Tips from the Frontline

[RNL Tiger]

Soviet Sickle slashes through the smoke

The Soviet sickle slashes through the smoke and begins its murderous death dealing. The opening minute sees the ATG and Panzer confronted with a target rich environment. The Panzer is so spoilt for choice that it spends valuable seconds traversing backwards and forwards and then finally fires into the ground it has time for one more shot and it has to count… He shoots and scores a knockout but is in turn knocked out by three other tanks. The crack ATG is sure of what target to shoot at but needs three shots to kill one tank, which is far too long in a fire-fight like this. He is now pinned by three tanks and is not long for this world.



After the first 60 seconds the Allies have lost some units but that was to be expected when attacking. They can feel satisfied that they still have the majority of their tanks in tact and can now shoot-up the infantry in the area. The Axis can also feel satisfied that the smoke does seem to have worked in bringing the tanks forward and also providing some limited cover. The attack has lost three tanks for one Panzer although the ATG is looking like its time is up. The defense could have hoped for better gunnery but the attack probably feels the same. The next 60 seconds see the Allies establish the upper-hand, the distant ATG got off one shot, which again was completely ineffective before being knocked out. The ATG in the centre dies as expected, it was completely overwhelmed by the attack. The nearby infantry then get blasted…



The defense is being taken apart and destroyed. The situation is becoming desperate on the hill. Whilst there is still infantry, an ATG and Panzer available to fight they are standing against at least two platoons of T34s and advancing infantry. The Axis gunnery being displayed so far, even by the crack unit, has not helped. Hopefully these last two units, which can stand against the T34s, will display a higher level of proficiency. They are bound to get their chance soon once the Allies have destroyed all of the nearby infantry.

The Allied tanks then go about their business of decimating the infantry, however, POS is not finished yet: “Here comes my Big Push. "This push will cheer me ever, or disseat me now" – Macbeth”

The Allied tanks push forward – led by the scout car! The Panzer decides that the scout car is the highest priority target rather than the following T34s and scores a kill. In return the T34s knock it out before it can fire another shot. The last 75mm ATG fires at the leading T34 and after three shots scores a kill, another wonderful display of their lack of killing power even at close range. Currently it seems that my ATGs and Panzers want to club the enemy armour to death [to borrow POS’s terminology] rather than use a single precision kill-shot. However, it seems that when I am against these weapons they have a superb one-shot-one-kill capability! [As Der Kuenstler said “You Can’t Win ‘Em All”!]



The attack is reaching its crescendo: “At first it went exactly as I planned - my car racing out front followed by a gun-damaged T-34, both intended as bait to draw your panzers fire while my main T-34 body followed up closely to clobber the panzer. I lost both, but hey they were good for nothing anyway, and they did their job, allowing my main body to blow away the panzer. But shock horror - a gun joined in from somewhere and as yet I can't see it to return fire!"

The defense is holding on by its fingernails but is still contesting the second major flag on the hill and still has possession of the three minor flags.