Penry Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 And here we are again! I achieved a late victory in the last game, when it could easily have gone the other way numerous times. It was a real roller coaster of a ride and there were a number of times when I really felt like throwing in the towel. It will be interesting to see how BigDork handles the counter attack and whether my men can pull off another victory. So, let's get the ball rolling! Briefing Interesting that there is no mention of any Germans on BD's side, not even as reinforcements! This is putting me in an optimisitic mood before we have even kicked the action off! I've yet to meet these Semovente tank destroyers that are mentioned, but I've just had a look at them in the manual and I'm hoping that they are the 47 mm variety rather than the 90mm monsters! They both sound typically quirky pieces of Italian hardware, so they should be interesting either way! By the looks of things BD will be counter attacking from the north east. I don't have as many reinforcements this time, the SPG halftracks at around midway through the battle by the looks of things. I also don't have quite as much indirect assets as last time - some 60mm tubes on the map and a 81mm section from offmap. I think I'll concentrate on holding the valley objectives again, as I'd have to spread myself really thin to hold all five of them, as you'll see in the next post. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 The map You'll no doubt be familiar with the map, if you followed our previous battle, so I won't post a load of screenies of the terrain again. There are three seperate setup zones (the two bridges and the farm), all in the bottom of the valley. The troops and equipment around either barn are not in setup zones as such and are unable to be moved until the game kicks off for real. Starting troops At the farm - 41 men A Company Company HQ - Binoculars and radio - 3 men - Regular training - above average commander 1st halftrack (M2) - Bazooka & 4 rounds and a radio - 2 men - Regular training - above average commander L/50 M1 57mm Antitank gun - Binoculars - 4 men - Regular training - above average commander - armour piercing rounds only! Forward Observer Section FO Section HQ - Binoculars and radio - 3 men - Regular training - well below average commander 1st Jeep - Radio - 1 man - Regular training - below average commander 2nd Armoured Infantry Platoon Platoon HQ - Binoculars - 3 men - Regular training - above average commander HQ support team - None - 4 men - Regular training - above average commander M1919A4 MMG team - Binoculars - 3 men - Regular training - above average commander M1919A4 MMG team - Binoculars - 3 men - Regular training - above average commander L/50 M1 57mm Antitank gun - Binoculars - 4 men - Regular training - above average commander - armour piercing rounds only! M2 60mm Light mortar team - Binoculars - 5 men - Regular training - above average commander 1st halftrack (M2) - Bazooka & 4 rounds and a radio - 2 men - Regular training - above average commander 4th halftrack (M3 2xMG) - Bazooka & 4 rounds and a radio - 2 men - Regular training - above average commander 5th halftrack (M3 2xMG) - Bazooka & 4 rounds and a radio - 2 men - Regular training - above average commander 3 bunkers 2 two story houses North bridge - 11 men 2nd Rifle Squad Rifle squad - Binoculars - 9 men - Regular training - above average commander 3rd halftrack (M3 2xMG) - Bazooka & 4 rounds and a radio - 2 men - Regular training - above average commander 2 bunkers South bridge - 11 men 1st Rifle Squad Rifle squad - Binoculars - 9 men - Regular training - above average commander 2nd halftrack (M3 2xMG) - Bazooka & 4 rounds and a radio - 2 men - Regular training - above average commander 2 bunkers At the south barn - 12 men 1st Recon Platoon Recon Platoon HQ - Binoculars and radio - 3 men - Regular training - above average commander 1st halftrack (M2) - Bazooka & 4 rounds and a radio - 1 man - Regular training - above average commander Recon section HQ - Binoculars - 4 men - Regular training - above average commander 1st Recon team - None - 4 men - Regular training - above average commander 1st Jeep - Radio - dismounted 2nd Jeep - Radio - dismounted 1 bunker 2 lots of barbed wire 1 single story building At the north barn - 8 men 1st Recon Platoon Recon section HQ - Binoculars - 4 men - Regular training - above average commander 1st Recon team - None - 4 men - Regular training - above average commander 1st Jeep - Radio - dismounted 2nd Jeep - Radio - dismounted 2 bunkers 2 lots of barbed wire 1 single story building Off map 1 section of M1 81mm medium mortars - 2 tubes 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Any brainwaves folks? I'll probably set this up on my days off (48 hours or so from now) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Canadian Cat Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 A couple of thoughts: Barbed wire: Can they be placed in any setup zone? Barbed wire is really good at messing up infantry's ability to move. If you can use it to block the main road and then cover the area behind it with MGs he will have to bring up armour to beech it. So also have an AT gun to cover that area too. AT guns: They need to be placed carefully. Given that you do not have any sand bags, find a place with a depression in the terrain and some brush. The goal is to find restricted fields of fire so the gun can cover an important area but cannot be seen from multiple areas. AT guns can be useful when they must me faced head on by a single threat at a time. If you try to put them where they have over watch the will also be target able by multiple threats which ends up being bad for them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 It doesn't look like I can move the barbed wire at all. The units and equipment stationed at both barns look like they are not in a setup zone as such and can only be given orders for the first turns actions. Thanks for the tips about AT guns, this will be the first time that I have used them in anger! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Canadian Cat Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Ah well would have been nice to move the wire. Looking forward to seeing this unfold. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 A couple of things to bear in mind: Semovente SPGs are a mixed bunch. The 47mm "Tank Destroyer" type are practically useless, because they have an open top and even .30cal fire will likely panic them; .50cal fire will cause spalling and may even penetrate, so your half tracks are essentially an even match for them, even before your 75mm GMCs arrive. The short 75mm "SPG" version isn't too bad an infantry support tank. .50cal still causes spalling, and can stop 'em, but they have a lid and .30cal isn't as effective. The 90mm TD (no quotes - it really rips tanks up) is a very useful piece of kit. But it only has 9 AP and 3 HE rounds, and has an open back, so is very vulnerable to mortar fire if BD has any and leaves them static for any length of time. It's those little Renaults that are most likely to give you jip until your armour shows up. Yoru 57mm ATGs can deal with any Italian armour and have decent burster charges, so if infantry start to get near, don't be afraid to drop the "Covered Armour Arc" and let the TacAI blast away at the Italian GroPos. They'll get a concealment bonus until they move (which isn't inconceivable - you have lots of M3s to tow them with), but that bonus is only worth anything if they're already at least somehwat concealed. You really need brush/shrubs and/or forest terrain between the gun and the observer: putting the gun in the "edge of the forest" (half an AS worth of concealment) won't do; it wants to be as far back into cover as it can be and still draw LOS out of it. Being in the second row of concealing terrain gives three times the concealment of being in the first row. As has been said, keyholes are good: the guns are vulnerable to all kinds of return fire, even if it only suppresses them, so limit what can shoot back once BD does see you. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Thanks womble! I read the manual about the Semoventes and have noted down their strengths and weaknesses. If BD starts with R35s I'm going to have to be careful again until my SPGs turn up. I guess a lot depends on how well I use my AT guns. It looks like it will be best to limber up the AT guns and get them out of the farmyard, unless I can find some decent hiding spots there. Shame the setup zones are so limited, I didn't really want to start things off having to haul hardware around the map. Good to hear that the AP rounds are effective against infantry, I was worried that they'd on,y be effective against BDs armour. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Setup North bridge (the one closest to BigDork) I've split a two man AT team off from the pack, given them a tube and four rounds and told them to hide down the side of the bridge. The rest of the squad are loaded onto the halftrack and will be pegging it back to the farm. I've positioned the bunkers in the most exposed positions I can. If BD plans to use them then he'll get minimal benefit from them. My hope is that BD sees my withdrawal and thinks I have abandoned the bridge. I'm hoping that I get to inflict some damage, real and psychological to Bd and his Axis hardware....... :hide: South bridge Again, I've split off a two man AT team and loaded them up with gear, and have ordered them to cross over the bridge and hide. The rest of the squad are in the halftrack and will also cross the bridge and wait in cover, to be a rapid reaction force. Either to head to the farm if needed, or to head to either forest. Bunkers are positioned well on either side of the bridge, to provide a last ditch defensive position for the bridge. The farm Everyone has stocked up on ammo from one of the halftracks. There is a MG team in both buildings, with a fire arc to just up to the near edge of the northern bridge. I'm happy to let BD take the bridge, but don't want to reveal my positions at the farm too soon. Mortar team is hiding in a bunker in front of the left building. They can directly target both ends of the northern bridge, if needs be. FO team are looking out of the right building, ready to call in some 81mm hurt...... My two AT guns are positioned (I hope) to maximise the cover from the two buildings. The AT gun on the left if definitely shielded by the adjacent building and can target up to the north bridge. The AT gun on the right is slightly exposed to the valley to its left, but BD will have to progress quite far up it to see down into the farm. This AT gun can also target to the north bridge, so between them they should have all angles covered and provide a good AT kill zone. My halftracks are positioned (I hope) to provide some much needed small arms supression to the north. The halftrack on the left is the most exposed, and so is the one I have bled most for ammo for the farm occupants. Two other halftracks are at the rear of the farm. The last halftrack is wedged down the side of the right hand building, protected by the building to its left and with a great field of fire on the northern bridge. The jeep is positioned to provide a quick getaway for my FO team, or my HQ support team, which is equiped with bazooka and 4 rounds. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 North barn One recon team will jump in the nearest jeep and head north up the forest track to find a position to look down at the northern end of the valley. The other recon team will jump in the other jeep and head down to the southern bridge, to pick up the AT team and ferry them to a more useful position. South barn 1st Platoon HQ will drive their halftrack northwards, then through the forest (hopefully) and wait to get a flanking position to catch BD unawares. I can already envisage coming up behind BDs men and mowing them down while they concentrate on the farm. The two recon teams will each jump into a jeep and head into the forest, but nearer to the forest track. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Here are things drawn out a little clearer, with orders and intended orders plotted. And the big picture once again: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Canadian Cat Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 I've split a two man AT team off from the pack, given them a tube and four rounds and told them to hide down the side of the bridge. My bold Hiding them means they will not see anything coming. Their faces will be in the dirt trying to stay hidden. Any time I have hidden front line troops like this they have just ended up dead. Now If yo have a plan for when to unhide them - great go for it. I'm just warning you that hiding mean they will not spot anything on their own. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 I'm hoping that someone else will spot BD's advance to the bridge, then when his armour appears I'll unhide and open up. That's the plan anyway! But things might be compromised already...... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Turn 1 Most of the turn was absolutely silent, then, right at the end of the minute, I spotted some Italian infantry creeping forwards in both the north and south forests! Looks like BD's setup area was pretty broad, and not the very northwards point as I thought it would be! In the south forest my halftrack almost ran into what must be an Italian infantry squad! Let's hope they don't have any rifle grenades, only one SMG man spotted so far! In the north forest, my AT team hiding out at the north bridge spotted another Italian rifle squad hunting forwards. This time I spotted two rifles, but there is sure to me more up there! I can only guess my AT team's hiding spot (circled) has been compromised! The state of play at the minutes end..... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Orders: My halftrack in the south forest is to open up on the Italian rifle squad. My rifle squad at the north bridge got safely back to the farm in their halftrack. It's off to the south forest for them! My other rifle squad, in the halftrack on the saouth bridge, are to head for the buildings across the other side of the bridge. They'll most likely be heading to the north forest next turn..... AT team near the south bridge to take cover in nearby building, until a life comes by. One jeep in the north forest to head up the forest track, towards BD's Italians. The other jeep is to head to the edge of the northern forest, to eventually pick up the AT team in the valley below. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Turn 2 Woooohooo! Things are heating up already! My halftrack in the southern woods came up against a whole bunch of BD's Italians! I counted four groups of men, two HQs and two squads! I also counted at least five casualties for BD, probably more, as I was spraying lead around like it was going out of fashion. BD, for his part, replied by lobbing a couple of grenades and the odd spurt of small arms fire, but the only casualty for me was a slightly wounded gunner. My boys did decide that things were getting a bit too hot in amongst the trees and decided to withdraw, while laying down heavy supression, to a safer distance. Also in the southern forest, spotted by my MMG team in the farmhouse, another rifle squad popped up right at the periphery and decided to take up an overwatch position over the valley (white circle in overview). It's at this stage that I realised that I forgot to deploy my two MMG teams, and my mortar team! Doh! I'm sure I did deploy them during setup, but then I think I must have sent them to a halftrack to get some goodies, then returned them to their positions and forgot to redeploy again! The mortar team isn't so bad, but the MMG teams take for ever to deploy! My halftrack heading to the southern forest, with a rifle squad on board, spotted more Italians, just as it was about to enter the southern forest. The Italians were hot footing it to the northern bridge and looked in quite a rush (red circle in overview)! I also spotted an Italian mortar team steaming up the hill towards the northern forest. I forgot to get a screenie of these guys, but I've circled them in yellow in the overview shot below. If they get in a good position and can direct fire onto one of my positions I might regret it. I'll have to deal with them sooner, rather than later. Lastly, the rifle squad in the northern forest popped in and out of view for the whole turn. Towards the end of the minute there was the odd pop of rifle fire heading down towards my AT team hiding by the northern bridge. Coupled by the fact that that other rifle team is closing in on their position fast, I think it might be wise for them to get their arses out of there ASAP! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Orders: Halftrack in southern forest - finish reversing out of the forest, then advance up the track and dogleg around to the left and around the back of the, no doubt, frightened Italians. One jeep in southern forest to head down forest track towards farm. Halftrack that has just entered southern forest - stop and dismount rifle squad. Will probably send both into the forest next turn..... Two jeeps in northern forest - as previous orders. AT team at north bridge - sprint back to farm! Two MMG teams and mortar team - deploy :facepalm: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Turn 3 A quiet turn, as I repositioned a few units. My stranded AT team made their mad dash back to the farm. Despite BD having potshots from both sides of the valley (see overview later) they had almost made it back to safety by the end of the minute. Just a few more metres boys...... My ferry service jeep also made it to the head of the valley unscathed. I'm now unsure whether I will ferry the AT team in the buildings up to the northern forest or not. Still no sign of any armour, so I might just leave them in place for the time being. Two things I love about this game - the beauty of the graphics and vistas, and the attention to detail (notice my little AT man running back to the farm (white circle). Other than the above, my other north forest jeep made it to its destination. My south forest halftrack made it to the edge of the map and turned to enter the forest again. The other halftrack in the southern forest unloaded its men, ready for both to press on into the unknown....... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Orders: Yellow halftrack to slow move through the forest, following the last known path of the fleeing Italians. Red infantry squad to hunt into the forest, with a view to intersecting the path of fleeing Italians. Red halftrack to wait 20 seconds then follow the infantry squad, to provide fire superiority when contact is made. Blue jeep to move down forest track to edge of forest. I might unload the occupants into the forest there, or keep them ready for quick reserves elsewhere. Two jeeps in southern forest. As is. Occupants loading up on ammo, then moving out next turn possibly. Withdrawing AT team near farm to take cover in farmhouse and rest. Mortar team to direct fire on forest the other side of the northern bridge. I suspect that BD's infantry squad are resting up after a sprint across the open. Time to disturn their downtime then! M2 halftrack to the left of the farm. Area fire into the woods on the near side of the north bridge. If anyone is hiding in there then they needs to move out soon! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 That looks like it will be last turn of the day. It's late in BDland and I haven't had a chat reply on returning the save. What do you think guys? Any suggestions? Are my AT guns in reasonable positions? I know they're not the best places for them to be, but I didn't fancy hooking them up to a halftrack and hauling them into the woods - a decision that looks a good one in hindsight, what with BD's men crawling through them like ants! Was it wise to fire the mortar at this early stage? Was it a good idea to open up with the halftrack in the farm, revealing its position? So much to ponder...... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poesel Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Don't go hunting with the HT in the woods. You are lucky you suffered no cas yet. Join the with the rest of your men and provide long range support. Same with red: you are on defence. Let him come to you. Same with blue: the scouts probably have SMGs - your best friends in the woods. Don't move them to the edge. Keep your men together. I guess you will be greatly outnumbered. No point in thinning your defence. Btw: thanks for making the AAR. Very immersive. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 LOL, so apart from doing everything wrong, I'm doing OK! I never was much good at staying still. I'll try harder, honest! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Canadian Cat Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Was it wise to fire the mortar at this early stage? Was it a good idea to open up with the halftrack in the farm, revealing its position? In my opinion yes use your arty. When you know where a force concentration is and you can drop HE on it, do. A goal of artillery is to score some casualties early and thin out the enemy before they make it to your waiting defense lines. I never was much good at staying still. I'll try harder, honest! Possibly the hardest skill to learn on defense. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 poesel71 - I've thought more seriosuly about your criticism and have decided that, while it may be bad doctrine to take a halftrack into the woods unprotected, it has enabled me to disprupt BDs plans. In my mind at the moment, the best form of defence is offence. Had I not made such a risky decision BD would now be having the freedom to form up his numerous men and plan his attack according to his strategy. At least I have killed a handful and probably knocked the remainders morale some. I'm hoping to take out a few more before things get too hairy. I take your point regarding my recon teams though. After looking at their composition I have decided that they would be best hunting through the woods, rather than having eyes on the valley below. Please keep your criticism and advice coming. I'm learning all the time, and while the manual is awesome, it is very light on real world tactics. It's only by trial and error and external advise that I will become a better player! ian - Thanks for the confirmation regarding my mortars. I'm always in a dilemma when I'm on defence, whether to stay idden for as long as possible, or whether to take an early opportunity, potential or otherwise, to score some hits. I'm not convinced digging in and waiting for death to visit you is always the best approach. I like 90% of my defence to do that, but I do like the heroics of that last 10% going on flushing out missions! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penry Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Turn 4 More action for my halftrack in the southern woods. It wasn't long before he spotted another Italian HQ member, running deeper into the woods, and couldn't help but follow.... Soon he came across an infantryman blocking his path, standing valiantly in the face of death. He didn't last long! The turn ended with my halftrack laying down more hurt on another spotted Italian. You might also notice three Italians in the distance, lined up along the fence at the very edge of the woods. They're the ones looking down on the valley from turn 2. In the north wood, I suffered my first casualty. My recon team, who had bailed out the jeep at the beginning of the turn, decided to hang around in the open for some unknown reason. A hidden Italian marksman (white circle in overview) took out one of my men, before the rest hit the dirt and must have disappeared from his view. Murphy's law that it was my Thompson man who bought it! Other than that there wasn't a great deal going on. My AT team made it back to the safety of the farmhouse. My farmyard halftrack laid down some supressing fire on the woods by the north bridge, and my mortar team managed to get one round off at their target, landing just beyond the woods on the far side of the north bridge (marked as yellow star) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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