The Last of the StuGs - Tankovyi Desant AAR

[BarbaricCo]

I first played this battle as a German and was thrilled when one of my StuGs destroyed column of T34 attacking on the right flank. Knowing what to except, playing the Soviet side, I spread T34s and managed to destroy two StuGs. When battle was considered over, the last of the StuGs appeared and in few minutes shoot five T34s!
Even continuing from the saved games, as it was positioned down the road in the middle of the forest, I was unable to outflank and destroy him. Only by luck did T34 managed to disable him.
I know this has been discussed many times but this machine keeps impressing me.

Mods: War Movie ADVANCED mode for CMBN: http://cmmodsiii.greenasjade.net/?p=2747 + Aris vehicles mods: http://cmmodsiii.greenasjade.net/?cat=15

 

Edited November 20, 2015 by BarbaricCo

[17pounder]

I had a small quick battle scenario a few days ago, random everything except my force which I picked as an infantry/tank/assault gun mix as the attacking Russian (plus some Il-2 strafing). I too came across a StuG firing from a very competent concealed position under trees (superb ai). However he was spotted because I sent my more disposable infantry (penal battalion?) ahead of my armour, suspecting this would happen. The StuG just couldn't resist giving my men a dose of HE and thus exposing himself.

From then it was a case of marking his position before he disappeared, and outflanking him as best as possible, not helped by being a river map with marshy areas! I lost both my T-70's doing this, but better them than my heavies. Eventually I found just 2 locations where I could get shots of at him, again by using my infantry - of which I had plenty. I then used both my Su-85 and T-34/85 to arrive in position at exactly the same moment to confuse the enemy gunner! He got off the first shot at my SU but luckily it didn't penetrate fatally though he pulled back panicked, but now of course being a StuG he was at a disadvantage because he had to move the whole vehicle to get a shot at my T-34/85 which was at a greater angle than his limited traverse (trees didn't help him either!) - by the time he had it was too late for him, my tank got off 2 shots AP at his side and it was sorted.

The enemy's whole defence seemed to hinge on that SP gun, and then it was just a case of rooting out AT guns with my infantry and MG teams with my tanks. My Il-2 came in very handy for recon as well as strafing. You know Operation Bagration was probably pretty similar to this scenario in many ways.     

[Bulletpoint]

Shame about the Hollywood explosion effects.. nice flames on the burning tanks though.

Edited November 21, 2015 by Bulletpoint