THE MAIN EVENT! Walkure vs. Herroberst

[Der Kuenstler]

Minute 15: Walkure's all-turretless vehicle choice for a town fight comes back to bite him. Herroberst's T34/85 was frantically backing out of trouble at the close of the last minute, but the threatening JPz IV has no turret and is taking too long to turn and aim. The more nimble and turreted T34 fires while backing and - what do you know - drills the Jpz IV on the first shot - the German crew comes crawling out within seconds, never getting the chance to fire.



But the happy T34 crew does not have long to celebrate their victory - unfortunately they back right into the sights of Walkure's waiting vet JPZ IV platoon leader - boom, boom - the T-34 is dead!



Here is a shot of the front lines of both commanders: we see that Walkure has taken a beating but still has a pretty good grip on that central 300 point flag. But look at the terrain - Herroberst's men are mostly in better cover - they are shooting from woods while many of Walkure's men are in light buildings. Herroberst's two 120mm spotters are getting in position. How long can Walkure hold that central flag??



Here is a beakdown of the situation at the close of minute 15:

FLAGS: Walkure holds 500 pts worth, Herroberst holds 200 pts worth

Knocked out vehicles: Walkure has lost one Jpz IV, Herroberst has lost an SU-122, 3 regular T34/85s, one vet T34/85, one M5 Halftrack and one MG carrier

Blinded vehicles (commander killed): Herroberst - SU-122

Gun Damaged Vehicles: Walkure - flammpanzer and one JPz IV

Shocked Vehicles: Walkure - two 251/1 Halftracks

Important men killed: Herroberst - has lost both of his FT units and both of his crack sharpshooters. (He has no more of either.)

Vehicles still in good shape: Walkure still has a green Jpz IV, a vet JPz IV, and four 251/1 halftracks. Herroberst still has a vet and a regular T34/85, three M5 Halftracks, and a MG carrier.

Special Assets left: Walkure still has five schreks and two TH teams. Herroberst still has two TH teams, two 57mm AT guns, and two 120mm spotters, with 40 ammo each.

[wigam]

What a match so far. I am really enjoyng his one. Good report DK.

[Ratzki]

Yes, rather a good read. Too close to call at this moment.

[Bert Blitzkrieg]

Yes, great read.

How are the infantry of both of them holding up ? Ammo problems ? Do the FO's of Der Oberst have LOS to anything interesting ?

[Der Kuenstler]

Yes, great read.

How are the infantry of both of them holding up ? Ammo problems ? Do the FO's of Der Oberst have LOS to anything interesting ?

Good question - they both exchanged a flurry of turns over the weekend in which Herroberst indicated that his artillery was now falling - I'll try to catch up today and include a current infantry report.

[enigma6584]

Very much enjoying this read. Both opponants are giving us a good show! Your narrative is superb!

[Der Kuenstler]

Minute 16: Walkure's gun damaged Flammpanzer has been sitting in the same place too long under observation of Herroberst's men. He should have ordered it to move elsewhere by now in order to save the MG at least and the points. Eventually Herroberst zips this T34/85 between 2 houses and finishes it off. If Walkure had hidden some schreks in the area the wounded Flammpanzer would have made nice bait, but all of his healthy schreks are out of position and that opportunity is lost.



The yellow target lines are from Walkure's men in the rubble who have just fired at the tank commander, forcing him to button up.

[Ratzki]

For anyone kinda new to the game, note how the T-34 is positioned using the two buildings as flank protection. As well, there are russian troops(well the Russian markers are there) nearby so that the chances of getting suprised are reduced. The only real exposed facing is the front where the best armour is.

[Der Kuenstler]

Good observation, Ratzki. I'm going to try to hilight a few turns at once today as the battle is getting way ahead of my coverage.

Minute 17: Herroberst's SU-122 begins area firing again and another building goes down, resulting in new smoke walls that break LOS. small arms fire is heard everywhere as infantry slug it out from whatever cover they can find.



Minute 18: What's good for the goose....The smoke over one of the buildings up the street clears, and this time it is Walkure that catches Herroberst with his pants down. The SU-122 hurriedly tries to pivot around to face the menacing Jpz IV but not fast enough - he's knocked out before he can fire.



Minute 19: An opportunity lost. Is Herroberst losing confidence in his own tanks? Here his veteran T34/85 Platoon leader just sits idle while Walkure's vet Jpz IV up the street gleefully area fires a bunch of terrified Russian squads in the woods. The Jpz IV has been doing this for over a minute and is vulnerable now - concentrating on area firing and buttoned up. The vet T34/85 could conceivably get two side shots in before the enemy beast even noticed, but he stays still.



Minute 20: Infantry fighting in the woods. Walkure gives a lesson on how to use German FT units - you don't have to actually see the enemy - just area fire towards them. We can see here the overspray that happens even over a sharp rise - is enough to panic this Russian squad - they eventually run off, broken.



Reading the Fog of War: Hmmmmm...I wonder what this generic icon that says "MG Carrier" could mean? It's very likely that it dropped off something nearby - perhaps something threatening like a towed gun.



And bingo - one of Herroberst's 57mm guns was dropped off at the end of the street in some scattered trees. Walkure's vet Jpz IV drives right into it's sights. But the gun is only regular quality. It misses twice, enabling Wakure to return fire, and despite one 57mm partial penetration, the gun is not able to do any damage. It is quickly pinned and knocked out by the vet vehicle. The poor 57mm gun crew were out of command and had no bonus heart or stealth to stand up long against the lethal German HE.

[Der Kuenstler]

Infantry Report -At the close of minute 21 here is the state of each commander's infantry:

(I will list each as OK/Killed-Ammo left)

Herroberst:

Both 120mm spotters intact, targeting downtown area and counting down.

SMG CO HQ - 7/0
PLTN HQ - 4/0
SQ: 8/1-5
SQ: 8/1-10
SQ: 8/1-6
PLTN HQ - 2/2
SQ: 0/9 -
SQ: 4/5 - 24 (Routed)
SQ: 8/1 - 10
PLTN HQ - 4/0
SQ: 4/5 - 15
SQ: 0/9
SQ: 8/1 - 25

SMG CO HQ - 7/0
PLTN HQ - 4/0
SQ: 9/0 - 25
SQ: 9/0 - 25
SQ: 9/0 - 25 (this is the flanking platoon)
PLTN HQ - 3/1
SQ: 3/6 - 11
SQ: 2/7 - 12
SQ: 0/9
PLTN HQ - 0/4
SQ: 6/3 - 5
SQ: 0/9
SQ: 4/5 - 19 (broken)

Pioneer CO HQ - 7/0
PLTN HQ - 2/1
SQ: 9/0 - 62 flanking
SQ: 9/0 - 62 flanking
SQ: 0/9
PLTN HQ - 1/2
SQ: 0/9
SQ: 7/2 - 61
SQ: 0/9

Walkure's Fusilier Battalion:

Bat HQ -7/1
CO HQ - 6/0
PLTN HQ - 3/1
SQ: 1/8 - 32
SQ: 0/9
SQ: 1/8 - 34
PLTN HQ - 2/2
SQ: 0/9
SQ: 2/7 - low
SQ: 2/7 - 27
PLTN HQ - 0/4
SQ: 6/3 - 27
SQ: 6/3 - 28 (Panic)
SQ: 4/5 -19

CO HQ - 6/0
PLTN HQ - 1/3
SQ: 3/6 - 27
SQ: 3/6 - 28
SQ: 5/4 - 23
PLTN HQ - 4/0
SQ: 9/0 - 26
SQ: 5/4 - 24
SQ: 8/1 - 27
PLTN HQ - 4
SQ: 8/1 - 35
SQ: 9/0 - 29
SQ: 8/1 - 30

CO HQ - 6/0
PLTN HQ - 4/0
SQ: 7/2 - 33
SQ: 5/4 - 30
SQ: 4/5 - 30
PLTN HQ - 4/0
SQ: 5/4 - 27
SQ: 7/2 - 37
SQ: 9/0 - 33
PLTN HQ - 4/0
SQ: 8/1 - 28
SQ: 9/0 - 27
SQ: 6/3 - 39

I think that will be the last infantry report - that was a pain! But with a little math we see that Walkure's men now outnumber Herroberst's men 187-153. Walkure also has more ammunition. However, these numbers may change quite a bit after Herroberst's two 120mm spotters deliver their airmail.