"Thunder in the North" Mirror Tournament - During / After Action Reports

[Crossroads]

And so it ends...


Just as I was afraid, General R.D. Deathdealersky's men capture the last remaining defenders of Vuosalmi, ending any hope for a major result here.

I don't hold it against him, though, what a great fight to force his way into town from both sides! Bridgehead to the west of town, major amphibious landing east of it! (I managed to prevent anyone crossing the river over the major bridge just south of the town).

I lost my LOS to town, it is swarming with Red Army, trust me

I made a mistake sending my reinforcements North of his bridgehead (the bridge is just visible in the left), remnants of which can be seen holding a line at Northwestern corner of the picture. I would have needed those men and assault guns at Vuosalmi instead. A fatal mistake!

Things looked quite bad a turn earlier, and I considered leaving the town to prevent any unnecessary losses... Then decided against it, just in case I would get a lucky break!

I did not. I have barely anyone surviving in the eastern sector

This all left me with a score of 1786 I believe, with Allied Major Win at 1500 points. After all the valiant fighting my men put up, they would get nothing...



At west, Lt Col Mäntylä disagreed. Never say die! as he led the last available, undisrupted but shot out platoons for the last charge! Having been supported by a fierce barrage of any and all guns, tanks and mortars in the sector: success!

But the enemy managed to escape from being captured...

Still some 36 pts short of a Minor Loss, the best result I could wish for, I was not optimistic... I then tried to shoot at any weakened target I could find. And what do you know. The scenario ended at 1496 pts! I held my breath as I pushed the end turn button, in order to not trigger any op fire against me that I could not return any more...

#18 Allied losses: 2425 Axis losses: 2171 VPs: 1750 VPs Total score: 1496 Allied Minor Win

I almost feel bad for Jim as he fought a perfect battle. But I don't


In the alternate, mirrored university, my Soviets got a bit of a bad break. Having retaken the hill, I crashed my EF...I could not repeat a succesful attack for the VP hilltop during my replay...

So, although I am holding 1250 VPs, Jim will nick a Major Win out of that one but I don't mind. The hilltop is impossible to held on to, would I have taken it he would have retaken it right back in his last turn

And I am glad to have found out that it takes more than a brute-force approach for the Soviets to win

Situation bar Axis last turn:

#18 Allied losses: 2645 Axis losses: 2037 VPs: 1250 Total score: 642 Allied Minor Loss (but I don't think it will hold)

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Jim, congratulatations for your two very hard earned results! You are a class act and a skillful opponent for sure !!