[Cross]

AAR (German communication)

PART 1

Here is ALL the communication from the German team in chronological order as it appears in my emails, including the confusion when the same turn was played twice.

Start
Ok everyone. Sorry for the delay.
I have included a "General Plan" or our side. It’s a Meeting Engagement With the objectives spread across the center of the map.
The forces I selected are;
x3 Mech Recce Section
x2 PzGr Company
x2 PzIV Platoon
x1 75mm ATG Platoon
x2 PzVI (Tiger I)
x1 AA Platoon (20mm)
All Arty is made of the PzGR Co organic 81cm vehicles. The Support vehicles are 75mm (short) as well.

If you look at the map I am thinking a 2 pronged, but fairly wide advance, led by the Recon units

with the Tigers and ATG forming a shield/screen between the 2 forces. Since we are Mech we can detach and forces from one side and shift to the left or right as needed, hopefully with pretty good speed AND behind the protection of the screen in the middle.
ASLO, the Pbem PW will be katie1114.
DD


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Turn 1
Turn 1 is in the history books and posted to the Blitz forums for the
Brit team.
DD

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Turn 3
Contact briefly with the following enemy forces before they dropped off the radar, did not get any shots on them. I suspect the Brits are playing hide behind the treeline, pop out, take a shot or 2 then pop back;
HEX 61,107 - M3/M5 HT
HEX 64,74 - Cromwell - I
Recommend dismounting and pressing scouts forward to try and draw them out, then pull up the armour to engage. I have unloaded the ATG in the center so they can start covering the woodlines where the Cromwell popped up.
DD

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Turn 4
Hi All
DD are right!
a Daimler showed up at hex 61,107 but missed.
The Cromwell at 64,74 destroyed a HT in the hedgerow

a Cromwell appeared on the road hex 61,90 and killed an HT/75mm (and the leader G0 riding in it) then it popped smoke

a second Cromwell rolled into the city square of Melville hex 65,47 and killed the third HT

At the end of the turn artillery 5,5 in hit up north (by mistake I had fast arty on)

This is a typical Cross force - and he is deadly with it. We better find those 5,5 in gun and counter fire at them.

I moved a little forward and dismounted many of the troops, I set the AT groups to range 1.

The HT with AT I did not move, they are too vulnerable in the open.

Before the next plays the turn (5), I recommend that he downloads the British turn 4, watches the replay before he unzip and plays turn 5.

In that we one can get a general flow of the battle (I think - I did not do it myself)
Stonefire / jesper

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Turn 5
Hey Guys,

-There is or was a Brit MG in the big building SE of 87. I moved two AT units (T) to cover flanks along road N. and S. of that area, with MG (Q) and 251 w/ MG able to cover that building. The 251 let go some Z fire at the building with some success - still can't see the Brit MG though.

-N platoon, still loaded, is moved further E. to cover S. flank. I recommend that someone move up M platoon toward the treeline with the goal to be to take the area around the big building. PzIV platoon (W) moved up slowly to support.

-Moved O platoon up to treeline N.E. of 73, approaching a building beyond treeline...caution recommended approaching that building. 251 with 7.75 gun covering on hilltop N of 75 which can cover open area between 73 and 74.

-Tigers moved up slowly toward hill NE of 59, with a towed ATG ® in support. Moved up slowly the AAA to cover the Tigers.

-Reece units with loaded AT units moved up toward road coming S. out of Hereleville. Unloaded ATG guns to cover open area SE of Herelville.

-G Platoon up to very Eastern edge of town at big building (church?). They are supported by 251 w/ 7.75 and MG (I) on little hill east of town. Two squads of E platoon moved up to take buildings NE of VH also supported by 251 7.75 and MG. Moved up PzIV platoon V to support...not too close to town though, not very good tank country.

-S0 recce with AT unit on board moving up to cover road junction N. of Hereville near 17.

-F platoon up toward paved and dirt road junction NW of 18. Two 251's w/ 7.75 covering big wheat field and North flank.

I'm very concerned about our North Flank. If any armour comes at us from the very North...we have little to slow it and no good way to get any armour up there if it happens. I don't really have any suggestions to fix that other than to move the Northern most PzIV platoon that way, but then there is no armour to support the guys going into the village.
Nick S. /GUNSLNGR

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Nice round up.
I think his armour is in town & South of sending a squad to monitor might be more sense than diverting tanks.
Its taking long enough to get them in position anyway.
If he tries flanking it may be infantry trying to see where we are.
Surprised at his progress either just a few riders up at front or reasonable transport.
I think he beat us to town & has people looking down South
Brits are using hard to spot infantry to see where we are virtually guarantee any tank attack will be seen & met so need caution or to find them first. IMHO
IMP

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I see the Brits posted they lost a unit. Does anyone have a confirmation and if so what was it? I know he had at least 1 Cromwell near the center but it seems to have broken contact.
Reference the flanks. I am wondering if we need to push a unit or 2 all the way to the map edge in case they trying getting something around the ends?
Also, I am thinking we halt the 81mm MTR HT and call come arty onto suspected positions. Nothing heavy, just a few rounds, then cancel it, see if we can stir him up or get him to move where we can get eyes on him.
DD

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There was nothing in the turn 4 replay showing anything killed (subterfuge, maybe?).
I think we have the North flank covered, with eyes anyway and should have the South covered in a turn or two. I've got the feeling they are sucking us into the town and I don't think we've enough infantry to clear it. Leaving two options:

1) We stop advancing for a bit and see if they probe us, or
2) We concentrate on one area and advance to contact.

If we go with option 2, we probably should put what little arty we have in front of it. IMHO...

In any regard, we probably should come to a consensus - so we're not attempting 5 different things.
Nick S. / GUNSLNGR

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Apparently, the Brit turn before mine uploaded the wrong turn (3 instead of 4) - So I actually played turn 3 instead of 5.

So, ignore my previous sitrep. Cross said he'd email 2ndLt Fjun to have him upload the correct turn file. If I'm awake when that happens, I'll grab it - if not, its fair game for anyone.

I little confusion, but I think it's worked out...fog of battle and all that.
Nick S. / GUNSLNGR

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I agree with you.
Town is a problem due to good use of roads I think they are there in force with Cromwell's to waiting to pounce.
We don't really have the men or arty to go into town it will be costly

Could go for the flags near our gold spot & clear that area let him come to us in town, Tigers will die there to.
Consensus on where he is anyone.
There were some Cromwell's & undoubtedly men at the end of the long field near Tigers scout HT was in it.
John / IMP

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TURN 6?
Hey guys,
Here's my sitrep for turn 6

Basically in the replay - he went after an AT unit in the South with full fury of two Cromwells and supporting infantry. He also got a 250 recce and a marksman chewed up on of our infantry squads E. of gold spot.

-F platoon moved up to road junction in the N. supported by one MG (I) and one AT unit.

-AT unit moved up covering road junction E. of 17.

-E platoon pushed farther into town with supporting MG up to cover area in front of big building. G platoon moved into the big building (I accidentally drove a 251 into the big building, ooops, didn't get stuck though).

-PzIV platoon V up to continue to support E and G E. of town. Moved a two tank squad around back of big building to get out of that fatal funnel between buildings where we lost a 251 w/ loaded squad.

-Further S., O2 squad w/ one Tiger and a 251 engaged a brit rifle squad in treeline NW of 59. Brits took a few casualties and retreated. There is a brit recce m/c squad in same tree line further N.

-Unloaded an ATG on hill N. of 75 to support our southern most infantry

-J1 squad engaged a Brit rifle squad in trees S. of 73, took 2 casualties and retreated. An AT unit then engaged the Brit squad supported by a 250. Brits took some casualties and retreated W. J1 rallied back a bit.

-M platoon continued forward to cross road. M2 located the sniper that hit our squad on the Brit turn. They engaged, but took a casualty and retreated. A supporting 251 and 250 moved up and engaged sniper with some additional units putting long range fire on him. He didn't die, but he's routed.

-N platoon continued working along S. most flank

-PzIV platoon moving up slowly to support J and M platoons. They may be too far away to do any good if the Brits move up armour into J and M.

I believe he is concentrated in front of J and O squads and in the town. There is at least one halftrack with infantry in that area behind trees. I directed two mortars to hit that area.

Cheers and happy hunting,
Nick S. / GUNSLNGR

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Hey guys,
Is anybody on track or able to take the next turn...I think the other team is getting a bit antsy? I offered to take it, even though it would be two in a row for me, but they didn't seem to like that idea...
Cheers,
Nick S. / GUNSLNGR

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Turn 7?
Spotted 2-3 Cromwell in each of the vicinities of zones 58 and 73. They were moving and shooting so not sure their end locations. They are also dropping a lot of 6lb and 5.5lb arty on the southern flank. Try to keep the men spread out and keep vehicles back from the woodlines as they are moving up shooting and moving back to cover.
DD

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Turn 8?
Guys we need some sort of plan here, I can’t figure it out but my synopsis of the situation.
Most of our forces are doing squat with heavy concentrations on both flanks which are of no use as cant use speed as in transport as no support.
Another concentration by town that as I said will be more costly than we can afford with meagre arty we have. It is also not a place for tanks so they are all just sitting there.
Where the action is happening is the wrong place he has dropped at least one ATG back in a good place to get flank shots if go for Cromwell's hiding spots I think so when tanks turn up they will be in trouble & our troop support will be gone so no eyes.

I would suggest smoking & regrouping to get guys out of the hole they are in. Our ATGs should be behind our troops to catch out his hit & run Cromwell's the one on the hill will die because he saw it setup arty incoming. Tigers have no infantry screen so easy meat brit troops are on the way.

We need a position where our troops can see whats going on & tanks can hit & run or sit just behind trees ready to pop out if draw his tanks out. Your call but we are fighting & dying a platoon at a time by getting ahead of the armour & being all over the shop.
Apologies if sounds critical but we are set up to get wiped out in my view, town guys probably last once he destroys the South & swings round. We have more transport as our main advantage we need away to exploit it.
John
IMP

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Hi John
I think you analysis is right on the spot.
Looks frightening close to my first encounters with Cross - those Brits and at this time is just his game.
I fully support your views
Regards
Jesper / Stonefire

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In that case group or team leader needs to make a decision otherwise one half will be doing one thing while the others do another. These are not nancy boys in charge of the Brits never played them but from a quick look at the ladder we are facing seasoned commanders, oh heck We will lose units & ground if regroup most likely but think thats on the cards anyway. Might throw them off a bit if we are very lucky
John / IMP

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Well . . . I can't take this turn since I just played the last one. :-(
Whoever grabs it;

Pull any vehicles back from the woodlines.
Move the armour up for keyhole shots but keep them off the woodlines as well.
Use smoke to cover the infantry as they regroup if at all possible and spread them out since the Brits are dropping both 6 and 5.5 lbr Arty.
Since it seems they spotted a Tiger maybe we can use that as bait to draw out their tanks or use it to keep them away form that area depending on how aggressive they are.

Basically try to set up the defence where we are or pull back to better positions but try not to give up too much ground.

One the next person plays the turn I will grab it next and play that turn, Turn 8 I think. I will then get us some good screenshots and we will come up with a plan based on the situation at that time. the Mortars should be hitting by then as well (if not sooner) so we will have some more cover.
DD

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Turn 7
OK
I have now played turn 7.
I pulled our tanks and sdkfx 9 and ordinary HT's back from woodlines where they were exposed.
( a few of the stayed where I think they have good chances for reaction fire
I pulled infantry back behind hedgerows - or further back where they were in very forward positions.

I two places (in the center and up north I let it be as is where (save for the Ht's)

I reduced the AT groups to a range of 1 hex, and I reduced the AT guns range to 8.

At the end there was a air attack form a single plane - a HT was immobilised, and the two tanks around it are probably spotted as the other tanks in the open must be (those around the large building in the center)
Jesper / Stonefire

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Turn 8
I re-positioned only a few units. They are still dumping arty in the same locations but no damage this time ( maybe a little suppression but mostly misses). The brought in a spitfire (with 20mm cannons) that strafed a Tiger. No damage, but both had to have been spotted. Most of the enemy units are still out of sight except for 3-4 Rifle/Para squads.

Whoever gets it next, move the Tigers AND move the AA vehicles into positions that can overwatch any incoming aircraft targeting the Tigers.
If needed, shift any infantry units to better spotting positions but hold off on pushing forward (its a 30 turn battle) until we can spot more units and see where their armour shifted to.

Our Mortars should be hitting soon so shift them as needed to suppress any units they can be shifted onto.

I have some screenshots so more info will follow shortly.
DD

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Turn 9
Hey Guys,
In keeping with our "tactical repositioning," I didn't move much around. They got off a few more shots and got at least one more halftrack still in the treeline and caused another to piss himself...he wouldn't rally, so will probably be burning at the end of this next turn.

Orienting S to N:

-left N platoon in the very South pretty much alone. They are all situated behind treeline along road. I moved the one AT unit with them up to trees along road, where he can see up and down road - with range set to 0 - hopefully no one else will see him.

-loaded up a MG42 and moved it further S. with M platoon behind treeline along road. With the exception of the Sdkf's, they had no MG support - they still lack any anti-armour or tank support except for the AT unit mentioned above.

-One of the other MG42's east of 88 took some pot shots at a rifle squad moving in trees SW of where the Tigers are. They were spotted by 01 squad, who also fired at them. I intended to have them smoke after shooting, but didn't realize they were out of smoke...they may be punished this turn. I believe this is an attempted flank move to get at where they know one Tiger is located. Definitely some Cromwells in woods behind these guys. Anticipate a hard charge at us in this area, near 59.

-rallied a one man crew that has good eyes on the field around 74, also moved a PZIV into a good keyhole spot to cover most of the field. ATG's have good position to cover this and field North of it - East of big town.

-Paras spotted in Southern most tip of big town and in central part up N. of town

-I consolidated E squad, who IMHO were too spread out in the town. One squad spotted a Para squad in house across street. I smoked and did not engage as no other squad could assist them. Also moved up an MG to support them. E Platoon has no armour support, but I doubt that they'll move armour into the town this early. Those Brit Paras are TOUGH and heavily armored - that will be a hard fight if they come in force.

-I didn't adjust our Northern most platoons...quiet up there for now.

-set one available mortar with other target hexes along treeline NW of 59.

Heavy arty hitting us near the middle of the map where the 3 MG's where positioned S. of big town. Also a little East of there, pinging a PZIV.

I think we are probably good to wait it out a bit. I'd anticipate probing infantry movement to contact followed by heavy and close in armour right behind them. We should keep the halftracks hidden as much as possible, because we may need to move guys quickly from the N and S flanks to trouble spots. I believe they will work hard to get at the Tigers, and they probably are pretty sure where they are. Their Paras and Rifle squads have satchel charges and good AT mines - if they get close the Tigers are toast!
Cheers,
Nick S. /GUNSLNGR

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Turn 10
Hey
Sorry guys made a quite a few mistakes this turn, leaving a few units too exposed - you loose the flow of the battle playing this way.
Not much - I routed a squad near 59 and one near 88
in the building in hex 64 109 there is a sniper, and also one just south of 59 - and I guess they have more scouting for them
Regards
Jesper / Stonefire

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END of PART 1