AAR: Balkans N. Africa Leg

[Imp]

NF> The 45ATG is close enough to be a threat to my M3 so troops have to make up for failing to see it 2 squads & my trusty sniper take it out. M3 takes on T-26 & despite a suppresion of 10 bags the nearest.
Vehicles & MMG fire at ready squads then move up trying to avoid ares arty is coming down. Find another squad to the North & 2 behind woods to the East but they give up easy. Units in trucks move up to capitalise on by closing range but last one recieves fire from 2 squads to NW killing a man. Squad near the truck had not moved so manages to protect them with smoke.
Trucks are vulnerable if they recover as about 200m away but needed to dash through arty. M2 is continuing to support troops but 2 M3s are trying to support the other heading for BT-7s
CF> Get to cocky here woods group sniper & 1 squad make it to treeline, I cannot find that ATG might have guessed wrong.
T-26s & 3 new squads can be seen by my squad, he decides its prudent not to fire.
Squads moving in woods take fire from T-26 but faail to see it, trying to find run into a BT-7 which M3 kills but lost a HT with squad in the process
Units in depresion see another AAgun & ATG fires at it first hit kill impresive, ATG at L1 decides to take on T-26 & another AAgun getting the tank.
Truck runs behind trees all the way to crest line dropping off its squad. 231s go one better & move to L1 behind trees.
This is the woods edge & 200m from T-26s but fire from at greater range is blocked by trees to North.
Troops crossing from tree line take fire from a maxim MMG lose a man but MMg kills it. As given away hoses down BT-7s to NE.
This was not in the plan but 4 M3s take on the BT-7s killing all 3
SF> Few squads move seeing another BT-7 to the North near CGs T-26s, in the unlikely situation of no guns here this would be the best way to kill them as can engage at range.
2 M3s take out both BT-7s then another routes Maxim Quad, troops move & 3 squads are found to the NE plus another Quad. M3 kills Quad my troops fire & so does a BT-7 in trees South of flags before M3 kills it, they are not seeing units in trees. Several tanks are fully exposed in the open so may as well go the whole hog & move others forward.
M3 heading NE in depresion recieves fire from anothe BT-7, M2 fires at but can't damage so last M3 helps out & its destroyed.
Conduct the rest of my fire leaving 4 squads one routed to the NE 500m from most units. 3 loaded Hts are at the far end of South end of the depresion ready for a move towards the woods & possible run to cut escape. MMGs have turned up & 2 flakwagens want to play next go to.
AIT> Arty is getting heavier hits N+S but no real damage. Lose more than a dozen men mainly in South as units are to busy firing at ATGs. Two show up in woods but before can cause any real damage one is hurt & other abandons to the onslaught of fire. Maxim HMG also makes an appearance but plane sends it running.
The units defending C+S flags are realy one force but North ones had gaps of 500m between so if remember will try shrinking width from 130 to 100 next game.
This will hopefully make for closer deployment & restrict my tactical choices, might regret this if KVs turn up as should increase chances of troops supporting in the area.

T14
NF> The main group are all running in a bunch as my battery landed on, 1 squad NE is at the woods another 2 or 3 made it & lost sight of. NW are 3 fresh squads maybe more.
First order of buisness bike picks up Rams crew & takes well away, check arty status to make sure have contact. M3 that has been pretty much single handadly taking on T-26s loses Los to so moves seeing 2 BT-2s further back so it kills one.
AAgun has a building to its NW partly hiding so furthest M3 moves first killing 1 man. squad nearer tries & finds it has a squad with it, turns out to be 3.
Manage to get HT in position to take on squad without exposing to AA, it routes it they are proving quite effective mobile weapon platforms.
Last M3 moves up sharing its love on squads & AA before squads move up to kill but unseen sniper at about 500m puts a damper on this. One makes it round the back of the building & does some more damage rest settle for pot shots or hold fire.
To the NW 2 squads enter a little dip heading towards ruskies & M2 moves over to lend support.
Lone squad is chasing units into woods but a couple are trying to move down railline to cut off.
CF> Units N of tree line, scout moves onto L1 this side are 2 T-26 2 AAguns & find 76ATG & a squad well back.
ATG routes an AAgun MMG routes the 76 before squad uses grass for cover & finnishes it. Next squad up loses a man sniper at 200m M3s move up & rout it then last squad enters & kills. Tanks are hidden from last AAgun & T-26s, flakwagens engage AAgun & route but recieve fire. 2 little AAgun further back only pen of 2 so last 2 tanks move up achieving little more than getting suppresed. I can move my Flaks to safety but decide to live dangerously due to range.
South of treeline squad finds T-26 in woods & kills then squad moves to L1 by sniper & sniper takes a look.
4 squads & T-26s together all pinned by arty exept 2 BT-26s, there is another squad on its own in the tree line. At this range sniper is not being courageous takes 1 shot & sends squad scurrying. Squad fires recieves including a maxim not seen & its sort of round the corner for the moment wont effect anyone else.
Squad in woods has another go a finds another squad in treeline, this ones ready & kills 2men then T-26 has a go & kills a 3rd. Sniper has to risk exposure as we need to pin this squad or tanks will definetly be seen. Sniper fires then another squad taking fire from 3 tanks but we have pinned it, tanks still have shots but gamble time to save men. 1 tank is slightly round the corner so 3 M3s & Ram move on other 3 as 2 are buttoned. First ignores fire at as his target is the furthest tank 2nd loses his main gun but we continue get into position killing all 3. 231s engage the other they are alternating fire but pen is to low so last M3 comes in from side, takes multiple hits but it dies with the last shot, spots maxim to.
SF> MMG & scouts attack ATG lose 2 men as BT-7 behind it fires, squad joins in then M3 moves & destroys BT.
Squads in Ht decide to make a run & finnish off ATG but it all becomes a bit tricky as another is seen, other units fire & squad unloads beside recieving fire from a Quad. Due to the grass most units can't see so smoke & kill but next HT dodges fire from another, heck most of my force is becoming involved in this but eventualy all 3 HTs make it & get a gun each.
The few remaning units head NE finding & killing another BT-7.
AIT> Arty falling mainly behind but gets a truck, my FOOs have lost LOS but concentrating mainly on middle
NF> Sniper kills one of my squads
CF> one of my flaks is damaged in the exchange but crews were persuaded to abandon there posts. Unseen 76ATG was persuaded to do the same but not before damaging a MKIII. There are 7 abandonned & one manned gun here!!
SF> Yet another 45ATG pipes up in the woods damaging a M3 then further back a 76 opens up & kills one. Lukily plane was targeting maxim quad & made a pass on both routing them & inflicting 2 hits.

[Imp]

NF> Trying to find that sniper 1 HT fires at squads near where AAgun was to allow some movement, another moves towards sniper as do sniper & scout, MMG moves into woods then squads move. He gets another 2 men before can find him & it turns out MMG can't see him, don't remember who killed but M3 sniper & HT all had a go then MMG fires at AAgun squads & we move that way (SE). There is a line of tres with 2 breaks just South of them & 2 squads that get close are in trouble as AAguns on the other side open up place smoke.
The lone tank & its support squad go to work they can't see one AA gun but kill 2 men in the other, while hes at it M3 polishes off BT-2 & a T-26. Really getting to like this lone ranger think hes got 6 tanks & a gun this game.
Send a squad into the woods a couple have made it past the rail line & he fires at them, anothers further down the line so send a HT down it.
Am thinking my forces are spread thin but want to kill while still running so HT turns the corner & a shell whistles past, 3 running squads the maxim & 200m away on the tracks a T-28e. Thats not good I have used all my movement, no choice squad bails out losing a man & pops smoke. I will just have to hope running squads don't recover & send whats left this way plus backtrack an M3 to the woods.
NW there are now 4 squads & the 2 that were going for pull back as trucks run for them. M2 heads towards T-28 stopping in a position to cover the trucks.
CF> I am having a real mare here, line of trees goes 5 hexes E>W then turns SE. The area north of the trees is high grass & plays total havoc with LOS to the area trees bend round to. I know there are 2 T-26s there & squads, should be quite a few as units on the other side of trees routed through them sqauds on the other side have confirmed that & fired at maxim which was the only unit but its on the other side to now.
Flaks try there luck & ATG routing only remaining gun & a squad, MMG moves up in a good position to see round I think.
Turns out no but over by NF T-26s sees another AAGun, fires at & kills it.
No choice scout & 3 squads move up, can see a few squads but there must be more, find location to attack tank from so M3 experiments trying to find another, it does so help moves up 2 against one. No its not the other tank has kicked in time for a bit of brain scratching ranges are 150+250m so a hit could kill. Realise there is a gap in trees & might be able to target one through, 231 finds the spot & 2 M3s move to & kill. Thats better now we fire & kill it to.
Take our first flag & scout discovers the other squads & dies.
Flak & ATGs are taking a hopefully safe route towards NF.
SF> MMG fires at Quad & tank moves then kills 76ATG, squad fires at 45ATG then squad moves into trees 100m from it & is fired on by another one, thats 6 & probably it. They are adjacent so flaks move to target first with hopes of pinning both, it works & squad finnishes one. Second squad moves to kill the other & recieves fire from 3 new squads. Have a lot of trouble targeting only managing to attack one but in the process find another squad kill a maxim, the quad & T-26. The 3rd squad near the woods now moves & kills last ATG.
Trying to get squads in front of armour & keep them out of trouble as expect another 76ATG somewhere.
AIT> Only 2 arty fall this turn but I manage to drop mtr fire on T-28e.
Exchange of fire is fairly light but NF lose men to a new maxim HMG.
I plotted 2 air to attack up North then overfly T28s area to see if they spot more, one of planes that went down South left smoking but they found the 76ATG so I am a happy bunny.
T16
NF>
Lone tank is trying to get a LOS on 2 remaining T-26s or the AAgun without giving a flank shot, gets T-26 in view but misses, M£ on the other side manages to get the other in view & kills then moves a hex & has AAgun & the other T-26 in its sights. There are 4 squads & maxim here but only 2 in good order, sniper takes one & squad at 100m sends others running. My 3 squads here cant go any further without crossing AAguns fire zone so just get in position, sniper & MMG do the same all can attack the AAgun with a 1 hex move.
2 squads & scout are chasing runners & can see arty smoke 600m away, the HT enters woods to catch them to avoid AAgun.
In view of the success we are having against tanks decide to risk going for T-28e, its buttoned & Russians are at there worst I think at the start of the war with exp of 60 or so. The ease with which they run seems to confirm this & watched shot accuracy from tanks.
Squad moves into trees 100m away it does not see him, fires at no return fire, the M3 will have to engage at 150m which is close so M2 moves to 250m through woods & recieves fire. Do not fire back as he will with better chance. M3 moves 100m shot misses at 26% so M2 fires a misses so does he, M3 fires at 41% & kills. Squads head off looking for more & chasing runners.
2 squads turn back to go after 4 squads to NW as planes coming, also flak ATGs & one MMG on the way to provide long range suppresion
CF+SF> This is really one big force now but generaly about 200m in front is a depresion then more L1 so need to be carefull as could be some guns in. Towards the South part further East I saw arty smoke but as trying to remember turns forget where exactly. Will do from S>N
4 squads here so tanks move & rout, they can do this because smoke from planes bombs blocks view of 76ATG. Squads near woods area move up so they can take it on next turn & scout catches a ride to within 100m of it. Move forward & force all the enemy to enter the depresion get 2 flags.
North squads move forward entering tree line, there is a bit more than a compny here all running plus crews most have made it past the small depresion here.
Reduce them to just under a company & 2 M3s kill another AAgun.
Little choice vehicles are exposed, due to the lie of the land think less so to the North as fire will be more distant, flags taken.
AIT> little fire but get a few runners obviosly, lone M3 bags the T-26 & a BT-2 is now in his sights, love this guy. Squads to NW are on the move we shoot at one then planes come in looks like there were 7 or 8 but both had bombs so its back to 4. They also see another T-28 who looks like he is moving to cover arty pieces going round the woods.

[Imp]

NF>Lone tank kills BT-2 & now all 3 M3s are heading towards T-28, if anything new turns up here SF will see it.
Squads are giving chase & more runners are coming out of the woods.
M2 & a squad are moving towards NW group, units there kill a couple of men & find another squad. With the way they are heading it is now debatable if flak & ATGs will be able to give much support.
SF> Most Northern scout spots 2 squads one close the other at about 600m, M3 routes the closer while MMG kills 6 in the other squad it is to the NE 300m behind the flags. Send a few squads that way into the depresion its about 200x500ms & recieve no fire so a truck tries to cross to a nearer hiding spot. 2 men down as Maxim HMG opens up, 2 tanks open up & send it running. Send more units this way & squads chase runners to the East some entering the narrow depresion here. Vehicles either go NE or stay put as one unit has exited the depresion & its visible to problems further South.
Troops attack 76ATG its crew abandons but my squad is routed by another one, trying to move on this lose 3 men as find another 2 45ATGs. Manage to move up & destroy these & scout places smoke to block 76 because vehicles cant move & he has a maxim nearby. Thats 9 ATGs in a 500m stagered line so far.
231 M2 & a couple of M3 move into depresion as far as can risk routing maxim & another squad they find. Other scout & squad use transport to enter so they can see whats around. There is a sniper near the gun but hes not very good & misses so route him to.
AIT> Arty is very quite most people are running but sniper rallied & got a man. Also another 76ATG opened up killing an M3 but not before it returned fire along with a couple of squads as smoke cleared a bit. An 80mm mtr hit here & both guns are running.

[Imp]

NF> have a total of 4 runers left that I can see & a couple of units are getting close to arty, T-28 will be somewhere N of it. 1 tank has made it to a position to cover the other 2 are making best speed. Sending stuff to support NW as in trouble, lost 2 men & at least 2 maybe 3 more squads turned up. Tried to stop them using woods but not going to manage it.
SF> the sniper finaly sucumbs to a concentrated effort & squads move out, pretty sure the area is now clear of guns so commence mop up operations.
Kill a fair few lost count but only about 10 runners remain.
Force moving NE discover 2 maxims which MMGs & M3s deal with, also 2 Mtrs squad kills one. Hidden by drifting smoke from destroyed tanks near flags a 45ATG fires at 231 missing, it withdraws. Realise a bit late LOS to from this side is hard but NF squad has it in his sights so routes it.
AIT> Arty started up most is wide of the mark but some fell on units transiting to NE. Most of my arty is mobile just in case it had targeted them as its been quite, my bat is offline again.
Only fighting is to North exchanged men, impressed with my tank despite max move engaged T-28 & hit at 500m but had no effect.
T19
NF> M3 fires everything at T-28 damaging twice & routing scout rides up & has a go to make sure, squad starts attacking 2 mtrs here.
Find 4 more units exiting woods 2 squads targeting.
NW despite some relief arriving can only see 2 squads, route them for the loss of a man. Air was coming in again but going to cancel as it might hit me & I have avoided friendly fire for a while now.
Near the ATG squad closes from the North & finds 3 maxims, rest from south. A couple of squads from move to positins to check for ATGs but out of LOS of maxims due to smoke, fire at routed squad & 2 more maxims return fire. Its a nest of them have already killed 2 or 3 here. M3s fire at recent maxims then one rolls up & kills the ATG followed by squads that kill the 2 latest maxims. Both 231s here attack the other 3 maxims, squad sends them all running for the loss of man.
To the South find a few more squads but kill most only 4 runners left however lose 2 men finding & destroying another ATG in the area. Arty firing has put telltales back on map so 3 vehicles are running for.
AIT> Arty got 2 or 3 men & I could not cancel one plane, it found an enemy squad & attacked that but close call.
Scout failed in its assault of T-28 as it withdrew behind some trees.
Down South 231 had parked by Soviet HQ, survived the assault.
T20
NF> Scout heads after T-28 & tries to assualt again, fails but 2 tanks can get position on both miss. Kill both mortars here
NW lose 2 men finding another 3 squads but manage to rout one, as suspected getting support fire fails only M2 helps out.
Elsewhere kill everything just 4 runners covering the rest of the map, one is the HQ.
Take all flags M3 killing 120mtr found there.
Find 2 120mtrs & 2 107how only one survives the attacks.
AIT> Lose a man in only battle left & for some reason arty seems lighter.
T21
Deal with all runners & T-28 dies sending support as fast as I can to last area.
This time I planned it M2 fires at squad & it pops smoke meaning my only squad here is safe, he fires a bit but no luck as pretty suppressed. One flakwagen manages to find a firing position routing a second squad.
The other 2 squads here were chasing a runner through the woods, follow to the road & man down need help. Valient effort they manage to kill 7 route 2 45ATGs & a squad, there are another half dozen but most are running
AIT> at the road one of my squads is in poor shape but persuaded them all to run. the other group had to move to fire & no one was lost.
T22
Road squads get help from scout & another squad managing to kill all but one Rusky.
As the squads moved support forces get targets & manage to kill 3 of the 4.
Units coming to assist take fire from 2 other squads in woods.
Reinforcments arrive 8 T-26s, 4 are killed 3 by a 231
Soviets call it a day.
7 or so other squads were in the road area
Men 124>1479
AFV 3>39
Score 6126>640
Decisive
Our forces were lucky in that the worst armour threat was T-28s, also I was reasonably lucky with the ATG cluster
It will I think be a few months yet before the Soviets become a major threat as exp & morale improve, at present it takes little to turn them & tank crews are useless.
Still generaly more fun than the dessert though

[Imp]

High command want to take full advantage of the Soviets lack of staying power, our orders are to keep the pressure on by continuing the advance
Special battle Minsk advance visibility is 32
Changed map to 100 wide & set flags in a rough line 2/3rds in woods & Northern group of buildings, then a small gap & rest on the other buiding group.
This means the area they have to protect is just over 1.5km wide so I might face a more dense setup.

Roughly the part of the map we are intrestead in is as follows
3 groups of woods about 500m across in a line with a E>W road & 2 buidings in the 300m clearing between the North 2
500m further back a road runs N>S the village(A) at the crossroads sits in a wide woods & is main objective
500m South of woods is the other village(B) secondary objective
(A) has fields from it to the North woods & a small depresion in front of N part of woods it sits in
(B) has high grass in front of & sits back from 2 lower woods like so >
It has a small depresion to its South & another runs behind central woods to its NW
The grass & field might cause sight problems

Forces
Support
3x Nebelwerfer 41Rockets
3x 28cm other rockets, the smaller ones range 43 or so
Main force
We are missing inc immobile
3 halftracks
2 trucks
2 MkIII
Ram
Motorbike
80MM Mtr
Inf AAMG
2 squads
Scout
Also in a bad way 2 Squads, scout & MMG The scout will sit this one out

The opening gambit
If AI has set up forward there could be a few units in woods but for a fast start I am going to gamble not.
10cmMtr Pre bombard just in case & dropping smoke in gaps between woods
1 Company & a few tanks head for gap between South woods, they can enter a small depresion on turn 2 which when exited could bring them in range of enemy troops. Gives vehicles a place to hide while troops get ahead for gun spotting.
Reduced company & several tanks head down road towards the other gap
Rest the largest force with as much transport as I could give it is heading round a lake then heading round the top of N woods.
The hope is some of this force may be able to head for the enemy rear.
AI Prebombards with 1 bat of 122 only & on turn 1 adds to my smoke between middle & South woods.
Turn3
I have been hitting woods with light stuff as in mortars to prevent creating shell holes but looks like I missed.
NF> Scout in motorbike & 231s charged along the back of the woods drawing no fire, upon reaching top end of woods unload & pass through a tree line that extends further strajght into 2 souts watching the flanks. They are 150m away & my scout seems unseen, only units that can assist are 231s & by using woods can do so without much exposure. Each targets a scout getting a man & pinning, with luck they might miss my scout & infantry is ready to help next go.
The woods has a decent clearing in the middle so Pioneers enter to check it out as a path for vehicles. One recieves fire & falls back to safety after spotting a squad.
CF> Started at reasonable pace to allow NF time & the first squad to stick his head through the smoke gets it shot off, 2men down to a point blank shot plus a unit on my side of the smoke fires from the woods. M3 silences the squad in the woods & squad sends adj squad running, decide to pursue heading down road as not enough MP to enter building & discover transparent trees means squad in woods that fired at Pioneer can fire at him to. Then a maxim in the N woods opens up & a 37AAgun 300m to the East, he is not having a good day.
There is a 1 hex gap in smoke on either side of the other building here which is slightly further East.
231 decides to risk avoids AAgun & sends maxim running, as no fire came from that building it moves directly behind it for cover.
4 M3s move up 2 end turn very slightly exposed but with squad in N woods in sight. the other 2 had a little go at AAgun for no effect then withdrew.
Next squad to go did not fair any better losing 2 men also as decided to check out centre woods. MMG from SF exits depresion & gets him running with the help of a squad.
SF> Several troops exit the depresion fanning out scouts moving for C woods & smoke, 2 HT exit & use smoke to move by central woods & unload but the rest of the vehicles stay in the depresion. There is a line of trees to our SW which I want checked first & it turns out can see straight through most of it.
Carry on bombarding woods & plot 2 guns to drop smoke to screen the Nort flank move. As have rockets decide to fire them at main village areas that cover the road best.
AIT> It drops more smoke in between both woods any LOS to AAgun is gone, looks like I am droping smoke in the wrong place up North as a 45ATg somewhere to NE kills 231, we get a scout running. Not the best of starts & it looks like the AI has flanking covered.

[Imp]

Firstly it seems despite a vision of only 32 most woods hex can be seen through so 100m is common engage range in the woods. Because of this & reasonble size clearings vehicle support is not a probem. Ignoring rifle grenades as front hit is acceptable.
CF> 231 still has maxim in view so takes out 2 men before it moves to safety, the other squad has disapeared into the smoke & I am not risking more hits on lead squad as he is now 4 men down. Remember several squads started the battle 1 or 2 men light & this could have gone better.
Move him over behind E building but recieves fire & is now 5 men down, it came from a 2nd squad in N woods so 2 M3s & 231 route both of them.
Am now becoming worried arty fire could finnish off some of my units.
Another squad & 231 search for squad that ran & lose a man in the process as he recovered but send him running.
Next one goes down road entering a single tree hex to wait for smoke to clear but recieves fire from a squad & maxim so pulls back
Now I know why the AI was dropping smoke I am walking into him but there is a small gap in it & can fire on maxim from top of centre woods. Squads enter followed by armour & we lose a couple more men. The most southerly squad has brass ones it takes 3 tanks & a squad to get him to move.
Thinking we are clear M3 moves towards position to take on maxim & is assualted, fails & sent z fire at its hex but can't spot him. Situation ends with him & 4 runners in the woods, another squad was also found in the clearing & persuaded to run but this is provin quite costly.
SF> things go better here ther is a 150m corridor in the smoke scout spots squad sniper pinns then scout routes.
A squad is also detected by the treeline & forced to run by MMg & squads, seems like he is alone.
Vehicles move out some enter Central woods in position to check clearing & possibly cut off runners in, ATGs heading this way to.
Other units enter smoke so we can at least move forward in force.
NF> In the woods pursue 2 squads CF routed killing one & units move up to clearing, seems clear & HT enters spotting a squad so withdraws. M3 moves to position so it can attack but does not as max move.
On the flank 231 routes the other scout my scout kills him moving onto earth so has a good view, sees another scout which MMG takes on.
Now several squads move out the one furthest North loses 2 men to another scout & maxim bit of fire ends up with 2 scouts running one is down to its last man.
The maxim is untochable grass & earth block view, turns out 231 that died was on grass so had a view. I need to get my MMGs on or risk vehicles to ATG that is out there as maxim is out of squad range.
Begining to think the AI has a flank move pretty well covered, 1.5km to NE 2 T-35s are visible, SE in front of town are 2 T-26s.
Its catch 22 situation take on the flank with problamatic LOS, sense says let them come to me but if I do not expand my front his arty could have a field day on my densely packed forces.
Take a gamble squad fired at by maxim places smoke the treeline extends another 200m NE so truck moves & makes it. More transparent trees but squad unloads anyway grass blocks LOS to the North. More squads & sniper move up in hopes they can get in range of ATG but I am reminded of the last game when it had a dozen guns covering the flank. Some units press into woods & tanks move to position to go either way.
Normal game this turn 4 & I am winging it the plan has turned to pooh.
Cancel 1 rocket strike as thinking might get town in sight was ambitious. Targeting it & short range rockets plus 155s at flank blanketing the area, with luck might hit something & dust will be welcome.
I am actualy worried about Soviet arty as units started damaged & while the besst defence is to keep moving this could leave me very exposed.
AIT> No arty yet they lost a couple of men we didn't but tank was damaged before squad was routed, mortar drifted off target in woods & killed one of my trucks in another friendly fire incident.
T5
NF> Both scouts move NE to good vantage points, locate 2 squads, maxim & 45ATG there has to be more than one. MMG gets on some grass & pinns the maxim followed by a couple of squads by the woods firing at max range vs a squad. Due to there position most of my squads will need to move through the treeline to fire sniper goes first as he can stay in trees, routes maxim & pinns nearest squad. Squads move forward & both sides end up losing about 3-4 men, 2 more maxims are found. We now have some targets so FOO moves out & shifts fire.
In the woods tank routes squad but only has 2 shots, I am hoping it started damaged & rifle grenades did not do that, need to take care of this tank.
Troops kill the squad & we are nearly at woods border, transparent trees are causing probs one of my squads is exposed & sees a squad midway between woods & the village.
MMG by the road enters building & losses 2 men to 2 squads opposite. M3 goes after the one with RG then 231 helps out, one is routed so MMG chances his luck both are running.
Smoke has drifted meaning cannot get a shot on maxim, 80 mtr is landing behind it so move into position but recieve fire from a squad in front of woods, get him running for no loss this time.
Another squad moves towards C woods seeing 37AA gun, he dives into wood & chases sqaud that assaulted M3. Grass means we can attack the AAgun safely so 2 M3s kill it moving to position for maxim if smoke clears.
Central woods> things go better here kill a squad 2 runners exit & one remains but it seems empty clearing has been checked. The dip behind is just over 500m long but only 150 wide & a couple of units make it in using remaining smoke cover. At the end of the turn as LOS seems clear HT moves into. Find spot I picked is not that good as has a reasonable view out of, squad unloads recieving fire from a maxim & DSHK HMG 300m away in depresion just East of trees, places smoke. In the woods moving up but again transparency is a problem. ATGs unload but could take a couple of turns to get position, FOOs in there to.
South of these woods squads in smoke find a squad unnoticed & kill 5men. Those moving to treeline find another hardy chap, it takes 2 M3s flak & a squad to put the persuaders on him. M3s move back behind smoke, I am trying to figure out what to do with my vehicles but risk running a HT to very South of depresion (trees between it & HMG) as scout finds limited LOS. It makes it as does an M3 but it recieved fire from a T-26 somewhere
A thought dawned on me part way through, at the moment I am not doing much better than trading men, I cannot afford this last battle was an attack to & seem to remember he lost 1400 men. I only have 900, 800 after casulties so even a 2:1 ratio will leave me in big trouble, need to do better.
AIT> Decide to smoke out T-35s adjust rockets & target area around road plus 2 HMGs in the depression. I am using a lot of arty here & purposely did not buy more ammo supply so have to think about if I want rockets to keep firing.
Soviet arty starts up 6 81mtrs & on board 122s one in road area but rest to far back.
Only exchange is on the flank we lose 2 men they lose 3 2 to a great shot by my scout. Another maxim & squad join in rockets get 2 ATGs but have little effect on the rest just pinning update further next report.
At the road get a lucky break during retreat smoke has cleared & squad & MMG fire at runner as he enters AAguns hex killing 3 & making it abandon, now thats a result.
T6
NF> Find another squad so we have 4 squads & 4 maxims 2 scouts, 1 of each is running, also 2 crews running.
MMG kills 3 forcing another maxim runner.
Sniper God Bless him takes 2 squads & a maxim out of the picture.
2 more squads kill scouts.
Last maxim is hidden from most by dust so squad fires at last ready squad routing but sniper 150m away makes him pay, 2 down.
Scout routes sniper & squad moves adj to kill, further fire kills a maxim but another one opens up from just North of the village by the T-26.
Now things get a bit hairy most units in N woods are not ready though 3 squads engage near the road, helped by 2 m3in s the last of the smoke they send 3 squads & a maxim running.
The other maxim need to take a gamble as its pinned squad moves out he is exposed but risk the shot & send running.
This leaves area near road clear, we need to move fwd this is were arty is coming so squad moves resulting in this situation. will use R followed by numbers to signify route status.
North of road 3 squads + maxim all R nearby, further away like 500m maxim 82mtr 2-T-26
On or by the road 6 squads & maxim all R, 2 BT-7s
Very slightly South of road another 4 squads 2R & an AAgun, T-26s
Move ATG up have a gap in my view but further South 2 squads maxim 4 assorted BTs.
Its time for the armour to play but the AAgun is a pain it covers best positions to attack from & will suppress.
2 tanks that can in N woods & 1 from centre have a go at 2 N T-26s & a BT-7 destroying one T-26 but all other shots miss.
Finnish moving squads in woods one has to place smoke as HT ends up exposed.
2 Squads by road decide to get abit gung ho taking on AAgun under fairly heavy fire, MMG moves up to help even more fire & 2 more BT-7s spotted, grief not sure this was sensible. 3 AA crew killed its running but we lost 3 or 4 men to.
2 M3s just S of road take on T-26s killing one.
Now I am running into flank shot issues which I hope high grass will prevent, it does but T-26 damages M3 so withdraws.
M2 risks it killing a BT-7 & ducking back, 231 does the same.
I am exposed to more than enough possible ATGs for one turn.
Central woods squad moves into N end of depresion under fire & places smoke, HT & truck follow then transparent trees catch me out Pioneer in truck losses 4 men to a squad ouch. M3 has ago at HMGs in depresion but no luck.
At the South find another squad & my squad sends running, keep afew others running the find another squad about 500m further back plus 3 T-26s, my squad takes a lot of fire so smokes.
Bit of a problem here smoke is about to go & I am unsure of places from which I can target T-26s. have a nasty feeling due to grass will have to get close enough that they hurt & thats without a half decent ATG kicking in.
AIT> That was a bit tense, firstly misjudged pulling back trucks lost 4 & a bike to arty, got a couple of men as well.
North arty pinned most of my force & maxim got 2 men, we probably got about the same.
South not a lot happened.
Middle the dogs of war were let lose 2 Soviet tanks died a 3rd possibly damaged, the AAgun is gone as are several squads & a maxim.
The highlight was probably the squad & HT in the depresion taking on both HMGs & winning big time.
We have one nearly dead squad by the road who took serious amounts of fire, thought he was a gonner but MMG rallied & helped save him.
Luckily the Russians are bad shots thought 231 was safe but took a fair amount of fire all missing, there are at least 3 45ATGs out there that I have not spotted, targeted tanks as well. 2 76 ATGs which I have spotted only scored a couple of hits one M3 is really messed up.
I think area directly in front of the village is clear of ATGs & most fire came from South end of the woods or between both villages.
Could well have been more stuff a lot happened we did win the exchange but I am being made to pay.

[Imp]

With the way things are coming in from the North does seem the best option as can screen me from some guns.
A sweeping flank move here though seems out for the forseable future, there are 4 tell tale arty puffs here though.
Smoke should block 4 tanks to far North, they are however nicely set up on the road so can reinforce the village quickly.
Its actually a good place as large clearing there with contact ranges of 150-300m, that will kill my tanks.
Reasonably confident area N of road is devoid of guns apart from some possibly to far North.
The area between the 2 villages is a diffrent matter thats chock full of guns & armour.
Assume further South will be more guns as terrain allows for & the AI seems fairly competent at covering its flanks.
All the troops I can see from N to 200m S of road are running with the exeption of 2 maxims.
Further South can only see 10 & most are ready, there are I am sure a lot not yet detected.
Route maxim near village & pinn the North one but few fire opportunities & more worried about getting away from arty here though quite a few are stuck for the next barrage. HT picks up FOO & wisks him away from it.
Take out BT-7 & T-26 this leaves one T-26 near the road but wrecks & woods make targeting without exposure to ATGs impossible at the moment.
This leaves 2 groups of tanks N+S of 2nd village, using trees to screen 2M3s attack furthest south group reducing it to 1 T-26
2 ATGs get a BT each leaving 2 but unseen squad kills 2 crew.
From N>S
3 tanks head out think only one is vulnerable to fire from the North.
Squads in N woods head for village see a T-26 which M3 takes down then a maxim in the dip that runs in front of woods.
Nothing else seems to be there so 231 & Ht send it running, try driving a truck up so lead squad is on dips edge 350m away from flags.
Units exit woods heading for village & M3 routes a maxim in it.
A problem we have is a maxim behind the central woods depresion but discover units N of road cannot geat a bead on him. MMG in depresion tries & walks into a sniper. M2 & M3 have a go but end up having to commit my sniper ruining plans for him, squad moves up & kills.
Back to the maxim & troops south of road move on at some cost but 76ATGs shoot at them to. Lose quite a few men here as discovering more all the time including another BT.
As ATGs fired tanks take a risk fire at for no effect but kill last T-26 by the road & another near the village, 3 are left.
231 & a couple of squads risk a run for North village getting to within 250m, lots of stuff in field following.
C woods have now nearly left as in the dip including several tanks, its cleared out.
Furthest South having problems not much more than reinforced platoon here, there are 2 tanks but they have to be very carefull so are not helping. At one stage we were outnumbered 2:1 here though slightly better odds now. HQ is playing scout again bless him.
AIT> arty was ok batts are still silent, no vehicles recieved fire.
Maxims are cheesing me off as they keep picking off men, luckily have not come across any yet down South. Most heated exchange was here but numbers vs exp battle is going exp way. My troops get 4 or 5 shots while Soviets usually run after 2.
T8
Smoke came down well in South giving a reasonable screen from fire past the village.
Half wit that I am used rockets up North, its all over the shop, useless.
With the exeption of far South nearly all visible troops are running
Maxim in village & a squad between them only units with fight in.
Tanks & guns are alright arty should hit 76s this go.
231 & M3 sort out maxim & a HT in the depresion gets the squad, ATG takes out BT.
North units continue towards T-35s looking for guns see another T-26, 3 M3s are now heading for.
MMG moving up N of village in truck recieves fire from 76ATGs, they miss but scout finds both in woods near good ambush point, M3s are safe.
Squads are at wood edge & will be able to attack one next turn.
Closing on the village find another squad in it, we are slicing & dicing though now within 100m & units are ready to look down the road, enemy units are fading fast.
In the centre every troop posible moves out of the depresion for a look, find a 3 more squads maxim & AAMG, village tanks get maxim sniper the AA.
Some squads trade fire with enemy squads but mainly ignore fire from as several are now in range of 76s, they are shooting back but 4 crew killed & my ATGs had a go to.
Light armour sits tight & M3s role out one is damaged by a 45ATG but troops in position to see now 4 of them. Tanks are staying put & engaging, light armour engages the ducks back. Result, we lost some men & have a damaged M3 but kill a 76 & all other guns have crews greatly reduced & routed, another BT has shown up.
Down South the lack of vehicle support is showing not to mention we are now outnumbered 3:1 facing more than 15 squads.
Smoke cover is not enough but help is needed so 2 M3s & HT help out, kill last T-26 here to. End up positioned not to bad I think as my squads placed smoke to restrict fire at.
Trying to extract damaged tanks & picking up ATGs, they have been there to long. Same goes for some arty its relocating. Foos have ended up quite far fwd running from expected arty fall.
AIT> Batts kick in but recent move forward means they miss something hits a MMG that was damaged & kills it.
North M3 is fired at by a new ATG which squads kill.
Few other new units pop up in centre & South including a mtr direct firing & damaging HT.
More smoke falls in South making fairly safe there exept M3 recieves fire from centre somewhere near other ATGs, its another 76 but quite where it is elludes me.
This ones fun.