AAR: Long Generated Campaign US v Communist

[Hermit]

Expected mass infantry attack did not materialize. Instead, mass of t-34/85 did materialize. Uh oh! Classic failure to apply Sun Tzu's advice to "know your enemy." I didn't check the Chinese equipment list before the battle, and mentally was thinking "hey, its still early in the war, I don't think the Chinese had that many tanks yet."

So far (turn 12) it appears they have 2 main columns, both in the South sector, followed up by Mongol Cavalry. One appears aimed at the fore-mentioned VP hex cluster on the ridge extension sticking out almost into their territory. The heavy mine concentration around it, plus artiller, has stalled them there for the moment.

A belt of mines and two platoons of support infantry with bazookas has stalled the second advance, which appears to be aimed at the gap in the ridgeline, probably because that's where the road penetrates it. The enemy have really chewed up one of the infantry platoons, and the other is starting to take fire too.

So far, my self-imposed range limitation has kept just about all of my units from revealing their locations, and I've used woods and smoke to take pot-shots when only a few of the enemy can see me. I usually destroy one, or sometimes two, of their armor each time. Then retreat into a ravine or back over the top of the ridgeline. Even though I'm having to abandon dug in positions, its better than letting them take who-knows-how-many shots back on the Russian turn. It's creating a line of burning wrecks which is allowing me to manuever so that their numerical superiority isn't as bad. As planned, I've given up the VP cluster, although the haven't managed to take any yet. Two tanks made it through the mine cluster, but I've been shooting just about every artillery tube I've got at the area, and immobilized or demoralized most of the tanks that are in position to take it so far.

This is turning out to be a little more interesting than I had expected, since I was caught off-guard by the huge number of enemy tanks, concentrated into those two hordes. Too bad cluster munitions are still a few decades into the future :-)

[Hermit]

So far the US line is holding, although two more American tanks had to pull back and seek cover after a Chinese armored thrust. The Mongol Cavalry filtering in behind the Chinese vehicles approached to within 500 meters and two of HMG's opened up on them. Several men and horses went down, flailing madly. Fortuitous placement of a sniper (in some woods on a ridge extension) provided a clear view of the hapless survivors. Shots rang out as the brave Chinese troopers tried to find cover. None got away.

Another cavalry squad ran parallel to the line of immobilized enemy tanks, looking for an opening in the minefield. One of the American Pershings, concealed behind a building, placed two well-aimed rounds into the midst of them, scattering horse- and man-flesh in all directions.

Artillery rained down on the stalled Chinese vehicles, and another Pershing emerged from cover to turn two of the buttoned-up T-34's into burning coffins. Slowly and steadily the enemy armor is being reduced in number, with only about 1/2 of the enemy vehicles in sight now able to maneuver.

A quick helicopter sortie across the front was successful in scouting out the enemy's vehicles screened by smoke, drawing fire once from a lone IS-2 tank (T-34/s have no AAMG). Upon penetrating deeper into enemy territory, they encountered sporadic AA fire from Chinese 20mm flak and had to pull back behind a treeline.

[Brummbar]

Nice work. Keep it coming.

[Hermit]

Reports from the front lines indicate that all enemy armor on the Southern fringe of the battle have been destroyed. M45 Pershing CS tanks are moving forward from their dug-in positions, around the enemies' Southern flank to intercept a company of Chinese infantry, which was finally spotted by a helicopter doing recon over the front lines.

One friendly tank was heavily damaged by enemy fire from a Chinese IS-2 that appeared out of the smoke just inside our perimeter, apparently the only remaining mobile armor of the enemy's most southerly tank force. The rest have either been pinned down in the mine belt or destroyed. A few also appear to have given up their thrust for the road break through the ridgeline, and have headed north to assist in the attempt to take the VP cluster. Nearby friendly units were able to get a flank shot and destroy the IS-2, although a few other of these menaces were spotted in the woods just past the front.

Helos from the northern battalion, which has seen very little action, penetrated deeper into the enemy rear and with great courage were able to close in and spot a group of enemy AA guns that had been harassing them. A call has been made for artillery supression fire as soon as available.

In the center the Chinese have continued to press for the VP cluster, and six more T-34's have become immobilized or destroyed by mines. After the last round of heavy artillery fire landed on them, a Pershing closed in and killed two of the suppressed enemy vehicles. Artillery has been requested to cease fire in this area and comply with the helo's request for suppression fire on enemy AA batteries.

All armor in the souther sector is maneuvering around the southern flank, staying just on the enemy side of the mine belt, while friendly infantry will begin moving forward under cover of smoke to dipose of the 20 or so enemy vehicles immobilzed on the mine belt. Thereafter, the infantry will move forward though gaps in the mines, and advance in front of the armor moving up from the south. Their objective is to find and eliminate the advancing enemy infantry until the enemy begs for mercy!