[Hermit]

As we begin rolling, the Colonel has decided that it will be more effective to have some of us grunts ride forward on the armored vehicles. Only about a third of us will fit, so its still a long, hot march for most of us. I'm beginning to wonder now if we'll make our objectives in time to set up any kind of defense, or whether it will be us trying to push the enemy out.

Soon after the helos took off, the radios started crackling to life. They were taking fire from some large enemy AA guns that they couldn't even see in the bright haze. And the fire was much more accurate than expected considering the distance they must be firing from. A hasty conference with the Intel section has disclosed the enemy is rumored to have new radar-guided 57mm AA guns, and we must have encountered some. It's all but paralyzed helo movement thats not screened behind the crest of the hills. Because of the unpredictable visibility through all these shallow tree-lines, even NOE flying is risky. However, with most of the enemy guns concentrated on our little attack helos, the two transport helos have managed to successfully insert our two FO/scout/sniper platoons into some small woods only about 300 meters from two of our objective areas to keep watch and provide spotting for our guns.

The helos have also spotted a large number of a new enemy armored personnel carrier, called a BTR-50 or some such, which they must be using to rapidly advance their infantry to the objective areas. There are also a fair number of enemy tanks, both T-34's and T-54-3's evenly mixed. This obviously will be no walk in the park. Enemy artillery, mostly 122mm guns, is also pounding the area around the objectives. I suppose they're trying to soften up the area before they reach it, not knowing that we're nowhere near them yet. Our own guns responded, hopefully suppressing theirs so that they won't bother us so much. The Colonel's also asked our arty to shoot a few rounds on the road just southeast of the central objective to disrupt any Russian units speeding along the road. The Colonel's also ordered our fixed guns to mount up and try to find some secluded positions in the treelines near the objective areas to set up some ambush points. The divisional scouts riding in their APC's and the 106mm jeeps have darted ahead of our main body to look for some likely places.