DAR - The Cauldron Of Fire

[Cole]

Turn 25 Western Sector

One last post for turn 25. The ad hoc command of Russian tanks and accompanying SMG platoons were ordered to slowly retreat off the hill and take up new defensive positions further south. Instead the Russians spotted three platoons of STU G assault guns and two PZ IV's advancing in the wheat fields below.
Their blood lust up the Russian tankers ignored the order and moved to engage the enemy panzers. The German commander was expecting this and there's a chance that the panzers were positioned below the hill to lure the Russian tanks into a kill zone because the vanguard platoon of heavy KV-1 tanks were immediately bought up OP fire from the panzers and forced to retreat. The follow on waves of two different platoons of T-34s suffered the loss of a tank and disruption by OP fire from the panzers below or even more AT guns positioned to the east.

Finally the 3rd Company commander's platoon was able to engage the enemy unmolested by op fire. The first shot destroyed one platoon of assault guns but in the smoke and confusion it was difficult to say if they could be credited for one or two kills. The company commander was determined to make the Fascists pay and ignored radio calls to retreat. He used the rest of his action points to fire on the enemy.

The repaints of Sasha's 1st Company was next. Sasha's platoon moved forward and were able to destroy an assault gun and even though Sasha is as determined as his comrade to destroy Fascist armor he still had a cool enough head to retreat back out of LOS before the German AT guns could reload.

A few more German tanks were destroyed but at the end of the engagement it might of been almost an one for one exchange in destroyed tanks. All the German armor suffered at least 1 SP loss and were disrupted but they held their ground and chances are they will soon recover and recommence their advance therefore most of the Russian armor retired out of sight back to their side of the hill.