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Winter Rage....Orzel vs Hellcat

 
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Winter Rage....Orzel vs Hellcat - 5/16/2002 8:44:23 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		“Ein anderer kalter Morgen” Colonel Thielemann mutters to himself as he mounts his trusty stead, a white-washed Pz IVg named “Anneliesa”.
All along the roadside the elements of “Detachement Thielemann” begin to rev their once idling engines as their Colonel slides into the turret cupola.
As he puts on his headset and pulls up the fur-lined collar of his tanker jacket to block the cold, he looks over at his gunner, Karl, who is hanging out of the side hatch of the turret.
“Ivan ist nahe.” Thielemann says as the looks back out at the horizon. “Ich kann ihn riechen.”
“Ja herr Oberst, leider.” Karl replies and slides back into the turret, pulling the hatch shut behind him with a sharp thud. The comment brings a smile to Thielemann’s face, numb as it is from the biting wind. He then turns and glances back at the assorted vehicles that make up his force and raises his right arm high into the air and then brings it down, pointing towards the horizon.
“Vorwärts!” He says into the radio microphone. A second later “Anneliesa” jolts into gear and lurches forward…the treads crunching loudly into the frozen, snow covered ground…the engine roaring and belching a puff of white smoke. Like a snake startled from its cover, the column comes to life and begins to move forward.
“Winter-Raserei fängt an.” Thielemann says softly to himself as his forces heads into harms way.

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Post #: 1
- 5/16/2002 9:22:46 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		...and on that horizon the soviet colonel let's out a loud belch, slaps his belly (which is full of potatoe and beetroots) and turns to his commisar 'keep your head down little man! These germans shoot back you know!' He laughs maniacally as clouds swarm by overhead. And the snow begins to fall...

'43, Winter... Using Orzel's outstanding map. It's huge! There is a massive gully (frozen river?) running roughly north to south and off road the ground looks pretty rough. Despite our large forces 6000-7000 - how many points was it Orzel?) The map makes it look like it will be a strung out battle. With minimal artillery (15%) This is going to be a head on clash of steel...

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Post #: 2
Preview - 5/16/2002 9:34:40 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Hellcat,
Glad you like the map! :) I thought I'd give us a real taste of winter in the southern Ukraine.
The river is frozen over due to the sub-freezing temperatures and thus armor will be able to move freely across the map. The ground is rough....real "frozen tundra".:D
The points? Hmmm, I think I rounded them off around 6800 so that at least 6500 would be available. The better to blast each other with! ;)
I do believe this battle will live up to the standards of brutality and savage fighting that was the hallmark of Ost Front. :eek: The VH's are spaced to entice the forces into movement...as they are spread out, with the village and river area of the map holding the highest values. No sitting back to protect a grouping of 5 hexes here...to garner points we will have to push forward and fight for them! :mad: :mad: :mad:

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Post #: 3
- 5/16/2002 10:05:23 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		there are also two bridges in the N. W. sector of the map... which have VHs near them... but it's all killing country...

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Post #: 4
Turn I - 5/16/2002 10:38:14 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		In accordance with General Mansteins orders our Detachment has begun yet another local counter-attack to keep the Russians off balance as the rest of the Wehrmacht in the Southern Ukraine regroups.
Weary as we may be, unshaven and hungry...with our tanks and Halftracks in need of overhauls and refit...we push forward. Ivan's offensive, which started back along the Volga against the ill-fated 6th Army...must be halted here south of Kharkov.
Up ahead is a small village...which, with it's bridges (both road and railroad), will be a vital sector when the spring thaw comes to this God forbidden land.
Intelligence reports place units of Popov's armored formation in the area. Ivan will be looking to force his way further west, to force us from our positions around Kharkov. Thus General Manstein has ordered us to take this area and hold it....and this we shall do! Ivan will not take this sector....at least not without a fight!

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Post #: 5
- 5/16/2002 11:21:53 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		apparently the germans have managed to unfreeze some tanks and are advancing on the other side of the frozen river... Our colonel is a brave (and quite mad) leader of our elite armored formation and we intend to stop them and remove another german division from the front.

our villagers report a substantial force and although we can't see them yet this night, the full moon should show their silhouettes on the horizon soon enough(vis = 25)...

morale is high (because for the first time in a long time nothing broke down this turn! :)

camrade hellcatski

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Post #: 6
The Call of the Wild... - 5/16/2002 11:59:16 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Our forces continue to move forward...through the cold and icy winds. Over the din of our engines and the clatter of our tracks we can still hear the howling of wolves off in the distant tree-lines...and then there is that other cold howl: that of the wind as it blows across the steppe, giving off a low pitched moaning sound of sorts...like lost souls lamenting.
Colonel Thielemann has given the order to keep a sharp eye on the distant tree lines...for not only the wolves hide there, but also Ivan. Herr Oberst knows the enemy well...he can sense Ivans presence even before he is sighted.
An uneasiness fills our tank. We can all sense it now. There is a rumble, ever so slight, coming from the darkness to the east. Ivan!?!?

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Post #: 7
- 5/16/2002 10:49:06 PM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		riding along with the colonel he said to me 'pass me another molotov vasily', I did as he asked and watched him drink it down before letting out another fiery belch... his eyes glittered with a thousand tiny burning fires...

'Ah... it's a shame the germans had to advance, we were saving all this fuel for the party on saturdayski... never mind... have we encountered any fascists yet?'

'no colonel not yet'

'keep moving then and pass me another of those will you?'

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Post #: 8
No Contact...yet - 5/16/2002 11:45:03 PM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		The columns move on into the winter darkness...turrets traverse back and forth as we pass each line of trees, each gully. Oberst Thielemann scans the horizon....shaking his head. I hear him mutter: " Ich verstehe nicht. Wo ist Ivan? "
We believe in our Oberst, but has the fatigue of constant movement and battle begun to take it's toll? Some elements of the column are requesting permission to advance at a quicker pace...which herr Oberst refuses.
As we continue on some begin to wonder if, perhaps, Ivan has moved off in another direction?
Then our radio crackles...it's the lead recon AFV. A group of Russian civilians have been spotted hurriedly moving along the road to the south of the village...and heading into the nearby woods! Could it be that they are partisans? Or just plain peasants taking cover? Either way it would be a signal that there was a Russian presence nearing the village!
Perhaps Herr Oberst isn't loosing his touch after all?

The advance continues.

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Post #: 9
- 5/17/2002 12:24:43 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		the colonels loud belching caused a feedback loop in the partisan's primitive radio equipment. He quickly turned it off hoping the noise had not given away his position... from his vantage point he saw the German armored force advancing. He sat back. Now it was time to wait and watch, he couldn't help but smile... :p

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Post #: 10
- 5/17/2002 1:13:31 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		As our advance creeps forward the clouds on the far horizon suddenly are lit with dull flashes of light. Artillery!
Herr Oberst was right after all...Ivan was indeed nearby! The columns begin to swing into action...preparing for battle.
"Jetzt für unsere Überraschung." Thielemann says aloud with a smile...as the incoming rounds hit the frozen fields in the distance.
Perhaps their artillerymen have had too many shots of that crude, cheap vodka they love so much? We joke that we would send them a whole Ju-52 load if it helped them all to shoot so poorly! The joke makes everyone laugh despite the tense mood of impending battle.
Weapons are readied...sights dialed in. The time approaches to make some more of the Russians "Heroes of the Motherland" that their poor grieving parents can be proud of.

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Post #: 11
- 5/17/2002 3:28:46 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		looks like the colonel's belch was heard after all, my partisans popped their heads up and there was an SS rifle squad and halftrack waiting for them :(

The colonel's arty has blown the road bridge across the frozen river... don't know if it will slow the germans down any but it seemed like a good idea.

we can see Tigers and Stugs and quite a few halftracks out there... the storm is about to break...

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Post #: 12
The Storm Breaks Indeed - 5/17/2002 4:20:29 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		More Russian artillery fire...they seem to want to knock out the bridges. The elements of our detachement have now deployed for battle...Herr Oberst was expecting this it seems. A few minor casualties this time from Ivans guns...nothing serious though.
Suddenly the radio crackles to life once more. Some more peasants from the village have been spotted.
This time they are ordered to halt. They stop momentarily and then drop to the ground and open fire on an SS squad. They are Partisans after all! The firefight that erupts is fierce, but in the end the SS "pacify" these armed bandits.
Our forces continue their probing of the area...some more partisans are spotted...one throws a Molotov at one of our HT's...machine gun fire returns the hostile gesture. It seems the local population has chosen to get involved...our SS counterparts were hoping for that. It's a dirty war.
As we push forward a beautiful sound is heard...artillery...OURS! As it races overhead and arches down onto the village area we feel better knowing we have some support too. Perhaps the locals will think twice next time...now they will have only burned out houses to return to.
Now the storm has indeed broke! First reports of Russian armor spotted as well! Those T-34's and KV-1's are tough, but we have learned how to handle them over the last two years. All a matter of will, tacitcs and execution!
Ivan will not find us a broken force with no spirit...we will take blood for every inch of ground. Popov's advance stops here!

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Post #: 13
- 5/17/2002 6:33:14 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		The german arty hasn't even brought a potatoe out of the ground yet :(

partisans are attacking behind the enemy lines and the Colonel has begun to draw up the battle line where he says with a jolly smile we will 'fight or die'

The Germans are very close now... and we can pop open their halftracks from long range :)

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Post #: 14
Partisan, sappers and scouts..oh my! - 5/17/2002 7:30:10 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		We have taken some casualities from Ivan...two HT's and one prime mover. Fortunately the losses in soldiers have been light and the stranded 88mm AT will be picked up and moved on by an extra mover...herr Oberst had figured on some losses.
The Russian partisans are out in force...we have destroyed four gangs of these cut-throats and have spotted at least two or three more groups that will have to be pacified.
We move into position to try and prevent Ivan from getting armor across the river. His small groups of scouts and sappers may cause some havoc, but they will not be able to do much without support.
The radio crackles once again. Ivan HT's spotted....American Lend Lease machines. As the reports filter in Oberst Thielemann listens and mulls over his options.
"Ivan ist sehr schlau....Wir zerstoren Ivan langsam." He says to Karl.
"Ja Herr Oberst" Karl replies with a smile.
Now comes the tricky part...cracking the line!

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Post #: 15
- 5/17/2002 8:43:11 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		I lost a t-34 who was trying to take a sneaky pot shot at a pzivg (hate to admit it but they really are good tanks against the t-34 - ask belisarius!) A couple of German halftracks decided to park themselves right next to another t-34 and some people's glorious revolutionary paratroopers - ha ha. Two of my motorcycle units have disappeared completely! deserted perhaps and I seem to only be getting 1 breakdown per turn (compared with my usual 2). Haven't seen anything of the german infantry since some villagers were mercilessly cut down by the SS. There will be payback for that...

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Post #: 16
- 5/17/2002 9:11:18 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		The radio crackles to life once more...there are screams and gunfire mixed with explosions. A HT section has come to grief in a fight with Ivan.
Surely this time there have been losses. It angers us as much as it pains us..there will be revenge!
Russian radio traffic intercepted by one of our listening posts reports they have lost contact with two motorcycle squads...which brings a smile to the face of the SS liasion officer that is riding with us. He informs Thielemann that the "lost" Soviets will be of no worry to our forces...they have been ambushed and wiped out to the last man. According to him a Stug scared them out of their wooded hiding area and they blundered into the LoS of a Waffen SS squad. The bodies were then hung from trees as a "warning to the other Bolsheviks" the SS officer states with a smirk.
Herr Oberst frowns and shakes his head and replies " Mein God. You sind ein Tier! "
The SS officer says nothing and turns away. This is indeed a dirty little war.

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Post #: 17
- 5/17/2002 10:16:47 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		The radio is alive once more with the jittery voices of men under the stress of combat.
Herr Oberst is informed that two more HT's have been lost in combat with Russian infantry and a lone T-34.
"Zwei weitere Verluste. Fluch! " Thielemann says aloud as he slams his fist down on the Command vehicles mapchart table. "der Schnee wird rot mit Blut gedreht. das Blut meiner Männer! " He shakes his head slowly.
Then comes a report that lifts all our spirits. Our units have routed two more Soviet infantry units...and scored another kill of a T-34! What is even more welcomed is that it seems as if Ivan is starting to show himself a bit more.....now it will give us a chance to test their metal!
The advance continues...outside the steppes of Russia are turning red with the blood of the fallen. The darkness is now broken by points of light....the glimmering, dancing tongues of flames that now dot the landscape. These funeral pyres of the dead of both sides billow smoke and cinders into the cold winter sky...they are the grave markers of the fallen.

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Post #: 18
- 5/17/2002 11:18:13 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		there are two firefights occuring just ahead of our forward line and both results of probing on both sides... one is across the bridge from the village we're holding and the wide frozen river is acting as a buffer to both sides who have armor lining up for a duel...

the other is at a junction and dominated by a hill - which we are holding, however those pzivs make short work of exposed t-34s. I didn't achieve anything substantial this last turn. The bulk of my force are still manoeuvering or taking up watchful positions elsewhere...

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Post #: 19
Battle lines - 5/17/2002 12:28:44 PM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Oberst Thielemann listens anxiously as the reports file in.
The Russians have come across the bridge near the village and have armor pushing forward towards the position known now as "the hill". Things have been see-sawing there...four HT and one Pz IV have been lost there already.
In the middle sector there is a lull in the action...one of Ivans recon units is cut to pieces there, but little else happens.
To the north yet another partisan unit is spotted and "disposed of" as our SS friend would say.
Right now herr Oberst biggest worry is Ivan's artillery, which has been raining down HE rounds on some of our units all morning. During the "Happy Time" of summer 1941 we would have had air support come in a blast the Soviets out of their positions and gun emplacements...now there is little to no hope of that.
"Wir müssen achtgeben. " herr Oberst says aloud as he rubs his eyes with both hands and then draws them down to his chin, a sign that he is in deep thought. " wir müssen Ivan bald zerstören." he adds, almost as an afterthought.
I agree with him and we then set about pouring over the maps infront of us.

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Post #: 20
Lightning Strikes - 5/18/2002 10:12:52 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Devastating reports are coming in from our units.
To the north Ivan's armor caught a task force of HT's that were attempting to outflank their positions. In the firefight that proceeded it seems they have all been destroyed...none of them answer any calls to report in.
In the center the Russians have managed to finish off two more HT's, a PzIV, a Stug and even a Tiger! We can hear the gunfire and the explosions from our position...the area known simply as "der Hügel." (the hill) has cost us much this day.
To the south around the area known to the troops as "die Verzweigung." (the junction or bypass) things have seemingly stalemated somewhat. Everywhere Ivan's armor is popping up and inflicting wounds...we curse them and their sinister T-34's and monster KV-1's.
Herr Oberst is beside himself a bit...the news of the lost Tiger hit him hard, though he tries not to show it. Hauptman Bernburg was a good friend of his. Nearby troops report that Bernburg's beloved Tiger " Anna " was hit on the flank by a 76mm round from a T-34 that emerged from "der Hugel". He must not have seen the Russian tank...but that is what happens at times in the heat of battle. You get blinded by rage and emotion and you make a mistake. The problem is mistakes here will get you killed. Anyway,
Herr Oberst murmurred "Mein armer Freund " and then went back to the maps.
After a few moments he gave me the most astounding orders. We discussed them for a minute and I told him that I didn't feel the orders were in the best interest of the detachement. His reply was short and sharp: "die Entscheidung ist abschließend. Erlassen Sie die Beschlüsse. "
I look him in the eyes and nod. " Ja Sir" I reply and reach for the radio gear.

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Post #: 21
- 5/18/2002 11:55:15 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		after the daring victory of my previous turn and substantial butcher's bill all has ground down again. Any progress in the Northern sector near Orzel's bridges has been slowed by the reinforcing of the Stug with a pzivg, leaving me only to mop up the halftrack platoon only :(

A Tiger and more tanks have appeared along the banks of the frozen river making any tank duelling that bit more risky now and the first kv1 across my bridge has bailed. The brave t-34 also bailed and I don't think the crew are gonna make it. Another Tiger is rolling up behind the smoking remnants of it's fellow. The battle of 'the hill' has finished it's first phase with the Germans in possession of it - but at some cost.

Further South the battle of the junction is likely to hot up but is also currently stalemated.

So far we are holding our own and have definitely given the Germans a bloody nose... :)

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Post #: 22
Hauptman Keller to the rescue - 5/18/2002 1:31:10 PM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Oberst Thielemann's head snapps up from the mapboard when the radio transmission begins to come through.
It is Hauptman Keller and he notifies us that he has gone to the rescue of the northern force that has become snarled in "Das Obstgartenfeld" (the orchard).
"erklären Sie Hauptman Keller, gesetzt zu bleiben." herr Oberst says and I immediately transmit the order.
" Nein mein Oberst. Ich muß unsere Kameraden retten." comes the reply from Keller...in the background you can hear the noise as his PzIVg roars along at high speed...with sporadic rattles of machine gun fire from time to time.
I look at herr Oberst to see how he is taking Keller's refusal to halt his rescue attempt. He looks at me for a moment and then says "Gott schützen diesen tapferen Dummkopf". (God protect this courageous fool)
For the next several minutes we hear the sounds of battle as Keller reports his progress. A Russian infantry squad is spotted and cut down by MG fire. After a couple more tenst minutes Hauptman Keller reports that an accompanying Stug has found horse-drawn Maxims...they too are destroyed.
I look at herr Oberst face to see if the good news has changed his mood...but he only listens and stares straight ahead. After a couple more minutes herr Hauptman reports that he has been successful in driving back Ivan. Oberst Thielemann nods and a small smile appears for a moment and then disappears.
The good news is tempered, however, by Keller's report that there are no survivors to be seen of the HT section...only wreckage and corpses.
"Ivan hat uns stark geschlagen." Thielemann says softly. "wir müssen uns erinnern, achtzugeben."
With that we set about how best to implement herr Oberst's latest plans.

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Post #: 23
Outside the Storyline - 5/18/2002 7:42:44 PM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Ok...just in case my little "story line" hasn't been giving the big picture ( I have unfairly left that...it seems...to Hellcat ;) ) here is a brief run down.
To the north..by a pair of bridges ( one Road / one Railroad ) on "Hellcats side" of the river a nasty melee has been brewing. He intercepted a platoon of HT's I can sent to try an sneak around that flank...and bloodied them pretty well. I had to commit some armor to redress the balance there and right now it's hard to tell just what will happen in "Das Obstgartenfeld" (the orchard)
To the center of the map is located "der Hugel" (the Hill) which sits on the west side of the river opposite the bridge leading out of the small Russian 'Isba" or hamlet which sits on the east side of the river. It is here that the deadliest battles have raged. :eek: Early on it seems we both rushed forward to claim it..and bumped heads rather hard. :D It has cost me several HT's and about a half dozen AFV's. :( Hellcat seem to be in the process of feeding a few more units...just enough to keep the bleeding going if I know him. Anyway, I think the arrival of a section of Tigers has brought that to a halt for the time being...or at least made him a bit more cautious. So far the wide river gorge has not been the killing ground I imagined it would be. To this point I have only seen one armor encounter there between a pair of PzIVg's and a T-34..which survived no fewer that six flank shots in two turns!!! :mad:
To the south there is a second area known now (thanks to Hellcat) as "die Verzweigung" or "the junction". There is no bridge here, just a wooded river bank that has a clearing where a road leads from the south to the "isba"...and is flanked on the east side by a second hill or plateau. Hellcat as blunted my advance here as well :( and what should have been a minor probing action got bigger than I (at least) expected. I have detected the strongest presence of Russian infantry around this area and some more armor to boot, forcing me to re-inforce my positionn there as well. Right now we have each other making wary steps to try and find a weakspot in each others armor. Not a pretty picture and definitely not the type of ground you want to use armor in. Ambush city around there!
Then the last place to talk about is a little area on the southern most bend of the river gorge. There seems to be a couple packets of each of our forces dodging about down there. Some small fire-fights...but right now it seems both of us are mostly protecting our southern flanks. I have been keeping a watchful eye there....just in case.;)

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Post #: 24
No Russian report? - 5/19/2002 10:10:08 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Oberst Thielemann looks over the maps and marks down each reported area of Ivans presence.
"Russische Infanterie sind hier und hier" he says as he points to points on the map. "Ihre panzers rücken an diesem Punkt vor." has adds as he points to another point on the map.
As he is about to speak again the radio crackles again...it is Hauptman Keller reporting in. Our forces have become involved in another brawl in the area of "das Obstgartenfeld"...it seems Ivan is determined to make our encounter there something of an issue!
As Hauptman Keller continues to speak another report is handed to me. It was brought in by a runner, a young lad who is now being looked after by our medics for his battle wounds. The message is from our force commander who is fighting along "die Verzweigung" against the mounting Russian pressure there. I pass the note over to herr Oberst. It seems Ivan is making a bit of a push here as well...a column of armor has been spotted moving forward. We will have to amend our plans accordingly. Herr Oberst looks over the map and nods...the plan is in place. Now it is up to our gallant men to play it out.

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Post #: 25
- 5/19/2002 12:05:25 PM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		in the frozen orchard to the North of the map, Orzel has paid me back. There are two burning t-34s and he must as crept across the frozen river or something as there are pzivs and stugs everywhere... we're now fighting a holding action up there... if only we could shoot straight!

The bridge near my village is becoming a bridgehead... the glorious russians have killed a Stug and a pziv... whether we can hold this precarious position remains uncertain however.

In the South at the battle for the junction there is one less pzivg to worry about but I have seen at least two more there.

In the far South a solitary victory hex is also being fought over, it's still red for now though!

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Post #: 26
Pressure Mounts - 5/19/2002 8:52:19 PM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		More reports flood in to the command tank.
In the north, Ivan's infantry are as thick as a swarm of locust in "das Obstgartenfeld". Hauptman Keller continues to try and hold them at bay.
To the centre there is evidence of a renewed Russian push on "der Hugel". Ivan has been sneaking infantry and HT's across the river! And now a column of dreaded KV-1's have been spotted in the village slowly making their way to the sector.
To the south in the area of the "die Verzweigung" more Russian armor and infantry! Another push seemingly in the making.
Herr Oberst mulls over all the data as he plots it on the map. The battle is such a see-saw affair it is hard to tell who has the upper hand.
"das Resultat dieser Schlacht sind im Zweifel." he says to me as he puts a hand to his chin. "Ich fürchte, daß Ivan unsere Linie unterbrochen hat."
I look at him, the words are hard to accept...does he think Ivan may be able to take "der Hugel" back? I shake my head and reply, "nein, wir halten die Linie."
Thielemann glances and me and smiles, "Ich hoffe so.".

_____________________________


(in reply to Orzel Bialy)
Post #: 27
- 5/20/2002 3:37:03 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		last night I told the Colonel that we had run out of vodka and he started drinking brake fluid! It comes as no surprise to me our armor is breaking down now :(

I lost a KV1 to a Tiger shot at my bridge (hear that Belisarius?) where we are trying to consolidate a bridgehead. Despite firing a lot of shots at the Stug and the Tiger there (including some from across the frozen river near the Junction) no shots hit homeski.

In the North we have hastily redrawn our lines and there is another Stug up there that seems immune to my fire and I know there are more tanks up there.

At the junction things seem to be going a little better and we hope to claim it very soon...

_____________________________


(in reply to Orzel Bialy)
Post #: 28
A lull in the fighting... - 5/20/2002 7:58:00 AM   
Orzel Bialy


Posts: 2664
Joined: 4/4/2002
From: Wisconsin USA
Status: offline 		Herr Oberst and I actually climb out of the tank to stretch our legs and scan the landscape from the engine deck.
The wind is still icy cold, but there is now the smell of battle in the air. The scents of gunpowder, burning brush and timber mix with that of burning rubber, metal, paint...flesh.
" Tod ist auf Flügeln des Winds." (Death on the wings of the wind.) Thielemann says as he looks out at the landscape before us.
To the east the treeline and hills are hazed with the fog of battle. Pillars of thick blackish-brown smoke mark the areas of the heaviest fighting...they rise up at and angle with the winds, disappearing into the low overcast of winter clouds.
There is also the rattle of small arms fire....some distant, some close by....and then there is the occassional thunder-clap of an 88.
As we scan the horizon Karl pops out of the hatch and announces that Hauptman Keller is reporting that he has pushed the Russian infantry back further. "Das Obstgartenfeld" has become a garden of death....littered with nearly a 100 dead Soviet soldiers and their burning vehicles.
However, Major Kappel...commanding our forces in the center is worried that Ivan is preparing a counterattack. Herr Oberst is also concerned the most with what is occurring there. The river line will be critical when the spring thaw arrives...it would be best if Ivan had no bridgehead on the western bank.
We finish scanning the scene and re-enter the tank after a few more minutes. Once we are back in our places Thielemann gives me several pieces of paper and asks me to transmit the orders to the various units. I resume contacting the elements of our command and issue herr Oberst's orders.
The fight continues.

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(in reply to Orzel Bialy)
Post #: 29
- 5/20/2002 9:13:46 AM   
hellcat

 

Posts: 805
Joined: 3/25/2002
From: uk
Status: offline 		i got a pzivg crew to bail but that was it... it's getting dangerous to move too far... :(, **** fascists!

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(in reply to Orzel Bialy)
Post #: 30
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