DAR - The Cauldron Of Fire

[Cole]

Turn 10 Afternoon

The excellent German infantry continues to advance amidst heavy artillery fire and is now involved in a struggle for the valley. Life is not easy for the Russian defenders due to heavy German artillery fire though enemy German machine gun squads cannot pick their targets easily through the explosions and smoke. Disrupted German troops move to the rear to rally points while a few more platoons can be seen hurrying southwards down the ridge to the north.

Unbelievably many spotters remain in communications and even the comm wire for a couple of company HQ positions is still active which allows for the only Russian reply as their rifle and machine gun fire is ineffective from the mostly disrupted troops.

Russian artillery fire has accounted for about 17 SPs worth of German infantry during this past replay. I'm beginning to think that in this scenario, even with Earl's emphasis on the big tanks and heavy concentration of Russian artillery the center of gravity in this game will be the German infantry. I believe victory may lie in if the German player can preserve the strength of his infantry so they can play a role in the end game.

In the center the Ferdinands cause much damage against any exposed infantry. If they catch a platoon in the open a company of Elefants have a good chance of destroying it. Now there are a few of the giant tanks positioned overlooking the valley.

Major Dmitruk, commanding the 884th’s 3rd Battalion is organizing a successful defense guarding the rail line south. His troops entrenched in the forest east of the rail tracks have accounted for a couple of SP's worth of German infantry and his troops entrenched to the west have caused an advancing German platoon to retreat. Finally the Germans rush down the rail line to be met by a Russian MG position below. Two of the machine guns jammed and the Germans used the lull in fire to rush forward. Just behind the forward skirmish line Major Dmitruk could see what was probably a Hauptmann and his radioman calling in artillery strikes. Dmitruk sent in a platoon of engineers to help dislodge the enemy from the ridge above but the fire from the enemy only increased. Dmitruk had a reserve of two fresh platoons and chose to send one to the east trench line in order to call in more artillery fire. With his other platoon he personally lead a counterattack and pushed the German platoon off the ridge line. There was no time to savor this small victory as incoming shells are already hitting the Russian trench lines in the woods to the east.



Just west of Shirokoe Bilota a three platoons of 45mm AT guns attempted to ambush a wave of StuG III assault guns as they crested the ridge. All their fire was ineffective but the gun teams were able to quickly hide while the assault guns filled the area with shrapnel. The gun teams managed to survive the quick artillery response but a recon into the village by a StuG platoon soon revealed the huts and barns the AT guns were hiding in or around. There was no need for pin point accuracy as the giant Pz IV assault guns demolished everything in sight. By concentrating solely on destroying the Russian AT guns below there was no warning of the return of the Red Air Force. Revenge for the dead gunners was extracted by the brave pilots and 3 StuG guns and 4 Pz IV 150mm assault guns lay smoking on the field.


A lone Russian MG platoon wishes they could fly away with the aircraft as they hold the shallow fords against 7 platoons of advancing guns. Elsewhere Major Tarasenya has retired from the forward bunker to the main bunker guarding the bridge across the small river. A lone SMG platoon is left behind while the Germans muster for the assault.