[Lt. Ketch]

First let me address a couple of questions and points.

Mobryan, I have (as I understand your terms) 4 batteries of off board 122mm (4 units of 4 guns each = 16 guns). I'm purposly leaving the Finns alone. I read your Finnish Rambo AAR and don't plan on seeing if he had any brothers.

Andy and Ramm, thanks for the advice. I will diffenatly give it a try next battle.

Imp, thanks for the compliment. I tried to pick good artillary without going overboard. I rather enjoy the challange of urban fighting. I can say that now because I currently don't have any troops clearing the buildings. I'm sure my opinion changes as I duke it out over an apartment complex. Winter combat, however, it proving a most interesting challange and I'm not sure I like it yet.


O.k. This week end saw about 6 turns of action, but a fair amount has happened. First, the south. Units are currently slogging through the forest in pursuit of the forces that held the small town and tree along the southern road. It was a tough fight, especally after my 120mm mortars came in almost on top of my own troops. That's what happens when you can only play 2-3 turns at a time, you forget WHAT is coming in WHERE WHEN. They survived and were simply pinned for a turn or two. Luckly, the troops in the tree were able to route the platoon that was holding them up. My TDs were finally able to distroy the Pz-III on the hill south west of the trees. After exchanging fire for a turn (in which they bounched enough shells off of it to keep it buttoned) one was able to hit it four times at 850 yards, damaging it twice, bouncing one and then killing it on his last shot. Earlier this week I had played and the TDs killed it in one shot right after it opened up on them. Then my compter overheated (see tread "I hate my computer") and I had to restart. Luckly, they survived and were successful again. It just took a bit more luck and more ammo. The platoon of infantry that is going to take "Pz hill" has been able claim the forward edge with no difficulty, but one of the ACs that was in support has taken fire from a 2cm flak gun and has been damaged. Currently unknow as to the extent of the damage, but it looks like our position is know. The one hic-up is just north of the town, but I'll get to that later.

In the main body, things have accelerated (in game pace, not nessisaraly foot speed) and progess has been made in good ways. Two squads of Mountain infantry have made it to the clearing that will serve as a staging area (SA) for the advance on the city. Two squads of German infantry were spoted there headed for the rear, victems of my artillary strikes. The scouts have been trying to keep them going, but they were able to rally and have put up some resistance just outside the SA. While progressing across the SA, a 34mmg opened up on one of my scouts. I was able to locate him and his position targeted by 76mm and 122mm on board artillary. I've also dispacted a platoon of Mountain infantry and the platoon of T-34/76 to take care of him and secure the area for a possible flanking manuver. In the meantime, I dropped a little smoke to keep him quite. The SA is already filling with my troops who are slogging up the road.

An update on artillary. My mortars, both 107mm and 120mm are begining to run out of ammo. I'm moved Ammo trucks to their locations to compensate. The 120mms are doing well, however the 107s are positions in the trees (another mistake on my part) which limits the trucks efficency. The 107s were also targeted for CB by enemy guns. While the guns have only succeed in routing one crew (which has been rallied) they did destory one of the trucks, even furtur limiting their reload capacity. I have since found two (possibly three) of the offending guns and they were targeted for CB with a 122mm off board battery. The first load was not good, but redirection seems to have been effective and neutrolized two guns (and possibly their unknow third).

Now, the hic-up. There are two roads that approach the city along the NE-SW line. The southern of these two road passes through a village before entering the city. Between this village and the village along the SE-SW road where my support company is slogging lies a clear space between two hills. Scout units from both core and support had taken fire from the clearing by unseen forces, despite 120mm mortar bombardment. It was decided that one Kv would support a platoon of Mountain infantry moving through the northern village while the T-34/57 and their engineer riders would circumnavagate the village (around the east side) and come through a small tree line to support. The excution of the manuver has so far been a success. The 34/57s were able to get in position and unload their squads behind the trees without problems. The first mountain squad to poke his head out was attack quickly, but upon spotting two of the offending squads, the Kv came in and was able to pin them down. The scouts lurking in the buildings were then able to identify two more squads in the open and the first of the 34/57 came through the trees. Unfortainatly, he drew fire from a ATR at 850 meters and while the offending unit bounced the first 5 shots off the tank's armor, the sixth shot immobilized my tank. Needless to say, I was rather irate about this. The last shot at 850 meters seems to be a lucky situation. Regardless of this set back, the other two tanks were able to help in pinning down troops and routing one of the squads. The engineers then came through the trees and were able to do some more damage. One squad from the southern village was able to asist in discovering one more squad, but was little use beyond that. The enemy will not be beaten here easily, but they shouldn't last more than a turn or two, considering I can have artillary fire down on them very, very soon.

So far, things are with the SA are going according to plan, but as my tanks are now committed, I won't be able to use them as ferries to get my troops up faster. I may end up doing a layered advance with troops forming up and engaging in groups of two platoons rather than the whole company. We'll see.