Jacc -> (10/3/2002 5:07:42 AM)
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A short, true and sad story about minefields. Heroically standing up to defend against assaulting Russian hordes, the German KG commander brilliantly puts up some half-circle minefields around the two hills he is to hold at any costs. Berlin is only a few dozen kilometers in the west. Russians attack with large formation of T-34/85, ISU-122 etc. tanks, supported by SMG infantry. First tank reaches minefield (10 mines per hex)... and passes it, unharmed. It is destroyed by infantry, who regard it as a lucky event for the Russians. Second tank comes, reaches the minefield... and passes it, again unharmed. Same follows for some 8 more tanks, until German grenadiers on the hill are totally decimated. Elsewhere, the minefield, OTOH, stands fast and destroys any and all tanks trying to go though. As the 10th tank passes the minefield, the German Panthers valiantly attack. Following a huge German artillery bombardment on their former positions, the Panthers and SS charge the hill, causing severe damage. After a short recce, the commander sees a chance to cause havoc in Soviet flank and sends 4 remaining Panthers to attack it. Accidentally, the shortest path is through that apparently disabled minefield (it has not claimed even enemy troop casualties). "What the heck", thinks the commander, "it did not harm them, nor will it harm me." In a glorious attack, all 4 Panthers are immediately destroyed in a friendly minefield, infantry casualties raising up to 10. Great. So never, ever trust the minefields. They can be your loyal ally, but relying on them is as good as giving a gun to blind warthog and tell it to reclaim the Stalingrad.
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