Them Germans were good

[Imp]

Enemy arty might have been quite light but effective most of bank force is pinned.
have found the tank there approach will need smoke
My company leader found lost 3 men discovering there are 2 tanks left up North, transparent woods hex caught him out.
Another squad covered him with smoke grenade, has rally in high 80s so want to keep him alive.
Scout & motorcycle that killed Char crew died finding Char covering a road, my fault for being a bit reckless.
Planes are going for a dangerous life & taking on what they find.
Either CB fire was not very effective or first battery has recovered & is back on line, more stuff lands on bank force.
It is worth noting I think AI set up well guessing my crossing point as planes have seen no bunkers in area though could be doing there usual great job at scouting.
The AI still controls 15 flags.
1 Near 3 chars
4 In woods about 250m apart
The rest in 3 distinct groups woods, hill & open areas.

[Imp]

2 Tanks taken out for 3 men 1 to MkIII other to PSW
A scout found another CharB 2 squads attacked & then scout made up for the loss of his friends, killed for no loss.
Moving on others & lost an 222 due to transparent trees.
Found that HMG he is out of his hole for 1 man
Raumpanzer is backing up he is supporting 4 FJs working down bank & has come under fire from 2 ATGs at about 300m, expensive if he dies FJs smoked to block one firer.
Planes one down as skies filled with flack but did there job this time. Another AA gun is toast & a few hits on infantry but discovered.
5 R-35s
1 Inf Co in woods area near 3 chars, this has kippered best approach on them as could get to within 150m through woods.
2 Inf Co round hill & wood flags.
Most of these disapeared at the start of my turn.
Where is that arty I need it back on line fast giving up CB think one of its battery only has a couple of guns as fired twice same place.

This is turning into another hard fight the only real error AI made in deploying was the groups of tanks without inf support as taking out is not to hard. Stuff that has protection like first group is tough to get to.

[Imp]

MkIIs now have French armour under there belt, Char covering road taken out by FJ & 2 MkIIs for no loss.
99% of all fire vs armour is taking place point blank to rear or sides, vehicle fire vs troops nearly all under 250m.
Most MKII & all AC main gun HE is gone.
The other Char was also taken out for no loss by FJLMG a Squad & 1 each of MkII, III, IV the III getting the kill.
Finaly found 2 mortars near Chars, hard to get decent shots without giving them targets but 1 down.
Made a risky move through village with lead elements unscathed, 3 armoured cars looking at likely ambush spots & troops in position to find out if vacant.
Once through here I have about 1Km of open ground (with a partial line of trees halfway) to the hill held by a rifle company. I can take most of this before in LOS to S-35s in the area. Think some AAA in area to. Some smoke ploted.
Most of tank killer is trying to catch them up so can help with S-35s as they will be a problem. 3 chars as unsuppotted will fall to regular guys, at least thats the plan.
FJs are trying to get a bit closer to ATGs before open up & arty should hit next turn, Raumpanzer has done a bit of pant wetting & taken cover I hope.
Force on hill 2 is moving in direction of woods near chars planes saw a company in. My offboard is being directed here to soften, moving on dug in units in woods is not a good idea so going slow, hopefully by the time I have a go at them some of their spirit will be gone.
All MMGs are heading for road area to support lead elements. If arty becomes critical they can Z fire to aid. 223 Fu vehicle is with already.
Transport is getting well confusing now as moving all sorts & I just dont have enough, tanks are picking up some in safe areas.
Will resolve arty at start of next turn as have lost contact with a battery that is about to drop on me due to speed of advance this go #@%$, have also lost contact with entire troop of onboard or as I suspect they all ran out of ammo together, smoke to.

[Imp]

Enemy arty was totaly inefective not sure what it thinks its firing at. Not so my stuff lost at least one man 2 trucks & MkII took a hit straight through the engine deck, good job realised & bailed passengers. On board troop is out of ammo arty truck has started resupply so will at least get 1 back, a lot of my arty is in transit to its final resting place as have outrun its range so planes filling in but most are nearly out of ammo to. I do have 1 Stuka left with bombs.
Progress to woods has slowed even more due to blue fire pinning can see fisty cuffs at the mobile canteen later.
Whoops FJs have run into a spot of bother 1 ATG down but heavy loses there are at least 4 of them, where is that arty they are being outguned, & Raumpanzer is pretending to look for mines, I cant support them on the ground tasking air but they could well be dead by the time it arrives.
Lead force found ambush forces 2 squads so far but not in trees where expected but slap bang on the road. One is dug out but a 222 is in a bit of a dodgy situation at turn end. One 222 has moved West slightly onto a hill, if he does not recieve fire 223 Fu will move onto it for a nice view of the area.
The other mortar died & his offboard must be getting low so all stopping all CB made sense, had little effect again.

Works quite so will try & knock some out today.

[Imp]

FJs are putting up a valiant fight taking out 2 gun crew but they have been cut in half.
On the road a couple of units have made it most of the way to mid point treeline going past the funeral pyre of my 222, running out of them another one here took an alarming amount of damage, still mobile but armour must be paper now, if he can make it will be running. 223 Fu is on the hill & troops did better finding another 4 squads in ambush area, another co? 3 are out of there holes & hand to hand combat is in progress for another foxhole.
3 47Paks have managed to get in position to target 1 of 3 Chars at 400m he died going for the other 2 with infantry assist.
I have realised wooded hill if take level 3 can overlook some lower levels to East so force has split some going that way rest to approach from East to force retreat towards them. A couple of Pioneers are going to help smoke them out. East guys have to be a bit careful or could run into other elements.
Think I missed a unit near hill 1 a Bat of 75s is targeting transit along that road, detouring but lost a Sdkfz7.
Planes took out 2 ATGs 1 left some FJs will see another day, barrage started on level 3 woods
My force is looking a bit thined out now as the French are slowly taking a toll on my forces, troops mainly are the guys that are suffering & he still has a fair bit of fresh stuff out there. But they are now confined to a shrinking 3x2Km box.

[Imp]

Planes took out last ATG & 47Paks got another Char
Units aproaching wood hill from West & North have found several units & are at level 2 a couple ready to move to level 3, East force was in position to start entering when French infantry left woods & came round corner, boy did he get a surprise. Think he was moving for flag I have just taken or running from barrage possibly, morale going? Found 6-8 units lost count most still dug in, slow now we are in woods & no arty this turn so its coming for me.
About 1/2 a dozen squads + 2MMG 2 tanks & 2 AC behind treeline ready to push out on hill 1/2km away.
Some arty is finaly getting near its positions most aren't & apart from units in woods these guys are on speed wizzing along.
Briliant 222 survived & moved to safety not, he is leading a charmed life 3 Char-B1s (the easier ones marginaly) just roled in as reinforcements & missed.
Eek thats thrown a spanner in the works so much for morale going they are launching a counter offensive. More are bound to turn up & 1 turn earlier I would have been in a lot better position to counter it, thats life.
I hope this battle does not wind up early as I was just approaching main flag areas so French still control the majority. At 180 a pop they are valuable.

[Imp]

Its all gone a bit manic I seem to have stirred up a real hornets nest here. Fighting in the woods I have destroyed a few squads but currently engaged with 6 or so.
The force attacking the hill has been reinforced but have found an entire company to take on across open ground. 2 MMG took 2 hits each plus a few other casulties I think.
Then there is the reinforcements to think about they seem to be heading for hill 1 & now I have looked must have entered 1 turn before they were seen.
Trying to get to 2 wide woods & setup an ambush if they carry on that way plus get some eyes on the subject, 222s luck finaly ran out.
Last Char killed by 47 Paks they are heading for hill 1 to try & harass French reinforcements
Lot of men sweeping woods I am being spread a bit thin Oh er.
Well the arrival of reinforcements seems to have hardened their resolve, in French turn killed my MMG & a FJLMG plus several more casulties, that smarted a bit they just had a bit of a mad 3 minutes. Lost sight of reinfocements.
Arty falling on woods & CB vs my onboard 155s ammo truck is exiting stage left if its still able.

[PanzerBob]

Imp.

Sounds like a heck of a fight you got going on there, interesting read on a slow night at work. Have not done a long campaign for a while this gets me to thinking I should start another. Keep the SITREPS coming.

Bob out

[Imp]

Bob
As you have done before can you say if I can flit around in the campaign.
Realise its not realistic for my unit to be everywhere but could I change theatres when I want. So say do Eastern Front but nip over for half a dozen N.Africa then off to Italy on the line for D Day etc. Switching foes every 6 - 10 battles say. It gives battle dates so I could turn up for the big events
thanks

[Imp]

Well those damn French may get us yet it seems they have a secret weapon.
This morning I woke to a raking chorus of coughing due to those Gauloises my men have liberated. It is probably to much to hope for them to be cursed with the same affliction which is a shame as it would give away their positions, my gut tells me going at first light may not have been the best choice as it will be harder to locate them in the half light but command is eager to press on & maintain blitzkrieg. Its to early for our planes to fly so we are on our own, still now we have a few battles under our belt most of my troops are veterans & have performed admirably thus far.
I am keeping these new tank destroyers back as a mobile reserve, while I am assured they have the firepower to dispose of these French tanks they appear somewhat fragile.
The main force is ready to move out & will head down route 91 & its general area before dismounting. Once they have engaged 2 platoons from C company supported by a tank section will head for the Northern village. The idea is once mines are found they will attack to try & draw some artillery & give my pioneers a break so we can clear a path for our advance. Our new 10Cm guns probably are not up to the task of counter battery fire so will want to get some kills.


Moving out
Well pre bombardment was a bit to close to my 155s for comfort ammos pegging it pronto. Have found a use for those big guns though as they took out some 75s straight off, that will help when it comes to mine clearing.
Main force has the pedal to the metal & storms down 91 & diagonal road then lead elements dismount, they borrowed arty trucks for the trip & they will now head back. Most of the force will stay mounted so it can respond to contact which could be soon if facing an area defence.
AA are twidling there thumbs they could do with some exp as most died last time out but are a bit vulnerable at this vis level. This could help the ATG crews who are after a few more kills this go as getting into range should be a tad easier, not a lot of hiding places mind. Pioneers are trailing main force in Hts.
It occurs to me that arty should be plotted if anything slightly in front of where I might expect contact due to vis as FOOs are riding up front at least to start with.

Proceeding on foot & frankly its all a bit to quite, perhaps they are still asleep

Well I love this game I can feel the tension 10 minutes in & no sign of them French. The morning air resounded to the sound of my 155s opening up but otherwise nothing, they left smoke signatures on first fire so maybe borrowing there transport was not so wise he has a confirmed target.
I can see to row 52 in a couple of places so it looks like the AI has decided to concentrate its defence around objectives, damn.
Have not even found a mine..... yet. They nearly always make me jump if find the hard way but not even on the roads.