DAR-Germany vs. UK Long Campaign 44-45

[Brummbar]

Wow! It look's like you are getting all the battle you can handle. This is a very good DAR to read. Keep up the hard work!

[m113apc]

My troops rest tonight. The fight continues tomorrow.

[PanzerBob]

Excellent AAR, sounds like the Enemy has slipped a Recce Coy right into your AOR. I don't recall any JABO's yet, watch out for your Tigers!!

Bob out

[m113apc]

The Battle continues.

My forces that was holding hill 201, have now reached 201/3.
I control the north end of the village, and have now two panthers securing the bridge over the canal. There are still some scattered units in the village. I also engaged and knocked out an Achilles TD. There are still no sign of the AT gun that knocked out two of my Panthers on the hill 201/1. My arty barrage of the town failed, because all my arty are now engaged all along the frontline. I had no arty to spare for this fire mission. My Panther platoon in the village only has two Brandenburger teams for support. That is not much help for my Panthers spotting enemy infantry in the village. The plan for this unit now, is the advance on the road westwards and break south north of the last victory area designated 201/5. I will leave my company HQ (2 Panthers) to secure the bridge.

I’m still in contact with enemy infantry in 201/4. This means that I have not been able to advance against 201/1 and secure the high ground. I have rushed two tigers from 202/2 to support the forces in 201/4. The two Tigers from 202/2 have been replaced by the two Tigers that I sent south from 202/2 to support the forces in 301/1. They will secure the intersection south of 201/2. I’m in the process of erase the enemy infantry between 201/1 – 201/4. When they are dealt with, I will advance with my remaining Panthers (2) and the two Tigers and take 201/1. My Intel about the enemy strength in this area is at best limited.

There are no activities in 202/2.
Recon forces have made contact with the enemy Bn HQ in the village west of 202/2, and one 17 ponder AT gun. I’m advancing in with one Brandenburger platoon and some FJg sections.


There are no activities in 301/1.

I’m engaged in fearful battles in the two intersections west of 301/2, and the open area south of the road leading to 301/2. Most of my forces from 301 are now advancing to 301/2, to support the remaining battered forces there. My StuG and StuH are in support of my ground forces and have taken up positions east of 301/3, and as a security force to hold the victory area in 301/1. I had to rush in my Sdkfz 251/1 to stop the masses in 301/2. They have taken up positions north west and south east of this area. This have already cost me one APC. I have two StuG advancing from 301/3 westwards, their objective is to engage enemy arty positioned at the end of the battlefield. There is at least one battery of 155 and one Sexton there. My own arty took out two 155, but they are now in use other places where they are needed. The enemy arty is cruel, and makes my operations difficult. There will be now further advance out of 301/2 and the area west to 301/2. They will hold their positions.

My forces in 203/1 are also scattered along the frontline.
I had one Tiger II in the intersection west of 203/1, two in support between 203/1 and 301/2, and the two Tiger II that was sent to support my forces south to area 1 and 2.

My Tiger II in 203/1 came in contact with 3 Churchill’s and a platoon (-) infantry.
My Intel from earlier also told me that there were at least one platoon of Churchill’s south west of this area. I had to initiate a delaying action in 203/1 to the support could arrive. In this sector I really had to micromanaging my platoon and supporting forces.

My Tiger II in 203/1 continued the delay, got in contact several times with these Churchill’s, but managed to stay alive, despite all the hits it took. He also managed to hit the enemy tanks several times, without damaging or knocking out any of them.

I also made contact with enemy tanks in the intersection south of 203/1.

See map for individual tank and armor symbols.

I managed to position one tiger in the forest belt south of 203/1, this tank engaged and knocked out two Churchill’s and are holding its position to secure the flank of 203/1. I have one east of this one engaging enemy tanks and infantry in the intersection south 203/1. After a while I also managed to get my Brummbaer in position south of 203/1, and my remaining Panzer IV.

The area is secure for now; there are some scattered units of infantry left, and at least one platoon of tanks.

My FJg are now marching east through the southern village, and will set up a defensive position in the western end of town.

My PaK in sector 1 are now being moved to the high ground between sector 1 and 203/1.
One FJ coy (-) are being moved in to the village in 203/1.

There have been several airstrikes on my arty, so some of them are being moved; this reduces my badly needed support.

The enemies that breach my line are being managed with.

Moving my few Tigers and Tiger II between the sectors with heavy enemy contact have also showed me with big certainty that there are small breaches of enemy infantry between my main contact points, since I numerous times have been halted, or taken under attack by scattered elements. This is a risk for my tanks, but its matter of necessity to do this.

The fun part for me, is the historical aspect of this, since these tanks really had this role during WWII, to function as a fire brigade, where needed.

More to follow.

EOM.

[m113apc]

201/3 is taken.
The 6 pounder AT gun that got two of my Panthers on hill 201/1 was located and destroyed.

My Panther Company HQ are now securing the bridge, and engaging enemy infantry that is trying to cross it from north.

One Panther platoon is now heading for 201/5 along the road and has meth no resistance yet.

Scattered infantry units have made it through my defense in 201/4 and taken 201/5.
They were dealt with. I lost two Flammpanzer III in this attempt.

The enemy has rushed in motorized infantry to the southern part of 201/1.
There is at least one enemy Company (-) of strength in force in this area. I have two Panthers and three Tigers engaging them in a delaying action, so my arty can start pounding them.

Enemy Bn HQ in the village east of 202/2 is destroyed, so is two 17 pounder guns.
One of them immobilized one of my Tigers. A platoon of Brandenburgers is now taking up defensive positions in the village.

The battle in 301/2 is fears.
I have all the forces that I can spare in this area now.
The enemy has brought in a stream of infantry, and now I’m facing at least one Churchill also. My FJ pioneer coy has arrived, but when they were in the process of moving in to their sectors the enemy brought inn all his arty on my staging area.
So now they are getting pounded by 155mm, 25 pounders and 81mm.

I have also assigned one Tiger from the village north of 301/3, and one Tiger II that have been hunting for enemy armor in 301.

Enemy has retaken 301/3 with about two platoons of infantry, and one mobile 40mm AA. My StuG and some Sdkfz 251/1 positioned between 301/2 and 301/3 are engaging these forces as we speak.
Arty support has been requested.

I lost on StuG to enemy AA (Bofors 40mm) west of 301/3.
The other StuG made it to the enemy positions of arty in the far edge of the battlefield.
It knocked out two Sextons.

All the enemy forces have been dealt with in 203/1 and 203/2.
My FJ now located in the far west of the southern town have given me Intel of several mobile 40 mm AA moving against 203/2.

The indication is that the enemies now are throwing everything at me.

One of my Sdkfz 251/1 on a recon mission was engaged by a Churchill south of 201/5, but not hit. My guess is that there is enemy armor getting ready to attack me in this sector.

There are also indications of several motorized units, and some mechanized pushing for the frontline several other places.

I’m running low on ammo on several of my tanks and support vehicles, and have only my MG to hold the enemy.

My forces are now so thin spread that you probably could drive a Company through my frontline, without me noticing.

My Tiger’s and Tiger II are rushed between the sectors, to prevent a enemy breakthrough.

My forces all along the frontline are now battered and worn out.
My hops is that the destruction of the enemy Bn HQ will help me out a bit, especially the paras are a nut to crack, they are even worse since I almost have no infantry to spare for my armor protection. There have been several attempts of close attacks on my armor by infantry that have sneaked up on me.

Enemy Typhoons have been beating up my Wespe batteries.
I must take a risk, and letting them stay to finish up their assigned fire missions.

More to follow.

EOM...

[m113apc]

Ohh they are there Bob.
Pounding on my SPAs in the rear.

[m113apc]

There where at least 2, maybe 3 Companies of infantry north of the canal, this I saw when the game was over on the map.
My two Panthers, that where on security detail at the bridge dealt with them, one at a time, and knocked out about a platoon before the game ended.

My 170mm arty managed to knock out the bridge in 101.
And good was that, since I dint had any forces left to secure that bridge.

201/5 was taken easy, I met no resistance. One 40mm AA engaged one of my Panthers and was dealt with.

The area north of 201/5 swarmed with trucks, my Panthers had a great turkey shoot.

The enemy on hill 201/1 was a nut, it took me a long time, with much arty to break that deadlock. And it cost me two Panthers in the beginning, and three Flammpanzer III, and one Moebelwagon-3,7cm total in this area. The good news is that I managed to save two of the three Brandenburger units that where cut of on that hill.

In 301/2 I lost three Sdkfz 251/1 and one StuG IV.
I also lost several infantry units in this area, in the end this sector involved two of my infantry Companies, one StuG Company (-), several Sdkfz 251/1 vehicles and other support units like StuH and Flammpanzer III. In the end, it also involved one Tiger and one Tiger II, since there were several armor units heading in to the area. I lost my StuG IV to a Churchill here. I also lost one StuG IV to a Churchill in the far west of the combat area, after its hunt for enemy arty. There I also lost one Sdkfz 251/1.

Further south in 203/1 and 203/2 there where fighting with scattered units, but they were dealt with without any problems.

The game ended with a marginal victory.

EOM...

[m113apc]

My second round was a failure from my part.
Since my enemy was struck by a giant tsunami (see this tread).

My third round was also a blast, after spending a whole evening deploying my troops. Start the game, meeting engagement.
Get arty fire all over, one round of 155 knock out one Sdkfz 251/1 with my SS Panzer grenadiers, and one Jabo knock out one of my Sdkfz rocket arty. Game ends, and I am granted a special battle, a delaying battle, with a good chance of promotion if I do well.

So, this is my next move.
Still in the deployment face, but now I’m off to bed, since I have to get up to work tomorrow, and play with the real thing.

Take care all.