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Post by Timf on Feb 6, 2017 13:39:49 GMT
In tonight's action, in a small border town of southern Germany a Wermacht force has managed to evade contact with both British and Soviet forces. Dander is so 'up' that said forces have collided with each other over the strategically valuable area. See Dan's 2000point British tank force take on the might of my Soviet Tankovy tonight, one round only to Knockout or Submission. Tables set from 7.15pm and spectator seats available. The Marquis of BattleFronts 3rd Rules of Pugilism will apply!
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dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
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6th Feb
Feb 6, 2017 16:54:50 GMT
via mobile
Post by dan on Feb 6, 2017 16:54:50 GMT
Tally ho pip pip we'll give those Commies what for eh what?
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Post by Timf on Feb 7, 2017 9:50:23 GMT
The setting was south Germany. As the Soviet horde attempted to cross a river, a plucky British 7th Armoured Division force reluctantly stepped in the way. The field of battle had the Brits defending an objective in a small village in the western half, and a second near a set of woods to the north. Thick forest carpeted the southern edge and numerous rolling hills broke sightlines dramatically. Roads scattered across the engagement zone but a small river stood right in front of Soviet deployment with the Brits announcing their presence as the Soviet force set up to cross. The river was small but only one ford crossed the river in the south eastern section and a large hill looked down toward the village. The rubbled remains of a small village and its fenced enclosures sat near the river crossing in the SE section. The soviets had set up their 120mm mortars to cover the crossing and as the Brits took their stand a company of 6 Matildas were about to cross, followed by a company of 8 T34s and the Battalion CO. Four IS2s, a trio of SU122s and 9 Valentine VIIIs prepared to ford the shallow river on a broad front. The Brits had raced two platoons of Cromwells with Firefly support into the breach. The Company CO, Ziff Dander and his 2iC brought their HQ unit deploying CS tanks with one platoon and AA Crusaders with another. The forces deployed in a defensive line one unit covered by the thick forest, the other holding the village with an eye on the strategic open ground in front. A couple of Sherman OPs deployed to allow communication with the Artillery. A plucky infantry platoon commander had led his force out into a forward zone to Ambush the incoming enemy. Dander was outnumbered but confident in his reserves circling to come in from the north and south. His Stuart recce unit, his artillery Sextons and a third platoon of Cromwells and Firefly were preparing a pincer movement to catch this Soviet bridgehead out. The Russians forded the river, most crossing without incident. The SU122s rumbled down the road towards the town, with T34s rolling cross country. The Matildas flanked to the south by the Forest and the IS2s rolled towards the open ground near the village. Their Valentine support was delayed with some bogging in the river tying their advance down (Hen and Chicks...). The IS2s discovered the British infantry in the woods protecting the important advance corridor and started to open fire. Veteran troops gone to ground in woods are hard to hit with slow firing guns and impossible to do so at range or on the move so firing was desultory. Similarly a few potshots on the south did little. Mortar fire had been going on for some time but was generally ineffectual to either infantry or tank targets. The Brit Commander observed the horde and decided to take action. Timing his assault to try and coincide with and distract from his reserves arriving later than ideal, one platoon of tanks advanced rapidly to hold the northern objective and threaten the big IS2s. The second swung round the Forest and out of buildings to set up a firing line in front of the Soviet T34s and assault guns. The IS2s stood firm and awaited their Valentine support. The other British platoon lit up 2 Soviet T34/1942s and bailed an 85, but left the large guns of the 85s predominantly intact. The Soviet response was brutal. The Matildas advanced through the forest, and while two tanks bogged down and a fourth was required to maintain communication three tanks managed to obtain a flank firing position on a Cromwell platoon defending the town doing some damage. The SU122s halted on the road and prepared to fire at full effect - popping a Firefly. The T34s used their speed to angle north rapidly to overlook the second Cromwell platoon brewing up one, as the Valentines also closed. Dander realised that a bloody short range knifefight was the best option at this point and threw his platoon defending the village in behind the SU122s and T34s, while halting his other platoon to fire at maximum rate. His third Cromwell platoon arrived from the north and took advantage of the Soviet rush forward to slip behind the IS2s to threaten their rear. Sadly the gods were not with the move and while a couple of Soviet tank crews were suppressed kills were not really on the market. The Soviets continued to press with the SU122s rolling towards the village and killed the Crusader AA tanks leaving the place held only by the Company CO while the Matildas and some T34s combined to shatter the Cromwells that had closed. The IS2s ceased engaging the objective and opened up on their rear threat - while their armour had saved them their return fire took out one Cromwell only. Valentines moved in on the second Cromwell platoon and with the T34s already present began to chew the defenders up. The Soviet CO, T. Ankovsky, move his now vulnerable T34 to a defensive position behind a hill. With no reserves forthcoming, Dander was left with hard choices. He himself manoeuvered to defend the village and force the Soviet Assault guns to enter the town. One platoon had gone down fighting, a second was in trouble - so his third moved to engage the Soviet CO in an attempt limit CCCs of the Soviet force - taking out an IS2 in the process. The Soviets clearly felt on top - Matildas closed in and started to rattle the Cromwells attacking their CO - though the shots all bounced. The assault guns entered the town but failed to eliminate the masterful Dander. The IS2s killed the Firefly that had taken one of their number out, and the T34s and Valentines advanced to crush any resistance near their objective - shattering the tank force and assaulting the infantry in the woods. The woods failed to stop the tanks and although the PIAT took out one attacker, the infantry took one look at the tanks rolling through their positions and proceeded to fall back. More reserves were incoming, but with Dander deciding that a short delay of the inevitable the only possible outcome, the remaining Brits withdrew from the field in the best order they could manage.
Twas a good game! Soviet tank hordes simply can press with numbers. Quantity certainly had a Quality of its own in this game. Not sure how things would have worked had the positions been reversed and I had to defend that under very heavy artillery fire when Dan had mobile OPs to get round the very short sightline problems.
Victory to the Red Tide....
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dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
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6th Feb
Feb 7, 2017 13:05:14 GMT
via mobile
Post by dan on Feb 7, 2017 13:05:14 GMT
That's a very good summary and it was a fun game. (I'll post some pictures tonight)
If as you suggested you'd like to try that again roles reversed that could be interesting indeed. Especially as you have no actual infantry to dig in with.
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Post by Timf on Feb 7, 2017 13:41:50 GMT
I have some infantry to dig in with!
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dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
|
6th Feb
Feb 7, 2017 13:58:10 GMT
via mobile
Post by dan on Feb 7, 2017 13:58:10 GMT
Ah yes that one stand could be decisive! :-)
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Post by Timf on Feb 7, 2017 15:14:18 GMT
Two! Two stands! You forgot the observer.....he was hiding so its easy to do, of course....
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dan
Cato Would Be Proud
He is the Keymaster
Posts: 642
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Post by dan on Feb 7, 2017 20:55:47 GMT
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