Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

oh good to know that would have been some bad surprise for the platoon i set up to take position in the trenches

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

After some 40 minuits(9 turns?) of heavy fighting the ghurka companies tashed with storming the italian positions near keren still havent made much headway.

They have taken heavy causalities though and are under constanr artilelry fire. both sides are firing enthusiastically witha ll avaible guns with the cw forces having more firepower while the italians have the advantage of beeing dug in.

Causalities on the italian side so far are 1 dead and 2 wounded askari due to small arms fire. the lack of smoke grenades for the native troops and the limited avaiabilty of lmgs are cause of this.

The itaial tanks try to support but on CV-35 gets stuck in rough terrain while the 2 remaining crawl carefully up the mountain.

In the meantime the 3 rd company and parts of first company are attacking the southern flank of the ghurka attack not meeting any resistance as the scouts of 3rd company are only a few meters away from the cw mortar units. It looks like a complete rout for the attackers again. only tanks can save them now....

The airforce is non existant for booth sides until now but a cw airattack later on is expected.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

After a few minuits more the ghurkas were out of manpower and routed. 3rdcompany managed to destroy the mortarbatteries and take control of the villages on the foot of the hills were the italian positions were.

2 ghurka companies were not enough to assault 3 askari companies.

The battle leaves Colonel Baggios men in the same position as before the attack.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

After their stratagem of outflanking the roadblock through the mountains failed, the British will have to resort to brute strength.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

The Askaris were working on their trenches as the british artillery rounds started firing. Quick everybody jumped onto the nearest foxhole. For almost an hour the rounds kept falling. All the main positions got their fair share of lead. Contact was lost to the gun positions in the south all Colonel Baggio could see was a cloud of smoke and what seemed to be the only survivors of the bombardment running back trying to escape the bombardment.

This time the english tried for real.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

turn 1-6
Heavy bombardment at the beginning takes almost out an AT and an AD-Gun practically there are taken out. Also i advanced with myscouts only to see that ther is no hole in the cw advance one scout team is down to 2 men now looking for a way back home. Attacks all along the front luckily no tanks so far.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

here is the situation after 10 turns. i am slowly pushed back in the center but the regulars there are in open ground and under constant fire so they have a hard time advancing.

in the middle the ghurkas are also crawling forward und mortar fire.

Inthe north the ghurkas are beaten back but still have some fight left and need constant reminders by mortar that they better stay back.

I am thinking about storming forward here but the 3 Matildas that are advancing make me change my mind.

Also in the south 3 more matildas attack. I have nothing to stop them.... maybe they will run on a mine or get stuck in the rough terrain.

If i have to retreat to the trenchlines the cw units will be advancing on rough terrain which will give them better cover so i try to hold on as long as possible before going back.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

BTW you didn't reinforce your units, right?

Anyway, what is the plan after this for the Italian units? IIRC you wanted to put them together with the German troops for Barbarossa, but what about the Askaris? Would be a bit weird to have them in Russia.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

i lost only 7 infantrymen in the battle before and i have to admit i brought the damagedsquads up to strength.... I dont like much fighting with halfstrength infantryunits.

Now i was planning to fill up squads by disbanding units or platoons with high losses and sticking put the survivors in the other units.

I dont replace tanks or gun since i imagine the italians would have trouble sending them to africa at this time.
For exapmle i just lost an anti tank gun to a airplane bomb i count that as a totally destroyed gun and will delete it from the unit rooster.

maybe i will loose in total a platoon in this battle.

For the italians there are two ways now escape by boat but it might be hard to cross the sue canal. or what would be an interesting what if trying to get to libya somehow but i think they are sourrounded by british forces.

i wanted to use them in the desert campaign later on. maybe there could be some scenarios simulating the escape through the sudan....

Anyway next would be the balkans i want to add a company of bulgarians finest

its quite hard to stop the matildas luckily the askari have bomba benzina. that helps a bit with the lack of smoke grenades that hurts them many times

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

ok now the italians are couterattacking in the north an in the middle the ghurkas have been beaten third time that is not one of the brightest parts in their units history.

2matildas have been destroyed with gasoline bombs end grendes and a third one was immobilzed and captured. now the askaris are storming down the hills overrunning the mortar and artillerypositions.

in the south things are looking good also since only a few regulars are left advancing maybe here a counterattack is possible soon but the 3rd company is low on ammo and men.

The british galdiators keep harrasing colonel baggios men i still need some better airdefence tactics.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Maybe we could say that they somehow escaped to the north into one of the desert forts like kufra or giarabub and there the Germans could link up with them eventually.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

As the day ends the Indians couldnt break the thinly held italian lines. The italian counterattack itself had to be repelled by the english guncrews. 2 Platoons of italians supported by tankettes managed to reach the guns after overruning the forward commandpost of the CW troops.

They were stopped by the dugg in gun crews who manged to destroy one tankette with the 25 pdr guns which inspired the other one to retreat. the italian infantry traded shots with the guncrews disabling a few until they ran out of ammo and had to turn back to their lines.

Even though the attack had beaten back the situation of colonel baggios troops is hopeless if they try to hold further on.
English planes rule the skies and resupply cant be expected. Low on ammo and out of atrillery supply the decison to leave keren is the only vailable option.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

so next would be the invasion of yougoslavia for the german/slovak/bulgarian part of my KG it consists of 2 infantry companies a tank platoon, an armored car platoon and a recon group plus some artillerysupply.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

OK Here is the plan: We will do Operation Barbarossa until January 1942. Then you continue with the Italians in the Sahara (battles around Murzuk February and March 1942) and link up with the Afrika Korps eventually, thus uniting the core forces.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Yes thats a good plan but i would like to have a lttle detour through the balkans and greece maybe evem crete (there is a nice map there) what about one scenario depicting the drive through yougoslavia? the the metaxas line scenario you already madae then some mpre greece then crete and then start of barbarossa?

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Sorry if I didnt make myself clear: Yes we are doing Balkans first (doing a yugoslavian map right now), after that Barbarossa and then back to Africa/Italians.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

great Thanks!

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Yugoslavia! After this, I will go straight to Greece, mostly because the Yugoslavian TOE is relatively limited in what you can do...

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Yeah one battle is enough thats good. One thing i have vision 70 for 4 battles now i think thats the standard vision when you edit a scenario i think you overlooked that.
Now its time to start!

So after travelling for some days through yugoslavia acting as reserve KG Hauser finally met its bulgarian allies.
With their help they are tasked to secure a bridge and the village on the eastbank of the river.

Also a hill in the south has shown some enemy activity and has to be scouted out.
That will be a job for the bulgarian company. They are to advance slowly straight onto the hill. Losses should be kept as low as possible since this hill is only of low importance. This should show the abbilities of the bulgarian infantry and they will be used according to their performance in this battle in the future.

the main effort will go into the village at the river. The slovaks and behind them the germans and the tanks will move along the road and try to stay out of view from the units on the hill on the eastern bank of the river. they will take the huge buildings on the western bank and then take the bridge.

Then if possible the attack will continue uphill. We hope that the capture of the bridge will trigger a counterattack by the enemy units dug in at the hills

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

turn 1-10:

The slovaks and german units advance carefully along the road. The scouts manage to go undetected but one slovak infantry is attacked by a sniper. He misses fortunatly and is then attacked by every machine gun mortar and other gun in the unit. Also the veteran slovak scout manage to surprise some serbian scouts and take them prisoner. Already the bridge is in sight as some artillery starts to drop near the crossroads in the center of the map. it forces some infantry platoons to the ground but doesnt to any damage.

The bulgarians start an attack in the south and meet also some resistance. There really is no shortage of lmg is in the yugoslavian army the have 5 guns per platoon while the germans have only 4 thats an impressive amount of firepower. 1 man is injured by lmg fire but the rest of the company avenges him immediatly sending the sole survivor of the lmg squad runnig for his lines. 2 more infantry squads are detected and attacked also Hauser orders his artillery to support the bulgarian attack with all guns.

He ordered them to wait until the bridge was taken and keep a defensive stance but the bulgarian commander wants his medals.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

BTW do you want to take the Bulgarians into Russia? AFAIK they didn't even enter a state of war with Russia before 1944.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

one company of adventurers it will be then. maybe a secret group of volunteers, maybe just mercenaries. I am also planning to add some croatians(ustasa) they actually fought at the easten front. I have a lot of tanks now so another infantry company should be ok.


Situation at Turn 19

The bulgarians took some causalities and are now at the base of the southern hill. MG and apcs support them.

the slovaks have crossed the bridge and 2 counterattacking tanks were destroyed. no chance for this mixed group. The cavalry tries to swim through the river. Hauser is impressed by the deication to the job still they are easy to shoot while crossing.

The slovak scouts one of them elite now have passed through the village looking for the source of the artillery fire. judging by the smoke clouds there are some positions on the northern hill.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Update me: Which tanks do you have exactly now in the Germa core force?

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

KG Hauser has now

4 APCs spw 251
1 pzspw 222(cm gun and mg)
1 panhard french armored car(2.5 cm gun and mg)
1 polish aromored car mg armed
1 soumoa s-35
1 pz 4b
1 pz 3f+ 5 cm gun
1 pz 38t b
2 pz 2 c light tanks

Also we have
3 at guns
3 at rifles
3 inf guns, 2 mortars 1 105mm howitzer and 75 mm gun

4 mgs and 1 aamg
7 platoons of infantry
2 snipers
4 scouts

2 HQs
1 Com HQ


thats about it

maybe one company of either gebirgsjaeger or croatian regulars will be added soon

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

The battle ended with the bulgarians just on top of the southern hill but it remains questionable if they could actually take and hold it with the losses that they took while climbing up.

The slovaks and germans were halfway up.

After all it was not possible to take the hills in the time given. The serbians on the mountains will be left in peace.

If they stay up there they dont harm anyone.

Kg Hauser advances further south stopping on the greek border and waiting for their reeinforcements before they join the attack on the metaxas line.

(should i use the metaxas line battle that you sent meearlier or do you have something else?, i am going to add another infantry company of ustasa)

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

No the old metaxas line scenario is too small for your force. I will make a new greek scenario, but probably not the metaxas line.

edit: So the time was too short? Didn't I give you like 30 turns?

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

ah 10 truns more would have been good i guess. i was trying to be careful at the beginning so i ended up withall artilery spent and no more turns in the end.....

i will add either gebirgsjaeger or domobroj croatian regulars. i am not sure yet.

see ya tommorow!

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Just for the record, the Croats on the Eastern Front were directly under the control - and in fact part of - the Wehrmacht, and were armed by the Germans. They used standard German infantry gear (Mauser Kar 98k, MP40, MG34, 8cm mortar) and had some artillery: (10.5cm field howitzer, 3.7cm PaK). They also had a bicycle company.

It's probably best to use German units to represent them.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Greece number 1

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Kalimera! a nice map you made there i guess i will try some flanking with these boats. (and i suspect its a traaaaaap)

i just noticed their are 3 scout cars lost in the mountains i guess you forgot to place them on the map.

Also am i attacking along the road or from wherever i want?

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Attack from the road please.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

here is the situation after half an hour of battle. so far nos erioous resistance has been seen. there were some artillery exchanges and a little spoiling attack by the british that was easily defeated. the aircraft are finding their targets and the axis troops are advancing steadily.

The slovaks landing in the south was unopposed and they might manage to cut of the road and take the artillery. A few 25 pdrs will certainly come in handy.

i couldnt ressit from letting the gebirgsjaeger attack from the mountains. they had the heaviest causalities so far due to artillery and mines butmanaged to take the hill overlooking the western side of the road.

We need better ad capabilities for sure.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

nicemap and nice scenario i like the houses and the ridgelines and the possibility for naval attack

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

That last hill was full of australians and so losses were way to high. Kg Hauser managed to take control of the area. 2 AFV were lost but at least one bren carier and many guns were captured.

I lost 25 men and 54 injured or mia most of them infantry so i have to reorganize my units into 3 understrength infantry companies.

the battle on top of the hill was just out of control and in the fog and the fire from the burning vehicles it was impossible to command.

Only about 100 of the defenders were taken as prisoner were taken which shows how hard the fight was.

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The fighting retreat of the New Zealanders goes on. This time they selected a chokepoint guarded by the old castle Platamon as the position of their rearguard.

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the map looks interestin again. but there are no objectives? Is this on purpose?

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

aww crap that's what happens when you map too early in the morning....

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Fixed version.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

After the last Hauser was sure he needed to teach his men better AD drills 3 Spaehwagen and one sdkfz 231 had been destroyed by the hurricanes. Also the infantry had suffered losses.

Voss' company had become a bit disorganised in the new zealanders position and the confusion had caused unnecessary causalities.

The bulgarians had fought bravely but didnt have much impact on the battle the same was the case for the gebirgsjaeger. Basically all the hard work had been done by the veteran units while the green troops had caused mainly distractions.

the Tanks had been cautios up until the end when one light tank charged into the last remeining 2 pdr gun and was destroyed.
They managed to destroy the enemy AFVs.
The same was the case for the armored car platoon.
Lukac lost his second armored car but fortunatly there were no losses to the crew.
He know drives the carrier that had been abadoned by
the kiwis after it had been imobilised on the road. They also installed an AAMG on it.

In Voss company the platoon with the heaviest losses (unlucky Leutnant schwarzs platoon) was used to man the captured guns. one 2 pdr one 40mm aagun and 25 pdr were taken the rest had to be left for following units since KG Hauser is low on Infantry and cant afford sending mire men to arty duty.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

yeah and heavy losses like in the last scenario is caused by to much beer while playing hehe. Now i am a bit low on pioneers for mine clearing....

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

thanks for the fast fix!

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

Here is the plan. The elite units will advance along the beach and then take the city cutting of the troops in the castle from the rest of the NZ units.

the rest will slowly advance and try to keep the attention of the new zealanders away from the units on the beach.

Although time is scarce Hauser urges his men to advance carefully since they had to fight another day.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

The situation after 2 hours of fighting is relativelygood. 2 platoons of NZ tanks have been destroyed for the loss of Hauptmann Urbans Pz 4 to an AT-gun. The enemy artillery has been poundeda bit by the SiGs and is less active now. mainly mortar fire now.

Horvaz and his Slovaks reached the city and are now fighting house to house whith as much arty help as possible but often the rounds drop quite close.

In the center the bulgarians hold a thin skirmish line preparing the ground for the all out attack onthe castle once the rest of the KG is in position to attack from behind. They are in a bit weak position in open ground with almost a company of cruiser tanks advancing on them.

The croats will try to tkae the monastary that has been a thorn in the side of our advance for a long time causing the loss of urbans Panzer 4 and harrasing the infantry wih machine gun fire.
Lets see what they can do here the enemy might be to strong.

everything is going more or less to plan and i hope the resistance in town will not be to heavy since the KG cant afford more losses and stay effective.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

after 24 turns (how man minutes was a turn i forgot)there is still fighting all over the area. the kiwi tanks are rushing back and forth trying to push back the attackers in the city and in front of the castle. They are down to 2 running vehicles now and the city is full of german/slovak infantry. The artillery positions are taken by german infantry and armored cars.

Soon the castle will be totally cut of from retreat.

The croatians are attacking the monastery in the south where they discovered an 2 AT-Guns and a MG-position. The next few minutes will see the end of the battle.

German Grenadiers and Gebirgsjaeger are scaling the eastern walls of the castle with mortarfire covering their advance.
The bulgarians are advancing carefully from the north while the new zealanders still control the road and the area west of the castle.

note: left is north on this map i guess.

Great fight! what will happen after this position is taken? were we fast enough? can we stay on the heel of the allies or will they have time to dug in again?

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

It was the last rear guard. Next stop: Crete. I already did the scenario last weekend.

Your Kampfgruppe is one of the first to land amphibically with heavy weapons. More paratroopers are still being flown in and the landing zones are far from secure.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

As the sun went down the fighting also ended.

Many Guns were captured and one A10 CS surrendered with the tank completely intact as the crew saw they were surrounded by german infantry with flame throwers and satchel charges.

The surrender of the remaining NZ forces realising their retreat was cut off was only a matter of time.

After this fight what was left of KG Hauser continued south following the german advance through greece. The following weeks were quite and the main duty was guarding prisoners as the greek and cw forces that couldnt evacuate surrendered.

After reaching the southern tip of the Peloponnese there were a few weeks of rest and refit as well as training for the new mission: KG Hauser was to take part in the Invasion of crete.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

BTW please do not change the paradrop zones.

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The paras and the regular army troops have different commanders no chance for KG Hausers commander to change the drop zones of course. it will be interesting to see how good they are able to coordinate their efforts.

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

this is the situation starting turn 1:

1st Kompanie andthe slovaks will move into the city the most important target. Oberleutnant schwarz and hie 3 replacement sections will be reserve.

The gebirgsjaeger will support the para landing on the hill the croatians will be reserve.

the bulgarians are alone on the southern flank they will support the few paras landing there. once on the hill it will be maaybe ncessary to advance more since the terrain is not easy to hold and there might be artillery fire.

The objectives far to the east will be tken by sneaking along the beach if possible bythe slovaks and the armored car platoon.

the tank platoon the apc and the armored car platoon are all one vehicle short there will be noresupplies until this batlle is won so we have to look to capture some cw equipment other then guns....

Re: campaign scenario setup help
 

After all paradrops are done the center hill is secured. the PAWs are getting inposition to take out some matildas that have been spotted far away.

most enemy AD has been destroyed by artillery and machinegun fire only one gun remains in the southern part of the battelfield.

The slovaks and first company are entering the harbour town enganging in house to house fighting with some greek infantry. So far things go smooth since we have the city surrrounded from all sides and there are only few dead spots for the enemy to hide in.

the gebirgsjaegers have reached the top of the center hill and are now looking for a new mission maybe they will advance on the easternmost hills were 2 3 inch mortars have been spotted.

the bulgarians are clearing the western hillside of the southern hill that seems to be defended by no more then a greek infatry platoon.

The british reeinforcments are arriving contnously from the west and we try to hold them back with artillery and mg fire. they are taking heavy losses but are still advancing partially covered by the smoke that was dropped to cover the paratroopers landing.

Apart from the 2 matildas spotted things seem to be under control its just a matter of time until this area is secured.