DAR - The Cauldron Of Fire

[Cole]

Turn 16 late afternoon

Below is a screen shot of the action just to the north of Hill 253.5. For the past few turns I had spotters stationed all over the hill that were able to keep the German infantry under observation. Sometimes a platoon would be spotted by the Ferdinand tanks and come under heavy and effective direct fire but I could always occupy an adjacent hex and spot there for a couple of turns causing steady attrition of German infantry due to artillery fire. Starting last turn the Germans have been able to locate most of my spotters and the combination of heavy artillery fire and the Ferdinand tanks caused me to withdraw most of my spotting platoons.

The engineering platoon that occupy the trenches in the woods half way up the slope have had an interesting odyssey. They were originally assigned to blow up the bridge just off the NE corner of the screen shot. The bridge only crossed a shallow stream but in this game I've tried to do everything I can to slow the German advance, even if it would only be a few movement points.

While preparing the explosives the engineers were caught in the open, long range fire disrupting them and causing them to retreat slowly down the paved road. They were saved by covering their withdrawal with smoke (and the platoon leader also had the presence of mind to keep calling in artillery fire - note at the end of this post on this). Once they reached the safety of the woods they have been able to withstand intensive artillery fire and direct HE from the German tanks though last turn the German tanks have saved their op fire, maybe because they suspect Soviet armor is in the area.

During my movement phase the Russian machine guns to the east bought the German infantry and leader under fire, disrupted their advance and the riflemen 250 meters eventually pushed them back down the hill.

Notice the evidence of heavy artillery shelling all over the screen shot.



Off to the west the Germans have not tried to climb back up the hill by Sasha Lenartovich's platoon so he had time to fix his radio (aerial was disconnected due to the dud round that hit his turret). He restored communications in time to receive the order to his company to clear German infantry that had reached the ridge top about a kilometer east. His company was able to engage two German infantry platoons by long range fire and sent them packing back down the hill but a couple of squads in another platoon went to ground. Lenartovich's company then moved out of LOS of the remaining Germans squads in case there was German armor they couldn't see at the bottom of the slope.

I made a mistake on leaving a couple of platoons of T-34's in the LOS of the assault guns stationed across the valley. Even at 2 kilometers they have accounted for at least 3 kills. In the screen shot below an assault gun can be seen by the NW corner. From that hex the Germans can spot the hex on my side of the ridge right under the word "censors" .

The T-70's and T-34's assigned to work with the SU-152 Regiment climbed back up the hill, absorbed op fire, and found that German infantry had almost reached the top on the other side. The Russian T-70's quickly surrounded the Germans and the T-34's and SU-152's got to work. The only problem was that by the time the tanks had climbed the hill top and could locate their targets they could only shoot once and the orders were not to stay too long for fear of the remaining German assault guns below. The German infantry suffered a few losses but were not destroyed.

A newly arriving company of T-70's were ordered down into the river valley. It is an understatement to say that the T-70 company commander was pleasantly surprised that the valley was empty of enemy forces. Hopefully this threat to their flank and rear will cause fear and confusion in the Germans advancing on the ridge. At the very least some assault guns will now have to move to the valley and away from op fire duties.




When I finish this DAR I will post some thoughts but one thought I have now is that disrupted units should not be able to spot. They are too busy being "disrupted" to communicate, provide accurate reports, call in artillery fire, etc, etc.