Sokolov Screen (v2)

[manchildstein (ii)]

scenario depot: http://ns9.super-hosts.com/~dragonlair.net/combatmission/

EDIT - Briefing for version 2.0:

Title: Sokolov Screen

Play as Axis against the Allied AI

Default AI Setup

Semi-Historical

Axis Probe

8 Jul, 1941

South, Hot, Dry, Clear, Still, Mid-Day

Map Size: 2160 x 1600 meters

Axis: SS Motorized Infantry Battalion, 7 StuG, 9 Pz Jg I, FO Support

Allied: 2 Infantry Battalions, reinforced

10 Small, 8 Large Flags

Turns: 60

Scenario Version: 2.0

Jul, 1941: Until now held in reserve, the Leibstandarte (LAH) Brigade is entering some of its first Eastfront fighting in an area outside of Sokolov.

After a fairly quick - though by no means easy - fight through the Western frontier of the Soviet Union, 1st Panzer Group now must pierce the defenses of the Stalin line. With heavy woods on either side of it, a rail line leading through an orchard-laden valley seems to be the way forward. In order to clear the area, LAH is sending in one of their Motorized Battalions, reinforced by AFVs and supported by a rolling barrage from 2 Artillery Battalions.

While the rest of the Brigade is fighting North and South of here (or simply being held in momentary reserve), your reinforced Motorized Infantry Battalion will pierce the defensive belt through this valley.

Under the combined cover of dawn, smoke, and fog the dismounted grenadiers and their supporting AFVs made their way forward and to their jumpoff points. Presently the guns and pioneers from the Heavy Weapons Company are moving forward behind them.

With the full light of day and the smoke and fog clearing, your attack is set to jump off.

You have the following units available:

LAH Brigade Motorized Infantry Battalion:

1 x 81mm FO

3 x Motorized Infantry Company, each with:

18 x LMG34 (organic to squads in platoons)

4 x HMG

1 x Sharpshooter

1 x Flamethrower (FT)

1 x Tank Hunter Team

1 x 28/21mm Heavy ATR

1 x HMG Company

8 x HMG34

1 x Heavy Weapons Company

4 x 37mm AT

3 x 50mm AT

1 x Armored Pioneer Pioneer Platoon

3 x LMG

3 x FT

Brigade Level Armored Support Detachments:

7 x StuG B

9 x Panzerjager I

Luckily, detailed topographical maps of the area were earlier captured intact. This will allow the LAH Artillery Battalions to provide a rolling barrage in support of this attack:

I. Artillery Battalion:

3 x 105mm FO

II. Artillery Battalion:

2 x 105mm FO

2 x 150mm FO

Simulated Rolling Barrage Artillery Rules: While the Battalion's organic 81mm Mortar FO is available for on-call fire, certain rules are provided for the rolling barrage conducted by the FOs of the LAH I. and II. Artillery Battalions. When first loading the scenario as Germans, the view is at level 6 and looking directly down at the FOs which will be conducting the rolling barrage. These FOs are in 3 groups, each of the 3 groups or "rows" representing the same batteries but to be set to fire pre-planned on different turns; 01, 11, 21. In each row the FOs for each Battalion are in 2 "sections;" the 3 x 105mm of the I. Battalion on the left, and the 2 x 105 plus 2 x 150mm on the right.

On turn 01 you will have 21 targets to choose:

7 FOs of I. and II. Battalion, pre-planned for Turn 01

7 FOs of I. and II. Battalion, pre-planned for Turn 11

7 FOs of I. and II. Battalion, pre-planned for Turn 21

Perhaps the easiest way to achieve this is to, after setup but during the Turn 1 Orders Phase: Individually choose each of the 21 targets for these FOs of I. and II. Battalions.

After you have selected all 21 targets, then group select the 14 FOs from the "Turn 11" and "Turn 21" rows combined. Hit the "Q" key 10 times to set all 14 of these to "Turn 11." Then group select only the 7 FOs in the "Turn 21" row and hit the "Q" key 10 more times to set these 7 to "Turn 21."

After this you will have the 7 FOs of the "Turn 1" row firing at the start, then the 7 FOs of the "Turn 11" row firing on turn 11, and finally the 7 FOs of the "Turn 21" row firing on turn 21.

This is meant to represent a rolling barrage.

No matter which targets you choose for your barrages, the two main points are that 1) all 21 of these FOs are firing pre-planned, and 2) that each group of 7 is set to the proper turn.

Other than that, for each of these 21 FOs you can order smoke or HE, target wide or normal.

You can follow up behind these pre-planned artillery fire missions with your ground assault.

Aerial recon has delineated the main line of defense in this sector. It is marked on the map by the "*" symbols. Most enemy positions should be within 200 meters or so of these markings.

Changes from Version 1 to Version 2: The Recon Battalion with its Armored Car Company has been replaced by a Motorized Infantry Battalion with no armored cars. The squads are now more robust, with 10 men apiece instead of 8. The armored cars weren't contributing much to version 1.0 and centering the battle around exiting them didn't quite stir the imagination.

So the exit scenario of version 1 is replaced by a more standard, "capture the flags" scenario in version 2. Getting into the first belt of 10 small flags should prove easy enough, but capturing 4 or more of the 8 Large flags should (hopefully) prove a challenge.

NOTES:

Expect to go against some positions with large-caliber guns in a direct fire mode. This being the Stalin line, these are definitely known to exist. Don't be baffled when they turn out to be SUs. It was either that or KV-2s. The SUs were chosen because they are non-traversing and better represent pillboxes. So when you see a dug-in "Heavy Assault Gun" try to think of it as a "nasty pillbox on the Stalin Line" - which is what it is intended to represent.

In the default many of the squads are split. This allows for each half-squad to carry a full load of explosives and rifle grenades. They are further organized with rifle/smg half-squads forward and lmg half-squads further back.

This version 2 was originally set to 45 turns. It was increased to 60 so the player has the option of setting up further back than in the default, then using the extra time to move forward from what are initially covered positions. If you attack out of the default setup (or otherwise out of the leading edge of your black setup zone), expect almost immediate contact as you move forward. The main defense line is indeed within a couple of hundred meters on either side of the "*" landmarks; but if you look closely you can see that certain positions roughly 200 meters nearer to you than these "*" landmarks can gain LOS to much of your most forward setup zone.

Good Luck

[ July 29, 2003, 02:50 PM: Message edited by: manchildstein II ]

[Joachim]

Originally posted by manchildstein II:

EXIT INELIGIBLE:

LAH Brigade Motorized Recon Battalion:

1 x 81mm FO

3 x Recon Motorized Infantry Company, each with:

...

Also, the two 81mm FOs organic to their respective Infantry Battalions are meant to be available for on-call fire as well.

Sounds interesting!

But if these are the forces - do you mean two men in the one FO team of the one Recce btn, or ist there a 2nd btn? A bit misleading...

Gruß

Joachim

[manchildstein (ii)]

edit: bumpety

[ July 29, 2003, 02:50 PM: Message edited by: manchildstein II ]

[manchildstein (ii)]

bump

this one now tries to depict a rolling barrage by 7 FOs (representing two battalions)... 7 FOs in triplicate (21 total) so you can lay down 3 pre-planned levels of barrages, turn 01, turn 11, and turn 21...