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Heinrich505

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  1. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bubba883XL in New Scenario - Der Ring der 5. Panzer-Division   
    George,
     
      The map looks very impressive.  Very expansive - your line of sight will give some great long-distance engagements. 
     
    Heinrich505
  2. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Hah!  Thanks Bud.  I was wondering what Bakhtiyarov was up to.  
    As if things couldn't get worse.  Now Gorokhov has some shavetail ordering him around.  
    I hope he is a +2.  
  3. Upvote
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from A Canadian Cat - was IanL in Be Not The Anvil   
    Bud,
      Wow, the attrition rate is pretty brutal.  I'm surprised they even knew Oleg's name, as he was a new guy to a tight-knit squad.  
      Gorokhov has to be feeling sick.  He started with 6, lost two in the woods near the tank, and now lost Oleg.  That means there are only 3 of the original squad left.  Sheesh!  
    At least he can fold his survivors in with a new group.  More targets mean better survival rate, right?  Hah, not on this meat grinder.  But it's better than taking a chance on jumping in the BMP and getting more ammo...and dragging their feet...while someone else gets gunned up.  Those BMPs are rolling explosions just waiting to go off.  I'm surprised they didn't name them TNT instead of BMP.  
    Gorokhov shakes his head and wonders how they assign BMP crewmen.  Are they volunteers?  Who would want to crew them?  They explode if hit hard by dirt clods.  He and his men put distance from the death trap and catch up to the large group.  [Sorry Bud, couldn't resist...it's the storyteller in me, haha]
      Great story line, Bud. 
    Heinrich505  
  4. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    HaHa.  Sorry, couldn't resist.  They always seem to blow up with incredibly visual effects when I am controlling them.  
    But yes, they can put out some real serious firepower if protected correctly.  Looking forward to more!
  5. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Bud,
      Wow, the attrition rate is pretty brutal.  I'm surprised they even knew Oleg's name, as he was a new guy to a tight-knit squad.  
      Gorokhov has to be feeling sick.  He started with 6, lost two in the woods near the tank, and now lost Oleg.  That means there are only 3 of the original squad left.  Sheesh!  
    At least he can fold his survivors in with a new group.  More targets mean better survival rate, right?  Hah, not on this meat grinder.  But it's better than taking a chance on jumping in the BMP and getting more ammo...and dragging their feet...while someone else gets gunned up.  Those BMPs are rolling explosions just waiting to go off.  I'm surprised they didn't name them TNT instead of BMP.  
    Gorokhov shakes his head and wonders how they assign BMP crewmen.  Are they volunteers?  Who would want to crew them?  They explode if hit hard by dirt clods.  He and his men put distance from the death trap and catch up to the large group.  [Sorry Bud, couldn't resist...it's the storyteller in me, haha]
      Great story line, Bud. 
    Heinrich505  
  6. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    I'd be guessing that Gorokhov was already wary of "getting too far ahead," as relates to his narrow escape in the earlier incident.  
    Things don't look too cover friendly up ahead.  He might want to slow down just a bit and let someone else buck for Hero of the Soviet...er, I mean, Hero of Mother Russia.  
    Bud, if all all possible, would you periodically keep us posted on Bakhtiyarov and what he is up to as well?  It doesn't have to be storyline panels, but I'm curious.  If it complicates things too much, then you can disregard. 
    As usual, your story-telling prowess leaves us wanting more!
    Heinrich505 
     
  7. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Well, you had me holding my breath through the whole rescue operation.  Nice job!
  8. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Oh yes, I'd forgotten - there was a bombardment being called in right on top of them.  Wow that was tight!  I was waiting for some hidden tank to blast the Tigr just as the squad jumped inside it.  That would have been my luck...
    Nice extraction there - a little too close for comfort.  I'm sure the Serzhant has a warm and fuzzy feeling about how valued he is by his officers in the grand scheme of things.
    "What?  Those bastidges were calling artillery right on top of us?"
    Did you have the Tigr driving fast or quick?  Just curious.
    Heinrich505
     
  9. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Bakhtiyarov drives like a wild man towards the trapped squad survivors while hoping/trusting/praying/having blind faith that the supporting tanks will take out an enemy tank that he is essentially driving straight towards.  Sheesh!  Did he marry the Serzhant's sister or something? Or is he afraid of the officer that ordered him on this stunt?
    I like this guy - he's got chutzhpah (or however you spell it)!  If he didn't need two hands on the wheel, I'd guess he was swilling Vodka one-handed while singing some crazy Russian Techno-pop song.
    Thanks Bud.  Now we are following the sniper driver too.  Keep him safe.  Someone's got to go back to get ammo and vodka soon.  
  10. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Lethaface in Be Not The Anvil   
    Bakhtiyarov drives like a wild man towards the trapped squad survivors while hoping/trusting/praying/having blind faith that the supporting tanks will take out an enemy tank that he is essentially driving straight towards.  Sheesh!  Did he marry the Serzhant's sister or something? Or is he afraid of the officer that ordered him on this stunt?
    I like this guy - he's got chutzhpah (or however you spell it)!  If he didn't need two hands on the wheel, I'd guess he was swilling Vodka one-handed while singing some crazy Russian Techno-pop song.
    Thanks Bud.  Now we are following the sniper driver too.  Keep him safe.  Someone's got to go back to get ammo and vodka soon.  
  11. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Bud,
      Whenever I started those vignettes, my biggest worry was that all the guys would get wiped out so quickly that there wouldn't be any story.  That's why I always used several groups of soldiers or different tank commanders, just in case some of the story characters got wiped out quickly.  The game is unpredictable at times, so you take your chances and hope for the best for your pixeltruppen.  It had me holding my breath so many times during a storyline.
      You are mighty brave, focusing solely on a single squad.  I was holding my breath with you as that tank swung the barrel onto your squad.
    Heinrich505
  12. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Bud,
      i see them now.  Thanks!  Whatever you did works.  
      I'm following with interest.  They got real lucky that the tank didn't fire - maybe the crew was overcome by fumes.    They also got lucky their own guys didn't open fire on them when they came busting rearward out of the smokescreen.  So, bad luck is they lost two guys.  Good luck is they didn't get blown up by the tank and didn't get gunned down by friendly fire.  They are breaking even so far, haha.  
      The modern battlefield is so deadly, as you noted.  I'm wondering how much longer these crunchies are going to last, dashing around the big tracked monsters in the smoke.
    Heinrich505
  13. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in Be Not The Anvil   
    Bud,
      Oh Yes!  This is soooo cool.  Thanks for yet another graphic adventure.  I stumbled on this and it is just as neat as the others.
      For some reason, I can't see the previous three posts though.  
      When I had more time, I'd do storylines like these, but just with screenshots, not comic versions.  I like your new software, but I never got reader boredom from the standard comic book boxes, so either version you choose works for me.  
      I remember back when I waited anxiously for my Sgt. Rock comic to arrive.  I'd just look at the cover for a few days to enjoy the anticipation, knowing that as soon as I started, I'd be through very quickly, and then have to wait for the next one.  I'm sure the mail deliverer read them before putting them in the mailbox.  I'm glad you stretch these out a bit, so we have to take a break before your next post of actions. 
      Love your work, Bud.  Gorokhov needs to school his men not to cheer too soon, haha.  As the US squad leaders say, in game, "Let's have some noise discipline here.:  
    Heinrich505
  14. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from A Canadian Cat - was IanL in Shock Force 2 Unofficial Screenshot And Video Thread   
    My troops had been advancing on an area, with lots of air support swirling around above, and they'd shot up this building complex fairly well.  What my Brits didn't know was that a whole HQ team of the enemy had taken cover behind the building to avoid being spotted and shot at.  Corporal Niles had considered sending a two man scout team around behind the building, but in the two story adjacent, a heavy MG unit was spotted earlier.  Niles decided to keep the scouts around the front and pin down the MG if they popped their heads up, while he'd lead his squad around the back and into the one story, and then shoot into the ground floor of the two story.
    Niles and the lads came whisking around the back and ran right into the middle of the enemy squad.  It was over in seconds, and none of the enemy had a chance to surrender.  Total annihilation.  They then dashed into the one story, and immediately opened fire on the MG team hiding there.  Niles decided right, as he was pretty sure the two man scout team would have taken casualties if they'd run into the middle of the HQ team.
    Heinrich505
  15. Upvote
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from MOS:96B2P in Shock Force 2 Unofficial Screenshot And Video Thread   
    My troops had been advancing on an area, with lots of air support swirling around above, and they'd shot up this building complex fairly well.  What my Brits didn't know was that a whole HQ team of the enemy had taken cover behind the building to avoid being spotted and shot at.  Corporal Niles had considered sending a two man scout team around behind the building, but in the two story adjacent, a heavy MG unit was spotted earlier.  Niles decided to keep the scouts around the front and pin down the MG if they popped their heads up, while he'd lead his squad around the back and into the one story, and then shoot into the ground floor of the two story.
    Niles and the lads came whisking around the back and ran right into the middle of the enemy squad.  It was over in seconds, and none of the enemy had a chance to surrender.  Total annihilation.  They then dashed into the one story, and immediately opened fire on the MG team hiding there.  Niles decided right, as he was pretty sure the two man scout team would have taken casualties if they'd run into the middle of the HQ team.
    Heinrich505
  16. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Bud Backer in CAAR - CMFI Rome To Victory Beta - The Kirpan & the Rhino   
    Bud,
      Wonderful story as always.  Loving all of it.  The map looks great and your storytelling mixed in with screenshots of battle progression are really working well.  These battles always come to life when you start including some personal details for the characters in your screenplay.
      A quick question.  It looks like your arty will come down on your advanced scouts in the woods.  Were you going to pull them back?  Remember, Kurt's brother-in-law is up there...unless he's the one that "found" the mine from earlier.  Maybe it's best that Kurt doesn't know about that, hmmm?
      Always a treat to read these Bud.  So nicely done.  You've a large following even though it seems quiet - we are hanging on your every move!
    Heinrich505
  17. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Oleksandr in Shall try to start an unofficial screenshots thread?   
    With much talk centering on CMFI and the upcoming (hopefully soon) release, I played out a scenario that had some great action.  I thought I would share it.
     

    It is December 6, 1943, 2:15 PM local time, and Obersoldat Rolf Schenk peers through his binoculars at Villa Roggati.  His uniform is soaking wet, the cold rain running in rivulets down his neck and back.  It drums off his steel helmet with maddening consistency.  He wipes the smears of rainwater off the end of his binoculars, letting out a sigh of frustration.  Things are quiet now, way too quiet. 
    He was in town when the Canadians attacked, and his unit had to retreat.  They took up positions just outside of town, and now he has his MG team set up where they can just barely see the town.  He has been tasked to support the coming counter-attack, but Hauptmann Esch has also given him the job of providing intelligence from his vantage point.  He has not been given a radio, so he will have to break away one of his ammo carriers for this task, leaving him a man down.  He is not pleased.
    He quietly waves over one of his ammo carriers, gives him specific details, has the man repeat them, and then sends him to the rear with his observations.  Time is ticking inexorably towards the attack time of 2:30 PM.
     

    The attack begins, slowly at first.  Artillery begins to fall on the town at precisely 2:30 PM.  Off to Rolf’s left is a PAK, set up to cover approaches into the town.  Suddenly two Sherman tanks are spotted by the PAK gunners.  The tanks ease out from behind a large white building – they are barely visible.  The PAK gun is pointed straight at their location, but a hail of MG fire from the tanks causes the gun crew to duck for cover.  Then they are slowly picked off by the deadly hail of lead, one at a time, until they are all dead or wounded.  Schenk can hear the wounded moaning in pain, but he dares not move from his position to help.  The tanks have that location zeroed in.
     

    Rolf hears the distinctive squeal of tank treads as panzers move up to try and duel with the Canadian tanks.  The Germans didn’t have tanks earlier when they were thrown out of the town by the Canadian attack.  Now they do.  He wonders where HQ managed to scrape them up.  If they’d had them earlier, then they would still be in the damn village.  One of his crew mutters that the tankers will deal with those upstart Canadians.  The panzers roar and 7.5 cm shells launch towards the enemy tanks.
     

    The lead tank trundles forward under cover of the following tanks.  Oberstleutnant Fuhrmann is trying to gain a flank shot on the enemy tanks.  He has his driver ease past a small shed, his turret already facing the right direction.  Fuhrmann is confident they will get the first shot off.  As his tank barely clears the shed, Fuhrmann stares in shocked horror down the barrel of one of the enemy tanks.  The tank spouts fire, and the first shell rips into the lower front of his tank.
    Smoke instantly fills the interior.  He can hear screaming from the driver and radio man positions.  His gunner is already ripping at the side hatch, self-preservation overtaking any thoughts of return fire. 
    Fuhrmann is counting down numbers in his head.  He knows a good tank crew can reload in about 5 seconds.  He yells “Everyone OUT!!!” as he reaches up for the…4…hatch.  The lever swings…3…and he throws his back against the hatch.  The hatch flies…2…open and he is looking up at grey sky that immediately bathes his face with cold rain.  He starts to…1…clamber up into the cold rain and he hears the roar of a tank gun.  He realizes that if he hears the gun, the round is already on the way…his last sight is a boiling roar of red flames…
     

    View from the Canadian tank – a catastrophic explosion as the kill shot ignites the enemy tanks ammunition loadout.  There are no survivors.
     

    In the space of a mere five minutes, the Canadian tank gunners knock out three German panzers.  This view is from the Canadian held town. 
    Funeral pyres of the flaming steel coffins rise into the grey December sky.  Fuhrmann’s tank lies in a crater in the road, caused by the giant explosion.  Schenk sees some badly burned survivors run from the other tanks.  He immediately sends his runner back to Hauptmann Esch to inform him that the initial thrust up the center is being blocked expertly by the Canadians.
     

    Hauptmann Esch slams his fist down on the hood of his Kubelwagen.  He didn’t rush the armor in.  He was cautious.  Still, the verdammt Canadians are putting on a show.  His right flank is getting blasted by very accurate artillery fire.  He sends out the orders – Left Flank, GO!
    Several remaining panzers veer off to the left flank.  They take a circuitous route, bogging at times, but somehow managing to pull out of the sticky Italian mud.  They arrive in time to support the Landsers who are trying to overwhelm stubborn Canadian resistance.  The cowering ground-pounders find new courage with the arrival of the steel monsters, and they rise up to push through the warehouses on the left flank.
     

    Pioniere Unteroffizier Hardenberger leads his squad up the same road as Fuhrmann.  He is confident they can work their way along an embankment, concealing their approach.  As they near the flaming wreck of Fuhrmann’s panzer, 7.5 cm shells and machine gun fire tear into his men.  He screams “VORWÄRTS” and sprints towards the shed that appears to be the only real cover available.  Two more of his men crash through the door and throw themselves on the floor, panting with exertion and adrenaline.  Hardenberger can just see the Sherman tank through a crack in the wall.  How the hell did it see us? he wonders.  “These Canadians are possessed by the Teufel,” he mutters out loud.
     

    The unlucky Pioniere caught by the enemy tanks…
    Fuhrmann’s tank still burns on the road. 
     

    Hauptmann Esch receives reports that the left flank attack has broken through into the town.  He orders his command staff into their Kubelwagen and he heads around the left flank to see the progress.
    Hauptmann Erwin Ruckdeschel leads the push into the town from the left flank.  His Mark IV Panzer takes a right turn on the first street and eases slowly towards the town center.  He is careful not to outpace the infantry.  Like all panzer men, he hates fighting in the close confines of any town.  Dead Canadian soldiers lay in the street as a reminder that nothing is safe here.
    “Feind Panzer, Eins Uhr!” shouts his gunner.
    Ruckdeschel’s eyes immediately snap to the one o’clock position.  His gunner had already pointed the turret in this direction moments before, as the driver slanted the tank at a slight angle to increase their front armor effectiveness.  He sees the barrel drop ever so slightly as his gunner lines up the shot.  He has a very good crew.
    Following tanks are covering flanks with HE, and he had his loader keep AP in the breech.  He calls out “115 meters.”  This is knife fighting for panzers.  They are so close.  
    Erwin sees the enemy Sherman tank starting to round the corner.  Their turret is already turning in his direction.  He smiles, knowing they will be too late.
    “Fire!” he shouts, the roar of the cannon rocking the tank.  Smoke fills the interior and then begins to vent.  “Treffer!” shouts the driver.  Now Erwin can see the explosion.  Flank shot.  It is a kill!
    Two more Sherman tanks will try to work around their flaming comrade and will meet the same hideous end, brewing up after taking one or two hits.  Ruckdeschel’s crew is putting on a clinic.
     

    A forward MG crew has set up in a blown up gasoline station.  The pumps are still standing but the building is rubble.  They took casualties and one of the crew tries to stem the bleeding of his comrade.
    In the distance to the right, another squad of Pioniere are also attending to casualties.  Smoke from the three Shermans brewed up by Ruckdeschel are ahead to the left. 
    Ruckdeschel and the crew of a Wespe, commanded by Unteroffizier Thylin, systematically reduce the buildings that are sheltering the two Shermans that blunted the initial attack.  Their handiwork can be seen by the MG team, as a field of rubble that used to be buildings now stretch out before them. 
    Stabsfeldwebel von Pannwitz tried to ease his Mark IV Panzer slightly past the bus station to get a flank shot on the enemy tanks.  Again the cursed Canadian tanker somehow was already watching.  Von Pannwitz took a shell in the turret, knocking out his main gun.  Obergefreiter Lorenko is now in command and Ruckdeschel does not know if his friend, von Pannwitz, is dead, dying, or merely wounded.  It tears at him but he keeps his focus on the dangers all around him.
     

    There is some confusion now, as the battle grinds to a halt.  The two Canadian tanks at the front of the village are stopping the frontal assault and have now stopped the flank attack too.  They are perfectly placed to interdict any movement towards them from the front or from the side street where Ruckdeschel sits.  And, unfortunately, they are very good at their craft.
    Hauptmann Ulrich is given hand signals by Unteroffizier Franz Witt.  They are at the front edge of a vineyard and can see the enemy tanks, maybe 100 meters to their front.  Ulrich sees that Witt wants a smoke screen dropped on the enemy tank position.  If that happens then perhaps the tanks in town can get the drop on them.
    Franz has something more daring in mind.  He plans to lead his squad into the smoke for a close assault of the enemy tankers.  The Hauptmann doesn’t get that part of the message.
    Ulrich calls in the smoke.  The FO is one of the best, and the smoke rounds start to fall in about 3 minutes.  The smoke is now building all over the enemy tanks.  They will be blind.  The tanks on the flank will now be able to advance and once the smoke dissipates, they will have the drop on the Canadians.
    Ulrich sees Witt leap to his feet, and start sprinting towards the wall of smoke.  Witt’s squad instantly rises as one and they pound after their squad leader.
    Hardenberger sees the smoke and immediately has the same idea as Witt, even though he has no idea what Witt is planning.  One of Hardenberger’s survivors has at least one satchel charge and they can use that on the blind tanks.  He roars to his two men to charge the tanks.  They leap to their feet and begin the crazy charge towards the wall of smoke and probably certain death.
     

    Rolf Schenk and his men see the smoke dropping.  There is a silent Mark IV right next to their position, yet another panzer vexed by the skill of the Canadian tankers and knocked out with a single shot.  All the crew got out of this one though.  In front of the berm protecting his men are two dead soldiers from an earlier attempt to sneak through the vineyard.
    They have no idea what is being planned, until Rolf sees Unteroffizier Hardenberger and his two men, greatcoats dark against the backdrop of white smoke, pounding across the wet field from the left, heading right for the smoke.  He catches his breath at the daring attack, and one of his men shouts “Sind Sie verrück?”  This echoes his own thoughts – they must, indeed, be crazy. 
    They don’t see Witt and his men off to the right, as the smoke has already obscured their equally mad charge.
     

    It is chaos and madness in the smoke.  Hardenberger can barely hear anything from the loud pounding of his blood through his head.  Machine gun fire rips the smoke, as the Canadians fire blindly.  He barely hears the screams of one of his men, and he finds himself running just under the barrel of the enemy Sherman.  He has no idea that Witt’s men are also rushing into the smoke.  Witt himself is crawling towards the misty bulk of the enemy steel monster that lashes out at the host of tormentors that mean to do it harm.
    Hardenberger rues the fact that he didn’t take the satchel charge himself, as he is now in the perfect spot to attach it to the enemy tank.  But all he can do is run in the smoke, hoping the enemy tankers focus on him and don’t see his men trying to assault it with the satchel charge.  He now seeks some sort of cover as the tank flails the smoke with its machine guns.
     

    Franz Witt’s men are among the two enemy tanks.  There is some slight cover from the rubble of a building and some craters from artillery fire.  The smoke is dissipating way too fast – the rain is settling it too quickly.  Dammit, Witt thinks, they only have seconds to live now.
    Witt takes cover in a crater and hurls his grenade.  The man to his left – Max, he thinks but can’t be sure – is about to shove a grenade into the front tracks of the tank.  Karl, off to his right, is about to hurl yet another grenade.  All he can do is hold his breath now.  It occurs to him that maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all.
     

    Witt’s grenade goes off, a cascade of sparks and smoke lighting up the side of the tank.  Two more grenades are heading for the enemy monster.  It is time for them to get the hell out of this deathtrap.  He screams to his men to run.  The enemy tanks open up with their machine guns.  He hears some of his men scream as they are hit.  Everyone runs like frightened rabbits in every direction to confuse the enemy gunners.
     

    Erwin Ruckdeschel sees a Feldwebel in the captured bus station to his right.  The man is waving through an open window, trying to get his attention.  He throws open his hatch and slightly pokes his head up to try and hear the man.  The Feldwebel shouts that Landsers are attacking the two Sherman tanks, running into the smoke screen.  Ruckdeschel had seen the smoke dropping, but in the absence of any instruction, he had remained in his position, covered by the wall of the bus station. 
    As the smoke clears fast, the Feldwebel gives Erwin a running blow-by-blow as he describes Witt’s and Hardenberger’s men being cut down by the enemy tanks.  This is too much for Ruckdeschel.
    He gives his orders fast.  He has the turret swung to the 2 o’clock position, and he orders his driver to move forward smoothly about 15 meters.  He tells the crew they are going to try and hit the two enemy tanks in the flank, just like von Pannwitz tried earlier, but his crew is going to succeed perfectly.  The men nod quietly and grimly.
    “Now!” he orders, and the tank slides smoothly out from cover, gun turret already lined up in the right direction.  A soldier, incapacitated from his wound, lies helplessly in the street as the giant panzer rolls past him, missing him by centimeters.  He can only scream, knowing that no one will hear him over the roar of the panzer engine. 
    He stops screaming when he realizes he has not been crushed.  Then new terror fills him.  What if the tank turns?  What if the tank is blown up?  Horrors flood through his mind but he is powerless to do anything.  Mercifully he passes out from blood loss and fear.
    Erwin’s gunner has two perfect flank shots, just as predicted by his commander.  The Sherman on the left starts to turn its turret.  That makes the choice for the gunner.
     

    The first shot is a hit.  Is it a kill?  No time to judge.  The second Sherman is now trying to turn the turret towards them.  Ruckdeschel lets his gunner turn the turret smoothly to address the 2nd target.
     

    The second shot – this is a certain kill.  The second Sherman is torn apart in a massive explosion.  Still no time to breathe or think.  The gunner gently sweeps the turret back to the first Sherman.  They have to be sure.  Moments count.  Seconds tick off.  Erwin is not aware that he has stopped breathing. 
    The tank is utter silence, save for the clang of the ejected shell casing on the floor of the tank and the schick of the new round being slammed home into the breech, then the slam of the breech as the shell is rammed into the gun.  The loader cries out that the gun is ready.
    Unvented smoke is wafting through the interior and the heavy smell of burnt powder is tickling the back of Ruckdeschel’s throat.
     

    The gun roars again, and sparks and flames gush from the 1st target.  It is a kill too!!!  Smoke is already pouring from the burning wreckage of the other Sherman.
    “Damn fine job, Comrades, Damn fine job!” shouts Ruckdeschel.  The crewmen smile and bask in their commander’s praise, while still watching the enemy ahead.
     

    A figure is seen leaping from the burning tank on the left.  His uniform is blackened and smoking.
     

    A second man falls from the Sherman.  Then a third.  All are burned and covered in soot.  They are too far away to see any blood.  Ruckdeschel sees the faces of his men turning towards him, questions on their faces as they wait for orders.
    “Let them go,” he says quietly.  “Don’t fire.”  He thinks he sees relief in the faces of his crewmen as they turn back to their stations.  He knows the Canadian tankers have fought with skill and bravery, just men doing a horrible job.  The survivors deserve a chance to escape.
     

    With the destruction of the two enemy tanks in their crucial defensive position, the Canadian opposition wanes and they fall back to defensive positions outside of the town.
    Oberleutnant’s Gloser’s command squad emerges from the vineyard and joins with Rolf’s MG team.  They are bloody and grim from attending to all the wounded in the vineyard.
    Pioniere Harzer, the sole survivor of Hardenberger’s attack in the smoke, finds his squad leader bleeding in a shellhole, wounded as he fled the attack on the enemy tanks.  Harzer still has satchel charges that he didn’t use in the attack, as he faltered at the last minute when they entered the smoke and he found cover to hide.  Hardenberger is bleeding and unconscious.  Harzer shoves the charges under some nearby rubble and attends to dressing his squad leader’s wounds.  No one will know.
    Witt and his entire squad are wiped out.  They will never know if they immobilized the one tank in their attack.  The two tanks are destroyed so it wouldn’t matter to anyone but Witt and his survivors if their attack was for nothing.
    Witt is badly wounded, as are two others from his squad.  Three are dead and the attending Sanitäter remove identity discs from the fallen while others patch up Witt and move him and the rest of his wounded squad to the rear.
    Ruckdeschel knows that the attackers in the smoke played a vital part.  He saw that the two enemy tanks were distracted by the brave Landsers in the smoke.  This was what gave his tank the edge, that and the skill of his crew.  He is so proud of them – the crew can see it in his eyes.    
    Rolf Schenk sees a very different skyline of Villa Roggati now.  It is a scene of carnage and destruction.
    He shakes his head at the stubborn Canadians.  They fought with skill and honor and they died when overwhelmed.  They have surely given his comrades a bad blooding this day.  He wonders why they didn’t just retreat out of the town.  Why did they stay and die?  Do they owe The Queen and England their lives?
    One of his comrades gives the Canadians an off-handed compliment.  “I sure don’t want to come up against these bastards again,” he mutters.  Rolf quietly concurs.

    The war goes on.
     
    Heinrich505 
  18. Upvote
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Rinaldi in [AAR] UK - Recipe for Disaster AAR   
    It’s a good read and the pictures are nice! It’s always a nice surprise when your troops on the far side of the battle get target lines on the enemy flank pushing forward on the near side  👍.
    Following this with interest.
  19. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Combatintman in UK Britains Joy SF2   
    I just finished playing this battle, and I've got to say that Combatintman did an amazing job putting this together!  Thanks so much for a really cool and immersive struggle.
    I played it on Elite WEGO, and pretty much held my breath the entire battle.  The battle came down to literally the last moment.  If I hadn't taken some chances and acted more aggressively than I am used to (very much outside my comfort zone), I would have failed the mission and not rescued the hostages.  The SAS motto "Who dares wins" came to mind as the dust settled and the rescue was successful.  Yes, I had to write letters to the loved ones of those in my command who fell, and this greatly tempered my victory.
    The mix of troops and enemies seemed very realistic, the map was a challenge, there were all sorts of lines of sight that had to be covered, and even the blasted time frame (which kept me dancing the whole way through) felt accurate.  I had to run my command staff (essentially my character in the game) into harms way to make the rescue successful.
    Thanks again for a really sharp battle.  It is greatly appreciated.
    Heinrich505
      
  20. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from A Canadian Cat - was IanL in New Afghanistan inspired campaign: Valleys of Death   
    Puje,
      Well, I finished this amazing campaign of yours.  Ended up with a total victory playing elite, but the price of 15 dead and 39 wounded tempered my excitement for the victory.  Many of my casualties happened during the battle for the city in the hill, battle 10.  RPGs seemed to come flying out like crazy.  I tried to ease up to the outskirts, using the cover available, and blasting the town with precision arty.  Still, when my guys made it on the far overlook, they took so much fire that I had to push my guys on the other side forward to bail them out.  I never did see the tanks.  I beat the enemy up pretty good, and they finally had too much and surrendered at the 3 hour mark.  Fine by me!
      The campaign was so much fun to play.  The missions were varied and you had to approach each of them in a slightly different way to be successful.  Sure, the rush out of the compound was always tricky, especially when under fire.  I used a lot of pauses and didn't push too many Hummvees out at the same time.  It took a little longer but seemed less crazy - only got one vehicle bogged in the trench area but managed to rock him free.  
      One of the most intense missions was the night mission where several enemy had been spotted climbing around on the top of the huge escarpment, to the east, if I recall my directions properly.  They were possibly lugging missile launchers and the whole compound was in jeopardy.  I rushed four Hummvees out with only one squad, hoping it would be enough.  I just dashed them like crazy to the escarpment, two on one side and two on the other.  Then I stalked my way up.  It was an incredibly tense mission, and I half expected to see rockets start flying off the top towards my compound. 
      Night vision equipment really saved the day for me, allowing me to spot and eliminate the enemy before he could see me.  What a really cool mission.  I was holding my breath as I eased my guys through the dark terrain.  Excellent job!
      I have to say that the very last mission was another extremely tense one.  I won't spoil it for anyone still playing, but I really was holding my breath during that one.  PM me if you'd like to talk about it further.  It is clear that you really thought out how to best put together this campaign.  It was so easy to get drawn into this little valley of Hell.  I was worrying about my guys and leaving the wounded squads and teams back at the base, not wanting to get them shot up more.  Many nights I would go to bed after saving the mission, thinking about what strategy I was going to employ the next turn to get my guys out of a jam.  You really succeeded - one of the best campaigns I've played!
      Thanks so much for your hard work with this campaign.  It is really appreciated.
    Heinrich505   
  21. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from puje in New Afghanistan inspired campaign: Valleys of Death   
    Puje, 
    There are certainly plenty of “Holy Crap!!!” moments to be had.  I’m having a great time trying to keep my guys alive.  When I start taking heavy machine gun fire in the compound from some freaking unknown location on the giant ridge way across the map, all Hell breaks loose, and I can hear my guys screaming “Where is it coming from?”  I’m yelling back at them, calling “Anybody got eyes on them?”
    There are some really tension-filled moments to this campaign. You’ve done a really great job. I’m working through the third mission and already uncovered some unpleasant surprises. You’ve crafted the missions so they have a very realistic feeling to them. I can almost imagine myself in a Hummvee trying to coordinate the movements of the guys and trying to anticipate where the next ugly surprise is going to come from. 
    This is great stuff!!  Thanks so much. 
    Heinrich505 
  22. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from puje in New Afghanistan inspired campaign: Valleys of Death   
    Puje,
      Well, I finished this amazing campaign of yours.  Ended up with a total victory playing elite, but the price of 15 dead and 39 wounded tempered my excitement for the victory.  Many of my casualties happened during the battle for the city in the hill, battle 10.  RPGs seemed to come flying out like crazy.  I tried to ease up to the outskirts, using the cover available, and blasting the town with precision arty.  Still, when my guys made it on the far overlook, they took so much fire that I had to push my guys on the other side forward to bail them out.  I never did see the tanks.  I beat the enemy up pretty good, and they finally had too much and surrendered at the 3 hour mark.  Fine by me!
      The campaign was so much fun to play.  The missions were varied and you had to approach each of them in a slightly different way to be successful.  Sure, the rush out of the compound was always tricky, especially when under fire.  I used a lot of pauses and didn't push too many Hummvees out at the same time.  It took a little longer but seemed less crazy - only got one vehicle bogged in the trench area but managed to rock him free.  
      One of the most intense missions was the night mission where several enemy had been spotted climbing around on the top of the huge escarpment, to the east, if I recall my directions properly.  They were possibly lugging missile launchers and the whole compound was in jeopardy.  I rushed four Hummvees out with only one squad, hoping it would be enough.  I just dashed them like crazy to the escarpment, two on one side and two on the other.  Then I stalked my way up.  It was an incredibly tense mission, and I half expected to see rockets start flying off the top towards my compound. 
      Night vision equipment really saved the day for me, allowing me to spot and eliminate the enemy before he could see me.  What a really cool mission.  I was holding my breath as I eased my guys through the dark terrain.  Excellent job!
      I have to say that the very last mission was another extremely tense one.  I won't spoil it for anyone still playing, but I really was holding my breath during that one.  PM me if you'd like to talk about it further.  It is clear that you really thought out how to best put together this campaign.  It was so easy to get drawn into this little valley of Hell.  I was worrying about my guys and leaving the wounded squads and teams back at the base, not wanting to get them shot up more.  Many nights I would go to bed after saving the mission, thinking about what strategy I was going to employ the next turn to get my guys out of a jam.  You really succeeded - one of the best campaigns I've played!
      Thanks so much for your hard work with this campaign.  It is really appreciated.
    Heinrich505   
  23. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from Kaunitz in Shall try to start an unofficial screenshots thread?   
    With much talk centering on CMFI and the upcoming (hopefully soon) release, I played out a scenario that had some great action.  I thought I would share it.
     

    It is December 6, 1943, 2:15 PM local time, and Obersoldat Rolf Schenk peers through his binoculars at Villa Roggati.  His uniform is soaking wet, the cold rain running in rivulets down his neck and back.  It drums off his steel helmet with maddening consistency.  He wipes the smears of rainwater off the end of his binoculars, letting out a sigh of frustration.  Things are quiet now, way too quiet. 
    He was in town when the Canadians attacked, and his unit had to retreat.  They took up positions just outside of town, and now he has his MG team set up where they can just barely see the town.  He has been tasked to support the coming counter-attack, but Hauptmann Esch has also given him the job of providing intelligence from his vantage point.  He has not been given a radio, so he will have to break away one of his ammo carriers for this task, leaving him a man down.  He is not pleased.
    He quietly waves over one of his ammo carriers, gives him specific details, has the man repeat them, and then sends him to the rear with his observations.  Time is ticking inexorably towards the attack time of 2:30 PM.
     

    The attack begins, slowly at first.  Artillery begins to fall on the town at precisely 2:30 PM.  Off to Rolf’s left is a PAK, set up to cover approaches into the town.  Suddenly two Sherman tanks are spotted by the PAK gunners.  The tanks ease out from behind a large white building – they are barely visible.  The PAK gun is pointed straight at their location, but a hail of MG fire from the tanks causes the gun crew to duck for cover.  Then they are slowly picked off by the deadly hail of lead, one at a time, until they are all dead or wounded.  Schenk can hear the wounded moaning in pain, but he dares not move from his position to help.  The tanks have that location zeroed in.
     

    Rolf hears the distinctive squeal of tank treads as panzers move up to try and duel with the Canadian tanks.  The Germans didn’t have tanks earlier when they were thrown out of the town by the Canadian attack.  Now they do.  He wonders where HQ managed to scrape them up.  If they’d had them earlier, then they would still be in the damn village.  One of his crew mutters that the tankers will deal with those upstart Canadians.  The panzers roar and 7.5 cm shells launch towards the enemy tanks.
     

    The lead tank trundles forward under cover of the following tanks.  Oberstleutnant Fuhrmann is trying to gain a flank shot on the enemy tanks.  He has his driver ease past a small shed, his turret already facing the right direction.  Fuhrmann is confident they will get the first shot off.  As his tank barely clears the shed, Fuhrmann stares in shocked horror down the barrel of one of the enemy tanks.  The tank spouts fire, and the first shell rips into the lower front of his tank.
    Smoke instantly fills the interior.  He can hear screaming from the driver and radio man positions.  His gunner is already ripping at the side hatch, self-preservation overtaking any thoughts of return fire. 
    Fuhrmann is counting down numbers in his head.  He knows a good tank crew can reload in about 5 seconds.  He yells “Everyone OUT!!!” as he reaches up for the…4…hatch.  The lever swings…3…and he throws his back against the hatch.  The hatch flies…2…open and he is looking up at grey sky that immediately bathes his face with cold rain.  He starts to…1…clamber up into the cold rain and he hears the roar of a tank gun.  He realizes that if he hears the gun, the round is already on the way…his last sight is a boiling roar of red flames…
     

    View from the Canadian tank – a catastrophic explosion as the kill shot ignites the enemy tanks ammunition loadout.  There are no survivors.
     

    In the space of a mere five minutes, the Canadian tank gunners knock out three German panzers.  This view is from the Canadian held town. 
    Funeral pyres of the flaming steel coffins rise into the grey December sky.  Fuhrmann’s tank lies in a crater in the road, caused by the giant explosion.  Schenk sees some badly burned survivors run from the other tanks.  He immediately sends his runner back to Hauptmann Esch to inform him that the initial thrust up the center is being blocked expertly by the Canadians.
     

    Hauptmann Esch slams his fist down on the hood of his Kubelwagen.  He didn’t rush the armor in.  He was cautious.  Still, the verdammt Canadians are putting on a show.  His right flank is getting blasted by very accurate artillery fire.  He sends out the orders – Left Flank, GO!
    Several remaining panzers veer off to the left flank.  They take a circuitous route, bogging at times, but somehow managing to pull out of the sticky Italian mud.  They arrive in time to support the Landsers who are trying to overwhelm stubborn Canadian resistance.  The cowering ground-pounders find new courage with the arrival of the steel monsters, and they rise up to push through the warehouses on the left flank.
     

    Pioniere Unteroffizier Hardenberger leads his squad up the same road as Fuhrmann.  He is confident they can work their way along an embankment, concealing their approach.  As they near the flaming wreck of Fuhrmann’s panzer, 7.5 cm shells and machine gun fire tear into his men.  He screams “VORWÄRTS” and sprints towards the shed that appears to be the only real cover available.  Two more of his men crash through the door and throw themselves on the floor, panting with exertion and adrenaline.  Hardenberger can just see the Sherman tank through a crack in the wall.  How the hell did it see us? he wonders.  “These Canadians are possessed by the Teufel,” he mutters out loud.
     

    The unlucky Pioniere caught by the enemy tanks…
    Fuhrmann’s tank still burns on the road. 
     

    Hauptmann Esch receives reports that the left flank attack has broken through into the town.  He orders his command staff into their Kubelwagen and he heads around the left flank to see the progress.
    Hauptmann Erwin Ruckdeschel leads the push into the town from the left flank.  His Mark IV Panzer takes a right turn on the first street and eases slowly towards the town center.  He is careful not to outpace the infantry.  Like all panzer men, he hates fighting in the close confines of any town.  Dead Canadian soldiers lay in the street as a reminder that nothing is safe here.
    “Feind Panzer, Eins Uhr!” shouts his gunner.
    Ruckdeschel’s eyes immediately snap to the one o’clock position.  His gunner had already pointed the turret in this direction moments before, as the driver slanted the tank at a slight angle to increase their front armor effectiveness.  He sees the barrel drop ever so slightly as his gunner lines up the shot.  He has a very good crew.
    Following tanks are covering flanks with HE, and he had his loader keep AP in the breech.  He calls out “115 meters.”  This is knife fighting for panzers.  They are so close.  
    Erwin sees the enemy Sherman tank starting to round the corner.  Their turret is already turning in his direction.  He smiles, knowing they will be too late.
    “Fire!” he shouts, the roar of the cannon rocking the tank.  Smoke fills the interior and then begins to vent.  “Treffer!” shouts the driver.  Now Erwin can see the explosion.  Flank shot.  It is a kill!
    Two more Sherman tanks will try to work around their flaming comrade and will meet the same hideous end, brewing up after taking one or two hits.  Ruckdeschel’s crew is putting on a clinic.
     

    A forward MG crew has set up in a blown up gasoline station.  The pumps are still standing but the building is rubble.  They took casualties and one of the crew tries to stem the bleeding of his comrade.
    In the distance to the right, another squad of Pioniere are also attending to casualties.  Smoke from the three Shermans brewed up by Ruckdeschel are ahead to the left. 
    Ruckdeschel and the crew of a Wespe, commanded by Unteroffizier Thylin, systematically reduce the buildings that are sheltering the two Shermans that blunted the initial attack.  Their handiwork can be seen by the MG team, as a field of rubble that used to be buildings now stretch out before them. 
    Stabsfeldwebel von Pannwitz tried to ease his Mark IV Panzer slightly past the bus station to get a flank shot on the enemy tanks.  Again the cursed Canadian tanker somehow was already watching.  Von Pannwitz took a shell in the turret, knocking out his main gun.  Obergefreiter Lorenko is now in command and Ruckdeschel does not know if his friend, von Pannwitz, is dead, dying, or merely wounded.  It tears at him but he keeps his focus on the dangers all around him.
     

    There is some confusion now, as the battle grinds to a halt.  The two Canadian tanks at the front of the village are stopping the frontal assault and have now stopped the flank attack too.  They are perfectly placed to interdict any movement towards them from the front or from the side street where Ruckdeschel sits.  And, unfortunately, they are very good at their craft.
    Hauptmann Ulrich is given hand signals by Unteroffizier Franz Witt.  They are at the front edge of a vineyard and can see the enemy tanks, maybe 100 meters to their front.  Ulrich sees that Witt wants a smoke screen dropped on the enemy tank position.  If that happens then perhaps the tanks in town can get the drop on them.
    Franz has something more daring in mind.  He plans to lead his squad into the smoke for a close assault of the enemy tankers.  The Hauptmann doesn’t get that part of the message.
    Ulrich calls in the smoke.  The FO is one of the best, and the smoke rounds start to fall in about 3 minutes.  The smoke is now building all over the enemy tanks.  They will be blind.  The tanks on the flank will now be able to advance and once the smoke dissipates, they will have the drop on the Canadians.
    Ulrich sees Witt leap to his feet, and start sprinting towards the wall of smoke.  Witt’s squad instantly rises as one and they pound after their squad leader.
    Hardenberger sees the smoke and immediately has the same idea as Witt, even though he has no idea what Witt is planning.  One of Hardenberger’s survivors has at least one satchel charge and they can use that on the blind tanks.  He roars to his two men to charge the tanks.  They leap to their feet and begin the crazy charge towards the wall of smoke and probably certain death.
     

    Rolf Schenk and his men see the smoke dropping.  There is a silent Mark IV right next to their position, yet another panzer vexed by the skill of the Canadian tankers and knocked out with a single shot.  All the crew got out of this one though.  In front of the berm protecting his men are two dead soldiers from an earlier attempt to sneak through the vineyard.
    They have no idea what is being planned, until Rolf sees Unteroffizier Hardenberger and his two men, greatcoats dark against the backdrop of white smoke, pounding across the wet field from the left, heading right for the smoke.  He catches his breath at the daring attack, and one of his men shouts “Sind Sie verrück?”  This echoes his own thoughts – they must, indeed, be crazy. 
    They don’t see Witt and his men off to the right, as the smoke has already obscured their equally mad charge.
     

    It is chaos and madness in the smoke.  Hardenberger can barely hear anything from the loud pounding of his blood through his head.  Machine gun fire rips the smoke, as the Canadians fire blindly.  He barely hears the screams of one of his men, and he finds himself running just under the barrel of the enemy Sherman.  He has no idea that Witt’s men are also rushing into the smoke.  Witt himself is crawling towards the misty bulk of the enemy steel monster that lashes out at the host of tormentors that mean to do it harm.
    Hardenberger rues the fact that he didn’t take the satchel charge himself, as he is now in the perfect spot to attach it to the enemy tank.  But all he can do is run in the smoke, hoping the enemy tankers focus on him and don’t see his men trying to assault it with the satchel charge.  He now seeks some sort of cover as the tank flails the smoke with its machine guns.
     

    Franz Witt’s men are among the two enemy tanks.  There is some slight cover from the rubble of a building and some craters from artillery fire.  The smoke is dissipating way too fast – the rain is settling it too quickly.  Dammit, Witt thinks, they only have seconds to live now.
    Witt takes cover in a crater and hurls his grenade.  The man to his left – Max, he thinks but can’t be sure – is about to shove a grenade into the front tracks of the tank.  Karl, off to his right, is about to hurl yet another grenade.  All he can do is hold his breath now.  It occurs to him that maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all.
     

    Witt’s grenade goes off, a cascade of sparks and smoke lighting up the side of the tank.  Two more grenades are heading for the enemy monster.  It is time for them to get the hell out of this deathtrap.  He screams to his men to run.  The enemy tanks open up with their machine guns.  He hears some of his men scream as they are hit.  Everyone runs like frightened rabbits in every direction to confuse the enemy gunners.
     

    Erwin Ruckdeschel sees a Feldwebel in the captured bus station to his right.  The man is waving through an open window, trying to get his attention.  He throws open his hatch and slightly pokes his head up to try and hear the man.  The Feldwebel shouts that Landsers are attacking the two Sherman tanks, running into the smoke screen.  Ruckdeschel had seen the smoke dropping, but in the absence of any instruction, he had remained in his position, covered by the wall of the bus station. 
    As the smoke clears fast, the Feldwebel gives Erwin a running blow-by-blow as he describes Witt’s and Hardenberger’s men being cut down by the enemy tanks.  This is too much for Ruckdeschel.
    He gives his orders fast.  He has the turret swung to the 2 o’clock position, and he orders his driver to move forward smoothly about 15 meters.  He tells the crew they are going to try and hit the two enemy tanks in the flank, just like von Pannwitz tried earlier, but his crew is going to succeed perfectly.  The men nod quietly and grimly.
    “Now!” he orders, and the tank slides smoothly out from cover, gun turret already lined up in the right direction.  A soldier, incapacitated from his wound, lies helplessly in the street as the giant panzer rolls past him, missing him by centimeters.  He can only scream, knowing that no one will hear him over the roar of the panzer engine. 
    He stops screaming when he realizes he has not been crushed.  Then new terror fills him.  What if the tank turns?  What if the tank is blown up?  Horrors flood through his mind but he is powerless to do anything.  Mercifully he passes out from blood loss and fear.
    Erwin’s gunner has two perfect flank shots, just as predicted by his commander.  The Sherman on the left starts to turn its turret.  That makes the choice for the gunner.
     

    The first shot is a hit.  Is it a kill?  No time to judge.  The second Sherman is now trying to turn the turret towards them.  Ruckdeschel lets his gunner turn the turret smoothly to address the 2nd target.
     

    The second shot – this is a certain kill.  The second Sherman is torn apart in a massive explosion.  Still no time to breathe or think.  The gunner gently sweeps the turret back to the first Sherman.  They have to be sure.  Moments count.  Seconds tick off.  Erwin is not aware that he has stopped breathing. 
    The tank is utter silence, save for the clang of the ejected shell casing on the floor of the tank and the schick of the new round being slammed home into the breech, then the slam of the breech as the shell is rammed into the gun.  The loader cries out that the gun is ready.
    Unvented smoke is wafting through the interior and the heavy smell of burnt powder is tickling the back of Ruckdeschel’s throat.
     

    The gun roars again, and sparks and flames gush from the 1st target.  It is a kill too!!!  Smoke is already pouring from the burning wreckage of the other Sherman.
    “Damn fine job, Comrades, Damn fine job!” shouts Ruckdeschel.  The crewmen smile and bask in their commander’s praise, while still watching the enemy ahead.
     

    A figure is seen leaping from the burning tank on the left.  His uniform is blackened and smoking.
     

    A second man falls from the Sherman.  Then a third.  All are burned and covered in soot.  They are too far away to see any blood.  Ruckdeschel sees the faces of his men turning towards him, questions on their faces as they wait for orders.
    “Let them go,” he says quietly.  “Don’t fire.”  He thinks he sees relief in the faces of his crewmen as they turn back to their stations.  He knows the Canadian tankers have fought with skill and bravery, just men doing a horrible job.  The survivors deserve a chance to escape.
     

    With the destruction of the two enemy tanks in their crucial defensive position, the Canadian opposition wanes and they fall back to defensive positions outside of the town.
    Oberleutnant’s Gloser’s command squad emerges from the vineyard and joins with Rolf’s MG team.  They are bloody and grim from attending to all the wounded in the vineyard.
    Pioniere Harzer, the sole survivor of Hardenberger’s attack in the smoke, finds his squad leader bleeding in a shellhole, wounded as he fled the attack on the enemy tanks.  Harzer still has satchel charges that he didn’t use in the attack, as he faltered at the last minute when they entered the smoke and he found cover to hide.  Hardenberger is bleeding and unconscious.  Harzer shoves the charges under some nearby rubble and attends to dressing his squad leader’s wounds.  No one will know.
    Witt and his entire squad are wiped out.  They will never know if they immobilized the one tank in their attack.  The two tanks are destroyed so it wouldn’t matter to anyone but Witt and his survivors if their attack was for nothing.
    Witt is badly wounded, as are two others from his squad.  Three are dead and the attending Sanitäter remove identity discs from the fallen while others patch up Witt and move him and the rest of his wounded squad to the rear.
    Ruckdeschel knows that the attackers in the smoke played a vital part.  He saw that the two enemy tanks were distracted by the brave Landsers in the smoke.  This was what gave his tank the edge, that and the skill of his crew.  He is so proud of them – the crew can see it in his eyes.    
    Rolf Schenk sees a very different skyline of Villa Roggati now.  It is a scene of carnage and destruction.
    He shakes his head at the stubborn Canadians.  They fought with skill and honor and they died when overwhelmed.  They have surely given his comrades a bad blooding this day.  He wonders why they didn’t just retreat out of the town.  Why did they stay and die?  Do they owe The Queen and England their lives?
    One of his comrades gives the Canadians an off-handed compliment.  “I sure don’t want to come up against these bastards again,” he mutters.  Rolf quietly concurs.

    The war goes on.
     
    Heinrich505 
  24. Upvote
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from George MC in Halt! Hammerzeit Battle and Map   
    Yes he has.  Only this time you play as zee Churmans, mit Leopards (such a cool tank).  There are frigging RPGs flying everywhere!  I'm pretty much holding my breath every turn.  I've been finding all sorts of nasty surprises - GeorgeMC is so devious, muhahahaha.  
  25. Like
    Heinrich505 got a reaction from George MC in Halt! Hammerzeit Battle and Map   
    I've just started this battle and the map is simply amazing!  The map author was not mentioned in the briefing.  It took me a while to start the battle because I was just enjoying how well done the map was.  Credit is really due him for such an amazing work of art.
    The battle itself is pretty slick too.  There are several different options on how to proceed, and scouting is actually playing an important part as well.  I'm sure I will be challenged by this battle.
    I just wanted to thank the map author and also mention just how immersive and enjoyable this battle is.
    Heinrich505
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