RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads)

RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (Full Version)

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berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/18/2016 9:47:19 PM)
TURN #24 To say the least! Here is the current Victory Dialog: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM171.jpg[/image] Just one phase ago, he was down to a mere 3 Total Points. Now look: A dramatic jump back upward, to 65. Note too the dramatic jump in my Side B SP Losses (compare with a turn ago here). We again have a real fight on our hands!

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/21/2016 9:41:17 PM)
TURN #24 I have a couple of tank squads (northwestmost green circle) at hot spot (yellow square highlight) hex 31,46 within the illuminated area (white circle) of the northernmost Israeli flare. The orange hex highlights show Visibility from that hex. There are Israeli infantry targets downslope nearby, but I prefer to go tank hunting. So I move 3rd Troop one hex to the southeast (to the second green circle), this to give it a shot at the Israeli tank formation atop Hill 402 at hex 36,48 (the far turquoise circle). Israeli halftracks unexpectedly fire from the darkness of hex 34,47 (near turquoise circle) at the approaching Pattons. They miss. A heretofore hidden Israeli tank squad upslope to the northeast (lavender circle) fire at the Pattons. They miss also. The forward Pattons (the SE green circle) fire at the Israeli Shermans atop Hill 402 (far turquoise circle). They miss too! [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM172.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/21/2016 9:57:32 PM)
TURN #24 I move 2nd Troop one hex to the southeast also. Israeli Shermans opfire, forcing the Pattons back to where they started from (turquoise circle), which expends their remaining APs. Forward, then backward, wasted moves, nothing gained for their efforts. [:(] What now to do with 3rd Troop (green circle)? Fire again at the Shermans up Hill 402, or maybe the Shermans to the northeast? I decide to go for the nearby halftracks instead. BAM! Strike two halftracks (red circle). [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM173.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/21/2016 10:15:44 PM)
TURN #24 A bit to the north, I had retreated one disrupted Patton squad away from the illuminated area. The other (undisrupted) squad fired at the Israeli engineers to the southeast, but missed. The Pattons then moved away from the illuminated area (and also their gun flash hex), into the relative safety of the darkness one hex to the northeast (lavender circle). To the west, I reinforced the position around Qabitiya. To the south, on the west slope of Hill 402, the forward Pattons at hex 33,50 (turquoise circle) had nothing to target. I knew this from the Visibility orange hex highlights (you toggle this ON/OFF using the 'v' hot key). I moved one squad one hex to the northwest (green circle), from where they fired on the Israeli mechanized infantry platoon downslope (magenta circle). Inflicting a 1 SP reduction, and a disruption. That one Israeli platoon, also the Israeli platoon at the flare hex, are now both disrupted. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM174.jpg[/image] I tried the same with the second Patton squad: advance on the Israeli mechanized infantry, then fire from close range. This time, no luck, a miss. Avoiding the illuminated area, both Patton squads then withdrew one hex to the southwest, away from their gunflash hex, and back into the cover of darkness.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/21/2016 10:27:58 PM)
TURN #24 Several kilometers to the north, south of Jenin, what to do with the advance elements of the 2nd Tank Regiment, 40th Armoured Brigade (green circle)? I directed one squad to fire at the Israeli tanks across the way to the northeast (magenta circle). No kill, but a retreat (look closely and you will see the green retreat arrow), and quite possibly also a disruption. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM175.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/21/2016 10:36:18 PM)
TURN #24 Hey, that went rather well. Let's try that again. A second squad of Pattons (green circle) fire at the remaining Israeli Sherman (magenta circle), forcing it to retreat also (and possibly also disrupting it): [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM176.jpg[/image] That Israeli threat now dealt with, the Jordanian Pattons then move away from their gunflash hex and into the covering darkness a couple hexes to the northwest.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/21/2016 10:51:07 PM)
TURN #24 After my Side B (Jordanian) move (Side B is this scenario's second side), the situation at the end of Turn 24, southern half of the game map: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM177.jpg[/image] East of Qabitiya, things are going well enough, though it could be better. Southeast of Qabitiya, a company of Pattons hold the line on the road to Nablus. Let's not forget the five platoons of Israeli mechanized infantry (and also?) in that sector (somewhere within that large yellow circle). Looking out at the big picture, by now, the Jordanian 40th Armoured Brigade (yellow highlighted units) is entirely on map. That's it. No more reinforcements for me. By the looks of it, I have more than enough force to deny my opponent the two remaining Qabitiya Objective hexes. By the looks of it, I might even have enough force to retake Jenin. But looks can be deceiving, maybe?

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/21/2016 11:08:42 PM)
TURN #24 Long time no see, the northern half of the game map in its (near) fullness: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM178.jpg[/image] I maintain a picket line defense stretching from Hill 294 to the northwest up to Yamun and beyond. I can't be entirely certain that, reinforced, Crossroads won't launch a surprise attack from the north. North of Hill 294, I continue to shift forces laterally southeastward, closer to where the action is, or has been. South of Jenin, I abandoned the village hex 32,35 (yellow circle). It was within the flare illuminated area, and within range of the fortified Israeli positions just across the way. It's unfortunate to abandon that village, but no sense being hammered there either. Crossroads' Total Points have dropped back down a bit, to 53 TPs. I didn't even the score this phase; the kill count was a bit disappointing; but I did force some retreats, and one or more disruptions. Good enough.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/23/2016 9:25:51 PM)
TURN #25 Israeli artillery fire gets lucky, disables Pattons at both yellow circled hexes. Israeli mechanized infantry at hex 33,45 (turquoise circle) assault Jordanian Pattons at the hot spot hex 33,44 (yellow highlighted hex), but are repulsed. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM179.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/23/2016 9:31:26 PM)
TURN #25 A kilometer and a half to the southeast, Israeli mechanized infantry advance along the ridge. Waiting Jordanian Pattons (green circle) opfire from below, scoring 1 SP hit (magenta circle), and forcing the Israelis back in retreat. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM180.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/23/2016 9:36:43 PM)
TURN #25 Even further to the southeast, more Israeli mechanized infantry advance across the valley floor, coming within Visibility range of some Pattons. The Pattons (green circle) opfire, scoring 1 SP hit and disrupting the Israelis (magenta circle). [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM181.jpg[/image] Things are going well.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/23/2016 9:41:12 PM)
TURN #25 All's well that ends well? No. How about: All good things must come to an end. East of Qabitiya, Israeli mech infantry (turquoise circle) direct fire at Jordanian Pattons, bagging an entire tank squadron (red circle)! [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM182.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/23/2016 9:44:42 PM)
TURN #25 It gets worse. Israeli mech infantry (turquoise circle) again direct fire at the other Jordanian tank squad (then at the yellow highlighted hot spot hex), scoring 1 SP hit and forcing a retreat (to the magenta circle). [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM183.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/23/2016 9:50:06 PM)
TURN #25 But it's not all bad. Way to the north, Jordanian armoured infantry (green circle), opfire at advancing Israelis (magenta circle). Despite the Jordanians being disrupted, they manage to score 1 SP hit, and force a retreat. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM184.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/23/2016 10:08:10 PM)
TURN #25 Jordanian artillery fire rains down here and there, but without effect. After the Israeli first phase moves, and following the Jordanian artillery fire, an overview of the south at the beginning of Turn 25, second Side B (Jordanian) phase, showing all of my disrupted units highlighted: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM185.jpg[/image] (Note that, for this turn's screenshots, I had toggled Options > Counter Style from Alternate to Standard.) Crossroads had a good phase. By destroying ~4 Pattons, and despite his own losses in infantry, his Victory TPs have nudged back upward, to 77. It is now Turn 25, second phase. Day breaks next turn. Anticipating an imminent jump up in Visibility, I had better execute my moves this pre-dawn phase carefully.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/27/2016 2:54:47 PM)
TURN #25 After my Side B (Jordanian) move (Side B is this scenario's second side), the situation at the end of Turn 25, southern half of the game map (with my disrupted units yellow highlighted): [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM186.jpg[/image] Action southeast of Jenin, and east of Qabitiya. I inflicted several hits, retreats, and disruptions (Israeli disruptions magenta circled). More adjusting the line. More moving up reinforcements. Undecided where to commit them, I left a tank company at the Qabitiya Crossroads (turquoise circle) idling this phase. Not going over to the strategic offensive just yet. I want to wait and see what the coming daylight reveals. I have two companies of the 4th Tank Regiment -- one armoured, the other armoured infantry -- west of the Crossroads (green ellipse) and directed to head northward. I have a notion I might try to send them up to Yamun, and from there swing around to attack the deep Israeli rear from the northwest. My opponent's Side A Victory TPs: 41. Next turn, Turn 26 -- at long last, daybreak!

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/31/2016 2:08:59 AM)
TURN #26 Normally, artillery phases are boring affairs, with shells mostly falling harmlessly, especially at night. Not this time! [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM187.jpg[/image] (With the brightened map image, note that night has turned over to day.) Look at those losses (at the yellow highlighted hot spot hex)! Followed immediately by (same target hex): [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM188.jpg[/image] 7 Reduces (SP hits) and 3 Disrupteds in two lucky artillery strikes? WTF?!

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/31/2016 2:14:50 AM)
TURN #26 It continues. Another powerful artillery strike: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM189.jpg[/image] Then another: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM190.jpg[/image] And another: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM191.jpg[/image] And still one more: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM192.jpg[/image] For me, awfully bad luck this phase! [:(]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/31/2016 2:37:52 AM)
TURN #26 After the Israeli first phase moves, and following the Jordanian artillery fire (which compared to the devastating Israeli strikes had little or no impact), a close-in view of the south at the beginning of Turn 26, second Side B (Jordanian) phase: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM193.jpg[/image] In the Info Box, note that Visibility is only 3. A squad of Israeli halftracks wandered into dawn's early light ... only to be ambushed, and destroyed (red circle), by Jordanian Pattons hiding downslope. Israeli mechanized infantry at hex 31,46 (turquoise circle) direct fired at Jordanian Pattons, sending both squads reeling backwards (magenta circles). More sporadic action to the southeast. Israeli Shermans made a brief appearance up Hill 402, then seeing the many Pattons arrayed against them, quickly retired to safety back down Hill 402's opposite slope. They, and more Israeli infantry, lurk somewhere hidden within the yellow circle. From the looks of it, the Israeli southeastern push has spent itself. Qabitiya appears to be in no danger.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (8/31/2016 2:48:55 AM)
TURN #26 The view south and west of Jenin (with all disrupted Jordanians yellow highlighted): [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM194.jpg[/image] Look at the forces at the (magenta circled) hot spot hex. Disrupted almost all, and nearly all down to their last men (1 SP roughly equals 5 men). All due to the devastating Israeli artillery strikes from the phase just before. Despite that, to the southeast, a half-hearted Israeli probing attack only, easily rebuffed. Around Jenin too, I appear to be facing a spent force. No signs of opposing strength. Quite the opposite. Signs of weakness everywhere. Cautionary note: The Visibility is only 3. Let's wait and see what later full daylight reveals. My opponent's Victory TPs: 73.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/4/2016 5:36:10 PM)
Objective Jenin! [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM195.jpg[/image] With Visibility in the early dawn still only 3, I am not quite certain yet. But at the moment, my thoughts are... To go over to the strategic offensive, to retake Jenin! Rather than approach Jenin head on, I am planning to flank it. I could approach from the west, along the Hill 294 to Station corridor (left yellow ellipse). But on the way to the Objective hexes (yellow highlighted), that passes through a line of fortified positions. No advantage there. Better, I think, to approach Jenin along the corridor from the south and southeast (right yellow ellipse). Few if any enemy held fortified positions there. And the southeast is the easier pathway into the heart of Jenin. I'd very much like to flank even more widely, breaking into the Israeli rear, and wreaking havoc on the enemy's artillery, HQs, and other support elements farther behind the enemy lines. Attacking up and over Hill 361 (magenta ellipse) holds no promise. Slow going there (steep inclines/declines, rough ground, no roadways). And after passing through the elevations, let's not forget the minefields in the valley just beyond (see screenshots of early turns in this DAR). Instead, I am directing the tank company and armoured infantry company west of the Qabitiya Crossroads (turquoise ellipse) to head northward, up to Yamun (off map northeast of Barid), and from there swing around to raid from the northwest. If I can pull that off, what a surprise that will be! [8D]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/4/2016 8:30:49 PM)
TURN #26 Pattons at hex 34,38 (turquoise circle) direct fire at Israeli mechanized infantry across the way (near magenta circle), scoring 1 SP hit, and forcing a retreat. The other three Pattons at hex 34,38 direct fire at that same retreated Israeli unit (now at the far magenta circle), again scoring 1 SP hit, and a disruption. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM196.jpg[/image] Not to get greedy, saving their APs for possible opfire next phase, the two Patton squads move into ambush position in the valley below, one hex to the north. The trailing company HQ squad moves up to join them in that hex.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/4/2016 8:34:14 PM)
TURN #26 To the south, near Qabitiya, Pattons at hex 31,44 (turquoise circle) direct fire at Israeli mech infantry (magenta circle), scoring 1 SP hit, and a retreat. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM197.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/4/2016 8:47:30 PM)
TURN #26 Another squad of Pattons, this one at Qabitiya (turquoise circle, not showing, because farther down the stack), direct fire at the same Israeli mech infantry platoon, this time in the retreat hex (magenta circle), scoring 1 SP hit, and again forcing that platoon to do a second retreat. [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM198.jpg[/image] The Israeli mech infantry platoon in the original hex (one hex to the NW of the magenta circled hex) is disrupted. I direct fire at it with my armoured infantry, but miss. The other displayed Israeli units are safely up slope, out of my LOS. Off screenshot to the southeast, two Jordanian Patton squads direct fire at enemy mech infantry. No hits, no disruptions, no retreats. All in all, a good phase, combat-wise. My opponent's Victory TPs have slid back down to 49.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/4/2016 11:13:59 PM)
TURN #26 It now being daytime (rather, dawn becoming day), I reset the global opfires, some of them, to a bit longer range: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM199.jpg[/image] For the tank units on my right flank, one by one, I was also careful to undo their individual unit opfire settings. They too will now fire a bit farther into the daylight.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/4/2016 11:42:03 PM)
TURN #26 After my Side B (Jordanian) move (Side B is this scenario's second side), the situation at the end of Turn 26 (with my disrupted units yellow highlighted): [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM200.jpg[/image] Moving into attack positions south of Jenin. The green circle highlights the tank and armoured infantry companies I am sending on the wide flanking maneuver around the Israeli far right. The turquoise circle highlights tank and armoured infantry companies I am holding in reserve. The large yellow circles highlight the big unknown: What is out there? Yes, HQs, artillery, and transports. But anything else of consequence? Until I get a better sense of my opponent's strength -- increasing Visibility will help -- I am reluctant to weaken my right flank. I'd like to start shifting forces northward in support of the main thrust south and southeast of Jenin. But still a bit early for that, I think.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/23/2016 1:38:04 AM)
TURN #27 Israeli artillery again hit hard, focusing on the area south of Jenin (large magenta ellipse, screenshot following), also the Station (magenta circle to the west of Jenin). Israeli armour showed itself at hex 32,33 (blue circle), took several shots, then retreated out of visible range. Crucially, this forced a Jordanian retreat from the IP hex 33,36 (green circle). Israeli infantry entered that hex unopposed, also the vacant village hex 32,35 immediately to the west (turquoise circle). Crossroads fired smoke into those two hexes to confuse the inevitable counterfire. After the Israeli first phase moves, and following the Jordanian artillery fire (little impact), a close-in view of the center at the beginning of Turn 27, second Side B (Jordanian) phase, with Jordanian disruptions highlighted in yellow: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM201.jpg[/image] The good news is that the Israeli artillery spared the Jordanian 40th Armoured Brigade, massing for the attack just to the southwest. The bad news is that with the Israeli occupation of those two village & IP hexes, the attack route back to Jenin is now that much more difficult.

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/23/2016 1:58:11 AM)
TURN #27 To the south, the Israeli left wing, what remains of it, put up a brave front at and around Hill 402. A weak push towards Ash Shuhada. Direct fire and return opfire. A few SP losses both sides, and an outright kill, of a Jordanian FV701 Ferret troop, at hex 30,42 (red circle). At the end of the Israeli phase, the situation (with Jordanian disruptions highlighted in yellow): [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM202.jpg[/image] This is all they've got? It's time to move over to the counter offensive here too. Prime targets will be the Israeli armour at hex 34,49 (left yellow circle) and mortars at hexes 41,53 & 42,52 (right yellow ellipse).

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/23/2016 2:12:28 AM)
TURN #27 Gathering for the counter offensive: [image]http://pikt.org/matrix/cs/graphics/DARCrossroadsPetriVsBertoPBEM203.jpg[/image]

berto -> RE: The Crossroads -- 6/5/67 - DAR (no Crossroads) (9/23/2016 1:38:25 PM)
In the just concluded Israeli phase, Crossroads' Victory TPs jumped upward from ~40 to 102. He's doing fairly well in large part due to one factor: the Israeli artillery. Which seems to be much more effective than the Jordanian. (I couldn't say why.) I got to this point, I got to being well within Jordanian Major Victory by playing cautious, careful defense. But as the early fighting around Kafr Dan showed (see early posts in this DAR), careful defense is not everything. In infantry vs. infantry fights especially, it's Israeli advantage. Also, it's maybe to be expected that the attacker will lose more SPs than the defender. (Since the defender gets in more shots, not expending as many movement APs as the attacker.) I could continue to play cautious defense, only to be attritioned away by that devastatingly effective Israeli artillery. So, I need to take them out. Also, it's in the spirit of the situation: In the Real Game, I imagine that King Hussein's orders would be clear and forcefully stated: Retake Jenin! So, I switch over to the counter offensive. I will suffer more than my share of SP losses; the landscape will be littered with more and more Jordanian WRecks. But politics is politics, the King says "Do it!", so do it I will.

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