ncc1701e

This is strange then because the rounds are failing on my left, then on my right and coming back to left. That is why I am thinking more of a harass mission.

MINUTE 14 Crossing the road again to reach the house on the left of the screen. This time I am using a Fast command. And, suddenly, one 10,5cm shell drops. Three casualties but the one in the red circle is a little hard to believe. I have replayed the sequence but this is indeed the shrapnel. In the wood on my left wing, my men are watching while my halftrack is arriving. Hope it will surprise a little the Germans next turn.

MINUTE 13 A waiting and peaceful turn except few events. The 10,5cm firing rate is about one shell a turn. Question for the experts, at this rate, how long the battery could last? My halftrack is moving full ahead towards its destiny... I open up my tank in order to spot something... a tank may be? Where is his Stug III? This is the question I have since a long time...

MINUTE 12 On the left wing, I emerge from the woods. The main objective seems calm. Still 10,5 cm around... Is counter battery fire possible to stop those guys !? My smoke screen firing mission is still been planned. 6 minutes to wait before main assault depending on its shape... On the right, strangely enough, even if the commander is hit, the fire mission seems not compromised !? I would like to bring some attention to the rear. Since the beginning, 5th Squad / B Team is providing medical assistance to all the guys that were hit by the Stug III at the beginning. Thanks guys, this is important to keep the casualties low. This is time to move my halftrack to wake up the Germans...

MINUTE 11 I am waiting for my smoke screen. But, on my right wing, I am taking some fire from the German in the woods in front of my right wing. The company commander is hit !!! The company commander is hit !!! The mortar fire that I have ordered is now compromised...

MINUTE 10 My plan will be straight forward: I have ordered a smoke screen in the center to cover the advance of my troops in the center and in the right on the main objective in the middle of the map. 8 minutes to wait. I will put whatever fire power I have on the left to destroy the enemy here. I will then move my left wing toward the middle objective. Meanwhile, 10,5 cm continues to rain. Sometimes nowhere, sometimes... I see the German guys falling back. The suppressive fire has ceased in the left woods at last. I carefully resume my progression in the left woods. The overall situation at the end of the turn.

Agree, I will detail my plan soon for end game. As usual, I will be short on time. But, I prefer to be short on time than short on men. I am perhaps too cautious but I like my pixeltroopers.

Hey great, Joe has confirmed, this is indeed 10,5 cm.

30 minutes

MINUTE 9 Just for you @RockinHarry, a zoom of the crater size... Alas, another incoming shell is this time doing much more damage. It remember me that indirect fire was one of the first cause of death during WW2. More on the left in this woods, suppressive fire continues and still no clue of who is firing. No casualties taken. I am moving my tank carefully to a location in reserve slope where I hope it will catch something. The overall situation is not improving. Am I too cautious as a commander guys?

MINUTE 8 Surprise!!! Some kind of Big Bertha is entering on the battle at this stage. Given the noise of the explosion, I bet for a 155mm shell. I have checked in Ian V. Hogg's book "German Artillery of World War Two" but there are many possibilities. Let's bet for a 15cm s IG 33 infantry gun most probably off map. I am ordering my halftrack and the nearby infantry to run... On the left in the woods, I have made contact with enemy infantry. Small arms firing and one light wounded. Hope they can return fire next turn. The overall situation. My intel is not improving at all. On the left, I am sure of the infantry. The rest remains mainly based on sound detection.

MINUTE 7 The halftrack is in its starting position once I could have a better intel of what is inside the second (center) objective instead of this lonely tank's sound contact. I am really hoping moving my XO team on the third story of the house, they are already in, will help to spot something. Another tank's sound contact can be heard and I am a little puzzled. So far, two to three tanks, perhaps one halftrack and no sign of lots of infantry. What kind of troops am I facing? Was the Stug III moving like this without infantry support? It would be surprising. The overall situation plus on the right the possible position of his second tank. One of my mortar team restarts firing at that tank's sound contact. Strangely enough, looks like the suppressive fire is decreasing. Will see next turn...

MINUTE 6 My XO team is in position trying to see something. The HQ team is behind but I am planning to move them as well for artillery indirect fire requests. On my right wing, in the woods, I continue to receive some suppressive fire without any harm so far. But, my men are unable to identify who is firing. On the left side, I am moving more men to increase the number of eyes and identify the tank that can be heard. At last, I am moving my halftrack in preparation of my next move toward the objective in the middle of the map.

Hey @JoMc67, are you not tempted to do yours?

Yes excellent work, and do not worry I will exhaust my upvotes tonight for them...

MINUTE 5 The German infantry position is confirmed. Meanwhile, my tank is doing a lot of noise while my infantry will spot what is really in front of us. I have a unique tank and I do not want to waste it. In the woods on my right wing, I am taking some suppressive fire. Most probably this is coming from the Stug III. My XO team is reaching the first house of the first objective. I will move them on the second story to try to spot something. I am blind and I do not like that. This is incredible how I miss the drones and a good old Javelin.

It is my fault. I was too confident I will not see anybody at turn number 2...

Great DAR indeed !!

MINUTE 4 Mortar fire is starting but the shots are too long. Crap... I am even surprised the mortar team was having an LOS there... I have ordered my tank to move left in order to counter the threat of the newly discovered tank. My infantry is entering the woods. I will now really see what is going on behind. Just one second before the turn ends, an infantry sound contact can be heard. The overall situation: Next turn will be great I think.

MINUTE 3 I have asked my unique tank to "open up" so that they can monitor anything while my squads continue to progress of my right wing. Is the Sherman a decent foe for the Stug III or is it the contrary? I think everything will come up from surprise and who shot first. I am sure Joe won't do the mistake to advance much more his Stug III. As such, I am setting up one of my mortar squad to fire on the sound contact of his Stug III. By chance, I may kill his commander if he is outside or break few optics... I will count on luck also. While monitoring the turn, another sound contact can be heard. Looks like there is a second tank or halftrack out there.

Thanks !

I want one of those.

MINUTE 2 While moving, my troops, crossing the road toward the left, are immediately spotted by what seems to be a Stug III. And, the Stug III is immediately shooting at my men. Lesson learned: never cross a road without Fast move or smoke... This first shot is taking me three casualties... Great! Panic!!! What a better way to start a new game...

MINUTE 1 On my left, my troops are moving to the woods as planned. My mortar team is remaining in position ready for targets. On the right, my troops are progressing to the woods and to the first objective. An overall view.

SETUP My positions at the beginning of the first turn. View from the enemy position: View of the center of the map: View of my side: