Broken Shields: Campaign AAR

[DerKommissar]

Fire & Rubble: Broken Shields

On this cold January morning, Kampfgruppe "Darges" is taking part in the Konrad Offensives. The goal is to break-out friendly forces, out of the Budapest Cauldron.

Kampfgruppe "Darges" is mostly made out of I. Battalion/SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 23 "Norge". Half-tracks are in low supply, so we must ride the 5th SS Panzer Division's tanks.

BLUFOR

Task Force North (SS-Hauptsturmführer Weber): 4 Kompanie (Weapons)

Task Force Center (SS-Hauptsturmführer Schmidt): 1 Kompanie (Tanks)

Task Force South (SS-Hauptsturmführer Oldendahl): 1 Kompanie (Infantry)

Kampfgruppe HQ (SS-Sturmbannführer Vogt)

Supports (SS-Hauptsturmführer Wöhler): 81mm Platoon, Aufklärung Pioneers, Self-Propelled Flak (Light)

OPFOR

232 Guards Rifle Division, 68th Guards Rifle Regiment

The enemy must be made out of infantry, backed by anti-tank guns and possibly vehicles. They have not had time to fortify.

Terrain

Phase A: Town

Soviet ambush elements control the northern and southern woods. We must first secure the town, Objective Vertesszoloes.

Phase B: Hill

This wooded hill controls the central road. It must be taken to get a good view, and to protect our convoy.

Phase C : Exit

This is where the central road leaves the forest. It will give us maneuverability, as well as a base of fire, for taking Objective Tarjan.

Plan

 Clear the central road.

Weber and Oldendahl must cover Schmidt, as the convoy moves through the woods. Vogt will divert supports, where needed.

Once we have a more accurate picture of the enemy, the plan may be altered.

[DerKommissar]

Execution

0841

The Panthers of Task Force Center arrive at the entrance of Verteszoloes. The Hauptsturmführer Schmidt (Bottom-left TC), peers across the snowy slope.

0842

Task Force North takes second place, Weber's HQ riding on-top of the StuG IV. The convoy is here, and the infantry are not far behind.

0843

The Southern Task Force's infantry are almost in position. Oldendahl rides in his staff car, as the panzergrenadiers hold their grumbling.

0844

As Weber's infantry catches up, Sturmbannführer Vogt (Bottom-most Kubelwagen) arrives at the scene.

Hauptsturmführer Wöhler (Left-most Kubelwagen) gives him the situation report.

0845

Obersturmführer Kahl is the last to arrive, he somehow got separated from his Aufklärung Pioneers' Schwimmwagens. 

Wöhler (Kahl's CO) gets chewed out by Vogt, as the offensive is already behind schedule.

0846

The Aufklärung Pioneers carefully probe the north side of town. Unterscharführer Hiller reports no contacts. It's quiet.

The Kampfgruppe's Forward Observers creep towards the south side of town. Obersturmführer Ross reports no contacts. It's too quiet...

[Aragorn2002]

Superb! Great screenshots!

Edited December 22, 2022 by Aragorn2002

[Warts 'n' all]

A great series of screen shots. But, I don't think "Phase A" could be called a "Town", it would be stretching it a bit to even call it a hamlet.

[Phantom Captain]

This is excellent!!  Following.

[Combatintman]

I remember testing this and the next mission in this campaign - I suspect I may learn how I should have approached it from this thread

[S-Tank]

I'm looking forward to seeing someone else play this. So far you seem to be taking a more slow and cautious approach than I did.

[DerKommissar]

Appreciate all the feedback. More will be coming, after Christmas. So, have a good holiday, everyone!

On 12/22/2022 at 5:43 PM, Warts 'n' all said:

A great series of screen shots. But, I don't think "Phase A" could be called a "Town", it would be stretching it a bit to even call it a hamlet.

It's a rare luxury to have historical persons help with editing. You're correct -- it almost looks like one large farm, to me. I wanted to call it "Small Town", but I shortened it to "Town", for brevity. It's simply meant to indicate the terrain type of that specific objective, as small as it may be.

1 hour ago, S-Tank said:

I'm looking forward to seeing someone else play this. So far you seem to be taking a more slow and cautious approach than I did.

My thinking is that their best prepared forces are around Vertesszoloes. Once I have broken through, it should be a quick dash out of the woods. I am concerned, that I may be giving the Soviets more time to react. Time will tell if I am correct, or if I made another classic mistake of the Eastern Front!

[JM Stuff]

On 12/22/2022 at 10:19 PM, DerKommissar said:

Fire & Rubble: Broken Shields

 

 

 

Will be nice, when we could created and erase some overlays, directly on the battlefield, eventual with limitation of the units, nice screenshots !

Edit minimum of the 2d view !

JM

Edited December 25, 2022 by JM Stuff

[DerKommissar]

0847

Task Force Oldendahl's infantry are on their way to secure Vertesszoloes' South flank (Bottom-Center).

0848

Task Force Weber (Top-Center) clears the North woods. Vogt's radio operator (Bottom-Left) transmits the orders for taking the hamlet.

Oldendahl (Left) and Weber (Right) will assault the flanks of Vertezzoloes. Schmidt's panzers (Bottom-Center) will be the base-of-fire.

0849

Aufklärung Pioneers slip into the hamlet's rear. No contacts.

0850

Weber (Bottom-Right) reports that his task force is in position.

Shortly after, Oldendahl's HQ (Bottom-Left) radios that his men are standing-by. Vogt confirms: the assault begins now.

0851

The violent crack of a 14.5mm anti-tank round shatters the silence. Task Force Oldendahl's veterans know that sound, all too well.

Unterscharführer Hamblen's section opens up with the MG, on the brick building. Ricochets fly around, dangerously.

One of Hamblen's men is wounded (Bottom-Center). The assistant squad leader's (Right-most) semi-automatic rifle fire finds their target.

0852

Screams are barely audible over the storm of gunfire. After dispatching a contact, Hamblen's assistant yells "Cease Fire!". The machine gunner got too carried away.

0853

After the gun-fire dies down, reports are transmitted to Vogt. North of Vertesszoloes is clear. Oldendahl suggests at least one anti-tank platoon in the Center.

0854

As Weber's task force probes South-ward, another anti-tank blast comes from the Center. Unterscharführer Hiller and his Aufklärung Pioneers hug the ground.

Obersturmführer Hauer's Panther sends an HE shell at the contact. There's a split second of quiet, and then a cavalcade of PPSH fire.

Task Force Oldendahl's infantry spot the PPSH fire, and answer with their own automatics.

Unterscharführer Gloser's infantry section steals Oldendahl's thunder, as part of Task Force Weber's advance.

0856

Vertesszoloes is clear. Vogt transmits the go-code to continue clearing the road. Towards House A!

Edited December 26, 2022 by DerKommissar

[Ultradave]

"It's too quiet" was exactly how I felt when approaching the town. In fact, from playtesting, I think one of my pictures captioned exactly that made it into the BF tease announcement. Love the atmosphere of this one. 

Dave