Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 Hello. I recently played Panzer Mikes excellent defensive scenario "Fester Platz Polozk" (avaliable at the repository). One of the best defensive scenarios i have ever played in any CM-game (CMSF, CMBN, CMFI, CMRT). However...I did do a number off misstakes and maybe had a bit of bad luck (getting my hertzer immobolized in the first turn). This resulted in me failing to complete my assigned objectives. I really liked the scenario though so i thought that i would give it another go and try to learn from my misstakes in my first attempt. This scenario has multiple AI-plans so i will do my best to try and get another AI-plan then the one i already played. Like in my first attempt i will initially try to defend well forward and then fall back as the enemy pressure increases. This time i will try to 'keyhole' my troops a bit better to not expose them to the massed firepower of multiple russian units firering from different directions. I will also try to withdraw my exposed units in time rather then keeping them in place for to long and having them get wiped out. I will try to pay closer attention to how i move my Hertzer around and hopefully not getting it immobolized at all. This will be the first AAR i have done ever so don't expect a masterpiece but i will do my best. Any comments regarding the presentation or tactics (or lack off) will be welcome. OK. Here we go. The briefing first: My forces. The briefing mentioned 3 companies of infantry supported by 2 Hertzers and 2 75mm infantry guns. Artillerysupport will be provided by 6 medium mortars. I will also have some flak units. This is what i have on the map: FIRST COMPANY: ------------------------------------- - 3 infantry platoons - 1 machinegun section ( 2 HMGs + HQ) - 3 sniper teams - 2 75mm infantry guns - 2 tankhunter teams - 7 panzerschreck teams (2 assigned to each platoon and 1 to the company HQ) - 1 flamethrower SECOND COMPANY: -------------------------------------- - 2 infantry platoons - 5 panzerschreck teams (2 assigned to each platoon and 1 to the company HQ) And that's it with regards to 2nd company. No other support units and 1 infantry platoon missing. FOURTH COMPANY: -------------------------------------- - 1 machinegun platoon (4 HMGs + HQ) And on the south side of the Dvina river - 6 81mm mortars including 1 FO team 1 FLAK BATTERY: -------------------------------------- - 3 37mm AA-guns deployed south of the Dvina river with the mortars - 1 light machinegun deployed south of the Dvina river with the mortars - 3 20mm AA-guns deployed to the west of town ADDITIONAL UNITS: --------------------------------------- - 1 Hertzer (with one more arriving as reinforcement in 45 min.) - 4 trucks (with ammo) - 2 kubelwagens (with ammo) My troops are a mix of everthing between green and veteran troops with some crack guys thrown in. Crack guys: A sniper team and a tankhunter team. Both are assigned to assist my 1st platoon on my left flank. A two man tankhunter-team armed with MP40s and panzerfausts. Sniper-teams view towards the enemy. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 THE OBJECTIVES: I have in total 6 terrain objectives. Starting from the west (my side): POLOZK WEST This objective is the least valuable as far as points are conserned (50 VP). This will probably be where i will make my final stand if the enemy are able to advance this far. FACTORY No 130 This old factory will be a strong defensive possition should i need to fall back this far. For now it will serve as my battalion HQ. I will keep some of my supply trucks here. It is the most valuable objective on the map (300 VP). CEMETERY This will be my last defensive possition on my left flank. For now it will be my 1st company HQ. I will also keep some resupply trucks here (200 VP). Infront of these objectives i have three 100 VP objectives. Starting from the north. LIENINHRADSKI SQUARE This is a fairly open square surrounded by buildings on all sides (100 VP). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 KRUZHKA INN This is a 4 story building situated in the middle of another open area. It will provide me with a good defensive possition as long as enemy armour will not be able to target it. (100 VP). RIVER BANK NORTH This is a lightly wooded ridge on my right flank (100 VP). And finally an picture of FACTORY No 112 on the south side of the Dvina river. Although not an objective. This is where my artillery support will be located. And this is where my FO is located... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 MY DEPLOYMENT: This is a picture of my entire force with the artillery- and AA possitions encircled. Although tempting to 'borrow' some of the AA-guns and transport them to locations where they will be better able to support my main force...I will keep them in place. I don't know but i think this is what the designer intended... 1st company will be deployed upfront 1st plt/1st co 2nd plt/1st co 3rd plt/1st co 2nd company will be deployed in a secondary line and also serve as a reserv. 2nd plt/2nd co 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Deployed behind 1st company. 1st plt/2nd co will act as reservs. They start the scenario from an other deploymentzone and i will move them forward to these buildings and keep them there until needed. My battalion HQ A picture of my panzerschreck teams. Besides these i have 2 panzerschreck teams assigned to 1st plt/2nd company (the reserv platoon). My Hertzer and the infantryguns. Just like my reserv platoon the Hertzer is initialy deployed in an other deployment zone and i will move it forward. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 SOME MORE PICTURES OF 1st PLT/1st COMPANY: I have split all 3 squads into A- and B teams. 1st and 3rd squads MG42 equiped teams are deployed behind the wall to be able to support their SMG equiped teams infront of them from further back and also be able to put fire down the street. 2nd squad is possitioned to defend against enemies advancing through the courtyard behind the houses. The MG42 equiped squad on the second floor and the MP40 equiped at ground level. The plt HQ it possitioned to keep as many as possible of its subordinates in command. If an enemy tank appear i might withdraw them to behind the building. The panzerscreck team to the right are possitioned behind the building for now and i will try to sneak them into the house infront of them if i need them. The numbers inside the green boxes indicates areas where i will show close-in pictures. 1st plt/1st co is supported by one of the companys machinegun sections (only one available). Unfortunatelly their CO is not the best. GREEN and -2 stats. Hopefully he will not have a to negative influence on the HMG teams. The 2 HMG teams are REGULAR quality with -1 stats. 1st plt is also reinforced by 2 panzerschreck teams assigned to 1st company, a sniper and a half-squad from 2 plt/2 company. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Some close-in pictures of areas 1, 2 and 3.. View from 3rd squads B-team (MG 42) from behind the wall. Being able to support the squads infront of them and also put fire down the street. 1st squads A-team (MP40) will advance into the building. 3rd squads A-team will remain behind the wall (the building behind them gives them no LOF). 2 Squad are deployed in the buildings to be able to engage any russians trying to advance trough the courtyard in front of them. The B-team with the MG42 are deployed on the 2nd floor and the A-team at groundlevel. I will concentrate my defenders of the courtyard in the corner buildings. There is a high wall running across the lenth of the courtyard and the only two openings the enemy will be able to use to advance west across here are located at the corners. 2nd squad/ 1st plt will defend this one and 1st squad/ 2nd plt will defend the south (to the right) opening. 2nd squad B-team have aquired a panzerfaust from the supply trucks to also be able to engage possible AFV comming down the street. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 SOME MORE PICTURES OF 2nd PLT/1st COMPANY: 2nd platoon will be deployed right next to 1st platoon. A little more to the south to cover the middle part of the map. The primary objective for 2nd platoon will be to help defend two blocks of buildings in the center and also the open ground around Kruzhka Inn. Pretty much the entire platoon will be setup in thoose buildings. One panzerschreck team is possitioned in Kruzhka Inn and an other in a shell crater further to the right. 2nd platoon will have the support from the north infantrygun possitioned back at battalion HQ (factory No 130). The numbers inside the green boxes indicates areas where i will show close-in pictures. 2nd platoon will be further supported by the better part of the 4th company machingun platoon. They are deployed as above. The platoon HQ and one HMG are deployed in Kruzhka Inn. One gun covers the south courtyard and the last one is deployed on the second floor of the building to the left to be able to pour fire down the road infront of it. In addition to the machineguns two sniper teams and two tankhunter teams will also be able to support 2nd platoon. They are also deployed to be able to engage targets both in the courtyards and on the streets. The two teams to the left are my CRACK guys. And finally a squad from 2nd platoon/ 2nd commpany will be able to help defend the area around Kruzhka Inn. Here we have the north infantry gun at battalion HQ. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Kruzhka Inn is well occupied. The Hq from the machinegun platoon along with one of the guns as well as a panzerschreck team. These guys will have good all around fields of fire. view from Kruzhka Inn towards the enemy approaches. Here we have the machinegun team on the left deployed on the second floor. Nice field of fire to their front ! As with the situation for 1st platoon. The courtyard has walls and smaller buildings on them restricting movement and LOS/LOF. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 SOME MORE PICTURES OF 3rd PLT/1st COMPANY: My squads are located to be able to put fire on both the courtyard and the roads on the left and right as needed. I have two MP40 equiped half-squads deployed in the courtyard itself and a number of panzerschrecks to my right. The platoon HQ is deployed to be able to keep as many as possible of its subordinates under command. The 75mm infantry guns back at my battalion HQ will be able to support this possition. The numbers inside the green boxes indicates areas where i will show close-in pictures. 3rd platoon will be further supported by a pair of panzerschrecks from 2nd platoon/2 company and a halfsquad from the same platoon. They have also been reinforced with a flamethrowerteam from 1st company. These 2 lanes will be well protected by AT weapons. A number of Schrecks as well as panzerfaust-equiped halfsquads. If enemy armour choose to advance along the right lane i will try to regroup some of the guys to the right lane of buildings. I honestly don't really know what to do with my flamethrower team. They pretty much need to be set up in an ambush possition to be able to get a shot off before being killed. I will move them to this building and hide them with a covered arc. Hopefully they will be able to squeeze a burst off or two before being killed. They will be able to target the buildings across the street or fire at enemies moving along the street. I will move these guys forward a short distance to take cover behind the tall wall. From here they will be able to fire at the enemy if they try to advance west across the courtyard but still be quite protected from enemy fire comming from the east (i hope). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 This panzerschreck team are the only guys i have right now that will be able to engage enemy armour if they decide to move this way. South of the small ridge. Hopefully my 37mm AA-guns on the south side of the Dvina river will also be able to assist. If the enemy moves armour this way i will try to regroup some more panzerschrecks from 3rd plt/ 1st company to here and i also have the Hertzer. But for now. These guys are quite lonely... Here we have the south gun back at the battalion HQ supported by a HMG infront of them (keep your heads down, guys). MY INITIAL PLAN: - My plan is not very complicated for now. I will keep my men in place and fall back as needed. As the battle developes i might have to regroup some of my men. - To start with my right flank (the wooded ridge along the river) is thinly defended. If the enemy decides to attack in force here i will target this area with my mortars (the FO only has a 4 min delay) The AA-guns south of the river will also be able to assist. This will hopefully buy me some time to shift more troops to this flank. - My reserv platoon will be moved to the area that needs them the most. - If i can avoid it i will not use the Hertzer as a tankhunter initially. I want to use its HE ammo first to target enemy strongpoints. After that i will use it for tank-hunting. I have a large number of panzerschrecks and panzerfaust. Hopefully my infantry will be able to handle the enemy armour to start with. If the enemy possitions some of his armour out of reach from my hand held AT weapons and keeps pounding my infantry i will however have to use the Hertzer to engage the enemy armour. Well...I think that's it. Let's get this battle started ! (to be continued) !!! I will try to post one update each day. The battle starts tomorrow... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 INCOMMING !!! At set-up i ordered my reserv-platoon to move forward from their current possition to a group of buildings located at the western edge of Polozk. This unfortunatelly proved to be a fatal misstake. The patch of woods that the platoon where ordered to move through soon came under enemy artillery fire. The result was not pretty. Here they are just as they are about to cross the railroad track. Enemy artillery falling all over the place ! My reservplatoon when the turn ended. My ooh my ! I bett the barrage is far from over. These guys are in trouble. Two of the squads are veteran troops. I will try to get them out of there. The rest of the men will hide in place. Atleast my Hertzer (starting next to that platoon) managed to get through it OK. Besides shelling that area the enemy fired smokerounds on both my flanks and also shelled the forrest on the south side of DVina river. The first enemy where spotted infront of 1st platoon/ 1st company on the left flank. Enemy infantry was seen exiting the factory No 88 complex. My flamethrowerteam arrived in the asigned building and i put them on hide with a covered arc to target the buildings infront of them if the enemy moves there. Hopefully they will be able to remain unspotted until they fire. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 TURN 2 My reservplatoon are still trapped under the enemy artillerybarrage and are taking even more casualties. It looks doubtful if i will be able to get any of thoose guys out of there. What a dissaster ! That platoon was probably the best one i had with 2 veteran squads and 1 regular. Not a good start this time either i'm affraid...I guess this evens it out a bit. After all i have already played this scenario once and might have some unfair info. The only good thing though is that it looks like i'm playing a different AI-plan this time around. That artillery barrage was not there last time. Over to the east the enemy assult has begun. A large number of enemy infantry have been seen exiting factory No 88. About half of them seems to be heading towards the smoke on the left and the other half are advancing south. Besides infantry an enemy ISU 152 is spotted at the factory. More infantry are spotted infront of 3rd platoon. The enemies to the south where the first spotted and soon after additional tropps appeared further north. The southern guys seems to be heading for the smoke and the other guys are advancing towards Pushka hotel. Shots have been fired. First to engage the enemy where these guys from the 1st squad/3rd plt of 1st company. They opened fire on the enemy troops advancing towards Pushka hotel. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 My troops will remain in place for now but i decided to move these guys to the next row of building further to the south to help keep an eye out for enemy troops trying to advance through the smokescreen. TURN 3 These guys are what i have been able to save from my reservplatoon. There are a few more survivors but they are still under fire and unable to move out of the killingzone. 1st plt/2nd co is no more i'm affraid. This will complicate things. I will have to re-assign 2nd plt/ 2nd CO to be my reserves from now on. 1st company is preparing for battle... More and more russian infantry are arriving infront of their possition. On my left flank contact is imminent. Alot of russians are moving into the smoke infront of 1st platoon. Besides the infantry 1 more ISU 152 have been spotted by the factory. 1st machinegun section/4th co deployed on the second floor of a building covering the open road infront of them are engaging russians advancing south towards Pushka Hotel from factory No 88. The halfsquad from 3rd platoon that i ordered to regroup to a building further to the south made it there with no problem. This turn there have been no more activity on my far right. The only order i will give for next turn will be to try and move the last survivors from the reservplatoon away from the artiller bombardment. All in all there are 5 survivors there not counting the 3 guys a managed to withdraw earlier. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 TURN 4 Not much to report. The survivors from the reservplatoon managed to escape and the 1st machinegun section keept engaging russians trying to regroup to the south from factory No 88 This is what the frontline looks like now. No new orders for next turn... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 End of todays update... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Lee Irked Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Nice AAR thanks for sharing 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Nice AAR thanks for sharing Thanks, General ! The next update will show things starting to heat up all over the front. The battle for polozk is in full swing... I will post it later today... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerMike Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Great stuff! Ouch, that reserve platoon wandered into an artillery barrage. The bridge approach was under interdiction fire (those burning wrecks there where a tell tale sign). Hope you did not suffer too many casualties! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake_eye Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Too bad for your reserve veterans platoon. That is the misfortune of war ! For the rest your troops emplacements seem good. beware of the ISU152, they have a certain tendency to blow out houses from which fire comes. Have in mind that Hetzers are better shot when firing on the side of the Russians beats. Nice AAR very detailed. Cheer 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerMike Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 *****Spoiler***** There was a reason why the setup zone for the reserve platoon was on the West side or the railroad. You decided to move them across the railroad to the city on turn 1. The AI is set to give interdiction fire at the area around the railroad. You blundered into that. Just bad luck. War is hell. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Hello, guys... Great stuff! Thanks ! Hope you did not suffer too many casualties! I wish i could say i didn't. But i have 8 survivors from that entire platoon and no panzerschrecks. Besides this 'malfunction' in my plan the battle is going quite well so far i think... War is hell. I'm sure those guys will agree... For the rest your troops emplacements seem good. Thanks ! beware of the ISU152, they have a certain tendency to blow out houses from which fire comes. Have in mind that Hetzers are better shot when firing on the side of the Russians beats. I will keep your suggestions in mind... Time for todays update... The battle will intensify...Enjoy 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 TURN 5 At the start of turn 5 the HMG-team that has been engaging the russians comming from the factory comes under fire from up the street and one man is hit. Despite losing a man they are still capable of returning fire within a few seconds. Further to the south my guys are able to observe enemy troops advancing across the street from the building behind Pushka Hotel towards the block of buildings infront of my flamethrowerteam. They immediatelly come under fire from a halfsquad from my 3rd platoon. The same guys that engaged the russians advancing towards the hotel recently. They are however unable to stop the russians crossing the street. They are not the only guys that open up on the advancing enemies...My northern infantry gun wants to join the battle and opens fire. Unfortunatelly they miss their target and hits the building to the south. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Towards the end of the turn more russian troops crosses the street. This time my infantry gun takes better aim and causes some casulties... The enemy troops that made it across the street starts to advance across the courtyard towards the buildings directly infront of my flamethrower. Unfortunatelly the undiciplined assistant to the flamethrower disobeys his HOLD FIRE order and opens up with his MP40. This will most likely reveal their possition to the enemy and they will come under heavy fire. What about my reserv platoon ? They have reassembled at the cemetery and will rest there for a while. 8 survivors. Thats all that is left of 1st plt/2nd CO. 5 men are OK and 3 are wounded. They are all rattled after their ordeal in the woods. I will send the 2nd company CO up to them to try and comfort them.Their platoonleader was one of the casualties. They have had a rough day so far and the day is far from over. I doubt that these guys will be able to do me much good any more though. Maybe the could be useful later on. For now they will rest.... 'All quiet on the leftern flank'...No more movement where observed infront of 1st platoon this turn and they did not take any fire. This will change very soon i'm sure. Quite a few ruskies must be hiding in that smokescreen. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glubokii Boy Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 TURN 6 russian infantry advance up the street towards 1st platoon. Here they split up. Some of the troops turn to the buildings on the left and some turn to the right. They come under fire from my 1st platoon HQ. In the firefight my HQ loses a man. Next turn i will withdraw my HQ from that building and instead sprint one of my HMG teams supporting 1st platoon into that building. Their current task can be handled by the HMG team in the corner building to the right. The enemy does not seem to be able to advance in this area right now. Those ISU 152s at the factory are a concern though. The building my HMG team move to might be exposed thoose guns. Or soon will be... The smokescreen on the left has not resulted in complete succes for the enemy. Some enemy units have bypast my most forward defenders without seeing them. Here we have a russian squad advancing west apparently without spotting my defenders behind the wall. When they finally do they come under fire from my supporting halfsquads behind the wall further back. And are killed ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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