Iron Duke

..."This battle follows the German 5th Panzer as it pushes through the weak American lines during the opening day of the Ardennes offensive. At 5:30 A.M. on December 16, 1944 eight German armored divisions and thirteen German infantry divisions launched an all out attack on five divisions of the United States 1st Army. At least 657, light, medium, and heavy guns and howitzers and 340 multiple-rocket launchers were fired on American positions. Between the 5th and 6th Panzer armies which equaled eleven divisions they broke into the Ardennes through the Loshein Gap against the American divisions protecting the region... You can grab it at the Admiral's excellent site or you can email me: hguerrero@activision.com

You the man Admiral!

This OP now has it's download zip file attached to it. If anyone would like to try it out you can get it at the Admirals site. Unfortunately it is no longer in the "New OP's area" so you will have to search for it in the "T's" section of Operations. Or you can email me at: Iron_Duke91-@msn.com hguerrero@activision.com

For me, the thing that stood out the most in this operation was it's simplicity...and in that simplicity came great flexibility which led to a very fun game. I would say for the next tourney to definitely open up the terrain to allow for maneuver, and at the same time increase the number of tactical fights all across the board. I want to say thanks to Jason and everyone involved. I want to congratulate Leonard for showing great leadership skills by listening to his commanders at all levels and by being able to make a firm decision. If there is to be another one, please count me in. And by the way...too bad those American reinforcements where not able to join the fray just 1 or 2 more days as we Germans where ready for them. As you know...we Germans aren't all zmiles und zunshine...

Pnzfst 60 is also very lethal in heavy/moderate woods. I had a tournament game where 3 M4A3 Shermans where knocked out by 3 pnzfst 60 rounds...3/3! Another was KO'd by the infamous Pnzrshrk...all the German AT weapons where ahead of their time IMO, and they "set the standard" for future man-portable AT weapons like the RPG. Great shot with that PIAT BTW...man, it seems that everyone else can get those damned things to work, but when I use them, they couldn't hit the broad side of an elephant's ass! And that goes for Bazooka teams as well...only German weapons work for me! LoL

IronClad eh? Hmmmm....

Is this thing still going on? I haven't seen anything on it in a week...nor any emails...what's the deal?

Where's the Allied AAR for this 3rd round??? :confused:

Congratulations to blood-stained Pondscum, the new AssKicker of the Month! Five straight battles did he have to win in order to stand where he is today...overcoming weather, extreme gaminess, crap ground conditions, and F*cked up setup zones. He has truly earned the 2nd AKoTM trophy. Jonathan, please send me an email with your home address so that I can mail you your trophy. And when you do get it, please post pic's of it so that all may envy your prize. Thus has ended the second AKoTM. (Thank God)

After Action Report Hauptman Guerrero “Iron Duke” 24 September 2001 Herr Colonel, After receiving your Warning Order that the Ami onslaught would continue along the forest road, I made preparations at map coordinates D4. I will not lie to you Colonel, this was a tough assignment, as I had only Recce to hold off an American armored thrust while covering the remainder of our forces from the terrible battle at C4. As I saw it…I had two options: Conduct a fighting withdrawal. Conduct a delaying action with Reece while KG-A quickly exited off the map. Although you personally recommended me to exit the area as quickly as possible…I applaud you for giving the “on-site” commander the opportunity to change the plans as he saw fit. In this battle, I had to make use of both options 1 and 2 in order to preserve my unit and attempt to disrupt/destroy his. After studying the terrain, I was able to locate a decent fighting position (FP1) within 10 meters of the road…covered by trees in front, a large wood to my right flank…and settled in a depression. Any enemy forces attempting to engage my positions would have to do so at their own peril. Thank God you had the foresight to issue 2 Panzerfaust’s to each of my motorized squads and with the addition of a Panzershrek team, I felt I could stop any initial advance along the forest road…as long as the Ami’s didn’t overwhelm me with their infantry too quickly. 300 meters South of FP1 (to the left) was an opening in the trees that led directly up to the dominant high ground in the area…this area also contained a small victory marker. At the opening, I positioned 2 half-squads of grenadiers to warn me of an Ami breakthrough attempt, and to ambush any Ami forces pushing through the opening (FP2). Once again I positioned them deep enough into the woods that they could not be engaged from further than 40 meters. To aid this squad, I assigned them an armored car. Since you had informed me that KG-A would be arriving shortly by the Southeast ‘corner’, I knew as long as this small team could delay any American thrust, I would be OK. 300 meters East of FP1 (behind) was a large wood that the road passed through, and also contained the only large victory flag. Here I positioned a SPW to hold the flag, and an armored car to cover the road incase the American commander attempted to “trigger” any ambushes by scouting with is recon elements. There was one other small victory marker clear across the map in the North. There, I positioned another SPW to act as my flank guard and to take possession of the marker itself. I sighted the large wooded area to the left flank of FP1 with a TRP, and quickly laid some anti-tank mines across the road near the large flag. The battle began with the sound of tank guns slamming a wood directly in front (West) of FP2. This was quite distressing for me as I clearly made out 2 different guns…if the Ami’s made a strong push through the small opening in the woods, KG-A could be in great danger once it arrived. Against my better judgment, I ordered FP2’s armored car to investigate the opening, as I needed to know the size of the force attempting to breakthrough at this point. Just before the car was knocked out by what appeared to be a Sherman tank, it had spotted a platoon sized force moving into the woods where one of my half-squads lay in wait. This spotting alone was worth the death of the armored car…because if I lost this “side” of the opening…the American armor would have a field day with KG-A. God was with us Colonel, for as soon as I had spotted the American infantry; KG-A arrived at the scene…and only 50 meters from FP2 and with a covered route to my positions! I immediately ordered Oldendahls’ platoon to quickly move to the left side of FP2 and ambush the American infantry. I then positioned Palkes’ platoon directly behind Oldendahl to finish off any enemy infantry that remained after the initial contact. Oldendahl took the brunt of the firefight but with Palke’s help, I was able to rout the American platoon and hold FP2. As I had hoped, one of the American Sherman’s pushed through the opening to try and help out the hapless American platoon and I quickly destroyed it with a Faust. The Ami’s wisely backed off from FP2 and attempted to pummel the woods where my men hid but I had ordered them to withdrawal with all haste just before the brunt of the 75mm shells hit. At this point, since the FO that I had positioned with LOS down the road directly in front of FP1 had spotted nothing…I decided to scout out the large wood to the left of FP1, and see if the Americans would now abandon hopes of pushing through FP2 and move on FP1. This is exactly what the Americans did, although they left one Sherman close to FP2 in hopes of catching some of my infantry(?) As I made preparations at FP1, I ordered KG-A’s FO to drop smoke on my position’s there. I hoped that if I did have to move Edelstein’s platoon, I could use the cover to quickly evacuate the fighting position. Just as I spotted 2 Sherman tanks moving on FP1, more American infantry advanced on Edelstein’s platoon. Fortunately, this turned out to be a lone Bazooka team and we quickly overwhelmed them. As the smoke shells began to fall in and around FP1, one of the Sherman’s attempted to “make a break” for it by racing down the road to the bend that lead due East to the large victory marker. It was met with a Panzershrek round and was quickly set ablaze. The second tank meanwhile, was providing overwatch along the road running through the trees directly in front (west) of FP1. I knew that if I did not act quickly, all opportunity for knocking out that tank would be lost, as I felt the Americans had had enough and would seek to escape. I ordered Edelstein to rush his men to the sides of the road to knock out that tank, and they where met by some enfilade fire from a wood 75 meters North of FP1…more American infantry. These sounded like medium machine guns but I could not be sure at this point. Just as the Sherman completed its pivot and began to escape, Unteroffizier Lonn placed a Panzerfaust into the rear turret of the tank. It was quite an excellent shot and I am recommending Lonn for an award. At this point I believe the American commander lost heart and control of his men, for the Sherman at FP2 charged through the gap there, and managed to make it halfway up the hill where he knocked out the only other vehicle I lost, a SPW carrying 2 HMG’s. I then ordered Palke’s platoon to rush up the hill and knock out that Sherman before he got too far into my rear areas. He did so with great skill and cunning…literally exploding the Sherman and killing all its crew aboard. Going by American TO&E, I expected at least one more Sherman and I had spotted at least 2 half-tracks near FP1. 2 Panzer IVH’s had arrived earlier, but I decided that they remain covering the road, where they where in good position to move quickly either North or South depending if I needed them to do so. The SPW near the Northern marker reported light vehicle sounds coming from the other side of a small hill near its position. I quickly dispatched my remaining armored car to investigate and sure enough, a third half-track had been sent here apparently with the same orders in mind as my SPW. The AC made quick work of it and besides mopping up of a couple Bazooka teams/MMG’s, the battle ended at that point. Here are the final stats: Allied Attacker: 59 casualties (15KIA) 4 M4A3 Sherman tanks knocked out 1 M3 Halftrack knocked out Either the Americans had a “short” platoon of tanks or the commander managed to race one off the board because that’s all he had on the map. My losses where: 39 casualties (11KIA) Most of these fell on the 2 HMG teams in the SPW. 1 AC knocked out 1 SPW knocked out The final score was 77 to 23 resulting in an Axis Major Victory. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Lessons Learned Flexibility in command to the on-site commander greatly aids in the battle. Panzerfaust 60 is a lethal weapon in tight, wooded areas. Placement of infantry is crucial when attempting to fight/ambush tanks. They must be positioned in such a way that the tank must place itself in jeopardy in order to engage the ambushing infantry. This range should never exceed 40 meters. If attacking through a wooded area, any armored force must be accompanied by adequate numbers of infantry. If only one element of infantry exists, do not attempt to push through in another area other than where you attempt to breech the MLR with infantry, with unsupported tanks; they will be lost. [ 09-25-2001: Message edited by: Iron Duke ]

This thread is for Jason's OP tournament and all AAR's/discussions should be posted here. (Me and a few other's didn't care for the old title, so we started a new one) The old thread can be found here

Shouldn't this thread be in the "Scenario Talk" forum? I know if I would have posted it here, the powers that be would instantly jump on me for it.

**Bump** To everyone interested in the 3rd AKoTM... When I make the announcement in a new thread, please reply to that thread and you will certainly be in it. Remember...I need 32 Asskickers per tournament. Out.

Sound's like it Pondscum...but let's not count out Texas Toast..he is a very good player and may have enough chutzpah to achieve a draw. Great AAR so far though... Out. [ 09-23-2001: Message edited by: Iron Duke ]

**Bump** <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Editted to add the following picture:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Well damn Texas....you can't catch a break eh? LoL... Any news guys?