DAR: Sant' Angelo, Italy

[RERomine]

Turn 25

Group 1 engaged by enemy infantry in platoon strength on Western edge of Hill 2. A scout farther forward took a panzerfaust shot at the M10 along the road and missed. Then it popped smoke to screen the advance of Group 1 engineers. The engineers assaulted the M10 and destroyed it. Grenadiers tried to destroy another M10 at a distance, but failed.

Tigers on Hill 1 engaged enemy infantry retreating and destroyed another Sherman on the reverse side of the hill. Enemy artillery is still making life difficult for leg units, but some engineers are succeeding in clearing mines. Artillery scored a top hit on one of the M10s damaging it. Enemy infantry was also hit hard and all are retreating from the hill.

Group 3 continuing to move forward. Lead elements have reached positions they will hold until phase 2 of the operation begins, which better be soon!

Two platoons of Group 4 engineers continuing up Hill 2. Other elements holding position.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: One M10 GMC(Early) tank destroyer and one M4A3(Early) tank destroyed and estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 26

Grenadiers from Group 1 destroyed one of the remaining two M10s. Remaining elements are taking up positions to engage enemy infantry on West side of Hill 2.

Enemy artillery hit Hill 1 hard inflicting moderate casualties on infantry units. Tigers engaged enemy infantry and smoke cleared enough to give one a view of the remaining enemy M10. The M10 was destroyed. I need to move the Tigers back off Hill 1 to get them away from the enemy artillery.

Engineers from Group 3 have established an East-West line in the middle of the woods. Grenadiers are swinging West to engage the enemy bazooka team on the North edge of Hill 2.

Engineer platoons from Group 4 crested the top of Hill 2 and attracted attention from a HMG team and a bunker to the West. They popped smoke and are waiting for Tigers to come up for support. Several engineer squads are heading North to help with the enemy bazooka team.

Enemy artillery is spreading out their counter battery efforts, hitting two more of my howitzer batteries and some of my mortar sections. Three more howitzer crews are on the run. Hopefully, the military police can stop them at the edge of the map and turn them back

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 15 casualties.

Enemy: Two M10 GMC(Early) tank destroyers destroyed and estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 27

Smoke clearing and Group 1 traded fire with enemy infantry. They are dug in and my troops aren't, so I lost that exchange.

Group 2 engineers and grenadiers on Hill 2 are getting hit hard by enemy artillery again. They are close to combat ineffective. Holding the hill won't be a problem, but I'm not sure they will be able to link with Group 1 and proceed to objective group G2. The Tigers are fine, however and since the hill doesn't seem like it will be useful for an overwatch position, they will probably join up for that mission. There is one enemy Sherman that needs to be dealt with still, so the Tigers would be useful in that role.

Grenadiers from Group 3 taking fire from several enemy mortars. Group 4 took care of the enemy bazooka team, so they will hold position.

Group 4 engineers reached the reverse edge of Hill 2 and got lit up. A second bunker opened up and the enemy seems to be in company strength. Tigers are moving up to support. Enemy trying to hit the area with artillery as well, but they were over shooting. I'm going to have to bring up units other than engineers for the task of clearing the area. They aren't appropriately armed for long range fire fights with infantry.

Most recon tracks are resupplied and are moving back to harass the enemy and hopefully pull some artillery off other targets. It's killing me in other places.

MPs failed at their job and howitzer crews left

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 15 casualties.

Enemy: Estimated 5 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 28

Elements of Group 1 still exchanging fire with enemy infantry and are still taking casualties. Artillery has been plotted on the enemy positions. Another M10 has been spotted 200m South of the dirt road, so they are moving against it.

Group 2 still getting hit by artillery, but it's getting lighter. Only a few mortars fired at them this time. The Tigers are on the forward slope of Hill 1 waiting for it to finish before they move out.

Mortar file against Group 3 ceased and the group is holding position.

Group 4 engineers backed up a bit to covered positions. They aren't taking fire anymore. Tigers moved up and destroyed two Shermans near Hill 3 and engaged both the HMG position and the enemy bunkers. Artillery has been plotted on the enemy positions in town.

Recon tracks still moving.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: Two M4(Early) tanks destroyed and estimated 5 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 29

Grenadiers from Group 1 managed to destroy M10, but enemy infantry is keeping the rest of the group pinned down. Artillery started hitting their positions which should allow Group 1 to advance against them. For some reason, some enemy units are starting to abandon their entrenchments and advancing. I haven't taken any objective hexes yet.

Tigers from Group 2 started moving out and heavy enemy artillery started falling again. I might have to take them back through the Group 1 position if I'm going to get them out of there in one piece. Infantry got beat up again. All units are getting off of Hill 2. It's not a nice place to be.

Grenadiers from Group 3 are starting to head to their phase 2 objective of the road intersections. The engineers will hold position. Hopefully, the grenadiers won't run into mines, but those could be useful in stopping the enemy. I don't figure the enemy will have place them with routes for shifting units in mind.

Group 4 Tigers destroyed enemy HMG team and one of the bunkers. A bazooka team ran up next to one Tiger and attracted a lot of attention. It was last seen running the other way.

Recon tracks still moving.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: One M10 GMC(Early) tanks destroyer and bunker destroyed and estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 30

Group 1 pushing forward and engaging enemy infantry pinned by artillery. One enemy unit destroyed, others are running, with only one beat up unit let in the way.

Elements from Group 2 are linking up with Group 1, but they are pretty beat up. The only units left on Hill 1 are a couple of squads and my Tigers. They are moving Northeast to get away from the artillery. The Tigers are trying to pick up the two units left so they can get off the hill quickly. Forward elements engaged some running enemy infantry.

Group 3 grenadiers continuing to move towards road intersections.

Enemy infantry moving on Hill 2, but being suppressed by artillery. Bazooka team destroyed by engineers and Tigers destroyed last bunker. One Tiger moved Southwest to assist Groups 1 and 2 while other Tigers are moving up. Engaged by a Sherman near Hill 3. Returned fire and damaged the Sherman.

Recon tracks are in position and will start harassing enemy up North again.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: One M4(Early) tank and bunker destroyed and estimated 20 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 31

Group 1 broke into the open for a short period of time. One engineer charged down the road to see if it was clear of mines and drew fire from a Sherman and several infantry units. They also found another line of mine. A small breach will have to be cleared to allow units to advance on objective groups G2 and G3. At this point, it's not clear if I'll get to G1 since resistance has been constant.

Group 2 drew fire from the same enemy infantry that fired on Group 1. Smoke was popped and artillery plotted. Some elements are still having a miserable time getting off of Hill 1 because of enemy artillery. The Tigers are off of the hill, however and moving Northwest to the dirt road.

Group 3 grenadiers continuing to move towards road intersections.

Group 4 engineers pushed to the rear edge of Hill 2. This time, there wasn't as much enemy fire. Several units tried to swing to a road to their right and found an enemy infantry unit right in the way. The traded fire and the enemy ended up retreating. Two Tigers are moving that way to support as are one platoon of PzKw IVhs. They were able to put some direct fire down on a 60mm mortar behind the hill. They should be able to start pushing forward.

Recon tracks opened up on the enemy positions up North again, inflicting several casualties. The drew direct fire from an enemy 60mm mortar, but it wasn't effective.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: Estimated 15 casualties.