South, I know maxim is there to my cost & placed arty is shifting to hit.

T5
No arty one maxim dies as it runs others disapear down the road. 37AA has a LOS to one halftrack at 5hexes it must have been hit by my arty as badly pinned only 3 shots all miss.
>> It folds to squads first shot so its decision time decide I am going to risk running the armour into the woods esp as so far only light arty guns have fired. Pick up last arty & start moving reserve to there start point.
Before we can go any furter need to see whats in the open area the maxim fired from, 2nd squad to enter building recieves fire from maxim, can also see another routed & 2 crews so arty got the units I knew about. Grass means LOS is not great but luck is really holding for me so far, first shot at 350m kills 4 hes running if I can keep this up won't need the reserve. A few more shots gets both maxims down another man, now we either pussy foot about & get hit by transport killing arty or take a gamble & head out as most people are still loaded. Way my lucks going choosing option 2. Remaining squads on foot do the following.
2 move into woods they can see 1 hex of bread factory & building at end of road not that far away plus the other dodgy building. These are the most dangerous locations I can't do anything about a surprise assault from the roadside.
The other proceds east & turns the corner, road goes 250m then heads North again but this is fine as building at the end of the road is at a lower elevation, see the 2 runners here from earlier & kill maxim. Most roads to start reasonably open just buildings on mainly one side. 4 HT make it round the road towards the bakery, they can hide & unload there between buildings, one has a MMG on board. Then send one down East road & its fired on through the gap by 45ATG in maxim clearing. Can't believe it did not see the other HTs anyway it missed & the other squad in the clearing sees it, my guys have been at the practice ranges one shot 3 dead need a scout over here to check things out. Anyway he drives round the corner with another HT going into the trees, from here they can see the other running maxim goodbye. Everybody goes as far as they can going any further in vehicles is really pushing it though a few will normally stay loaded to exploit any thing or just for mobility, squads unload & kill everything but one maxim squad & crew both are pegging it. Slightly surprised how far we have made it so far & lead tanks are through woods, all riders bail out just incase arty comes calling.
Advanced much faster than I thought so arty is useless its targeting me, letting it fall on the bread factory & the smoke plus placing smoke halfway down E>W road.
Having everything bunched like this has highlighted something, swapping 251/10s for 250/10s mainly because they look a bit diffrent but must admit also because scouts can use & can rescue crews at a pinch.

Of note to those of you that hold having trucks in your core is a waste you are so wrong. The truck that blundered down the road survived the fire at it meaning its passengers did to. High exp means they do not run at the first sniff of arty & the drivers seem to develop skills avoiding them & swerve out of the path of incoming fire much as a high exp crew in MBT attempts to evade that ATGM or indeed planes do.

T6-8
 

T9-t11
 

T12-14
 

T15-16
 

T17-18
 

Its over
 

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

Imp,

Thanks for a good run of DARs! It has been quite interesting to read across so many battles with the same force. As you pointed out, your troops became supermen. When it gets to that point, tactics and strategy sometime take a back seat because you can just plow through the enemy and when that happens it like watching a re-run of a good show. It may still be fun, but there are no suprises.

Good luck in the rest of your battles and have fun training the new recruits! Please let us know of any great "suprises" that happen to your troops along the way.

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

If an amusing battle comes up might give you a report certainly it will be harder now. As the Ruskies which I think you are doing its a diffrent ball game just getting to 70 exp will take a while you need to keep your forces alive.

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

I'm into battle 5 and I only have 5 units out of three companies plus support that are over vetren and only about 15 more that are in the 70s. The worst is when you lose a unit because you know it's going to be a long while before it gets even to decent abilities. Good luck.

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

This will improve as the war goes on you just need to hang on in there as the Ruskies did.

Re: Balkans N. Africa Leg
 

I'm not giving up yet. I've still got 55 battles to go. I can't wait to see what the survives will be like!