So far the revised attack plan is progressing well. The southern group "going over the hill" has reached the summit, and begun engaging enemy infantry on the reverse slope with support from the 60mm mortar 1/2 tracks and APC's. Three Su-76 SP Guns were spotted at the base of the hill and pounded with 155mm arty. One blew up, the others were suppressed. We got another one with a 90 mm ATG we were able to emplace on the hilltop under smoke from the infantry. The two destroyed Su-76's are both burning, and they're screening the third from getting a bead on us.
Of the two tank-heavy splits, one encountered three T-34/85's in the wooded gap, and destroyed all three: 1 at close range by a M-103 heavy tank, one by a lucky arty shot suppressing them, and one by flamethrowers from a squad of assault engineers. Their supporting infantry (thankfully NOT equipped with the new recoilless rifles) were pushed out of their entrenchments by the APC's and grunts from the other platoon. The other tank-split is stalled at the base of the small hill by mines and AT guns. After one AT gun was discovered, an overflight by spotter aircraft found several more. (the Colonel forgot to use it last time
) Airstrikes were called in and neutralized 5 of them. Since they are organized into 3-gun platoons, we know there's still one out there undetected.
Up north, the heavies have been the big players so far, knocking out four T-34's that were guarding the base of the BIG hill. Progress is not fast, but it is steady, and we've almost reached the splitting point. All units have successfully made it over the hill, and are ready to move ahead.
Casualties are light so far. Several infantry units have a few men down, and three APC's are immobilized. No vehicles have been destroyed. We've been careful to avoid encounters when possible, and focus on clearing the advance route ONLY.