"Come back here ya coward, it's only a flesh wound..." SFS Round 2 Sitrep Thread!!

[Oberst]

Continuing action East of Krupki - Turn 3

The forward placement of inf recon units in woods East of the factory complex that lies East of Krupki paid off. Numerous German units are observed scrambling to meet my armored advance. A loaded SPW 251/1 HT attempting to reach the factory complex but does not unload. A platoon of Sdkfz 10/4 AA HT's manuevers into one of the outlying buildings. A Panther platoon also takes up position into some woods just South of the factory area. Also observed some German inf moving into position amongst a small wooded stand of trees. Along an unimproved dirt road South of the factory complex one of my recon AC's begins to slowly traverse forward, its thankless job to draw opp fire. After advancing about 500 m with no enemy fire, one of my T34/34 platoons inches forward, passing the AC crews. It has just reached a small bridge when there is a sudden flash and explosion. Mines! The tank crews have luck on their side though as there is no apparent damage. Then the air is filled with the sudden crack of an AT gun firing from about 750 - 1000 m's away. Damn 75 mm gun!! But again luck is with these crews as the shells deflect off the forward glacis plates. They are now postioned 250 m's to the rear of the Panthers lurking in the woods. Quickly two more T34 platoons move forward to within 500 m's of the Panthers flank and fire. Damn! Nothing. The lucky T34 plt then fire and this time the Panther plt retreats out of the woods to the West, out in the open. From the area just NE of the factory complex, down another dirt road, a T34/85 plt trundles forward to within 500 m's the Panther plt. A perfect rear shot awaits and then another louder CRACK, as another hidden Panther plt reveals itself. This time the Germans fire scores a hit as 1 sp of the T34/85 plt explodes into a yellowish fireball. I decide to first remove the loaded HT before continuing with this action, so another T34/34 plt advances down the road from the NE and with two well placed shots dispenses the HT's and their helpless crews in fireballs of flame and smoke. Two more T34/85's proceed down the road but remain about 750 m's from the stranded Panther. With a deafening crash they blaze away. One sp disappears. Individual fire again, another sp vanished. Fire again, three sp 's gone and with a last shot the remining Panther diasppears in blackish, yellow colored flames and smoke. No fire from the protecting Panther. Are they short of ammo? Another T34/34 moves forward and takes out the plt of Sdkfz AA HT's. Not wanting to push my luck all units slowly fall back out of LOS. I move an engineer unit forward to join the inf recon units in the woods with a LOS to the enemy ATG to the West.
In the area South of Lebedevo engineer units advance forward to within LOS of the East side of the hill which lies North of Krupki. I expect there to be forward defenses along the edge and sure enough my advancing inf units are fired on by a Panther plt and an 88 mm AA battery. Advancing slowly one of my lend lease Ronson Sherman plts moves forward, in view of the 88 but noth the Panther. No more fire! Taking advantage, several more plts surge forward and in unison blast away at the battery. They are rewarded with the complete destruction of this dreaded weapon. Tempting fate, another three Sherman plts push forward, this time into LOS of the Panther. No fire! They blast away with their 75 mm's and 1 sp Panther erupts into flames as the remaining units retreat out of LOS. Excellent work all around. Can it continue? The armored units pull back trusting in their inf comrades to continue with their excellent observation.

Oberst