[Lt. Ketch]

So far I'm still alive, but very frustrated with the German training. This last few turns I've had bad experences with two different German squads that have caused problems for me. I realize that is their job, but they don't have to be so good at it. If you ever feel like your campaign forces are getting "too good," just play early war USSR. The only saving grace is the number of tanks and artillary. Anyway, enough of a rant, on to the report.

Starting south and working my way north. I got in another 3 or 4 turns in this morning. I'm pulling the platoon, ACs, and Gaz AAMG trucks off of "Pz. Hill." A single German Mountain squad has been able to inflict over 12 causalties, including one Gaz AAMG and my guys can't do anything to stop him. He's supported by at least three (only two of which I can see) 2cm Flaks, which have enough punch to knock out any of the support the platoon has. There is a tiny path between the hill and the map edge that I'm going to try advancing up, using smoke and HE missions to mask my troops. I'm not to concerned about a lack of progress here, but I if I can get some units past these forces, it's not far to the southern most objectives.

The forces in the village and trees are bogged down under a scout and more Mountain infantry. The MMG that opened fire two turns ago was located, nice and close to the open area that my T-34/57s and marine engineers were moving through. I moved one 34/57 in close and machine gunned the MMG, (my 34/57s have their main cannon turned off. Very low HE ammo and the cmgs have a higher kill rating anyway. When armor are identified I'll turn them back on.) During the AI's turn, the MMG shot up the tank, buttoning it up for it's turn and sending it into a retreat. I moved up his buddy (the third is immobilized) and the was able to surpress the MMG enough for a rifle squad to finish it off.

The other squad that I reference in the intro is located on the level just north west of the town, overlooking the depression my 34/57s and engineers are moving through. After being subjected to over a dozen fires from infantry, tanks and some light artillary, he rallied and sent one of my engineer squads running for the hills after killing 6 men in one turn. My HQ tank (a T-34/76 with lots of HE) has moved up to work on him in addition to trying to help the 34/57 that is looking to run. A konsomolet was dispatched to try to pick up the routed squad when he stops. I've also moved two Gaz AAMGs on the hills on the other side of the depression, out of range of infantry, to provide suppresion fire. The other two engineer squads are moving on the small group of buildings where a squad was spotted two turns ago. The survivers of the depression have grouped there. I've called in artillary and the Kv-1 and mountain infantry are moving through them now, clasing down the runners. It's slow going because the germans have good rally scores and will turn and fight on every turn. The rifles are moving up and for support.

The AAMG that I mentioned last log located northwest of the depression was routed and then destroyed by the 34/57s before they moved on the southern MMG. One of my norther scouts found another AAMG but was able to drop smoke right in frout. The AAMG was destroyed by a T-34/76. I've decided that a flanking manuver would not be advantagous and that the tanks could be better used in the charge up the terrices, so they have been moved to the center, where their first task was to eliminate the AAMG. The northern Kv-1s have been key in clearing the routed German troops out of a pocket of buildings. There are several of these choke points on the road, which will slow me down if I don't have Armored and artillary support. One Kv flanked the pocket to the north in order to eliminate one squad while the other crashed through a building in order to take shots at a squad without risking a close assault. Mountain Infantry currently occupy the marjority of the pocket and scouts are moving out.

Some of my mortars are completely resupplied, so I'll be using those on the pockets of buildings along the road. I've used the Staging area to split my forces without slowing down. Currently along the northern of the NE-SW roads there are two Moutain and one Rifle squads along with the Moutain sniper, Moutain HQ and escort and 2 Kv-1s. The area between the roads has the platoon of T-34/76s, two scouts, the AOP and one engineer platoon. The southern road has the remaining Kv-1, the Tank Comp HQ and two T-34/57s along with one mountain and two rifle platoons in addation to two Gaz AAMG and the rifle comp HQ. My own HMG and Mortar, are moving slowing up the road as well, but will set up a small defensive position in the SA and provide indirect support (the mortar anyway). The support company, ACs, and TDs will continue to keep up as much of a fight as they can, hopfully keeping enemey units from pulling back to support what ever help they have in the city. The northern motorcycles are still taking fire whenever they move. One has been destroyed, one routed. I'm comfident that there is at least one platoon and a section of 50mm ATGs in the north. They can stay there for all I care at the moment.