DAR: USSR vs Finland II

[RERomine]

Turn 14

Enemy artillery raining down just in front of my scout. No casaulties, but I'm sure he's pretty rattled.

Fired at the two enemy squads and scouts with HMGs and small arms. The scouts and squads are running. A sniper opened up on one of my squads, dropping two men. Tanks are starting to move up. My guess is the enemy saw the tanks moving around, because artillery is coming in around their location. A couple more plinks, but no damage.

Casualties

Friendly: Two casualties.

Enemy: Estimated 5 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 15

One of my HMG sections is running because of artillery that fell close. I need to get him back on line because it covered the area where enemy infantry has been spotted. It was just random chance that if hit him. They were targeting my tanks that went through.

Traded shots with the enemy scout again. That sniper also snapped off a few more shots, but I don't know where it is right now. One tank is online; the other two are coming up.

Another flag turned out to my front. It is about 400m west of the southern peak of Hill 1. One of the enemy T-28E tanks is on the northern peak. I need to get my mortars dropping round on the west side of the hill, just in case there are infantry about.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: One casualty.

[RERomine]

Turn 16

Four enemy tanks on northern peak of Hill 1 now. I'm going to have to reposition to take them on. Two of their light tanks are moving into the open north of the hill, but I should be able to deal with them with one tank.

Ack!!! Their sniper is killing me. Five men down in one squad!!! I still don't know where he is. I've got two tanks on the line now and some more infantry, but I can't move anyone else on the line until that sniper is gone or out of ammo. Enemy mortars hitting Hill 2 as well. I should be able to hold, but it is a fairly thinly head section of my front.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: Zero.

[RERomine]

Turn 17

Enemy tanks moving forward. Three still on northern peak of Hill 1 and one on the western slope of the southern peak. One of my armored cars punched a hole in the flank of this one and took a shot at another one. I'm going to pepper then with everything I can this turn. The two light tanks are still advancing, but are receiving fire from one of my tanks. One enemy infantry squad also on northern peak. It took small arms fire from all over and was sent back.

Two more enemy squads west of Hill 2, one on Hill 5. Both took tank and HMG fire, both being turned. A tank hunter team showed up as well 150m from my infantry line and was destroyed. The sniper was quiet this turn. Artillery and mortar fire still falling in hill.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 18

Scored well against the enemy armor. First, one of my armored cars destroyed the tank forward of the southern peak of Hill 1. Next, I peppered a T-28E and T-26 M37 on the northern peak. My other armored car took a shot at the T-28E and had a round bounce off the front. The occurred what I can only call a fortuitous accident. I had decided to move the AC into the hex with the other one, putting it out of sight of the T-28E. For some reason, it moved one hex forward. It took a light penetrating hit from the T-28E and the T-26 missed. It fired at the T-28E and scored a major penetration. A second shot scored a kill. Both armored cars withdrew from back from the peak about 100m. One of my tanks came up onto the peak from the northwest and put a killing round into the T-26. Since there was enemy infantry on the northern peak, I pulled my tanks back to a position in front of my infantry. The tank engaging the light tanks to the north of the hill destroyed one. Friendly mortar rounds started dropping on the west side of Hill 1. Three enemy tanks are still on the hill, supported by infantry.

Action is picking up quickly in front of Hill 2. The majority of one enemy infantry company can be seen. Enemy artillery is still hitting the hill and have forced back two of my HMG units. I'm moving one light tank up from the south to take a position of one of those units until I can get it back online. The enemy is taking a few casualties in this area. So far, my damage has only come from a sniper, who has been quiet lately.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 2xT-28E tanks, 1xT-26 M37 tank and 1xT37a tank destroyed, estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 19

Destroyed two more enemy tanks. One of those light ones to the north, eliminating those and on T-26 on the northern peak. Two more T-28E tanks are up there. That should be all they have. About one platoon of enemy infantry is visible on Hill 1 as well and drawing fire from infantry and tanks.

Action in front if Hill 2 has really picked up. It appears elements of two enemy companies are now present. One is circling around the north side of the lake out front and another around the south side. I've got mortars plotted on both approaches, but have to bunch the enemy up for two turns. A lot of shooting came from both sides, but only I scored. Enemy artillery is still raining on the hill and my HMGs are still not back on line. My one light tank peppered a squad from the southeast. This area is going to be difficult. If I can finish off the enemy tanks to the north, I can get more help down here.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 1xT-26 M37 tank and 1xT37a tank destroyed, estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 20

Turns out there were four enemy tanks left on Hill 1. Three were on the northern peak and one the southern peak. I could only see two T-28Es on the northern peak so I decided to go after then. The tank that destroyed the two enemy light tanks to the north came up from the northeast. It was immediately fired upon by both tanks, which missed. My tank fired and destroyed one of the enemy T-28Es, but the other one destroyed him. One member of the crew survived, so nearby infantry popped smoke to cover him. Having three other tanks and two armored cars close by, I figured I could move up on the peak and swarm the survivor. First, I had to suppress the tank on the southern peak. Fire from infantry on that peak accomplished that task and my two light tanks ran for cover. I moved another tank over where the last one was destroyed and fired at the northern tank from there. The enemy tank turned and I can't kill him from the front at 400m. I moved one tank up top to get closer, but an unseen T-26 M37 fired. It was quickly destroyed, so I was able to focus back on the T-28E. Two armored cars came up and finally destroyed it. In the process, a scout and sniper were found and the last tank came up and tried to destroy them without success. Fire was also traded with the T-28E on the southern peak and infantry on both sides exchanged fire. I need to get my tanks off the hill next turn and take out that last T-28E.

Things are getting very hairy on Hill 2. Enemy infantry is forcing my troops back on the hill. My tanks are exposed now and need to pull back. Both sides are taking casualties, but they have more men in the area. I have two platoons holding this hill and they are facing two enemy companies. Making it worse enemy artillery is still hammering this hill. Since Charlie Company to the south isn't engaged at all, I will try to send some help but there is the lake directly to the north to go around. I made a comment before the battle that this lake would be a hindrance to shifting troops. Turns out to be an inconvenient truth.

One turn before my mortars turn loose and none too soon. There are Zips in the wire.

Casualties

Friendly: 1xT-26 1939 tank destroyed, estimated 15 casualties.

Enemy: 2xT-28E tanks and 1xT-26 M37 tank destroyed, estimated 20 casualties.

I'm done for the night, but have attached screen prints of Hills 1 and 2. No action on Hills 3 and 4.